It is the season to pick up goodies from a garden or farmers market! I love fresh fruits and vegetables during this time of year for that reason alone. How fun is it to talk to the farmer at the market and really find out how he grew the okra? Or take your child (like my 4 year old son) out into the garden in the morning in your pj’s and decide what you are going to eat for dinner!?
Did you know that most produce travels hundreds, if not thousands of miles to get from the farm to your plate? There are nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can be lost along the way. If at all possible, try and buy local or organic—-it will do your body some good!
Last night we were at a friends house milling through her beautiful garden and the children (3 in all) were popping cherry tomatoes in their mouths faster than we could put them in our basket. The simple joys of warm summer nights…..
One highlight from my garden right now is hot peppers. The “stuff” that makes them hot is called capsaicin. 80% of this active phytochemical is in the ribs and seeds so don’t through all of that out, try and eat a little “heat”. A study published in Cancer Research found that capsaicin caused cancer cells to commit suicide. Prostate tumors treated with capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of those that were untreated in a study with mice. Capsaicin also provides pain relief, acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothes stomach issues, and aids in weight loss by boosting metabolism.
Next time you have the chance to grab some fruit or vegetables from a garden or local market, be sure to include one (if not more!) hot peppers in your basket.