10 Fitness-Boosting Summer Fruits and Vegetables

Corn

This vegetable often gets a bad rap due to its high carbohydrate content. But for athletes and health buffs alike, carbs are friends. They provide us with energy. In addition, corn is rich in fiber and antioxidants and contains copious amounts of heart-healthy B vitamins and folate. A forewarning: You may find a worm or two in a batch of organic corn. Simply pick it out and enjoy.

Porcini Mushrooms

Perfect for soups, pasta and risotto, the porcini mushroom is one of those strange fungal substances that surprisingly taste great. Porcini mushrooms contain ergosterol, which is the provitamin (precursor) to vitamin D, making it a great source of vitamin D for vegans or vegetarians.

Avocado

This versatile fruit is making its way to the top of the charts, taking the place of butter on bread and mayonnaise in tuna salad. Avocados are a rich source of healthy fats that protect our heart, boost fat loss, move cholesterol out of the body, keep skin soft, hair soft and shiny, and nails strong. To find a ripe avocado, pop off the knob at the top. If it's a healthy brown color, the avocado is ripe for the picking. Like bananas you can speed up the ripening process by storing avocados in a brown paper bag.

Cucumbers

Sweet and crunchy, cucumbers are the perfect addition to any summer salad. The saying "cool like a cucumber" relates to the fact that their insides are almost 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Plus, cucumbers are hydrating and refreshing due to their high water content. The old adage that cucumbers reduce puffy eyes is true. They contain the phytonutrient caffeic acid, which prevents water retention and reduces swelling. To top it off, cucumbers contain only 14 calories per cup.

Berries

Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries strawberries—they're all sweet little packages of flavorful nutrition. Berries are the best sources of flavonoids (antioxidants) that protect our bodies against cancer and other chronic diseases. Cool off with a mixed-berry smoothie or top off your morning cereal for a quick burst of flavor, nutrients and energy.