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| 3 Summer Fruits You Absolutely Need to Eat |
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| As someone who is already in touch with his or her healthier side, you know the benefits of eating fruit. But now that summer is here, there are three fresh fruits you really need to load up on — watermelon, tomatoes (yes, they are fruit!) and strawberries. Why? Well, the easy answer is they have a treasure trove of antioxidants. But what really matters is how those antioxidants benefit you and why you'll get more out of them in the summer.
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Watermelon, Tomatoes and Lycopene
You probably don't think that watermelon and tomatoes go together, but they actually have a lot in common. Both are technically fruits (although the government classifies tomatoes as vegetables ... but that's another story), and more importantly, both are excellent sources of lycopene.
Lycopene is your best defense in fighting off free radicals (unrepaired molecules in the body) that can wreak havoc on your immune system by increasing the effects of everything from an asthma attack to joint inflammation to heart disease. In addition, lycopene also helps protect against prostate, breast and lung cancers.
That's reason enough to eat more watermelon and tomatoes. But why should you eat even more in the summer? Recent studies have shown that lycopene also acts as a natural sunblock, and actually can help shield your skin from the sun's UV rays.
How are those for health benefits? To get the full effects of everything lycopene has to offer, try to eat a serving or two of watermelon and/or tomatoes a day.
Strawberry Goodness
Strawberries are one of the world's most popular fruits, so likely you can get them year-round in some form or another. However, fresh strawberries have that little bit extra that makes them a summer essential.
While strawberries contain antioxidants such as vitamin C, B2, B5 and B6, what really sets them apart is their overabundance of phenols. Phenols are specialized antioxidants that help fight off different types of cancer, protect the heart and even work as an anti-inflammatory. In fact, the anti-inflammation properties found in strawberries work much the same way as aspirin or ibuprofen, without any of the potential side effects.
You should eat more strawberries in the summer because you can get them fresh, which helps ensure that you'll get the maximum amount of phenol benefits with every bite. Ideally, try to have a serving of strawberries every day throughout the summer months. You'll get more than just a sweet treat; you'll give your body a healthy defense.
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