You might be missing the bright colors of the superfoods you enjoy fresh all summer long. You can still find them on store shelves this time of year, but they lack the freshness you might be craving.
Even though berries, avocado, and other summer favorites might be out of season, the winter has its seasonal superfood offerings. Just because your region might be blanketed in snow and cooler temperatures doesn’t mean you can’t still eat healthily.
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Some of the most nutritional winter superfoods include nuts like almonds and walnuts, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pomegranate, and a host of spices, including cinnamon, cloves, hot chilies, and cumin.
These foods might not scream “winter,” but they are definitely seasonal superfoods. They can add valuable nutrients and antioxidants while helping spice up the season.
Research has suggested a host of benefits associated with eating nuts. A serving per day—about a small handful/about an ounce—is associated with longer lives, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, and more. Raw or roasted almonds, walnuts, or pistachios are great options.
Pomegranate is a seasonal fruit that has the potential to improve health in several ways. It is a great source of antioxidants like vitamin C and other phytochemicals that can act as anti-inflammatories and contribute to a healthy and strong immune system.
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Spices like cinnamon, cloves, cumin, turmeric, and more are all seasonal offerings that can taste great and boost health. Many of these spices possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon, for example, may help support healthy blood sugar.
Cinnamon can add warmth to teas, baked goods, oatmeal, and stewed fruit like apples and rhubarb.
As great as superfoods can be, it is essential to remember that the benefits are contextual. Overall diet plays a far more important role in your health than individual foods, so doing your best to eat healthy foods the majority of the time is the best way to enjoy the benefits they have to offer.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
