In my last blog post I talked about some of the seasonal vegetables that are good for your metabolism, together with the nutrients they can provide you with. Today it’s the turn of the fruits, starting with what is surely one of the most popular summer flavours, the strawberry.
For a dessert option to make you feel virtuous, or just a tasty snack, strawberries should be your 
summertime go-to choice. Despite their small size and sadly short season they’re bursting with nutrients. A cup of raw strawberries contains less than fifty calories, but provides 150% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C, which is a powerful fat-fighting antioxidant. These fruits are also a great source of niacin, folate and manganese… and weirdly, I can actually smell strawberries as I type this because I’m thinking so vividly about them!
Another great choice of fruit is the apricot, packed with all-important iron. Deficiencies in this mineral can lead to a slower metabolism, and eating a couple of fresh apricots per day can supply you with 20 per cent of your daily iron needs. Apricots are also high in potassium, which helps maintain your body’s fluid balance and keep your energy levels up as well as being great metabolism boosters.
Sweet, tangy blood oranges, full of vitamin C, can help reduce fat. Getting enough vitamin C in your diet means you can burn more fat during moderate bouts of exercise compared to individuals who are even slightly deficient – and of course, vitamin C has a whole range of other health benefits from aiding the functioning of your immune system to improved iron absorption. Eating an orange rather than just drinking the juice means you get added fibre, too.
Almost any fruit is going to provide you with a wide range of nutrients though, so whatever you pick, be sure to enjoy!
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