Tag: vitamin C

Categories
Fruit Tips

The best fruits to help you during allergy season!

If you have seasonal allergies and you enjoy eating fruits, you are reading the right article!

Some fruits can help you during allergy

There are several fruits that provide you with specific benefits during seasonal allergies. These usually start during Spring season and can go through Fall. It’s very important to have a strong immune system during seasonal allergies. So why not start by eating clean, healthy foods like fruits. We will list here the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

  • Citrus Fruits: they are full of vitamin C! The best way to increase your immunity is to get vitamin C in its most natural form. It’s good to take vitamins in capsules. It’s even better to get it from eating the actual fruit. Whole foods are full of minerals and antioxidants that aren’t found in most supplements.  Oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kiwis are some examples of great fruits to eat during allergy season. Lemons and oranges are in season mostly from March through November.
Slices of citrus fruits
  • Strawberries: they are also in season mostly from Spring until Fall! Which means you can get the best from strawberries to help you fight your allergy symptoms. Fruits are in their most nutrient rich form when they are in season! Strawberries, as other berries like blueberries, are rich in Quercetin. Some of its beneficial effects include anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activities. Quercetin blocks histamines from cells and other allergic substance acting as a natural antihistamine. It’s ability to prevent allergic effects can help treat asthma and bronchitis.

Most red fruits contains flavonoids known as anthocyanins.

  • Cherries and grapes: also acting as antihistamine, anthocyanins are helpful for reducing congestion in sinuses passages. To get the best out of these flavonoids, make sure to keep them cool. Making blueberry pancakes or boiling strawberries to make jam significantly reduce the amount of anthocyanins. Try making fresh smoothies during allergy season!
  • Tomatoes: full of vitamin C and important source of lycopene. This is a carotenoide that helps reduce inflammation. It decreases the allergic response of eosinophils, a type of cell that promotes allergy symptoms. Different then berries, steaming or boiling  tomatoes bring out more lycopene for optimal nutrition.
  • Pineapples: they have bromelain – an enzyme that can ease sinus congestion. It fights inflammation helping reduce the swelling brought on by pollen and other seasonal allergens. Pineapples are easy to find all year-round. However, enjoy the sweetest pineapples in the Spring season, from March to July! Learn here how to pick the best pineapples at the grocery store.
Big tomato
PIneapple can help you during allergy season
Apple can help you during allergy season
  • Apples: just like berries, apples have quercetin which helps block histamines. Quercetin is found in the peel of apples. So, make sure to eat apples with skin on during allergies season! On the other hand, apples and other fruits, can cause allergy reaction to people with pollen food allergy syndrome. These fruits have proteins similar to those in allergenic trees. People who have birch pollen allergies might have reactions to apples and peaches, for example.

In general, these are the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

Fruits can be a great natural source of protection for your health if you struggle with seasonal allergies. For kids who have difficulties eating fruits, try serving them in a creative way. Check out our post to make a very easy and fun plate with bluberries and oranges. They will enjoy these and get the necessary antioxidants for the allergy season!

Categories
Fruit Benefits

The powerful acerola and its immune benefits.

How can we benefit from the powerful acerola?

Did you know acerola cherry has 16 times more vitamin C than oranges? Let’s check out the powerful acerola cherry and its immune benefits! One cup of acerola has 1,700mg of vitamin C while one cup of orange (slices) has 96mg.

Mexico and South America are home to fresh acerola. The Northeast of Brazil is the ideal region for acerola to grow. The acerola tree is a typical tropical tree. It’s impossible to grow outdoors in temperate climates. The only option is to grow it in pots and bring it indoors in a heated moist greenhouse during winter.

Even though the powerful fresh acerola cherry is mostly grown in tropical countries, we find acerola in other forms.

In the U.S. it is now fairly easy to find frozen puree acerola pouches at the grocery stores. It’s becoming common to add it to smoothies and juices. Acerola has a tart taste so mixing it with other fruits will help sweeten your smoothie. Another option is, for example, to add sugar if you want to drink purely acerola juice. Monkfruit sugar is a great natural resource, it’s zero glycemic! Monkfruit sugar also tastes more like the sugar we are used to having, like cane sugar.

Acerola puree packet

Acerola Juice shot is another way you find acerola cherry to help your immunity. Packed with vitamin C, you find these acerola shots in some grocery stores. They are usually 2-ounce bottles of 100 % cold-pressed acerola cherries. It’s a great option to boost our immunity especially when we start feeling “under the weather.”

And for more examples of how you can find the powerful acerola cherry and its immune benefits: acerola powder and acerola capsules can also help boost your immune system!

You can find these at vitamin stores, pharmacies, or grocery stores. You have the option to add acerola powder to smoothies. As far as acerola in capsules goes, they are a great option for your daily vitamins. Ascorbic acid is not the greatest source of vitamin C. So finding acerola as one of the main ingredients in Vitamin C capsules or in any immune booster is your best option. They are not only packed with vitamin c, but they are also a natural source. Acerola is much more bioavailable than synthesized ascorbic acid found in dietary supplements.

Check out our Acerola and mango juice recipe. Just blend one pouch of frozen acerola (about 100 grams), one fresh mango (about half cup), and a half cup of water. To make it sweeter, add one teaspoon of monk fruit sugar and/or two strawberries.

Check out and shop our Acerola Boosted Tank Top for a powerful look! Enjoy the powerful acerola cherry and its immune benefits!

Categories
Fruit Benefits

8 fruits that will boost your immune system in the new year

These 8 winter fruits will boost your immunity and make you stronger in the new year!

During the winter season, we need to protect ourselves from cold and flu. There are so many things we can do to keep our immune system strong: exercise regularly, get adequate sleep, minimize stress, and eat a healthy diet. Several fruits have the power to help build a better immune system for our bodies. Keep in mind that fruits in season can be very beneficial when compared to the same produce available at the grocery stores all year round. These are the 8 fruits that will boost your immune system and make you stronger for the new year:

  • Oranges are often known as abundant in vitamin C. That is very true as one 8 ounce glass of orange juice contains 100% of our daily recommended value. Vitamin C promotes the production and function of the immune cells. Vitamin D and plant compounds also found in oranges, help fight infection and help build a strong immune system.
  • Pomegranates not only have vitamin C and E that help boost our immune system, but they have also shown to be antibacterial and antiviral in lab tests. Even though pomegranates are in season between the months of September and November, they store well and are available in December and January.
  • Clementines have amazing properties, one of them is 54 mg of vitamin C for 100g edible clementines. Even though they are sweeter, clementines are very similar to tangerines which also offer important benefits to our bodies.
  • Lemons are not only great when we are thirsty and we see a lemonade stand during the summer, they are actually best when they are in season, during the winter! Lemons not only contain vitamin C, but they also have about 60mcg of zinc per 100g. By the way, you are better off squeezing a lemon into a glass of water than making a sugary lemonade.
  • Grapefruits are not only high in vitamin C, they also have a great anti-inflammatory effect. Grapefruits have the power to restore levels of glutathione, a molecule recognized as one of the body’s most powerful antioxidants. Try our easy and delicious yogurt and grapefruit recipe.
  • Apples have quercetin in the skin, which is a type of plant pigment that helps boost your immune system. Apples are best if eaten fresh. Dehydrating or drying them removes vitamin C, which is predominantly in the flesh. A fun way to enjoy apples is by making this dark chocolate and apple recipe. Don’t forget to leave the skin on!
  • Pears may promote gut health due to their high fiber amount. Fibers are considered prebiotics which improves immunity. Pears are also a great source of flavonoid antioxidants, which help fight inflammation and may decrease your risk of disease. Just be sure to eat the peel because that is where you can find many of this fruit’s nutrients.
Rich results on Google's SERP when searching for 'juice to help immunity'

Try this delicious winter juice! Just add kiwi, clementines, grapefruit, and apples in a blender followed by a little bit of water and honey. After blending it well, use a colander to allow the juice to drain. Add a few ice cubes if you prefer and enjoy this boost of vitamin C with a straw! With these 8 fruits that will boost your immune system, you can create several different juice recipes.