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Stone Fruit, The Superfood
Each month, Morrison Healthcare, Western Missouri Medical Center’s (WMMC) food services partner, features a different Superfood. WMMC highlights these superfoods in our “The Superfood” blog series. This month features Stone Fruit.
Summertime is in full swing with 90 degree weather and the smell of barbeques in the air. It’s a wonderful time to quench the heat with delicious foods like mango salsa, cherry pie with ice cream or a juicy peach. In July, Western Missouri Medical Center is featuring the star of some of some of your favorite hot weather foods: Stone Fruit.
Stone fruits get their nickname from their seeds, which are large and hard…like stones. Drupe is the botanical term. The large seeds receive and store nutrients from the tree, passing them along to the growing fruit. They come in a vast variety including plums, cherries, mangos, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pluots, and more!
Boost Your Immunity
Vitamin C is abundant in stone fruits. This nutrient has been shown to stimulate the production and function of the immune system, which could help fight infection. Usually, you don’t need to supplement Vitamin C when you get it naturally in the foods you eat.
Keep Bones and Teeth Strong
Vitamin K plays a vital role in preventing teeth decay and osteoporosis. Plums are a stone fruit that is a great source with only two providing one tenth of your daily Vitamin K needs.
The Power of Antioxidants
Your skin, eyes, and simply your entire body will be thankful when you eat stone fruits as they are rich in antioxidants. Not only do they give these fruits their vibrant colors, but they also have wonderful health benefits. Some help strengthen eyesight while others assist with collagen production for healthy, youthful skin. The antioxidants in stone fruits can also decrease inflammation to help treat arthritis pain. Some studies have shown the antioxidant properties of tart cherries have comparable potency to commercially available antioxidant products
Fight Metabolic Syndrome
This condition has become more prevalent in recent years with the rise of obesity. It is a cluster of risk factors including high glucose levels, abnormal cholesterol/triglyceride levels, abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome can lead to the development of diabetes and heart disease. Some research has shown that bioactive compounds in stone fruits may help fight this serious health issue.
The season for stone fruits is relatively short, so savor them while you can! You can also enjoy them canned frozen and dried year round, just be careful about any added sugars. Store fresh fruits at room temperature until they ripen, then refrigerate for extended eating life. Cherries are typically ready to eat when you purchase them. Eat them fresh, poached, grilled, or sautéed as well as in smoothies, trail mix, or salads. These culinary delights have endless uses.
Try the delicious berry recipes below!
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About Western Missouri Medical Center
Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) is a fully-accredited acute care county medical center located in Warrensburg, MO. WMMC prides itself in emergency care, obstetrics, orthopedic and general surgery, family healthcare, internal medicine, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care, rehabilitation services and more. Inpatient services include medical, surgical, intensive, obstetrical, orthopedic, pediatric and skilled nursing care, as well as a wide range of therapeutic and diagnostic outpatient services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Learn more at WMMC.com.