As summer kicks into full gear, we're looking to fill up our fridge with nutritious, plant-based foods. Summer has in-season produce that is amazing for our health, like boosting energy levels, keeping our gut health in-check, and hydrating us while we're in the summer heat.
Read on to learn more about five healthy summer ingredients you should keep in your refrigerator this season to feel your best!
Berries
Throughout the summer months, farmers’ markets overflow with berries. Berries are extremely versatile – super sweet, a little tart, and full of hydration, they’re a food that has been shown to help lower blood pressure and maintain bone structure and strength. We like that since they’re packed with Vitamin C, they’re good for our skin, too. Try incorporating more berries by sprinkling them on oats or yogurt, using them as a fresh jam, or keeping a pack of Realm Berry Fresh handy!
Hot Peppers
With the weather getting hotter, so does our produce! Hot peppers – like poblanos, jalapeños, and serranos – ripen up for a spicy twist on your favorite dishes. We love making quinoa-stuffed peppers and cooking them in the oven, adding peppers to our favorite homemade salsas, or including them in a refreshing pasta salad! They're a great way to spice up your staple meals, but have even more exciting health benefits – such as aiding in digestion and lowering cholesterol.
Tomatoes
Hoping to protect your skin from a tomato-red burn? Reach for the summer’s juiciest food! Tomatoes are in-season and packed with sweetness – and lycopene! This is what gives tomatoes their natural color, and can offer those who eat a lycopene-rich diet additional skin protection, by helping to reduce redness and damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Looking to incorporate more of them? Cherry and grape tomatoes make a perfect grab-and-go snack, but we also love to include tomatoes in bruschetta, greek salad, or caprese salad!
Mangos
Tropical and delicious, mangos are a sweet yet creamy fruit that'll leave you feeling super refreshed. Although low in calories, they're packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, which aids immunity, iron absorption, and growth and repair. They're also high in antioxidants and Vitamin A, which are essential for a healthy immune system as it helps fight infections. Blend up some mango with coconut milk to freeze some at-home popsicles, or find it as a main ingredient in Realm Tropical Green smoothies!
Beets
Looking for an addition to your perfect summer salad? A root vegetable, beets are ruby red in color, have a crunchy texture when raw, and soft texture when cooked through. Beets contain a high concentration of nitrates, which have a blood pressure-lowering effect. They also contain pigments called betalains, which may potentially possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties and give beets their amazing color. We love cooking them through, cooling them off, and splashing them with vinegar in a cool, tangy salad!