Fall Harvest

November is the best time of year to indulge in comfort food. Carefree summer days are gone, the days are short, and cold weather may be setting in. Plus, the seasonal round of family get-togethers in about to begin. All that makes this the perfect time for sweet potatoes! These tender, flavorful root vegetables are the perfect late-fall comfort food, and they come bearing gifts of vitamins and nutrients. They mark the end of the fall harvest, and the beginning of a season when we enjoy many produce items, such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and cranberries, for a limited time.

Sweet Potatoes

Fresh1 sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious produce choices you can make. They come packed with vitamins A, B, and C, along with powerful antioxidants that help protect the body against disease and help it heal from infections. They are also an “antidiabetic food,” meaning they can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reverse insulin resistance. They also contain anti-inflammatory compounds, which help ease ailments such as arthritis. Sweet potatoes are available year round, so don’t limit them to your holiday meals. The more sweet potatoes you enjoy, the better your health will be!

Oranges

Although they haven't been proven to cure colds, that doesn't mean an orange's high levels of vitamin C aren't having an effect. Vitamin C reduces your body's histamine levels, a naturally occurring chemical that causes red eyes and a runny nose. Oranges are good for other reasons, too - they're high in folic acid and, like many other fruits and vegetables, they also contain several phytochemicals that may reduce the risk of cancer.