Healthy autumn foods
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Probably nobody in the industrial globalization world can imagine a nutrition just based on seasonal and regional products, right? However, our grandmothers and grandfathers lived that way and it is often stated that they lived healthier than we do in these days.
Of course, we don’t have to give up on all the delicious exotic foods, however our regional and seasonal products do provide benefits as well.
Here are three typical and healthy autumn foods which perfect meals can be made of when the days get shorter and cooler.
1. Carrots
Carrots are very nutritious and capable to improve our health. A very powerful antioxidant, the beta-carotene is found in huge amounts in carrots. Antioxidants are substances which inhibit oxidative processes in the body. Beta-carotene is additionally the precursor of vitamin A, the so-called provitamin A. Furthermore, carrots contain vitamin B1, B2 and B6, and vitamin K. Vitamin K is a lipophilic vitamin, which means it should be taken with fat to increase bioavailability. There are also several minerals in carrots, e.g. phosphorus, copper, potassium and calcium.
It is believed that eating carrots may help reduce the risk of premature aging, heart diseases, strokes and even some types of cancer.
2. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are low-sugar, high-fiber foods. They contain huge amounts of different vitamins, e.g. C, A, E, D and B6. Vitamins A, E and D are again lipophilic, it is thus recommended to take them with some fat to get the most out of them. Iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium are valuable minerals that can be found in sweet potatoes.
The ingredients of sweet potatoes may assist reducing the risk of hear diseases and strokes, asthma, arthritis and some types of cancer as well as induce better resistance to infections.
3. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is one of the most famous autumn foods. There are myriads of different types of pumpkin and all of them are particularly healthy. Pumpkin contains again huge amounts of the lipophilic vitammins A and E, in additon to vitamin C and the minerals selenium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. The seeds of pumpkins as well are a good source of nutrients, e.g. omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, proteins and minerals.
Pumpkin seeds are used in natural medicine to treat intestinal parasites and to regulate urinating. They can also be used to improve symptoms of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, skin diseases, heart diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis.