7 Winter Fruits And Veggies Your Body Will Thank You For

Shellie R. Warren PCC

Nov 21, 2018 10:35 AM +0000

Charge it to the way I was raised, but every time it's wintertime and I see strawberries in the produce section, I give them major side-eye. Technically, they aren't in season until April (thru June) so that means there's some real shadiness (probably a lot of preservatives and dye) to pass some off during the holiday season.

I'm not sure if a lot of us realize just how important it is to buy fruits and veggies when they are in season. Seasonal produce has less pesticides, contains more antioxidants, and they're far more affordable too. Also, when you get food that's at its peak, not only is it good for your health but it can keep you looking amazing as well.

With all of the parties to attend and family entertaining that you'll be doing this holiday season, I highly-recommend that you pick up some of the following foods—not just to serve to your guests but also because your hair, skin, and nails will love each and every one of them. And it will show!

Actually, all kinds of oranges are in season during the winter, but I like Mandarin oranges because they are so tiny and cute! Beauty-wise, the high amount of vitamins C and E, antioxidants and fiber make them great for weight loss, glowing skin, fighting wrinkles, and keeping your hair shiny.
Mandarin Oranges Beauty Tip to Try: Squeeze the juice of one mandarin into a cup of coconut oil. Microwave it for 10 seconds, and apply it to your freshly-washed hair. Then rinse. It will immediately add shine to your locks.
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First of all, the choline and folate in collards make them the perfect natural sleep agent (and we all need our beauty rest!). Then, when you combine it with all of the vitamins A, C, K, and iron that's in these greens, you can probably see how it does wonders for your hair, skin, and nails; especially since Vitamin C produces collagen and collagen is what we need in order to stay looking youthful.
Collard Greens Beauty Tip to Try: Combine a handful of uncooked collards, a tablespoon of almond oil, a teaspoon of organic honey, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a couple of drops of lavender oil. Mix everything a blender and apply the mask directly to your clean face. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse with cool water. Your skin will be glowing!
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If you're constipated, snack on a pear. It's one of the sweetest (natural) laxatives around! Thanks to the vitamins C and K along with copper that's in pears, it has many benefits. You can use a pear to fight off premature greying, keep your hair from being brittle and/or frizzy, and it's an awesome lip exfoliant.
Pear Beauty Tip to Try: Mash up ¼ a pear and add a teaspoon of brown sugar along with a teaspoon of grape seed oil. Apply the exfoliant to your lips and rub it gently with your finger. Then rinse. Your lips will be soft, smooth, and have a natural shine to them too!
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Did you know that sweet potatoes are considered to be a perfect food? If you want to get in your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, sweet potatoes are up to the task. Because they are such a great source of beta-carotene, they keep our hair from looking dry and our skin from looking dull.
Sweet Potatoes Beauty Tip to Try: Cut a couple of slices of sweet potato, place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and put one directly over each eye. They will soothe them if they're tired and reduce the appearance of bags underneath your eyes as well.
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Did you know that grapefruit contains 92 percent water? That automatically makes it a great detoxifier and weight loss agent. It's actually kind of amazing that with all of the water that's in grapefruit, it still contains an impressive amount of potassium, lycopene, vitamin C, and choline—all of which are great at fighting acne-prone skin and fighting nail fungus.
Grapefruit Beauty Tip to Try: Get a travel-size plastic spray bottle and squeeze some fresh grapefruit juice into it. Then chop up some fresh mint leaves and put them into the bottle as well. Let the contents marinate for about three hours and you'll have a great natural astringent to use—day or night. (As far as treating nail fungus, try taking a grapefruit extract supplement on a daily basis in order to heal it.)
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If your grandma made you eat brussel sprouts while growing up, thank her. They are packed with vitamins B6 and C, along with potassium, iron, thiamine, magnesium, sulforaphane, and phosphorus. Not only do these nutrients work together to keep you from contracting viral infections during the winter season, they also give your skin more elasticity, can regrow your hair, and they work to keep your nails strong.
Brussel Sprouts Beauty Tip to Try: Combine two brussel sprouts with one orange, a cup of frozen mixed berries, half of a frozen banana, ½ cup of coconut milk, and a teaspoon of raw honey. You'll end up with a smoothie that will have you wondering why it took you so long to fall in love with brussel sprouts.
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Pomegranates aren't the kind of fruit that's brought up much in normal (food) conversation, but don't sleep on 'em. Vitamins A, C, E, along with calcium, phosphorus, potassium, thiamin, folates, riboflavin, iron, niacin, and folic acid are just some of what pomegranates have to offer. Because they are jam-packed with so much, they are able to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, moisturize dry skin, regenerate cells so that scars heal faster, soften skin texture, and even prevent hair from falling out. They can also help your nail beds keep their natural-rosy color.
Pomegranate Beauty Tip to Try: Drink an organic version of the juice to immediately receive these benefits or use a cotton ball to apply the juice to your pimples to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. You'll be picture-perfect ready for all of your holiday season photographs. Happy Holidays!
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Featured image by Getty Images

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