Spring gives us wonderful scents and colors and with the first suns also the first fruits arrive.
In spring, as in all periods of the year, it is important to consume seasonal fruit because it brings great benefits to the body.
Colorful, fragrant, healthy, versatile in the kitchen: the fruits of spring are many and delicious, to be consumed plain or in delicious fruit salads, pies, juices and centrifuged and to accompany desserts and ice creams.
WHICH SEASONAL FRUIT TO CHOOSE IN SPRING?
Apples , strawberries, pears, apricots, lemons, cherries, medlars are the fruits that spring gives us.
While in the first part of this season the trees still produce oranges , mandarins and kiwis slowly, from May onwards, spring gives way to strawberries, cherries, apricots and plums.
From April to May we find delicious strawberries, rich in vitamin C , folic acid and minerals . It is not only a beautiful and good fruit but also versatile: it is also widely used in cosmetics against water retention and even for savory recipes such as strawberry risotto.
The long season of oranges ends in May and that of the first cherries begins. The first wonderful apricots also arrive, starting from the warm regions, together with medlars.
Spring also gives us plums, which contain a very high percentage of water, fiber and very few calories, and apricots, very precious for the skin and eyes.
WHAT ARE THE NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF SPRING FRUITS?
The strawberry conquers everyone: used as an ingredient for sweets and jams or simple fruit salads, it is a satiating fruit but low in calories, with precious diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and purifying properties. Contains iron , phosphorus, calcium , vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. Several studies show that this fruit helps regulate blood sugar, is useful against arthritis and rheumatism and, finally, protects the teeth because it contains xylitol, a substance that helps prevent bad breath and dental plaque build-up.
Plums are among the healthiest fruits recommended by nutritionists. In addition to being a satiating food, plums contain many minerals. Furthermore, vitamins are certainly not lacking in this food, but we can find a great variety of them.
Plums and plums are also famous for their laxative properties. Among the vitamins that are present in plums we find vitamin A, C, E, K.
Medlars are very rich in potassium, vitamins of group A and B and other minerals such as iron, manganese and copper. They also help regulate blood pressure. They reduce blood cholesterol levels. They help improve eyesight thanks to vitamin A , which has a protective effect on the retina by counteracting the formation of free radicals with its antioxidant action. Medlars are precious antioxidants and therefore protect the skin and mucous membranes from aging and damage caused by external agents.
Good snack everyone!