With warm weather, long days, and long nights, summer is the season of abundance in many ways—plenty of time to indulge in good company, great food, and gorgeous scenery. And what better way to enjoy all of these things than with some fresh fruit? Here are 10 tasty summer fruits to try this year!
1. Watermelon
The best fruit for summer is watermelon, like many of its melon counterparts, is full of vitamins A and C. It’s also a great source of lycopene, which has been linked to preventing certain types of cancer.
(1) For example, one study found that eating just 3 and a half ounces of watermelon resulted in roughly 10 percent more lycopene in our bloodstream than when we ate none. And lycopene may also help reduce risks associated with cardiovascular disease. According to research published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, blood pressure significantly decreased after participants consumed tomato-based products; it stayed low even an hour after they finished eating.
2. Mango
The mango is a one great fruits for summer . It’s sweet and tart, a good source of fiber, and is relatively low in calories. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C (in fact, one cup contains more than your daily requirement of vitamin A). They are also an excellent source of potassium, an important nutrient for healthy blood pressure levels. Mangoes are grown throughout the world; some people say their favorite place to eat them is Hawaii. Whether you enjoy them on your own or use them as part of another recipe, there’s no denying that they’re delicious! By: Marc Matsumoto
3. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of my favorite summertime fruits. Not only are they tasty, but they’re also low in calories and fat-free. A serving of fresh strawberries only contains 46 calories and no fat! I eat them by themselves or on top of my favorite cereal. Plus, the strawberry syrup can be used to make smoothies even more flavorful and delicious!
4. Grapes
Grapes are a healthy snack and have only 80 calories in a cup. Whether you eat them fresh or dried, grapes contain vitamins A, C, and K; fiber; carbohydrates; as well as B-complex vitamins such as folate, riboflavin, and thiamine. Grapes help keep our bodies hydrated by promoting urination, while also lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Due to their high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols, grape skins are believed to fight against cancer cells by inhibiting tumor formation. This can be attributed to their high concentration of resveratrol, which aids in protecting human DNA from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation.
5. Pineapple
This richly flavored tropical fruit is a healthy addition to any meal. It has been shown to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may lower cholesterol. For those with high blood pressure, consuming pineapple regularly may help keep them in check. Pineapple is also a good source of manganese, which supports good bone health and metabolism, as well as copper and vitamin C. There are no known side effects of eating fresh pineapple. Consuming too much pineapple can cause kidney stones in some people; therefore, doctors recommend that these individuals limit their consumption to just a few slices per day. That said because it contains bromelain (which breaks down protein), some people with digestion issues experience gas or bloating after eating pineapple.
6. Cantaloupe
One of the main reasons people avoid cantaloupe is because it smells weird. But there’s no need to be intimidated by its weird smell, as long as you know how to pick a good one. If cantaloupe is slightly soft but not mushy in your hand, it’s ripe. A ripe cantaloupe should smell sweet and melony. Once you get it home, store it in a cool place (either in or out of an airtight container), and don’t wash it until you plan on eating it. If a cantaloupe doesn’t smell sweet, that means either it’s overripe or rotten.
7. Apricots
Apricots belong to a family of sweet, round fruits that are orange on the outside and white on the inside. This family also includes peaches, nectarines, and plums. Apricots usually ripen in late spring or early summer, depending on where you live. You can grow apricots as trees or bushes.
8. Blueberries
Blueberries are one of nature’s healthiest fruits. It is a best fruit for summer. Rife with antioxidants, they can help keep our minds and skin young and are filled with vitamin C. Packed with flavor, they taste great in cereal or on their own! And since blueberries can be kept fresh for months in a freezer, there’s no reason not to stock up on these little guys. Not just tasty but good-looking as well, blueberries come in beautiful shades of purple that add color to any dish. They also provide natural sweetness without any added sugar which is always a plus!
9. Cherries
Cherries are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Some research shows that regularly eating cherries lowers your risk of stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and arthritis. They are also a good source of fiber and contain natural pain relievers. Cherries offer one of the highest antioxidant capacities among fresh fruits with more than 100,000 ORAC units per serving (1 cup). They have a unique flavor that blends well with other fruit flavors, making them great in fruit salads or mixed with yogurt. Fresh cherries are delicious on their own or you can add dried cherries to your granola to mix things up a bit.
10. Grapefruit
Keeps you in a constant state of fullness so it’s great at preventing overeating. Grapefruit is also good at regulating blood sugar and insulin levels, which prevents spikes that could lead to cravings and hunger. Additionally, grapefruit contains natural compounds called limonoids that boost metabolism and burn fat. Finally, because it has a low glycemic index (GI), it doesn’t release sugars into your bloodstream too quickly, which can make you feel hungry again sooner than if you had eaten something with a higher GI. All of these factors add up to one thing: eating grapefruit can help decrease your calorie intake—and keep your belly from bulging out over your belt.
