Watermelon hydrates memory and mood. Summer sweating cools you. Not just water. Watermelon has 92% water and skin-protecting lycopene (hence the name). Bonus? Research shows water-rich meals satisfy with less calories.
Did you know that corn's antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, generate macular pigment that shields some of the sun's harmful rays? True. Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 60, can be prevented with antioxidants.
Summer sun protection starts with sunscreen. More lycopene—the ingredient that makes tomatoes red—may protect your skin from sunburn. UV-exposed people who ate 2 1/2 teaspoons of tomato paste or 1 2/3 cups of carrot juice for 10 to 12 weeks had almost 50% less skin reddening.
Delicious berry patch blueberries! Its antioxidants remove free radicals produced during exercise, preventing muscular weariness, according to New Zealand studies.
Summer's sweet and tangy. Tart cherry juice helps sleep and lowers post-workout discomfort. Sour cherry compounds may aid weight loss. Anthocyanins in tart cherries activate a fat-burning molecule. Potassium reduces blood pressure in sweet cherries.
daily coffee may lower skin cancer risk. A European Journal of Cancer Prevention study of almost 93,000 women found that drinking one cup of coffee a day reduced nonmelanoma skin cancer by 10%. Up to 6 glasses a day lowered risk. Decaf was weaker.
Raspberries' pectin decreases cholesterol. A Journal of Nutrition study reveals that eating extra fiber—like raspberries' 8 grams—may help you lose weight. In a two-year study, participants who added 8 grammes of fibre per 1,000 calories lost 4 1/2 pounds. Experiment.