Tanner Health System MyChart


  • Home
  • Make the Most of the Farmers’ Market

Make the Most of the Farmers’ Market

Now that farmers’ market season is in full swing, this is the perfect time to head to the farm stand and check out the fresh produce that’s available this summer.

Eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day can help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. But surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that only 33 percent of adults meet the recommendation for fruit consumption and only 27 percent get the recommended servings of vegetables.

Need to boost your fruit and vegetable intake?

Visit a local farmers’ market to explore seasonal produce you may not find at your local grocery store. If you find a variety of produce you’re unfamiliar with, ask the farmer for cooking tips. The farmers’ market is full of healthy choices.

Here are three superfoods that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals:

  1. Beets – These buttery, rich and sweet root vegetables are an excellent source of folate, which we need to manufacture new cells. A 2012 study published in the Nutrition Journal found that drinking a glass of beet juice may lower blood pressure. Choose beets with firm, smooth skins and non-wilted leaves if still attached. Smaller beets are more tender. Store roots in a plastic bag and keep them in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
  2. Blueberries – Blueberries are good for the heart because of their antioxidant potency and polyphenolic content, according to a 2010 report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. A recent study also links blueberries to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Choose dry, firm, plump blueberries with a dusty blue color that are uniform in size. Refrigerate blueberries for 10 to 14 days.
  3. Cherries – Cherries are a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Drinking tart cherry juice may help improve sleep in older adults with insomnia, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Select firm, red cherries with the stems attached while avoiding ones that are blemished, soft or shriveled. You can refrigerate cherries for up to 10 days.

Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well is encouraging the community to visit the farmers’ market and see what fresh, local produce west Georgia has to offer. The Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market in Carrollton is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday.

For more information, visit GetHealthyLiveWell.org or email gethealthy@tanner.org.

Get Healthy, Live Well




0 Comment(s) so far | Skip to comment form



Name:
Email:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Comments:
 

keyboard_arrow_up