Perfect Summer Superfoods

Whether its picnics by the pool or barbeques in the back yard, good food is a top priority on the list of things to try this summer. Although no one denies veggie burgers and salads are good for your taste buds and waistline, it’s time to spice it up with some July super-foods that will have you looking and feeling great in the summer sun.

Add a juicy side dish or topping to your burger by grilling up fresh zucchini. Being mostly water, this summer squash will satisfy your hunger at just 21 calories per cup. Zucchini is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants to boost your immune system, protect skin from harsh UVA/UVB rays, and prevent several chronic diseases.

For a refreshing snack by the pool, grab a cup of blackberries. For only 62 calories per cup, blackberries offer almost eight grams of fiber and approximately 127 grams of water to keep you full without filling you out. These berries contain vitamins A and K to assist in all of your outdoor activities by supporting vision, tightening summer skin, clotting nasty cuts and scrapes, and keeping over-worked bones healthy.
Both summer superfoods provide folate for cell and reproductive health and several B vitamin complexes for sustained energy this July.

Reference: The National Agricultural Library. “Food Group.”National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Release 26. Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 8 July 2014. <http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods>.