Farmers markets offer a wide variety of fresh farm produce, which makes them an ideal place for your grocery shopping. Generally, these markets provide almost any fruit or vegetable you’d like to buy, plus, the prices can be even more reasonable than those at a supermarket if you shop wisely.
When choosing the nutriments you want to buy, you should know that different fruits and vegetables offer various nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and in different quantities.
You can get the most of your fruits and vegetables if you know which produce contains the most nutrients. The first step you need to take to improve your health is find out which produce is most nutritionally-packed.
Carrots are Rich in Beta-Carotene
Many people don’t know that carrots are healthier when cooked, which is not the case with most other vegetables that are best eaten fresh. Carrots release beta-carotene when cooked and this nutrient is extremely beneficial for both your skin and hair health.
Lycopene in Tomatoes Fights Cancer
Tomatoes are abundant in lycopene, which is a powerful anticancer agent. Lycopene content is up to 18 times higher in grape and cherry tomatoes compared to the more common beefsteak tomatoes. Tomatoes are quite versatile and can be added to salads, sandwiches, and soups.
Beets are Abundant in Betalains
Betalains found in beets are a strong cancer fighting compound. There are various ways you can include beets in your cooking – you can grill, boil or roast them, apart from eating them fresh in salads. It’s important to know that when cooking beets, you should also include the leafy tops as these contain more nutrients than the rest of the plant. The darker color of a beet, the more betalains it packs.
Kale is Packed with Nutrients
This recently proclaimed super food is nothing new to our grandmothers. Abounding in healthy nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamin C, and phytonutrients, kale does wonders for your health, especially when eaten raw. When shopping for kale always pick the freshest piece.
Ripe Watermelons Also Have Lycopene
Similar to tomatoes, ripe watermelons are also rich in lycopene, and the riper the watermelon the healthier it is. Fresh watermelon with a deep red center packs more of the cancer fighting properties of lycopene.
The Flesh of the Peach Abounds in Antioxidants
The flesh of the peach contains more antioxidants than the rest of the fruit, which is a good enough reason to never ignore this fruit on the Farmers market.
Dark Lettuce is Full of Anthocyanins
The darker heads of lettuce such as red, purple or brown lettuce have more nutrients, including anthocyanins, and have a fuller flavor than their lighter colored counterparts.
A good thing to do before heading for the Farmers market is make a list of foods you need to buy. Although you should look for new fruits and vegetables to put on your menu, always use a short list to make sure you don’t forget your essential produce. It’s important to remember that the more nutrients you include in your diet, the more health benefits you will obtain.
Source: TheScienceofEating.com
