We are gearing up for the Autumn Community Cleanse for 2023! It’s one of the best opportunities to straddle the seasons and enjoy the best produce from both late Summer and early Autumn. This time of year might be one of the most abundant for that very reason, and it’s a great opportunity to make the most of every fruit and vegetable that nature has to offer.
BLACKBERRIES: These little sweet treats are a great way to boost your overall body function. They are packed with Vitamin K, which is great for your bones. They also contain Vitamin C and Manganese. Blackberries have been shown to improve digestion and help regulate blood sugar levels. They can also reduce inflammation and improve brain function.
PEACHES: This fruit is still abundant and sweet in late summer, and like blackberries, are also full of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Peaches have small amounts of zinc which can help with your immune function, aid with wound healing, and help with your sense of taste and smell. They also contain Vitamin E, to boost your immune system, and nourish your skin and hair.
CORN: Corn often gets a bad rap, but the truth is that it can do wonders for your digestion. Corn is high in insoluble fiber, which bulks up stool (poop) and prevents constipation. It’s rich in Vitamin C, and yellow corn in particular contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for eye health.
SUMMER SQUASH: The yellow variety of this squash is the most nutritious, with a major dose of vitamins A, B6, and C, folate, magnesium, fiber, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium. Yellow squash is also rich in manganese, which helps the body helps the body form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones. It also plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.
TOMATILLOS: Sometimes called ‘husk tomatoes’, tomatillos are a great source of copper, zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins E and C. They are also high in niacin, helps improve circulation, and it has been shown to suppress inflammation.
WATERMELON: Yes, you can still enjoy watermelon at this time! Touted as one of the most effective ways to ‘eat your water’ – watermelon is full of essential minerals and nutrients to help nourish your body from the inside out. Watermelon is rich in an amino acid called citrulline, that can help lower your blood pressure. Watermelon also contains lycopene, which may lower your risk of heart attacks.
You can also start looking for gourds, increasing varieties of peppers and maybe even a few pomegranates in their earliest iteration. Explore all that both seasons have to offer and enjoy them for as long as nature allows them to last.