Hi everyone!

We are almost to Summer Solstice (June 21😊) so it’s time for a yummy summer blog post!!!

In the local grocery stores, there are all sorts of beautiful fruits and veggies that are ripe and in season, so it’s time to start snacking on those flavorful, colorful, nutrient-dense beauties. I have been loading up on champagne mangos, dark red cherries, peaches, watermelon, jicama, and strawberries. I can’t seem to get enough of microgreens and have been sprinkling them on top of my salads, avocado toast, and homemade tacos. It’s good to be aware of some of the nutritional benefits of these foods, so I like to look each one up and research the health benefits so I know how good they all are for my body. I have listed some of the nutrient breakdown below.

~Champagne Mangos: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Potassium and Fiber

~Dark Red Cherries: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, antioxidant beta-carotene, and the essential nutrient Choline.

~Peaches: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Niacin, Folate, Iron, Choline, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper.

~Watermelon: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Lycopene, Citrulline, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1

~Jicama: Vitamin C, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Manganese, Vitamin E, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Copper, Beta-Carotene, and Prebiotics!

~Strawberries: Vitamin C, Manganese, Folate, Potassium, Antioxidants.

~Microgreens: Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Selenium, and Zinc.

There is a LOT more information online about the plethora of health benefits of these delicious and healthy natural foods, so please indulge yourself and look it up in more depth! Each of these foods easily makes the most delicious smoothies for your pre-workout or pre-adventure nutritional boost. I also love to make watermelon juice with a squeeze of lime on a hot day to cool off and hydrate myself. If you haven’t tried a dehydrator, watermelon makes the perfect “nature's candy” and is absolutely delicious. I have also dehydrated peaches, strawberries, apples, kale, and pears. These are stored easily in glass jars so even if you do not eat them all this summer you can have plenty stored for the fall.

I hope you are all getting outside to enjoy nature whether it be to go for a morning walk, an afternoon in the garden, a mountain hike, a rigorous bike ride, or a stroll amongst the flowers, trees, and rivers. We live in the most beautiful place, so please get out and enjoy it as much as you can. Happy Summer!

~Dr. Candace Canerdy, DACM, L.Ac.