Nine healthy winter foods to include in your diet

(NaturalNews) Several foods give the body nutrients that actually help to promote wellness, and this is very important during the winter months when many illnesses circulate through the population. Being able to get fresh fruits and vegetables, even in the dead of winter, is a great advantage in today's world. Fresh fruits and vegetables are available year round, and these are the foods that are most likely to ensure health and wellness, as they impart vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances to the body. A healthy diet should include all food groups, including fruits and vegetables.

Make cancer-preventive Brussels sprouts taste good by taking off the outer leaves and roasting them on a baking sheet with some olive oil and sea salt in a 425 degree Fahrenheit oven.

• Leeks

Leeks taste much like mild onions and work well in potato soup, or in rice dishes, salads and other dishes that require onions. They are tasty and full of antioxidants.

• Beets

Bake vitamin-rich beets by wrapping them in foil and baking them in a 350 degree oven for an hour. Cut into small cubes and put them in a green salad with some goat cheese and a drizzle of walnut oil.

• Kale

Kale is full of iron but has a very bitter taste. Saute kale in some olive oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Throw in some pine nuts to have as a side dish.

• Pomegranate

Inflammation-reducing pomegranate has a tart flavor which makes it good for mixing in with oatmeal in the morning. You can also use the gelatinous seeds, which have a crunch and large amounts of flavor.

• Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit is very high in vitamin C, which can increase immunity to several different illnesses. Mix some kiwifruit into a spinach salad to combine immune-boosting fruits and vegetables in one dish.

• Persimmon

Persimmons contain substances that fix damage to cells caused by diabetes. Serve the miniature orange-like fruit with a bitter citrus flavor in a dish with some prosciutto and fresh mozzarella cheese.

• Guava

Guava is filed with the antioxidant lycopene, which could protect against coronary artery disease. Add raw guava to figs and blue cheese for a heart-healthy dish suitable for a snack or breakfast.

• Pomelo

Use pomelos as a dessert additive for sorbet or frozen yogurt. This fruit is suspected to prevent the spread of cancer cells because of its high density of antioxidants called flavanoids.

Indulge in health-promoting fruits and vegetables all year round, but especially during the winter time. Not only will they help the body stay well, but they also promote mental wellness with their fresh flavors. Many healthy fruits and vegetables have strong flavors. It is possible to combine them with other flavors to make them more delicious and have the family wanting more.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.besthealthmag.ca

http://www.eatingwell.com

http://science.naturalnews.com
 

http://www.naturalnews.com/042829_healthy_diet_winter_foods_disease_prevention.html#ixzz2k9JRpi9Q