10 Fitness-Boosting Summer Fruits and Vegetables

Tomatoes

Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Answer: fruit! This sweet and confusing treat is just as good raw as it is cooked. To find the most delicious and nutritious tomatoes, look for ones that are deep and even in color, as well as firm and heavy for their size. To keep them fresh longer, store them in the butter compartment. And to get them to ripen up quickly, place tomatoes in a brown paper bag. Tomatoes contain lycopene, vitamin C, beta-carotene, potassium, fiber and B6—all of which protect against heart disease and promote optimal health and fitness.

Plums

This distinctive fruit is available in more than 100 varieties in the United States alone. And for only 36 calories a plum, this fruit is ideal to add to your healthy lifestyle. Plums are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, making them superfruits to add to your cancer protecting army. Try one fresh or bake one for a sweet treat.

Nectarines

Nectarines, aka "fuzzy-less" peaches, are equally as nutritious as peaches. They contain copious amounts of vitamin C and polyphenolic (antioxidants) compounds, which have been shown to have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties and may also reduce bad cholesterol. Nectarines are an excellent addition to any fat-fighting, performance-boosting diet.

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