5 Healthy Winter Foods

Now that winter is in full swing, it will be very easy to fall victim to the powers of unhealthy eating! Being busy with work or school in addition to the cold makes it much harder to keep up with healthy eating patterns. The colder months are still packed with various fruits and vegetables, here are a few healthy foods to hold you over until spring!

Citrus

First on our list is not just one item, but a group! Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are bright and juicy adding shine to those cold winter days. These fruits are packed with vitamin C and just ONE orange can give you more than enough of your necessary dose. Also, grapefruits are filled with lycopene, which in a study done by the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics showed that higher levels equated to smoother skin.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates are wildly popular thanks to the rich taste their juice provides! Aside from their amazing taste they are also great for your heart. Rich with antioxidants, the consumption of at least a cup of their juice a day may clear out cholesterol which aids in creating plaque that can build up in the arteries.

Carrots

Carrots can be prepared in a number of ways, which not only makes it a great vegetable overall, but also versatile. Carrots contain carotene and lycopene which may act as a shield for your skin against UV damage. They can also contribute to the lessening of redness with the addition to your regular diet.

Spinach

Spinach is another versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in multiple ways. Whether you enjoy it in your meals as a side or in a salad, spinach is a great food to also feed your skin’s needs. Armed with lutein, this vegetable may protect your skin from UV damage as well.

Potatoes

Last but certainly not least, we have potatoes. Potatoes are considered a whole food and are also packed with nutrients. They contain vitamin C, B6, folate and fiber! That’s a lot of power from one tiny potato. Depending on the type that you find (purple) potatoes may also carry antioxidants that can assist in the lowering of heart disease, cancer and inflammation.