13 Fall Superfoods You Should Add to Your Diet

Reboot your health with these disease-fighting fall superfoods.

Turnip greens

If youโ€™re tossing the tops of turnips, youโ€™re seriously losing out. Turnip greens are host to immune-boosting vitamins A and C; a whopping 500 percent of vitamin K, which regulates blood clotting; folate; and about four times the amount of calcium found in its fellow cruciferous veggies. Steam the greens to mute their bitterness or toss with a sweet citrus vinaigrette to balance it out. These are 10 of the healthiest vegetables you can possibly eat.

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Kale

Fall is kaleโ€™s time to shine. Not only does it thrive in cooler weather, meaning youโ€™ll find it fresh for longer, you can hit your daily value of vitamins A, C, and K all in one bite. โ€œItโ€™s such a strong superfood contender because you knock out certain nutritional needs just by eating one specific food,โ€ says Libby Mills, MS, RDN, LDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Kale also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help protect the heart and prevent some cancers, and its fiber and magnesium content aids in digestion. As if cancer prevention and healthy digestion weren’t enough to convince you to eatย a kale salad, here are 5 more reasons for why you should chow down on the cruciferous veggie!

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Beets

Beets are a bowel-regulating dream at nearly 90 percent water and high in fiber. Theyโ€™re also low carb and have a low glycemic load, which means they wonโ€™t cause your blood sugar levels to spike. Try roasting them and tossing on a salad. Learn about more health benefits of beets, and munch onย theseย 15 other foods that are natural laxativesย to keep your digestive tract running smoothly.

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Pomegranates

Take advantage of these powerful little bulbs while you can, because theyโ€™ll be gone before you know it. Pomegranates have a super-short season but pomegranates have many important health benefits. Studies have shown that eating pomegranates and drinking pomegranate juice may protect against certain cancers and Alzheimerโ€™s disease, increase blood flow to the heart, and keep blood pressure and cholesterol balanced. Theyโ€™re also packed with antioxidants and have a little fiber and vitamin E. โ€œThey have a great reputation for a good reason. A half a cup is easily tossed into a salad or on yogurt,โ€ says Mills. Pomegranates even have more antioxidants than green tea and nine other facts you didn’t know about the healthiest fruits for your body.

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Brussels sprouts

This Thanksgiving staple might be the healthiest thing on your table. Each mini cabbage is full of antioxidants, vitamin K and C, folate, and filling fiber. “Brussels sprouts also have anticancer properties that push this to the top of the cruciferous veggie list,” says Mills. Try these 7 tricks to start liking vegetables you hateย like roasting brussels sprouts with onions and tossing them in rice vinegar.

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Apples

โ€œWhen they say โ€˜an apple a day keeps the doctor away,โ€™ they arenโ€™t kidding,โ€ says Mills. Apples contain bowel-regulating pectin and phytonutrients that help lower cholesterol. Check out these nifty, butย healthy ways to eat applesย like pairing a glass of green tea with an apple for a bonafide health kick!

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Kumquats

This tiny sour fruit packs a big punch of vitamin C, antioxidants, and even protein, which is not commonly found in fruits and veggies. If youโ€™ve never tried one, itโ€™s important to eat the peelโ€”this is where much of the antioxidants live that help fight free radicals that can harm cells. Here are the effortless secrets to making your food healthier without even trying!

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Pumpkins

โ€œPumpkins are the quintessential fall produce,โ€ says Mills. While the flesh and peel are both incredibly high in vitamins A and C, both vital to immune, skin, and eye health, donโ€™t forget about the seeds. โ€œPumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, which help our bodies heal and preserves our sense of taste,โ€ says Mills. Try roasting them low and slow and eating the whole thingโ€”much of the zinc is found in a membrane between the outer shell and inner kernel. Watch out for theseย signs you’re not getting enough zinc.

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Oregano and rosemary

Herbs can be superfoods, too. Oregano and rosemary are sturdy plants that can remain pick-able during cooler temperatures; both deliver antibacterial and antifungal properties. โ€œWe use them in small quantities but their antioxidants and phytochemicals are very condensed, so they provide a nutritional bang,โ€ says Mills. Make a quick pesto to toss with other fall superfoods for an extra healthy punch.

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Daikon radish

This mild Asian veggie is packed with vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Potassium aids in metabolism and acts as an electrolyte to counteract the effects of sodium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Be aware of these signs you’re not getting enough potassium.

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Swiss chard

Swiss chard might be a step below leafy green queen kale but itโ€™s still a powerhouse high in vitamins K, A, C, and E, magnesium, potassium, and smaller amounts of B vitamins and zinc. Check out these 11ย trending veggies that could be the next kale at your localย farmer’s market.

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Butternut and acorn squash

โ€œSometimes carb-conscious people steer clear of these starchy squashes, but they have a good carb effect similar to whole grains,โ€ says Mills. โ€œThey donโ€™t cause an immediate spike in blood sugar.โ€ Butternut and acorn squash also have contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol, antioxidants that reduce inflammation, and blood sugar-regulating B vitamins. Check out these yummy butternut squash recipesโ€”total comfort food. To keep your squash fresher longer, never ever store themย with apples and pears and 11 other fresh foods you should never store together.

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Cauliflower

Just because cauliflower is paler than other cruciferous veggies doesnโ€™t mean itโ€™s devoid of nutrients. It has four times the recommended amount of vitamin C, 50 percent of your daily potassium allotment, is high in fiber, and contains vitamin B6, which plays a role in metabolizing fats and protein. Try this yummy cauliflower crust pizza that won’t kill your diet!

Sources
  • Libby Mills, MS, RDN, LDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Alyssa Jung
Alyssa Jung is a writer and editor with extensive experience creating health and wellness content that resonates with readers. She freelanced for local publications in Upstate New York and spent three years as a newspaper reporter before moving to New York City to pursue a career in magazines. She is currently Senior Associate Editor at Prevention magazine and a contributor to Prevention.com. Previously she worked at Reader's Digest as an editor, writer, and health fact checker.