Five Summer Nutrition Foods By Feline Butcher

Summer has a lot of readily available and healthy foods around to increase vitamin and mineral intake. Feline Kondula Butcher explains five summer foods that are easy to find, ideal for our health and won't cost the earth to buy.

5. The Power of the Blueberry

Blueberries may be an awkward color and come in a tiny round package, but they send out a punch when it comes to delivering Vitamin C. If you want your immune system to remain resistant a sure fire way of doing this is consuming bucket loads of blueberries. You will protect yourself from a host of illnesses and reduce your risk of developing plaques in your arteries, which lowers your chances of suffering from a heart attack or stroke. The blue color in blueberries is attributed from polyphenols and can keep bones healthy. Whereas the antioxidants can lower the risk and slow down the development of neurodegenerative diseases as well as regulate blood sugar levels.

4. Advocating the Avocado

People associate avocados with guacamole and a high fat content. However, avocados can be added to salads and on top of burgers and should not be passed over, because of their fat composition. The fat in avocados is unsaturated fat, so it is fat that is good for you. Monounsaturated fats can improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Some research also suggests that a diet rich in monounsaturated fats can maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Apart from all these benefits, avocados have fiber,vitamins B5, B6, C, K, folate and potassium, plus antioxidants for cell protection.

3. Chillin' and Beautifying with Cucumber

Cucumbers are versatile and so abundant during the summer season. They are a cheap and easy remedy for red and puffy eyes and an excellent way to add some flavor to a glass of water. Snacking on cucumbers will do you no harm, since they are high in fiber and low in calories. Cucumbers are packed with beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium, silica, vitamin C, K, and B5, so your blood pressure remains low, the body's connective tissues stay healthy and skin keeps hydrated. Some researchers also claim cucumbers have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits. Never remove the skin and seeds when eating cucumbers, because that is where all the nutrients are hiding.

2. Drink (Iced) Tea

Stay clear of fizzy drinks whether regular or heavily dosed with aspartame and pour yourself a glass of iced tea. Green tea has the same amount of antioxidants found in blueberries, grapes and pomegranates, which is a no brainer to keep healthy. Green tea lowers the risks of other health problems such as obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Don't brush off black tea just yet, because it too has many advantages.It can lower bad cholesterol while increasing levels of good cholesterol. What's even better, when the temperature starts to drop, you can drink tea hot and still get the same amazing health benefits.

1. See Well and get Sexy with Mangoes

Vitamin A is responsible for improved eyesight and apart from the cargo size of vitamin C for the immune system, mangoes have an abundance of vitamin A.The huge amounts of fiber, help keep you full for longer, lots of potassium for a healthy heart and is low in calories, fat, sodium and cholesterol. Along with vitamins A and C, mangoes have vitamin E, which maintain healthy levels of sex hormones, perfect for family planning couples.