Eileen Z. Fuentes | S.O.U.L Food Series: Berries
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25 May S.O.U.L Food Series: Berries

S.O.U.L. Food Series: Berries strawberries www.thespeach.com

Photo: Briana E. Heard

I hope you enjoyed our previous posts as part of the S.O.U.L Food series. I’m really excited to announce that berry season is finally here so that means they will be everywhere. But first, for those of you who may not know what S.O.U.L food is, please note that it is not that deep fried, comfort food you might be thinking, it actually stands for…

Seasonal

Organic

Unprocessed

Local

When we are on a quest for good health, it isn’t always easy. There are so many obstacles in our path. However, the summertime is precisely when fruits that we enjoy are readily available and cheap. Berries of all kinds are abundant; strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, cherries, etc…! Plus they are easy to prepare. Pair them with a handful of raw nuts and VOILA!, you have yourself a nutritious snack. There are many benefits to eating a diet rich in berries. It has been shown to reduce your risk of several types of cancers. Cranberries and blueberries contain a substance that may prevent bladder infections. And blueberries and raspberries contain lutein, which is important for healthy vision.

Berries www.thespeach.com

Photo: thecollins7

Late Spring/Early Summer is the season for berries so most markets will carry them. My advice to you is to go to your local farm or farmers market for the best selection. If you don’t know where to find one, visit localharvest.org and search by zip code. Even though they are enticing, you should avoid the conventional variety as they highly sprayed with pesticides, which has been shown to cause lasting damage to your health, particularly during fetal development and the early childhood years. I’ve included a wallet-sized list to help you identify where to spend your consumer dollars. You can click on the picture below for instructions on how to download the app on your smartphone for FREE!

dirty dozen/clean fifteen www.thespeach.com

*Here’s a cool tip: Mix 1 part vinegar with 10 parts water in a large bowl. Then quickly soak your berries in this mixture and rinse with water to remove vinegar. Finally pat it dry and store in your refrigerator. This will remove mold spores and allow the fruits to last up to 2 weeks!

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Eileen Z. Fuentes

After a breast cancer diagnosis in 2008, Eileen became her own Self-Healthcare Activist. She is an Integrative Cancer Coach and works full-time helping patients do more than just survive at Columbia University’s Cancer Center in New York City.

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