You can’t deny it, autumn is here to stay. And I must be honest, I kind of love that fact. The crisp air in the morning, relaxed rainy days, something yummy baking in the oven at all times, tea dates, pretty coats…it’s just the best time of the year. Another thing I love about fall is that it’s also a time for new beginnings and new ideas. Every time there were some big changes in my life, they were mostly in the fall. And even if it’s not the most important change in the world, there are also quite a few changes happening to this blog this fall. I can’t wait to reveal it all to you. Today it’s time for the first, a new column – super/food. As you guys probably know – I love food. And I don’t only love preparing and eating it, I also want to know what’s best for me, what to avoid and what to eat when (for example). Everytime I create a recipe or eat something new, I first look up the health benefits of that new food.
Since I spend so much time stalking food websites anyway, I thought I would just share my new-found wisdom with you all, hoping I’m not the only one interested in something like that.
The first ingredient I’m featuring is one of my favourite autumn fruits – plums. We have a plum tree in our garden and I remember years where we would eat plum cake almost every day since there were so many on the tree. This year the harvest is reeally good, so I’m a happy girl.
So, why are they so good for you? First of all, it is full of anti-oxidants, so it neutralizes disease causing oxygen radicals in the blood. For example it naturally prevents cancer, because it controls the growth of cancerous cells and tumors in the body.
Plums are also rich in vitamins and nutrients, especially vitamin C and A. Vitamin C helps the body to fight diseases and infection. A is especially important for your eyes. The nutrients, like dietary fiber and potassium, also help your digestive system, so you at least don’t have to worry about that after eating too much plum cake ;).
The vital nutrient vitamin C is not only one of the most important vitamins itself, it also helps your body to produce and absorp iron in a better way. This is essential for a good blood circulation, which in the long run reduces your chances of heart diseases. This effect is supported by cleansing agents that keep the blood pure. Vitamin C also helps the body in controlling your cholesterol levels, which you might have no problems with now, but it’s always good to stay on the save side.
So, as you can see, plums are little violet wonders. It’s a little sad that the season is so short (at least here in Germany), but that means I get to enjoy it even more! And if you are in the mood to taste some plums now, but don’t know what to with them, come back tomorrow, there’s a tasty recipe coming…
And one last little tip – plums are best stored in the fridge and eaten within a week.
I LOVE plums. They are seriously one of my favorite fruit, but it has to be on the soft, sweet side – you know what I mean :)
Hanna’s Places is a green lifestyle magazine written by Hanna Ulatowski. It’s all about slowing down in a fast-paced society and finding ways to live a more sustainable, simple lifestyle.
September 17, 2013
I’ve never had a plum before, but after this post, I am definitely going to try them out!