![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/martins.eatsmartbewell.com\/home\/wp-content\/gallery\/articles\/16Spr_SummerProducePicks.jpg\")
<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nSummer Produce Picks<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> Apricots contain vitamins A and C, both of which are known to have antioxidant properties. Apricots are also a good source of potassium, a heart-healthy mineral that helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure. <\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> Choose fruit with a rich orange color. The flesh should be slightly soft but not mushy. <\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Slice and add to a salad, over ice cream, bake into pies or cakes or use them to make jams or jellies. Add flavor to savory chicken dishes with the addition of diced apricots. <\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> First cultivated about 4,000 years ago in China, the apricot was introduced to the United States in the 18th century.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> Skip the multivitamin and eat a cucumber. This vegetable contains a number of B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.<\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> Choose cucumbers that are firm with rounded edges and a smooth, dark green skin. <\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Many of the nutrients are found in a cucumber\u2019s skin, so leave the peel on to receive their full health benefits. Use thin slices to flavor water, or use to make pickles, a chilled soup or tzatziki (a Greek condiment made with grated cucumber, plain yogurt, olive oil, vinegar and fresh dill). <\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> Cucumbers can eliminate bad breath. Hold a slice on the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds and let the phytochemicals in cucumbers kill odor-causing bacteria.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> With its high water content and being rich in potassium (a natural electrolyte), watermelon is a perfect treat for staying hydrated during the summer heat. <\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> Look for a watermelon with a smooth, unblemished rind. When lifted, it should feel heavy for its size. <\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Fresh watermelon needs no added seasonings and flavorings. It can be eaten all on its own, but it\u2019s also a wonderful addition to salads, fruit cocktail and frozen drinks. Use it to make a refreshing sorbet or brush slices with oil and grill just until grill marks appear.<\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> Watermelon is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> Tomatoes are a low calorie vegetable that are low in fat and have no cholesterol. They are rich in lycopene, a compound known to make skin less sensitive to UV light damage.<\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> Pick tomatoes that have a bright red color and firm, wrinkle-free skin. <\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Tomatoes are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, often found in sauces, salads and soups. Add slices to burgers, sandwiches and pizza; sprinkle halved tomatoes with grated Parmesan cheese and oregano, then grill until the cheese melts; toss cherry tomatoes into fresh summer salads or add to kabobs. <\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> According to Guinness World Record, the heaviest tomato ever was 7 lbs 12 oz. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> Mangoes are a water dense fruit that are only 100 calories per cup. They have high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C which help lower cholesterol. <\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> The color of a mango doesn\u2019t indicate how ripe it is. Give it a little squeeze \u2013 firm flesh with a little give means the mango is ripe.<\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Eat mangoes out of hand as a healthy snack or add to salads, smoothies or salsas. The fruit has natural tenderizing properties so they\u2019re the perfect addition to marinades and chutneys. <\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> Mangoes were first grown in India over 5,000 years ago and are now one of the world\u2019s most popular fruits. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health Benefits:<\/span><\/span> Next time you have a cold reach for chile peppers. Not only will the capsaicin (the chemical compound that gives peppers their spicy kick) clear blocked sinuses, the peppers are loaded with vitamin C. <\/p>\n Buy It:<\/span><\/span> Whether the shade is green, red, yellow or orange, the color of the chile pepper should be vibrant with shiny skin. <\/p>\n Serve It:<\/span><\/span> Add chile peppers to anything to give it a kick \u2013 fish, meat, chicken, eggs sauces, soups, pizzas and burgers. Grill whole to mellow their spice, and then chop and stir into mayonnaise for a flavorful sandwich spread.<\/p>\n Fun Fact:<\/span><\/span> The burning sensation from the capsaicin only affects mammals.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer Produce Picks Apricots Health Benefits: Apricots contain vitamins A and C, both of which are known to have antioxidant properties. Apricots are also a good source of potassium, a heart-healthy mineral that helps regulate heart rate and blood … Continue reading Apricots <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Cucumbers<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Watermelon<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Tomatoes<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Mangoes<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Chile peppers<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n