Top 10 Health Benefits Of Goji Berries

Have you ever wondered how these little red berries can change your life? Well, goji berries are one of the most nutritionally rich foods on the planet. They are grown on a vine-like bush only in the shade. Goji berries differ in colors from pale yellow, sun-fire orange and deep red. The two main types of goji berries are Asian and American. The only difference between them is their history. The Asian goji berries have been grown for thousands of years by Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetans, whereas the American goji berries originated from the South-West dessert of the United States which was used for survival when no water was found. 

There are many benefits of goji berries. Here are some of them:

1. Longevity and Healthy Hormones. According to researches, the seventy year old person produces only one-tenth of the amount of the Human Growth Hormone generated by the twenty year old person. This causes the body to have lower energy levels and wastage. To feel, look and function like a youthful person, you need to boost the natural production of the growth hormone. This superfood has been identified as "the longevity fruit" which is filled with a variety of nutrients. These nutrients will help you to live a longer and healthier life. Goji berries help your body to achieve this in three ways:

• They are high in sesquiterpenoids which are filled with anti-inflammatory properties.
• They stimulate the pituitary and pineal glands which increase the glandular production of the Human Growth Hormone (HGH).
• They are rich in l-arginine and l-glutamine which works together to boost the HGH to revitalize your appearance and metabolism.

2. Enhancing Libido and Sexual Function. Goji berries are known for strong sexual tonic in Asia. Goji berries improve your stamina levels, mood and wellbeing, while decreasing the impact of stress on your body. These benefits lead to a much healthier life. Goji berries will help your HGH production and raise the testosterone levels to ensure healthier sex life.

3. Improving Vision. Goji berries contain the highest concentration of eyesight improving antioxidants, namely zeaxanthin and lutein. Zeaxanthin and lutein protect the eyes from the damage of the free radicals that attacks your eyes every day. They also heal the membranes of your eyes keeping them youthful and healthy. These two key antioxidants are concentrated at the center of the retina and protect your eyes from the following diseases:

• Cataracts
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Loss of sight
• Eye aging problems.

4. Antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your DNA from the damage of free radicals and radiation. If your DNA is damaged, it's easier for every imaginable illness to enter your body, as well as increase the aging process. Your body is equipped to repair itself, but if your body gets faced with too many free radicals, it becomes overwhelmed and the result is the premature death of healthy cells. This can be the cause of a variety of diseases, such as a cancer. The goji berry is filled with carotenoid antioxidants which are natural sources of fat soluble antioxidant pigments.

5. Immune System Booster. Goji berries are rich in Vitamin C and Zinc. Both of these vitamins protect the body against diseases and help in recovery. They also protect the cells in your body and boost your immune system through these three main components:

• Polysaccharides which protect the cells from generic mutation.
• Beta-carotene which enhances the thymus gland function and increases the stimulation action on your immune system to prevent any viral infection.
• Mineral germanium which fights off any cancer properties, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, testicular cancer and uterine cancer.

6. Hydration. Proper hydration is a very important aspect for your overall health. If your body isn't hydrated you become dehydrated and your body doesn't have enough water to absorb to function normally. You lose water when you breathe, when you go to the bathroom and through your sweat. You don't have to drink water only. You can consume this superfood for hydration as well. This fresh superfood grows in rich, alkaline alluvial soils which contain a big amount of hydrogen needed for hydration.

7. Supporting Brain and Neurological Health. Goji berries help our bodies with the production of choline. The choline is an essential nutrient that fights off free radical damage, narrows the arteries that delivers oxygen to the brain cells which can cause Alzheimer's disease and neurological degeneration.

8. Supporting Cardiovascular Health. Goji berry holds the key to fight off the main cause of most heart diseases, mainly oxidized cholesterol. Cholesterol becomes more dangerous when it is oxidized as a result of free radicals. This is when the blood fats clench to the artery walls with calcium forming nanobacteria to form plagues. An enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) acts as a defense mechanism against cholesterol and may prevent cholesterol from oxidizing. Goji berries can increase your SOD to decrease your cholesterol levels.

9. Keeping Vital Organs Healthy. They keep our vital organs healthy through balancing blood sugar levels and increasing the digestive system, skin and liver function. They're also filled with phytonutrients which enhance the ability to detoxify and guard the liver against any damage from carcinogens and hepatitis virus. These phytonutrients include betaine, polysaccharides and antioxidant pigments. The liver gets cleaned by betaine. This reduces the toxic amino acids in the cardiovascular system. Goji berry tea can be used for the treatment of diabetes and all types of digestive problems, as well as the recovery of ulcers and a spastic colon. Goji berries also contain fatty acids which can stimulate collagen production to ensure moisture resulting in a youthful skin.

10. Improving Sleep. Goji berries contain Thiamine and Magnesium - two main nutrients needed for a healthy sleep. Thiamin improves your mood and energy levels, while magnesium improves the quality of sleep by shortening the time it takes to fall asleep.

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Minerals And Hormone Balance: What Women Need

It's no secret that minerals are required for every bodily process, but did you know that hormone imbalances can be blamed on mineral imbalances too? That's right - essential nutrients affect how our hormones work and that can have a huge impact on life in general. Hormonal imbalances can cause weight gain, decreased sex drive, weight gain, fatigue and PMS, to name a few.

Prescription medicines contain mind-altering pharmaceuticals that can disturb your natural hormonal balance and cause unwanted side-effects. Some people who use anti-depressants may experience increased suicidal tendencies, while lacking sexual desire and weight gain. Evidence has shown time and again that many conditions that are treated with pharmaceuticals could be avoided with proper nutrition.

Let's take a look at some of the hormones, and how you can address them using mineral supplements. A hair mineralysis is a great way to assess any imbalances and deficiencies that will help address symptoms.

Serotonin boosts excitement and enthusiasm. People who lack serotonin often experience sadness, poor sleep, lethargy, irritable bowel syndrome, PMS and sugar or carbohydrate cravings. Magnesium is essential for hormone development and nerve communication.

Dopamine functions in improving energy, self-confidence and self-discipline. Dopamine deficiency is evident when symptoms such as addiction, depression, hyperactivity and obesity are present. Selenium helps improve dopamine and research has shown that a low selenium intake is linked to depression.

Women in particular need essential minerals for optimum health. During her reproductive years, a woman is more likely to lack iron, while a menopausal woman will have to avoid iron supplementation. Here are some more reasons why women should consider mineral supplements:

Iodine assists hormone regulation, detoxification an nerve activation.

Selenium has powerful antioxidant properties for immune health and it helps to regulate thyroid hormone activity. There is a strong relationship between selenium and hormone regulation, particularly of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, luteotropic hormone, thyroid hormone and progesterone.

Zinc is often depleted by birth control, poor dietary habits, HRT, medications and alcohol consumption. Low levels of zinc have been linked to PMS, infertility and increased estrogen activity, as well as increased effects of ageing and an inability to handle stress.

Magnesium has been found to fight the effects of ageing in women, as it helps with muscle cramps and spasms, migraines and blood pressure, as well as PMS.

If you think that your hormones are out of balance, or that you might be mineral deficient, it's a good idea to consider a hair mineral analysis. This quick, accurate and painless procedure will show you exactly what your body needs to become healthy, energetic and performing at optimum level.

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The Benefits Of Seaweed: Its Vitamins And Importance To Your Overall Health

Today, many of us have eaten seaweed in one form or another. However, you might be surprised to find out how many vitamins it offers and how vital they are for our general health. Seaweed also has an abundance of minerals, but I'll cover that in another article. For now, lets see what vitamins seaweed offers us and the impact it has on our overall health.

Vitamin A

• Cell Growth, Repair, and Immunity - Helps your body fight illness from viruses and bacteria. It strengthens areas of your body which are vulnerable to them such as the mucous membranes near the eyes and nose which is how viruses and bacteria can enter your body which can lead to illness.
• Vision and Eye Health - Helps fight against glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts, along with other illnesses of the eyes which you may become vulnerable to as you get older.
• Cancer - Is considered to be a strong antioxidant and is thought to prevent development of certain varieties of cancer and pulmonary diseases.
• Bones - Since Vitamin A plays a significant part in the growth of new cell tissue, it also helps ensure bone health by replacing damaged tissue. It also helps the formation of dentin on your teeth.
• Prevention of Urinary Stones - Vitamin A creates a mineral called calcium phosphate that prevents solid particles from forming within your body. These particles can form stones and can cause vomiting and pain.
• Helps to Maintain Healthy Skin - Vitamin A is an antioxidant. Free radicals damage the skin, which is why antioxidants are important in maintaining healthy skin. It will protect it from wrinkling, pimples, dryness, and psoriasis.

Vitamin B1

Is also commonly known as Thiamine or Thiamin. B1 is important for maintaining a healthy nervous system. In addition it will help to convert the food you eat everyday into energy your body uses to function.

Vitamin B2

Also known as Riboflavin. Vitamin B2 also helps convert food into energy. As a matter of fact, every B vitamin aids in the conversion of food into energy. However, B2 is also responsible for breaking down fats and proteins. In addition it helps in the production of hormones and helps red blood cells to stay healthy.

Vitamin B3

Is typically known as Niacin. It also helps in converting food into energy like all the B vitamins. It's also responsible for helping your nervous system to continue functioning properly, assists in maintaining a healthy digestive system and assists in blood circulation.

Vitamin B6

Helps prevent heart disease, aids in the production of antibodies to fight infection, viruses and bacteria. Like B3, it assists in the maintenance of your nervous system. It also assists in keeping red blood cells healthy. Similar to many of the B vitamins, it also converts food to energy.

Vitamin B-12

Is also known as Cobalamin. B-12 is known to assist in preventing heart disease, strengthen the immune system, keep red blood cells healthy and like all the B vitamins we've mentioned, it assists in converting food to energy.

Vitamin C

Is another vitamin that has a host of positive affects on your health. There's also evidence that it helps to raise good cholesterol generally known as HDL. HDL helps to eliminate fatty deposits from arteries, which reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It's also an antioxidant like Vitamin A. It also promotes strong teeth and bones, healthy skin and gums, helps wounds to heal and strengthens blood vessels.

Vitamin D

Aids in bone growth, strength and also helps to strengthen teeth. It also boosts the activity of the natural killer cells in your body. These cells are responsible for targeting other cells that are infected by viruses. Vitamin D also plays a role in the rejection of tumors. It also helps lower cholesterol. Low levels of Vitamin D can lead to increased blood pressure and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin E

Is known as an antioxidant like Vitamins A and C. It protects cells from the negative affects of free radicals. It can help to strengthen the immune system. It also helps create red blood cells. In addition it widens blood vessels, which prevent blood clots.

We take vitamins for granted, but they're vital to the proper functioning of our bodies. As you can see, seaweed has an abundance of them. Maybe it's time you thought about including it in your diet more often?

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Why Raw Almond Butter Is So Healthy

Many people are trying to find simple health solutions that they can incorporate into everyday life. For example, making subtle diet changes, such as replacing red meat with turkey, can make a huge difference. These kinds of diet changes have led a lot of people to using raw almond butter for sandwiches and spreads instead of things like peanut butter. The health benefits support doing things like this and simple changes can add up to make a big difference.

The reason why almond products are so healthy is because they are made from almonds. Almonds contain plenty of important vitamins and antioxidants, and some scientific studies even claim that almonds can help with memory loss, and should be investigated further as a way to reduce certain types of cancer. They are also high in fiber and other things of that nature that we normally do not get enough of. The health benefits of almonds have been recognized by different cultures for a long time, making them undoubtedly one of the healthier food out there.

Almond butter is also hypoallergenic, meaning for people with peanut allergies this is the perfect solution. People often switch from peanut butter to these products for that allergy reason. Raw almond butter also contains monounsaturated fats, which is a much healthier alternative to saturated fats that are common in foods like peanut butter. All of these health benefits are big reasons why families are switching to almond products over peanut butters.

The way raw butter out of almonds is made also helps to make it healthy. You want to concentrate on things like raw almond butter, which keep the almonds uncooked. When fruit and vegetables are cooked they often lose their nutrition value. Because of the cooking process of low heat, raw butters keep all of the nutritional value of almonds, a big plus for health conscious individuals.

Taking small steps like switching foods can make a big difference in your health. Almonds taste great, and almond type butter is a great replacement for higher fat and less nutritious items. Picking the right almond products is important, but recommended for people trying to make a little bit of a difference to their health.

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What Makes 'Organic Food' Organic And Clean?

As more and more people wanted to eat food that was free of chemicals and unnatural processes, they began growing their own crops without the use of harmful chemicals. Smaller farmers also began to revolt against factory farming and they returned to old school farming methods. Then those farmers were able to offer us the alternative to industrially grown produce.

This food began to be called organic because the term implies that everything was produced using only living matter, like plants and animals instead of chemicals.

Pretty soon the big guys could see the attraction that was growing in the market place. They began to adopt the labels and slap them onto the same stuff they were already growing. False advertising? Pretending? Just think of all the "green" products you see in the supermarket.

So the term, organic, had to be regulated somewhat. Finally, standards are set now, and farmers have to meet those standards before they can call their food "organic." The standards are exactly what you think they'd be (who knew the government could do something straight-forward?).

Organic farmers are not allowed to use bioengineered genes (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge-based fertilizer, or petroleum-based fertilizers. Organic livestock need to be fed organic feed and they also need to be able to go outdoors and roam in minimum space.

Fortunately, the guidelines prohibit growth hormones, antibiotics, and animal-by-products as well. Of course there are marketing cheats aiming to fool us with false claims so we need to be on our toes. If it says anything but "Organic" or "Certified Naturally Grown" they're probably hiding something.

If you're not familiar, "Certified Naturally Grown" is an alternative to organic which is controlled by a non-profit organization. They're held to the same standards as "Organic" but they're inspected by other farmers instead of the government. It is not the same as a food simply saying it's "natural" so be careful, they like to trick us.

Affects of Pesticides On Your Body

The whole reason we want organic food is to protect our health; non-organic foods can have some serious health implications. Studies have revealed that pesticides show up in our bodies from eating non-organic food, and often at levels several times higher than is "safe."

Many of these chemicals have been linked to serious health issues like birth defects, infertility, and cancer in both adults and children.

Are you pregnant, or planning to be anytime soon?

Pregnant women can be extremely vulnerable to pesticides because they increase the stress on an already over-stressed body. Even worse, the chemicals can even be transmitted from you to your child, whether still in the womb or through breast-feeding later.

Some tests of children have revealed the presence of nerve-damaging chemicals at 4 times what is officially deemed as "safe" levels. Those chemicals are deliberately designed to kill insects by targeting their nervous system.

Frankly, it seems too obvious to me that those same chemicals will damage our nervous systems exactly the same way they kill the insects. Yes, pesticides come in doses much too low to kill us, but even an only slightly unhealthy diet will catch up to you after years of maintaining it. Another part of that same study revealed significantly high amounts of organochlorine pesticides in women. You might ask, "What's so special about that?"

Well, organochlorine pesticides can be passed down to your child during pregnancy. If that happens, it causes a disruption in vital brain development - leading to learning disabilities and other neurological problems. None of us want that happening to our children. Processed foods are a danger but not the only one. Contaminated food comes out the farm gate on the way to the factory before processing, so we need to be careful where we get our "clean" foods from.

What Foods Are Best To Eat Organic

Ideally, if it was once alive, whether plant or animal, then we want it to be organic. You've probably heard of organic animals, right? That's because animals aren't spared the treatment we get; farmers feed them the same crap they feed us. They use crops in their feed filled with pesticides, but they also include growth hormones and keep the animals locked up indoors 24/7. It's cheaper.

Organic animals are pesticide and hormone-free so you don't need to worry about putting those harmful chemicals in you or your family's bodies. Organic is expensive, though. We can't always afford to spend extra on the better quality stuff, so are there some guidelines we can use to put our money in the best spot?

Yes, there's a list of the "Deadly 14? foods that should always be bought organic. The Environmental Working Group studied data from 9 years of research and told us the 14 foods which tested the highest for pesticides:

* Apples

* Grapes

* Strawberries

* Peaches

* Spinach

* Celery

* Cherry tomatoes

* Potatoes

* Imported snap peas

* Imported nectarines

* Cucumbers

* Sweet bell peppers

* Hot peppers

Do you like blueberries? A lot of us do, but did you know that if you buy domestically grown blueberries they can have organophosphate insecticides? Organophosphates are a common nerve agent used for chemical weapons. It's used to kill us humans, not just insects.

Even low levels of exposure inhibits brain development, often resulting in not only slower learning and reduced physical coordination for our children, but ADHD too. If you've got a growing family, you may want to think twice about buying non-organic blueberries...or anything else.

These organophosphates aren't unique to blueberries, everything else on that list above can also be sprayed with these deadly chemicals But, I know we don't always have the money to spend extra on organic foods, some of us have a tight budget to keep. That's why I've got another list for you.

This one has the foods that tested the lowest for chemicals:

* Onions

* Pineapple

* Corn

* Avocado

* Asparagus

* Mango

* Kiwi

* Sweet peas

* Cabbage

* Papaya

* Eggplant

* Winter squash

* Bananas

* Cauliflower

* Broccoli

* Melons

You may have noticed that most of them have a skin we peel or cut off before eating. At least, most of us normal people do. The chemicals tend to not make it all the way through the skin into the good part we eat, so we get food less tainted by chemicals. Good ol' nature protecting itself from us.

The other foods, like broccoli, are just unappetizing to pests so they're not sprayed as much. If only they'd leave our other food alone too. Although organic food is not any more nutritional than mass produced foods, it is a great fit for a clean eating diet simply because it is free of chemical pesticides. And let's face it, your body must be better off without additives that are powerful killers of insects, don't you think?

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Plant Based Diet

Get Health with a Plant Based Diet

What if one simple change could put you on a path to better health? And what if that change could even save you from obesity, heart disease and cancer? You have the power to transform your life by maintaining a plant based diet - no ifs about it.

While many omnivores feel that a meal without meat just doesn't feel like a meal, the vegan and vegetarian plant based lifestyle is growing in popularity just the same - and with good reason. A plant based diet moves away from animal-based foods like meat, eggs and milk, and incorporates more fruit, vegetables, legumes and grains. The less meat and dairy you eat the less fat you take in. This goes a long way when it comes to maintaining healthy weight and cholesterol levels.

If you're wondering whether you should try out a plant based diet, consider the top five benefits listed below. Keep in mind that you don't have to jump into a full-on vegan diet or vegetarian diet. Just limiting your intake of meat, poultry and dairy, and increasing vegetables, fruit and grains can do wonders for your health.

Top Five Benefits of a Plant Based Diet

1. Lower Cholesterol

Going green can dramatically lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood - the bad kind that can lead to heart disease and stroke. Avoid butter, cut out fatty meats and opt for plant-based foods. Dairy and animal products are loaded with fat and have no fiber. Plant based foods contain no cholesterol whatsoever. That means vegan nutrition is much better for your heart and your health. It's even been proven by a recent study out of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, which found that a low-fat plant based diet can lower LDL cholesterol by 28 percent.

2. Lower Blood Pressure

When you eat fatty meats and dairy products, the viscosity of your blood increases, placing more pressure on the blood vessels. A plant based diet fills you up with veggies and fruit, which are high in potassium. Higher intake of potassium modulates blood viscosity. This is why vegetarians and vegans tend to have lower rates of hypertension, "the silent killer," according to observational studies published in the Nutrition Review.

3. Prevent Cancer

High-fat diets have been linked to higher rates of cancer. In fact the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's Cancer Project showed vegetarians to be 40 percent less likely to develop cancer than meat-eaters. Meat tends to be high in saturated fat and low in fiber. Fiber plays a key role in keeping your digestive system clean and healthy, removing cancer-causing compounds before they can create harm. A vegetarian diet and vegan diet are high in fiber, low in saturated and trans-fats and typically include more fruit, vegetables and other cancer-preventing phytochemicals.

4. Avoid Heart Disease

The American Heart Association says 83 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease, and many of the risk factors, such as obesity, are at all-time highs. But you reduce your risk. Research has found that a balanced, low-fat, plant based diet can help reduce cholesterol, contribute to weight loss and lower blood pressure. All of which lead to heart problems.

5. Maintain Healthy Weight & Fitness

Those who follow a plant based, vegan or vegetarian diet generally consume fewer calories and have lower body weights than those who don't, according to the Mayo Clinic. Still, a plant based diet doesn't guarantee weight loss. You'll want to keep your intake of sweets and fatty foods low, choose whole grains, eat a variety of fruit and vegetables, and choose fat-free and low-fat dairy products. Also remember that cooking method counts. Steam, boil, grill or roast instead of frying. Your new diet will even give you renewed energy for physical exercise.

How to Transition to a Plant Based Diet

Aside from simply avoiding meat, there are ways to ease the transition to a primarily plant based diet. Increase the amount of grains, fruits and vegetables on your plate gradually until the meat is the smallest portion of your meal. An online vegan delivery service can make the process simple.

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Natural Food As The Best Source For Vitamins And Nutrition

The way that the body works is complex, but one thing should be understood when you are seeking to enjoy optimal nutrition - it is best to get all that you need from your food. Though the modern world seems to favor instant remedies and lots of over the counter health solutions, it is not that wise to rely on pills to give you nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

Why not? That is something that you will want to know if you are looking to consume a high vitality diet. The body really loves balance. It has actually mastered it by being able to take foods and use everything in them to nourish the body. In fact, this mastery has gone so far as to make it best to eat certain foods because they contain complementary ingredients that actually help the body to use nutrients in the best ways possible.

As an example, you eat an orange because you know it is full of vitamin C. This is a water soluble vitamin that is not absorbed by the body until it is about to exit the small intestine. The fact that oranges are high in water content means that a lot of the vitamin is going to be absorbed easily in the best way possible by the body. It is amazing and serves as a good lesson in the need to use food sources for nutrition.

The Transports

The ways that vitamins are found are almost endless. They appear in almost every natural food you can list, and they all have different quantities. This is why you do want to consume a range of foods on a regular basis, and why you want to choose only fresh and whole foods as often as you can. These are the only guarantees of getting the highest nutrient counts.

After all, if you eat roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, stems, and nuts for your nutrients and vitamins, they are what could be called "living" food sources. They will degrade quite rapidly after being harvested (as they should), and so food that has been transported over distances and kept in storage will not have the same higher nutritional values.

This does indicate that nutrition and vitamins can usually result best when obtained through the consumption of the freshest foods possible, and this means that seasonal eating is the wisest course of action. While your entire diet may not be available as fresh foods, you can consume frozen and dried foods and mix them with the available bounty.

This ensures that you are getting the materials you need at the highest quality. Now, there is one last way to get vitamins, and that is through exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is actually synthesized (made by) the body when the skin is exposed to direct sun. Just sitting outdoors for 15 to 20 minutes each day will allow you to naturally generate your daily supply of this essential vitamin. Nature does provide what you need, just be sure you eat seasonally and rely on food sources for most of your nutrients.

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Seasonal fruits and veg for your nutrition this month | February

Eating a wide variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables will promote good health and will give your body the right nutrients it needs at this time of the year.

Fruit and vegetables contain no saturated fats, salt or added sugars and are a good source of fibre. Eating enough fruit and vegetables will also help you to maintain a healthy weight, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and benefit your dental health. It can also help protect you against chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke and may reduce your risk of some types of cancers.

Here is a list of seasonal fruits and veg for February that you can include in your spring lunch and dinner menu, detox drinks, smoothies or eat just raw.

Seasonal fruits

Kiwi, oranges, lemons, tangerines, clementines, grapefruits, apples, pears, and dried fruits.

Seasonal vegetables

Beetroot, broccoli, artichoke, cardoon, chicory, carrot, cauliflower, white cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts, sauerkraut, beet tops, fennel, endive, lettuce, leek, red radicchio, turnip, scorzonera, scorzobianca, spinach, Jerusalem artichoke, valerianella, pumpkin, radishes, kale, sweet potato, potato.