Healthy Fall Food Favorites

With the harvest season comes a whole variety of yummy seasonal produce that--wait for it--has awesome health benefits!  Here are some of our favorite autumnal fruits and vegetables to make your plate pretty and your heart happy <3.

Pumpkin...and Pumpkin Seeds!

Pumpkins as a food are to autumn meals what Jack the Pumpkin King is to Halloween: 100% essential.  I'm not talking about the sugary (but delicious) latte flavor, though. I'm talking good, old-fashioned real pumpkin.  What are some of its health benefits?

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• Pumpkins are PACKED with Vitamin A, which is great for your eyesight
• Phytosterols in pumpkin seeds can lower LDL cholesterol.  
• Beta-carotene can reduce your risk of cancer.
• Carotenoids can help prevent wrinkles.

See this article for more info. 

Squash

There are so many different kinds of squash--butternut, spaghetti, sweet dumpling--but they're all delicious, and many of them offer the same health benefits. 

• Squash is full of important nutrients: Vitamin A, pantothenic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron....
• Vitamin C and magnesium can help improve your immune system's ability to defend itself. #yes!
• The B vitamins in squash can help regulate your metabolism and reduce your risk of diabetes.
• Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation.
• Magnesium and potassium are heart health superstars.

Check out this article for more info.

askflorine.com

Cranberries

Cranberries are so adorable!  And sour!  But before you coat them in sugar, look at this article and grab a handful of organic, naturally-yummy cranberries.  (Just don't stain your shirt.)

• Proanthocyanidins in cranberries help fight bacteria.
• Cranberries have powerful antioxidant abilities and can reduce inflammation and your cancer risk.
• Cranberries contain enzymes that help digestion.
• Cranberries are really pretty to look at.  (Okay, this is an extra one, but it's true!)

organicfacts.net

<3 Frances