Seasonal Fruit: Eating for Vitality with Carotenoids
Seasonal Fruit: Eating for Vitality with Carotenoids
Ever find yourself puzzled over what fresh produce to pick and how to make the most of it? 🤔 While wandering through the central coast of California farmer’s market this week, I realized a common challenge many of us face: understanding what’s in season and how to use these ingredients creatively.
Seasonal Markets are Amazing for Community
These markets, overflowing with vibrant pomegranates, ripe persimmons, juicy navel oranges, and tangy passion fruit, reflect the abundance available across the country, especially west of the Mississippi. 🍂 Isn’t it mesmerizing how these fruits not only blend their colors artistically but also pack a punch with carotenoids? 🌈
Eating a Vibrant Bowl of Fruit Lifts My Spirit
As a coach, I’ve learned to harness the power of these seasonal treasures. Imagine transforming your Sunday afternoons by adding a fresh fruit platter that not only wards off the ‘Sunday scaries’ but also nourishes your body.
Furthermore, here are some functions of carotenoids:
Photosynthesis Support: Carotenoids play a critical role in the photosynthesis process. They absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis and protect chlorophyll from photo-damage.
Antioxidants: Carotenoids can act as antioxidants. They protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are harmful byproducts of cell metabolism. Free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which is associated with various chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
Source of Vitamin A: Some carotenoids, like beta-carotene, can be converted into vitamin A in the human body. Vitamin A is essential for good vision, immune system function, and skin health.
Coloration: Carotenoids are responsible for the red, orange, and yellow colors of many fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers. They also contribute to the color of some birds, insects, fish, and crustaceans.
Cell Signaling and Regulation: Carotenoids are involved in cell growth and communication. They can influence gene expression and may have roles in preventing diseases
Now you can plan now to do this shopping now to have for your Sunday afternoon.
What if you could easily select and prepare these seasonal delights? Follow along in the blog to hear about what is in season and how I am eating it.
In addition, I would love if you can forward this post to friends who would like to have more plant-forward meals in their lives.
Free Ebook
The food we eat has a major impact on our health, but the way we prepare it can also have an effect. Eating a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can lead to many health problems, such as obesity and heart disease. Furthermore, what if I told you that changing these factors could make all the difference? Just by cooking your meals with whole food, and plant-based ingredients, you can improve your health. First, grab this free recipe ebook that incorporates flavors and principles from my Ayurvedic and Lifestyle Medicine training and it is 100% plant-based. Then let me know what you have made.
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What is in Season?
Here are some delights from our recent visit to the farmer’s market that I made this bowl with. It was a spectacular visit to the farmer’s market. We are most definitely very lucky here in California to have a nearly year-round growing season. There is an abundance that flows through each market cycle that makes it very inspiring to be in the kitchen. I am delighted to know that there are many seasons to come with a lot of variety in each one to explore and be inspired by.
Recipe: Fresh Seasonal (fall) Fruit Bowl
When I share a recipe on the blog, this is food that we eat every day in our plant-based kitchen. We don’t strive for perfection, we aim for nourishment that can sustain us for the work we feel called to do while on this planet. I encourage you to reinvent and change the recipes to suit your palate and interests. In many ways, these recipes could be thought of as building blocks. Using them helps create a routine in the kitchen that reduces decision fatigue that comes up when planning meals. AND this recipe can make any leftover feel interesting.
Please share your feedback on the recipes as well!
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Join me in celebrating the seasons.
The incorporation of these mindful choices into our meals helps us stay on the path of a balanced, nutrient-rich plant-forward lifestyle.
Help me get the word out about plant-based healthy living so that doctors know the value of lifestyle changes by sharing this post on your social media.
Here is what I found this week at the central coast of California farmer’s market. This means these foods are likely to be cheaper and available at markets across the country or at least west of the Mississippi.
It still amazes me how food can travel far and wide from here.
What’s in this bowl?
I find it fascinating how beautifully their colors all combine.
AND carotenoids are abundantly present.
Ingredients
Pomegranate
Persimmon
Navel Oranges
Passion Fruit
Instructions
Slice into bite size pieces and enjoy!
Notes
This is in season in November and December and somewhat into January.
Click on the Instacart link above to grab the ingredients
Next, just click on the “Instacart” shopping link in the recipe and the app will let you pick the store and provide as basis for the shopping and ingredient list. It has worked great for us.
ALSO…. if you select the pick up option which you can do on the way home from work, you will even have a small refund on your purchases for your next visit.
To sum up, if are a busy professional, look into Instacart as a way to eat healthier when your schedule is really busy as either a delivery or pick up option.
Earn CME
This experience is powered by CMEfy – an AI-powered platform that directs learners along a pathway to capture reflections at the point of inspiration, point of care. Clinicians may earn CME/CE credit via ReflectCE, the accredited activity portal. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info
The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy – click here to reflect and earn credits: https://earnc.me/oUheDI
Kitchen Supplies
Having the right supplies makes being in the kitchen easier. Click below to explore some of my favorite bargain gadgets that are worth their weight in gold.
Video Tutorials
In addition, join me on YouTube to explore an elongated version of how I make recipes.
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Looking to make a positive change in your life and community? Dr. SiriChand is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Medicine. Dr. Khalsa has dedicated her career to promoting long-term vitality through the choices we make every day. She is an expert in Ayurveda and plant-based nutrition. She particularly works with physicians to explore how to create time for self-care. Take the first step towards a healthier, happier future, and contact Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa today. In conclusion, let’s create a better world together through mindful living. Study Ayurveda with Dr. Khalsa. Learn more here.
Review other recent seasonal PLANT-BASED posts here!
To sum up, Thanks for checking out this week’s post!
If you make this tag me on social media @doctorsirichand. I would love to see your variations and options for flavors. SAVE this Recipe to Your PINTEREST Board.
Dr. Siri Chand
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May your life be nourished and vital!
*Please note as an amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases which means I will receive a small fee if you purchase them. I have only included things I truly use. This post is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation. For my full Disclaimer, please go here.
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