With the summer coming to an end, the heat goes for one last burst before the fall. This means the fruits and vegetables at the end of this season are an absolute must. August is all about beating the heat and prioritizing our skin care. This is why this month’s fruits and vegetables have so much hydration and vitamins. Not only do we see high water content in our summer foods but also sun protection! Summer fruits and vegetables are chock-full of foods to help replenish our electrolytes and provide us with lightweight energy. Most, if not all of us, are looking for foods that help us beat the heat and boost our energy. What better way to do just that than to fill your plate with powerful fruits and vegetables designed to burn fat and even slow down aging. Just like that, summer has even more of a reason to be our favorite season.

Let’s face it, we all want to look and feel our best. One of the best ways to do just that is by providing our bodies with the building blocks they need. During the month of August, mother nature fills our cupboards with fruits and vegetables that help bring out the best in all of us. Summer fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that support immunity, slow aging, boost metabolic rate, improve skin and hair health, support your heart health, and more! The following is a list of the best fruits in August along with their health benefits.

Perfect Peaches 

Loaded with so many amazing benefits, such as high antioxidants, remove free radicals throughout your body. They are high in fiber which helps improve digestion and aid in heart health. Peaches are great for your skin because they improve skin texture and help skin retain moisture. They are low in calories and high in vitamin A and C, which help improve the immune system and promote eye health. Peaches can also restore electrolyte imbalance and reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol, which can help lower blood pressure. 

Rad Berries

Raspberries are high in anthocyanin and polyphenols which act as an anti-inflammatory. Which makes them great for heart health, and improves blood flow, menstrual cycle regulation, and pain management. Raspberries also contain rheosmin which helps increase metabolism to promote weight loss. They are high in antioxidants making them ideal for anti-aging. Raspberries are high in vitamin C which helps boost the immune system and improve skin, hair, and eye health. They are high in fiber which aids in digestion and as an added bonus they also contain phytonutrients that protect against bacterial infections. 

Raspberries contain ellagic acid and anthocyanin which have been shown to prevent and reduce tumor growth. They are also great for fertility and can increase milk production. Raspberries are also great for bone health and detoxing the body. It is true raspberries are rad and there are tons of things they can do for you.

Boosting Blackberries

Blackberries are high in fiber which aids in digestion and promotes weight loss. They promote wound healing and provide relief from PMS symptoms. Blackberries are high in antioxidants which help slow the hands of time. They are full of essential B vitamins that are known to increase energy levels, reduce memory loss, and improve overall mood. Blackberries are great for boosting your immune system and cleansing the blood. They help strengthen bones and promote healthy eyes, skin, hair, and heart function. Blackberries can even help lower your cholesterol and help with regulating diabetes. One of my favorite aspects of the blackberry is the fact that it helps provide UV protection. Once again, Mother Nature is trying to let you know she has your back. Are you ready for a mouth-watering way to add blackberries to your daily routine?

Working Watermelon

Over the years people’s stance on watermelon has been a constant back and forth. Watermelon is and has always been our friend. It has an extremely high water content of about 92% making it one of the best ways to eat our water. For those of us unaware a great way to ensure we stay hydrated is by consuming foods high in water content and watermelon is leading the pack on water content. Not only does it contain high amounts of water it also contains potassium and magnesium which are essential for rebalancing our electrolytes. Here’s the thing when the temperature goes up our bodies sweat to naturally cool us off. Sweat, however, is not composed of just water. Meaning we need more than just water put back into our systems. Potassium even helps prevent dehydration and cramping that can occur from depletion after excessive sweating.

Watermelon does more than just keep us hydrated. It is high in lycopene which promotes good bone and heart health, while also acting as a powerful antioxidant. Watermelon is high in beta-carotene which aids in eye and skin health. It is high in phenolic which has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Watermelon contains high levels of Vitamin A, which promotes eye health, strengthens the immune system, aids in growth and development, improves reproductive health, and increases the production of red blood cells, skin, and bone formation. It has high amounts of Vitamin C that make it a great addition to improving our immune systems and slowing down the effects of aging. 

Curing Cranberries

Probably the most known benefit of cranberry juice is that it can prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). You may not immediately think of cranberries as a way to prevent cavities, but research shows the same a-type proanthocyanidins that help prevent UTIs can help in other ways. Cranberries have anti-inflammatory effects, thanks to their high amounts of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and flavanols, which give cranberries their dark hue. If you eat an animal-based diet, cranberries can help put good bacteria into your digestive system. From lowering blood pressure to improving your cholesterol levels, cranberries can help improve your overall heart health. Cranberries may also help lower your LDL (bad). Cranberries contain a plant compound that may reduce the risk of gastric ulcers and stomach cancer caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Cranberries are one of the best food sources of ursolic acid, a plant compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer effects.

Orange Cranberry Custard Pie

Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Serves 8

• 10 inch gluten-free unbaked pie crust
• 1 cup coconut cream
• 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
• 1 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 3 eggs beaten
• 1 Tbsp orange zest
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Into the pie shell place the cranberries. Using a separate bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together and pour over the cranberries. Bake for 10 minutes, before reducing the heat to 350, and cover the crust with tin foil. Cook for an additional 40-45 minutes or until the custard is set. Let cool completely before serving.

Peach Mint Julep Popsicles

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Serves 8

• 1/2 cup coconut Bia water
• 1 large bunch of mint
• 1/2 cup xylitol sugar
• 10 oz peaches
• 1/2 cup peach juice
• 2 1/2 oz bourbon

Directions:

In a pan combine water, mint, and sugar. Cook until a syrup forms. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. In a blender combine peaches, juice, syrup, and bourbon blend until smooth. I like to keep some peaches whole and some of the mint whole for better presentation. Pour into molds of choice (silicone is amazing) and let set up in the freezer.

Raspberry Lemonade Bars

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 20

• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp Raspberry chia jam
• 2 Tbsp fresh Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup vegan butter
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 cup Stevia sugar
• 2 lemons zested
• 3/4 cup xylitol sugar
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Into a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Once the butter has been well combined with the sugar beat in the eggs one at a time. Add in lemon zest and juice and mix together well. In a medium-sized bowl combine the flour and salt. Once combined slowly combine the wet and dry ingredients together. Pretreat your baking dish of choice, I use a 9×13 inch dish treated with coconut oil and lined with parchment paper for easy removal. For the layered look pour the lemon batter down and puree together the raspberries and jam. Top the lemon layer with raspberry mix and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. You can also fold the berries into the lemon mixture and bake then top with the jam thinned down with additional lemon juice. Each option tastes great and is beautiful!

Peach Rose Slushy

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Serves 6

• 1 ripe fresh peach sliced
• 3 Tbsp date syrup
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bottle Rose or white wine
• 4 cups frozen peaches

Directions:

Bring 3/4 cup water, fresh peaches, syrup, and thyme to a boil in a small pot. Simmer for 5 minutes until the peaches are soft remove from heat and strain into a glass jar. Chill until ready to use. In a blender, combine frozen peaches, wine, syrup mixture, and 1/2 cup of ice blend until desired texture has been reached. Pour into glasses and top with fresh thyme and peach slices.

Get Started Today

Keeping your body free of toxins and free radicals is necessary to maintain a healthy life and a healthy mind. There are tons of foods you can add to your regular diet to help your body with its critical detoxifying processes. If you are looking for a safe and all-natural way to detox your body at home be sure to check out my Balancing Abundance Program. Because detoxing is so important and realistically everyone should be doing it on at least a seasonal basis I have taken the time to put together a program to help you do just that. Here’s the thing, I know working with me one-on-one can seem difficult to get into (due to limited space) and I wanted to be able to give everyone an additional solution that has no limits. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and successful at everything you do so here are some recipes to help set you up for success!

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A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. We all have to deal with our health daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day, you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help, I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as acting as a sounding board, do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected], or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!