STAY HEALTHY THIS WINTER
Cold & Flu Season is Here, Fresh Fruits & Veggies to the Rescue!
It's that time of year again when it seems people are coughing and sneezing everywhere you go. To help keep you healthy this winter (or recover quickly if you've already been knocked out with a bug), we've put together some farmers' market style health tips. Disclaimer: Always check with your healthcare professional for guidance to best cater to your individual needs.
Grapefruits and Oranges--Bring 'Em On!
The age old nutrition tip--get plenty of Vitamin C! Citrus, like different varieties of oranges and grapefruit, are excellent sources of Vitamin C, which is essential in helping prevent those winter germs from knocking down your door. Vitamin C also helps your body heal and has been shown to help lower blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Beautiful fresh seasonal citrus is available from several of our farmers including Atkins Nursery (Fallbrook, CA), Nicholas Organic Farms (Orange Cove, CA), Pedro's Organic Ranch (Fallbrook, CA) and Bautista Creek Local Produce (Hemet, CA). Bautista even has fresh squeezed unpasteurized juice (means all the happy vitamins and minerals are still in it!) available at their juice bar onsite every Saturday. Your family will thank you for the immunity boost with fresh squeezed OJ and orange slice snacks on hand.
Dark Leafy Greens to Heal
Dark green lettuces are an amazing nutritious cool weather California crop to eat more of this season. Salad mixes like this, and other leafy greens like spinach, kale, and chard are excellent sources of Vitamins K and A. Sometimes Vitamin K doesn't get enough props, but it sure does help us when we need it most. Vitamin K not only promotes bone health (combined with calcium of course), but it also helps you heal from minor cuts and scrapes (which is important during flu season when your immune system is tested). One cup of fresh salad mix is about two handfuls and is equal to one veggie serving. Arugula, salad mixes, and bok choy are available from Baustista Creek Local Produce. Menos Organic Farms has chard, lettuces, and kale. Gaytan Family Farms has lettuces and spinach.
Heart Healthy Avocados
Avocados are in season and it's high time we take them off the "too fat, no thanks" list. Yes, avos are high in fat, but the type of fat really matters here. Avos are rich in healthy fats that promote good cardiovascular health. Research has also pointed to their anti-inflammatory benefits which help when the body is sick. Avos are also an excellent fruit rich in fiber to keep your digestive system healthy. Fuertes are in season now! Come give them a try! Fresh avocados from Bautista Creek Local Produce, Pedro's Organic Ranch, and Atkins Nursery.
Go Nuts for Almonds
Almonds are known to be the healthy nuts on the block. Almonds pack in a serious nutritional punch to help with inflammation and they also promote heart health. Almonds are a good source of Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant known to keep your immune system, hair, and skin healthy. And remember, almonds are packed with healthy fats to keep you feeling full longer. You can get a variety of almond products every Saturday from Hopkins Ag including: raw almonds, roasted, flavored, almond butter, and almond meal.
Our local honeybees work so hard in springtime to do so much more than pollinate our gardens. Raw local honey is one of the best natural methods to help calm the seasonal allergies that tend to arise when the Santa Ana winds get going. Honey is nature's natural sweetener and offers up a sustainable way to support the local ecosystem. Bee Ladies Raw Honey from Placentia offers the best local honey products around including: raw honey (orange blossom, avocado blossom, wildflower), honey comb, bee pollen, raw creamed honey, and of course honey stix for the kids.
We sure do hope we've given you a few tips to stay healthy this winter. We're proud to provide the best California grown fresh foods for you and your family.
Join us this Saturday for our local farmers, gourmet food vendors, and our food truck line-up including: Taco Maria, Rancho a Go Go, Barcelona on the Go, and Garlicscapes. See you Saturday!
For regular tips and updates, like us on Facebook.
For regular tips and updates, like us on Facebook.
-SoCo CFM
