Five Healthiest Late Summer Produce Picks

September 7th, 2021

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

Summer is not yet over. These fresh fruits and vegetables are in season in late summer, offering big bursts of flavor and optimum nutrition. Take a peek into our late-summer produce list for a taste of the outstanding health benefits before the season ends.

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1. Tomatoes

Whether turned into soup, roasted, pickled or added to your homemade bruschetta, tomatoes rarely run out of use in a busy kitchen. However, they are also popular for being one of the richest sources of lycopene in the Western world.

Lycopene is a naturally occurring red carotenoid that offers the rich pigment of tomatoes, watermelon and other fruits. It has been extensively probed for over 70 years, if more than 2,000 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 4,000 other publications on the subject are any indication.^[i]

Scientists have long attributed the association of tomatoes with reduced cancer and cardiovascular disease to lycopene, primarily because of its antioxidant properties.^[ii]

In a study, researchers speculated on the link between lycopene and a lower incidence of cardiovascular conditions.^[iii] They looked at the effect of lycopene and tomatoes on oxidized LDL cholesterol, finding a modest benefit against oxidative stress affecting LDL cholesterol levels. They also probed three tomato studies and one lycopene study finding improved HDL cholesterol.

2. Cucumbers

The saying “cool as a cucumber” couldn’t be any more accurate, particularly on sweltering August days when everybody needs something refreshing. You’ll find here a cool cucumber and avocado soup recipe for those relentlessly warm days.

Cucumbers won’t get left behind when it comes to health perks. They have a high water content and are in fact made up of 96% water.^[iv]Low-calorie and extremely hydrating, cucumber can also help slash the excess pounds: an analysis of 13 studies involving 3,628 people associated foods with high water and low calorie content with a significant reduction in body weight.^[v]

In an animal study examining the impact of plants on blood sugar, cucumbers also surfaced as an effective weapon to reduce and keep sugar levels under control.^[vi]

3. Bell Peppers

A cousin of the well-loved tomato in the nightshade family, bell peppers are a popular pick for easy summer salads, the favorite stuffed green pepper and as part of side dishes during steak and fajita nights. They are not only a hearty addition to summer meals but also rich in antioxidants whether in green, yellow, orange or red sweet varieties.^[vii]

Lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are abundant in orange and yellow peppers, help improve eye health.^[viii] Bell peppers’ exceptionally high vitamin C content also helps increase iron absorption from the gut.^[ix],[x]

4. Melons

A refreshing summer treat, melons such as cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew are part of the Cucurbitaceae family along with cucumber. Cantaloupe is known by different names including mush melon, muskmelon and rock melon.

Melons are rich in vitamin A, offering 299.13 micrograms (mcg) or 33% of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) in a 177 gram (g) serving.^[xi]They are also chock full of vitamin C in every serving, packing 65 milligrams (mg) or 72% of the RDI.

Vitamin C, along with fiber, potassium and choline, support cardiovascular wellness. Potassium, which is plenty at 473 mg or 10% of the RDI in the same serving, can help reduce blood pressure and keep it at healthy levels.

As a good source of folate providing 8% of the RDI, melons may also help maintain strong bones, as folate is essential in breaking down homocysteine — increased levels of which have been tied to decreased bone mineral density.^[xii]

5. Berries

What would warm late-summer days be like without the colors and tangy taste of berries in sorbets, puddings and easy salads? This group is deemed one of the healthiest on the planet, mainly because they are loaded with antioxidants for keeping free radicals and the cell damage and oxidative stress they cause at bay.^[xiii]

In a study, blueberries, blackberries as well as raspberries had the highest antioxidant activity among common fruits, right next to the pomegranate.^[xiv] Harvard researchers noted that consuming three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries weekly can lower the risk of heart attacks in women.^[xv]

Based on their examination of 93,600 women ages 25 to 42 as part of the Nurses’ Health Study II, they concluded that at least three servings of the berries every week can slash heart attack risk by as much as one-third. Berries are also considered effective brain protectors and cancer fighters.

Find a rich collection of scientific findings on fruits and vegetables on the GreenMedInfo.com database and have a fresh feast on your table as summer draws to a close.

References:

[i] Story E et al “An Update on the Health Effects of Tomato Lycopene” Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2010; 1: 10.1146/annurev.food.102308.124120.

[ii] Agarwal S et al “Tomato lycopene and its role in human health and chronic diseases” CMAJ. 2000 Sep 19; 163(6): 739-744.

[iii] Burton-Freeman et al “Whole Food versus Supplement: Comparing the Clinical Evidence of Tomato Intake and Lycopene Supplementation on Cardiovascular Risk Factors” Adv Nutr. 2014 Sep; 5(5): 457-485.

[iv] Guelinckx I et al “Contribution of Water from Food and Fluids to Total Water Intake: Analysis of a French and UK Population Surveys” Nutrients. 2016 Oct; 8(10): 630. Epub 2016 Oct 14.

[v] Stelmach-Mardas M et al “Link between Food Energy Density and Body Weight Changes in Obese Adults” Nutrients. 2016 Apr; 8(4): 229. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

[vi] Roman-Ramos R et al “Anti-hyperglycemic effect of some edible plants” J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Aug 11;48(1):25-32.

[vii] Sun T et al “Antioxidant activities of different colored sweet bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)” J Food Sci. 2007 Mar;72(2):S98-102.

[viii] Abdel-Aal E et al “Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids and their role in eye health” Nutrients. 2013 Apr 9;5(4):1169-85.

[ix] Thankachan P et al “Iron absorption in young Indian women: the interaction of iron status with the influence of tea and ascorbic acid” Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr;87(4):881-6.

[x] Nerdy N “Determination of Vitamin C in Various Colours of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) by Titration Method” ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia. 2018 Feb;14(1):164.

[xi] NutritionValue.org https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Melons%2C_raw%2C_cantaloupe_nutritional_value.html