Summer is sadly over, and we are now starting to prepare for darker nights and colder days. Alongside the prospect of the looming holidays, there is an abundance of tasty fruits and vegetables that are in season throughout the month of September.
To thoroughly prepare you for Autumn, we’ve come up with a culinary list to keep your taste buds satisfied with the bonus of having healthy benefits too! Here are the healthiest in-season fruit & vegetables that are in-season in September.
Blackberries
Blackberries are a firm favourite in the berry family due to their sweet taste, sticky texture and vibrant dark blue colour. The berries also contain a range of health benefits that make them extra special.
Blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels across all of the fruits, ensuring their dark blue colour. Regular consumption of blackberries can also help promote healthy tightening of tissue, presenting an excellent non-surgical solution to obtaining youthful skin.
Beetroot
The only benefit we can think of for not having beetroot as a regular feature in your diet is the stain potential will be higher – so make sure not to wear any whites when eating beetroot!
Beetroot is known for being especially good at reducing blood pressure. The Folic acid found in Beetroot is also essential for maintaining healthy tissue growth. The tasty root is also uncommonly known as an Aphrodisiac, being used even as far back as the Roman era to get you in the mood!
Beetroot contains one of the highest levels of sugar found in vegetables, but the sugar is released into the body slowly rather than in a sudden rush like when you eat chocolate, providing you with a strong supply of energy for the day.
Aubergine
Easily distinguished by its brilliant deep purple colour, Aubergines (Eggplants to our American friends), are delicious, versatile and good for you.
Firstly, they are a fantastic source of dietary fibre, which is a fundamental element to maintaining a healthy digestive system. They contain all the elements needed to support a healthy heart, including fibre, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and phytonutrients.
A final highlight of aubergines is their ability to help with weight management. Satiety is increased, resulting in a reduction of appetite, making you feel fuller for longer and therefore lowering your overall calorie intake. And as an extra bonus, they are already low in calories, containing just 25 calories per aubergine!
Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Cliché, but very true! Apples are one of the most universally loved fruits with the most amazing benefits.
Eating an apple a day will decrease your risk of diabetes and control your insulin levels as they are full of soluble fibre, which is the key to diminishing blood sugar swings.
The fibre found in apples is also essential for maintaining regular bowel movements. The majority of the nutrients in apples are found either in or just under the skin, so make sure you are eating your apples with the skin on.
Runner Beans
This popular vegetable is fat-free, low in calories and utterly delicious.
Runner Beans contain almost 20% of your daily dose of vitamin K, essential for improving bone health. The vitamin helps with calcium absorption and reducing the urinary emission of calcium by improving the production of key proteins that help your bones absorb calcium.
We all know the age-old saying, carrots help you see in the dark. Well, move over carrots, runner beans are also useful for helping improve your normal night vision. Vitamin A is the main component that helps to protect your eyes from any high-intensity light, making runner beans a great alternative to carrots!
Author: healthier matters
