There are only a handful of things that capture the essence of summer. A long beach day with the family, a day at the lake, a backyard barbecue, and, of course, biting into a juicy stone fruit. Be it a peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, pluot, or a cup of cherries, a stone fruit is nearly unmatched for summer fruits. Well, watermelon may top the list for some, but not for us!

A stone fruit, or a drupe, is a type of fruit that contains a large stone (pit) in the center. They belong to the Prunus genus family and usually have a thin skin with soft and juicy flesh. Unlike other fruits, stone fruits stop reopening right after being picked. That means that the stone fruit season is limited, but because of different ripening times, you can find stone fruit varieties throughout the year. Stone fruits provide a long list of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and you can continue reading to learn more about them. 

Peaches

A true classic, the peach has been cultivated all over the world, dating all the way back to 6,000 BC. They exhibit a scrumptiously sweet flavor, are low in calories, and have a host of health benefits. Peaches are rich in carotenoids, which are plant pigments that give peaches their signature yellow color. Carotenoids exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and may help protect against certain eye diseases and cancers. Some research shows that people who eat carotenoid-rich diets have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. 

Apricots

These small, orange stone fruits are naturally rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, and several B vitamins. Fresh apricots are especially rich in beta-carotene, which is a carotenoid that the body converts into vitamin A. Apricots are particularly rich in this plant pigment, in addition to other plant compounds that help protect against oxidative stress. One study with 1,300 people suffering from gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) found that people who ate apricots daily experienced significantly fewer GERD symptoms compared to those who didn’t. Apricots may also improve digestion by accelerating the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract.

Lychee

The lychee fruit offers a distinct flavor and texture. The sweet and refreshing white flesh is protected by a sturdy, inedible pink skin. One cup of lychees fulfills 226% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C and 7% of the RDI of folate. Lychees are also rich in phosphorus, copper, potassium, and good amounts of riboflavin (vitamin B2). They also provide phenolic compounds, including epicatechin, rutin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid, all of which exhibit powerful antioxidant effects. 

Plums

Plums, despite their size, pack an impressive nutritional punch. They are naturally rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and offer an assortment of phenolic compounds, including kaempferol and proanthocyanidins. Phenolic compounds work to protect your cells from damaging free radicals, which may help reduce your risk of neurodegenerative illnesses and heart disease. Prunes, which are dried plums, may help increase bone mineral density and relieve constipation. Think of prunes like concentrated doses of the nutrients you find in plums. 

Mangos

Didn’t think you’d see mangos on this list, did you? Most people don’t realize that mangos belong to the stone fruit family. They are naturally rich in several B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C, magnesium, copper, and potassium. Like other stone fruits, mangos offer a diverse mix of antioxidant compounds, including anthocyanins and carotenoids. Mangos are high-fiber fruits, so it helps promote healthy digestion. One study involved people with chronic constipation. Researchers observed that eating two cups of mango daily significantly improved stool consistency and frequency. 

Cherries

Last, but not certainly not least, we have cherries, which have a sweet and slightly tart flavor. Cherries are great sources of manganese, magnesium, copper, vitamins B6, C, and K, potassium, and lots of antioxidants, including procyanidins, anthocyanins, and flavonols. These antioxidants work to reduce inflammatory processes, potentially reducing your risk of some chronic diseases. A small one-month study found that people who consumed a little less than two cups of cherries per day significantly reduced inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 18 (IL-18). Other studies indicate that cherries may help improve sleep, reduce post-exercise muscle soreness, and regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

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Cherries are a popular summer stone fruit that contain many health benefits, such as natural melatonin for better sleep and it may improve our heart health.

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Summertime, and the eating’s easy. Summer barbecues, outdoor picnics, and beach days are all fun-in-the-sun events that involve food. The food options are not usually the healthiest options, though. With all of the beautiful, nutritious fruits and vegetables available during the summer months, though, you should focus your efforts on consuming as many of them as possible. Leave the hotdogs in the store and grab some seasonal produce!

Some of the fruits and vegetables that ripen during summer can be quite excellent for your heart. The reason for this is because they contain an assortment of antioxidant compounds. 

What Are Antioxidants?

If you are familiar with Dherbs, you know how much we love to discuss antioxidants. If you want to keep your body as healthy as possible, learn to love antioxidants. According to studies, antioxidants protect the cells in your body from damaging free radicals, or oxidants. These molecules are a byproduct of using oxygen and they can be introduced to the body via radiation, tobacco smoke, or environmental pollution. 

Antioxidants work by binding to these free radical molecules, preventing them from damaging other cells in the body. Some examples of antioxidants include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Lycopene
• Beta-carotene
• Selenium

The best seasonal produce you can get will be from the farmer’s market, but many local grocery stores offer local and organic produce items. There are plenty of options to choose from this summer, but the following options can help benefit your heart. 

Peaches

A summer classic, peaches come in both yellow and white varieties. The subtle orange hue of the flesh exists because of the antioxidant it contains. That antioxidant is beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A as it breaks the food down. Beta-carotene may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, but studies confirm that it will not help prevent coronary heart disease. 

Cherries

Sticking to the stone fruit family, we have cherries, which only have a limited window of availability of freshness. Both sweet and sour cherries can help decrease inflammation and boost heart health. Some studies suggest that sour cherry juice can drastically help your efforts to reduce the damaging effects, or potential damage, of oxidants. 

Tomatoes

These fruits (technically not vegetables) are high in lycopene, a natural compound that gives them their signature vibrant red color. Because of that, the skin is where most of the antioxidants are. One study found that a higher presence of lycopene in the body was associated with a lower risk of hypertension. Additionally, a separate study found that lycopene may exhibit anti-hypertensive effects in rats without causing hypotension. 

Strawberries

Before we get into the health benefits of strawberries, it is important to note that they usually are high on the Dirty Dozen list. For this reason, health experts encourage you to buy organic strawberries. Strawberries are the quintessential summer berry and contain a lot of vitamin C. As they ripen, they become more red, which means more antioxidants for you! Strawberries may help lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in the blood. Berry consumption has also been linked to better gut, immune, and cardiovascular function. 

Blueberries

Blueberries are an easy berry to say yes to if you want to improve heart health and enjoy brain-boosting benefits. The American Heart Association (AHA) encourages people to consume blueberries because they provide lots of fiber, which works to encourage optimal gut and heart health. Blueberries also contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant compounds that give blueberries their blue hue. 

Broccoli

Eating more broccoli is a great way to incorporate more greens into your diet, but it may also encourage healthier heart function. Many studies confirm that broccoli can help lower blood sugar, promote healthy digestion, and boost immune function. Researchers note that broccoli exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help support healthy blood pressure levels and lower LDL cholesterol. Broccoli is also rich in fiber, which can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease.

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Chia pudding is an excellent breakfast, nutritious snack, or healthy sweet treat. Even though people commonly enjoy chia pudding as a breakfast, it often feels like a sweet indulgence. There is no shortage of chia pudding recipes on our website, some of which are quite unique. You can really make it your own and get creative with what you include. You can go the plain route, adding just a hint of sweetness, or you can blend different fruits into the mix.

Summer is the season of cherries, and they’ve started showing up in grocery stores. Although you can purchase Rainier cherries or sour cherries, the best variety for this recipe are the classic, dark red sweet cherries. They are both sweet and tart, so you don’t have to worry about an overly sweet pudding. If you are worried about sweetness and prefer things on the tarter side, start with less maple syrup and increase as needed. You don’t have to include any maple syrup if you feel that the cherries will provide enough sweetness on their own.

Although this recipe calls for homemade almond milk, you can use any homemade nut or seed milk that you make from scratch. That said, you can use other store bought non-dairy milks if you are not cleansing. Finally, if you are one of those people who despises coconut, you do not have to include it in this recipe.

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If ever there was a juice that screamed, “Summer is here,” it would be this watermelon cherry and berry beet juice. Did we create this juice because we had some leftover ingredients lying around? In truth, yes, but we are so glad that we used what we had! Sometimes, challenging yourself with the ingredients you have can yield tremendous creations, such as this refreshing, summery juice. Plus, the rich crimson color makes this juice quite the appetizing beverage.

One of the great things about this juice is that it aids your hydration efforts. Watermelon has a high water content and offers a lot of vitamin C, just like the strawberries, beets, and cherries. Now, if you don’t enjoy strawberries, you can opt for raspberries instead, but they may cause the juice to taste more tart. That is also true for the cherries that you choose, as some varieties are sweet while others are more sour (hence the name sour cherry juice). Just make sure that you pit the cherries prior to processing them through your juicer.

There is definitely a red trend for this watermelon cherry and berry beet juice recipe. It’s great to embrace the different colors of the rainbow when it comes to your diet. The “eat the rainbow” motto helps you get a diverse mix of antioxidants and polyphenols, many of which you will not get if you only eat a select number of fruits and vegetables. Beets, for example, contain betanin, which gives them their deep red pigment and may be responsible for some of the health benefits.

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Is this the best smoothie you’ll drink all summer? That is ultimately for you to decide, but we strongly endorse this smoothie for your summer smoothie rotation. It utilizes fresh cherries, which are in peak season during summer months. Buy them in bulk while they are affordable, remove the pits, and freeze them in a large freezer bag, so that you can continue making this smoothie all summer long.

This smoothie is creamy, refreshing, and full of flavor, and an excellent way to start your day. We suggest that you choose dark sweet cherries because of their rich sweetness during summer. Rainier cherries are also available, but they aren’t as sweet. You can use them if you prefer their flavor, but the color will differ from the color of the smoothie in the recipe picture. The banana and homemade almond milk work together to make this summer smoothie as creamy as possible. If you prefer the taste of homemade cashew milk, you can use that in place of the homemade almond milk.

Pineapple seems like the odd man out on this ingredient list, but the sweet and tart tropical flavor works so well to complement the cherries. It’s also worth noting that the pineapple is fresh, not frozen overnight like the banana and cherries. The reason for that is because fresh pineapple cubes are very juicy, making this smoothie a little easier to blend. If you give this recipe a try, let us know by leaving a comment below or tagging @dherbs on Instagram.

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The warm months of summer invite some of the best produce that you rarely get to see: stone fruits. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and cherries are now in season, offering different juicy and flavorful varieties. Stone fruits are naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, so they pack a one-two punch combo of nutrition and delicious flavor. 

What Is Stone Fruit?

A stone fruit, or a drupe, is a type of fruit that contains a large pit (stone) in the center. Belonging to the Prunus genus family, stone fruits typically have thin skin and soft flesh. Unlike other fruits, stone fruits stop ripening after you pick them, which is why their season is very narrow. Because different varieties ripen at different times, you can occasionally find different stone fruits throughout the year. Summer, however, is when you can find the freshest varieties, especially at local farmers markets. Continue reading to learn about five of the most popular stone fruits and their health benefits. 

Plums

Juicy, scrumptious, and packing an impressive amount of flavor for their size, plums are rich in anti-inflammatory properties and phenolic compounds, such as kaempferol and proanthocyanidins. Phenolic compounds help protect your cells against free radical damage, reducing your risk of chronic illnesses. Several studies indicate that prunes (dried plums) may increase bone mineral density, reduce blood pressure, and relieve constipation. Don’t eat too many prunes at once, though. You can enjoy fresh plums on their own, in salads, in oatmeal, in smoothies, or in fruit salads. 

Cherries

Cherries are not always available, so people snatch them up when they hit grocery shelves in the summer. They offer a sweetly tart flavor profile and a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. Cherries are naturally rich in manganese, vitamins B6 & K, copper, magnesium, and several antioxidants, including procyanidins, flavonols, and anthocyanins. One 28-week study found that people who ate just under two cups of cherries per day significantly reduced markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein and interleukin 18. Having high levels of these inflammatory markers can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Other studies note that cherries may help regulate blood sugar, reduce post-exercise muscle soreness, and improve sleep.

Apricots

Depending on the apricot you select, you may experience a tart or incredibly sweet flavor. Ideally, you should have a mixture of tart and sweet in every bite. Apricots offer impressive amounts of several B vitamins, in addition to vitamins E and K. They are also great sources of beta-carotene, a carotenoid that the body converts to vitamin A. That carotenoid is the reason why apricots are their signature vibrant orange color. Several animal studies indicated that the high concentration of beta-carotene protected cells against oxidative damage. A study with 1,300 people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) found that the group that ate apricots daily experienced improved digestion and fewer GERD symptoms. 

Peaches

Next to watermelon, the peach has to be one of summer’s most signature fruits. They are wonderfully juicy and sweet and exhibit impressive amounts of vitamins A & C, copper, fiber, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and other carotenoids. Studies found that people who consumed diets with more carotenoids had a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that impairs vision. Additional research notes that carotenoid-rich foods like peaches may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease. Make sure that you consume the peels because they contain 27 times more antioxidants than the internal flesh. 

Lychee

Lychees are not available everywhere, and you may have to visit ethnic grocery stores to find them. Their gel-like white flesh offers a distinct flavor and texture that’s contained inside a protective, inedible skin. Lychee fruit provides phenolic compounds, including caffeic acid, rutin, gallic acid, epicatechin, and chlorogenic acid, all of which exhibit antioxidant activity. A 21-day animal study observed rats with alcoholic liver disease. These rats received a 91-milligram per pound of body weight lychee extract per day. The results indicated a significant reduction in cellular damage, liver inflammation, and free radical production. Enjoy lychee fruits raw, in salads, or in smoothies.

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Summer is stone fruit season, which means that peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and cherries are available in grocery stores. Sure, you may be able to find peaches and nectarines in some stores throughout the year, but summer is when you get to enjoy the freshest varieties. For this fruit salad, you’ll toss together five different stone fruit varieties, some freshly chopped mint, and a simple vanilla, maple dressing for a slightly sweet bite.

One your next trip to the market, be on the lookout for in-season stone fruits, which should take center stage. These stone fruits are the most ripe and offer the best texture and sweetness. The combination of textures and flavors is really what this stone fruit salad aims to showcase. Peaches and nectarines come in yellow and white options, but you can choose the ones you prefer. If you want a more colorful stone fruit salad, consider using white nectarines and yellow peaches, or vice versa. The plums offer a deep red-purplish hue and slightly tart flavor profile. If they are softer, then they’ll be on the sweeter side.

Apricots add a wonderful orange color to the fruit salad, and the dark red cherries make it pop! If you prefer Rainier cherries, which have a whiter color, then you can use those if they are available to you. Now, if you just want to cut up the fruit and toss them together, that is a perfectly acceptable way to assemble a fruit salad. This fruit salad does come with a mint and maple dressing, which sets off the natural sweetness of the stone fruit. Choose your own culinary destiny! Both paths lead to deliciousness!

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Did you know that cherries are rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds?! The Shocking Truth will take you on a road throughout some history facts on cherries.

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Make no mistake, people, you will need a blender or food processor for this recipe. The ingredients don’t simply blend themselves or mash effortlessly. You want to fully incorporate the raspberries, banana, cherries, and homemade almond milk to create a luxurious sorbet. Ideally, the sorbet is perfectly balanced, exhibiting slightly tart and naturally sweet flavors. It does serve two to three people, but there’s nothing wrong with portioning out those servings for you and you alone.

Homemade sorbets are much healthier than store bought varieties because you avoid added sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives. Although this sorbet is ready to enjoy straight out of the blender or food processor, you can store it in a freezer-safe container in the freezer until you are ready to enjoy it. In fact, storing it in the freezer can give the sorbet a more scoopable consistency. We realize that “scoopable” is not a word, but we think you’re picking up what we’re laying down.

If you are not a fan of sorbets or ice cream, you can thin out this recipe by adding more homemade almond milk. You can then pour that thinner mixture into some popsicle molds and enjoy this sorbet in smoothie pop form. Think of it as enjoying a health popsicle instead of a smoothie on a stick! We’d love to know how you make this recipe, so let us know how much/little you enjoy it in the comments below. Post a picture and tag us on social media, too!

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