By RMHP
Be Colorado proud, and take care of your body, by enjoying in-season produce. Then, kick your nutrition up a notch by filling your plate with superfoods. “Superfood” is a broad term, but think of them as simply nutrient-rich foods that are considered particularly beneficial for health and overall well-being.
While some gardeners have trouble growing blueberries due to our soil, rest assured, they can be grown in Colorado. Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-dense berries — some experts think they may even have the highest antioxidant levels of all the most common fruits and vegetables.
Eat them up by the handful, freeze them, bake them into tasty pies and pastries, or add a handful to your next salad.
Colorado apricots are at their peak in July, when you can easily find them in local markets. Like blueberries, apricots also contain a high number of antioxidants, including polyphenolic antioxidants like flavonoids.
Why are these flavonoids such good news for your health? Research suggests diets that include plenty of flavonoids (and the other types of polyphenols found in apricots) can help reduce heart disease. So, pick up some fresh apricots this summer and make jams, add them to salads, or get a bit more creative and experiment with new ways to incorporate them into your favorite dishes.
In Colorado, the perennial asparagus plant grows abundantly. You can find it in farmers’ markets all around the state, and even growing freely on the side of the road. It’s one of our favorite local superfoods, and for good reason. Asparagus has lots of fiber, foliates, and antioxidants. It’s even a natural diuretic, which helps the body get rid of excess salt.
Asparagus is also a highly versatile veggie that you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you don’t believe us, just try the Baked Eggs and Asparagus with Parmesan recipe from this list of amazing asparagus recipes.
Rhubarb is a veggie that comes into season around early spring and into June. Yes, you read that right — rhubarb is a vegetable, though it’s commonly treated as a fruit.
One cup of raw rhubarb contains:
Colorado even has its own festival dedicated to rhubarb. Every year, the city of Pine Grove hosts its annual Rhubarb Festival. Attendees can sample tasty rhubarb-based treats, or enter their own creations into the baking competition. Even if you don’t plan to bake a competition-worthy pie, try something new by simmering down rhubarb to use in various deserts, which is quite tart when raw.