Gym in Reisterstown Reminds Us of Superfoods to Consider this Season

The season is here for counting your blessings. From family and friends to jobs and health, there are many reasons to give thanks. Also earning a spot on the list is nature’s bounty of healthy foods. In fact, autumn is jam-packed with superfoods that are as delicious as they are nutritious. Read on for a roundup of five fresh fall foods to add to your diet this season.

1. Pomegranates

While apples may be the first red, orb-shaped fruit that come to mind when you think of fall, pomegranates have some seriously amazing antioxidant powers, which protect the body from damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of developing certain conditions, such as cancer and atherosclerosis.

If you hit the sweets a bit too hard on Halloween, swapping out your morning orange juice for pomegranate juice may be a tasty way to safeguard your dental health; research shows it helps control inflammation, gingivitis, and periodontitis thanks to its anti-bacterial capabilities.

Not sure how to incorporate pomegranates into your diet? This slightly sour fruit produces a great base for marinades, while the seeds add texture and flavor to salads.

2. Turnips

With a harvest season spanning from September through April, you have plenty of time to jump onto the turnip truck to boost your intake of vitamins C, A, K, and folate.

Enthuses Health of turnips, “Tender and mild, these root vegetables are a great alternative to radishes and cabbage. To flavor these veggies, use fennel, bread crumbs, or even brown sugar. Turnip leaves, which taste like mustard leaves, are easy to cook and dense in nutrients.”

3. Brussels Sprouts

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there is no denying that these cruciferous veggies –along with others in the family, including broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage — are loaded with health benefits. Says The Science of Eating: “This group of vegetables offers a unique composition of antioxidants that promotes good health. Additionally, Brussels sprouts are low in calories, while offering protein, vitamins, and minerals to support a healthy body.”

Still not sold on the mighty sprout? They are also low in calories but high in fiber, loaded with inflammation-fighting glucobrassicin, and rich in vitamins A, K, and C for healthier bones and teeth, as well as a fortified immune system.

We challenge you not to fall in love with this simple Brussels sprouts recipe guaranteed to please even Brussels sprouts’ most avowed, lifelong enemies.

4. Dates

If you have never eaten a date, you have no idea what you have been missing. Says The Food Revolution Network of this sweet, sticky treat: “Since biblical times, dates were believed to possess profound healing properties, but only now is science catching up to confirm that our distant ancestors knew exactly what they were talking about….When we apply the complementary lenses of modern scientific investigation and ancient wisdom, dates begin to look like both a holy  and a super-food of immense value.”

Adds Martha Stewart:  “Dates are enjoying a popular resurgence, thanks in part to their reputation as a healthier alternative sweetener to refined sugar, rich in minerals and fiber. But dates have a place in savory cooking too, especially in the popular Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as in the raw-food movement.” Not sure where to begin when it comes to cooking with dates? These seven recipes are a great place to start. 

5. Tangerines

A variant of the Mandarin orange, tangerines offer profound health benefits, including fighting disease and arthritis, healing cuts and wounds, improving digestion, reducing cholesterol levels, curing sepsis, enhancing cell division, and much more.

Says StyleCraze of these juicy jewels: “In the northern hemisphere, peak Tangerine season starts from October and lasts until April. The fruit is known for its fresh and citrus taste with its low calorie and high nutrient content. The vitamin content in the fruit is the best in its class. Tangerines are also a rich source of vitamin C, folate, and beta-carotene. The taste of tangerine is stronger than orange; it is less sour and much sweeter.”

So what are you waiting for? Whether you are planning today’s lunch or your Thanksgiving dinner, adding these five superfoods to your diet can help you embrace the season’s abundant offerings and build your body at the same time. But don’t forget that diet and exercise go hand in hand. Head into the holiday season feeling your best by signing up for a trial pass at Brick Bodies today.