Note: This piece first appeared in the July 2005 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
Nothing says summer to me like a delicious, fresh peach. The arrival of sweet, juicy peaches and other summer fruits at the farmers’ market is the one of most exciting times of the year for me!
Fruits are wonderful for the body, especially in summer. Most fruits are quite cooling, providing relief from the heat and humidity. Fruits are high in beneficial antioxidants and fiber. They provide that all-important sweet taste we all crave without the detrimental effects of white sugar. And most importantly, they are delicious and refreshing!
It’s extremely important to buy organic fruits whenever possible, especially strawberries, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, nectarines, and apples. These fruits are among the twelve foods most contaminated by pesticides, which means the chemicals tend to stay in these foods in high concentrations, even if you wash them well. It’s also wonderful to buy locally grown fruit whenever possible to keep your body in harmony with your environment and climate and to support local farmers. See our Resources page for links to farmers’ market locators around the country.
Fruit is delicious any time of the day in a salad or dessert — or just by itself! Enjoy nature’s sweetness!
