South-of-the-Border Produce Has Many Year-Round Advantages (NAPSA)—It’s that post-holiday, pre-swimsuit time. Wouldn’t you love a taste of summer without the traumaof suiting up in swimwear just yet? Manypeople loosen their belts this time of year because they’re eating heavy foods andfeeling sluggish. If you’re looking to shed a certain winter “coat” to feel healthier and gain warm-weather energy, then consider thesefacts. 1) Most Americanseat less produce in winter, studies show. But why eat fewer high-nutrition, lowcalorie fruits and vegetables at a time the body really needs something light and fresh? Today’s supermarketscarry plenty of high quality, nutritious produce year round from Mexico—tastes of imported sunshine. 2) Eating fruits and vegetables consistently is key to overall better health, research shows. In a sevenyear study of men and women, eating fruits and vegetables throughout the year appeared to provide more heart and cancer protection than eating them just in the warmer months. So, you'll help both your body and spirit by eating more fruits and vegetables this winter. Take your mouth on a tropical getaway bytrying these flavorful Mexican imports available from Januaryuntil April. They’re picked, packaged and transported quickly, with conditions controlled for a just-picked taste and appearance. Essential tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, with the antioxidant lycopene. Crunchy cucumbers,with fiber andonly 39 calories. Juicy watermelon, packed with vitamins A, C and lycopene. Zesty bell peppers and chili peppers, high in beta-carotene and vitamin C. *Yummy yellow squash and zucchini, an excellent source of magnesium. * Luscious limes, with vitamin C andflavonoids. Ever-handy onions,high in the heart-helping antioxidantallicin. * Mouth-watering melons, with vitamin C. Marvelous mangoes, high in beta-carotene and vitamin C. Comforting winter squash, high in beta-carotene and vitamin C. Sweet corn, a very good source of thiamin and a good sourceoffiber. Adaptable eggplant, with a potent antioxidant called nasunin. * Crisp green beans, with vitamin K for strong bones. Favorite oranges, a powerhouse of vitamin C. Versatile chayote squash, a good source of potassium. Pink-fleshed papayas, rich in vitamins A, C and a digestive enzyme called papain.
