By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
This time of year, we find ourselves meandering around the produce section wondering what on Earth we should eat.
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Everyone loves sweet treats like strawberries and blueberries, but when they're not at their peak, is it worth spending the money on fruit that's been flown in from thousands of miles away?
We broke it down for you, fruit by fruit:
Strawberries: This time of year, you're paying a premium for strawberries that are flown in from overseas -- leaving a huge carbon footprint as well as possible health risks, since some of these countries may not have the same regulations that we do here in the United States.
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The health benefits: Strawberries are rich in collagen-firming vitamin C, and popping them before you exercise can help you burn 30 percent more fat. For more reasons to eat strawberries, click here.
Your best bet: Buy organic frozen strawberries, says Dr. Preston Maring, assistant physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente's Oakland Medical Center (in his spare time, Maring started the first hospital-based farmer's market!). "It's critically important to eat fruits and vegetables any way you can get them, but frozen organic food is a much better option than shipping stuff in from 2,000 miles away," he says.
Blueberries: Like strawberries, if they're not grown locally, there are environmental and health impacts to eating out of season.
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The health benefits: Phytonutrients in blueberries can help prevent skin cancer and flavonoids help brain cells fire quicker. For more on why blueberries rock, click here.
Your best bet: Go frozen until local blueberries are available. But once they are, focus on local sources and sustainably grown blueberries, says Susan Fisher, professor of foods and nutrition at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.
"The case for blueberries is interesting in that in N.C., as in many areas, if native species are being selected, they flourish with no need for any [pesticide] spraying at all," she says. Also keep in mind that berries freeze very well, so when seasonal abundance is at a high, buy a bunch and freeze them to use in the off-season when local produce is MIA.
Citrus: Including oranges, apples and bananas.
The health benefits: Women who eat citrus have fewer wrinkles, and vitamin C boosts your immune system to help you stay illness-free. Here are a few more reasons to fall in love with oranges.
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Your best bet: Eat up. With April inching closer, many citrus fruits are already available within the United States, says Cassie Vanderwall, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant in the Nutrition and Wellness Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
In the next month, the produce department at your local supermarket will come alive: Look for asparagus, onions and greens to hit shelves soon -- at affordable prices.
We can't wait for the farmer's market to open. You?
More from SELF:
- 10 Ways to Lose Weight Like a Guy
- 20 Superfoods for Flat Abs
- Check out Jillian Michaels' Jump Start meal plan
- 6 Moves to Six-Pack Abs
- How to Cook Once and Eat Healthy All Week
Photo Credit: Condé Nast Digital Studio
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