New York is sizzling and transformation is in the air. New seasonal crops are phasing out the older ones, the days are longer, the sun is hotter, the moon brighter and excitement is everywhere. Its time to clean our bodies in preparation for what is sure to be a fantastic summer!
By nature, fruits are cleansers and travel through the body sweeping dead cells and toxic matter from our nooks and crannies. Fruits are best taken raw or juiced because the power in their water, enzymes and vitamins decreases when heated. Raw juices are super cleansers and if you are new to juicing, it is best to dilute pure fruit juices with a purified, spring or distilled water.
Buy a variety of local fruits in the right season (i.e. citrus grows year round but cherries are available only May-August). Pick fruits that are firm and ripe and avoid damaged ones. Fruits are best stored at room temperature on a counter until they are fully ripened. Once fruit is cut, eat it as soon as possible to maximize benefits. Keep cut and canned fruits in a refrigerator to preserve nutrients.
Fruits are amazing because they taste good and keep our bodies so fresh and so clean. New York has more culture than we can count and we have more neighborhoods to buy exotic foods than most people can count too! Here are some of my favorite fruits to try this season:
Berries - are loaded with anti-oxidants that help the body stay young because they neutralize the damage caused by free radicals. Dripping with vitamins, berries are little foods that pack a nutrient-filled punch.
Cantaloupe - and other melons do amazing things for the heart and immune system. Melons have very high water content (more than 90%) and contain massive amounts of Vitamins A and C. Potassium and Folate are also high on the goodies list, making this a great fruit for weight loss.
Papaya - also known as Pawpaw in the Caribbean and Latin America, is a real life fountain of youth... it has an amazing enzyme known as Papin that is so strong it is used as a digestive aid for people suffering from cystic fibrosis and other disorders which lessen the body's ability to breakdown proteins.
© T.I. Williams
