5 Orange Foods To Eat More Of! (Sorry, Cheetos Didn't Make The List!)

Several fruits and vegetables get their bright orange color from a powerful nutrient called beta carotene. Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can be converted by the body into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is very important for good health, especially your vision. Because of its antioxidant properties, beta carotene is thought to have powerful anti-cancer properties. It may also help to enhance your immune system and help protect your skin from sun damage. Check out these five beta carotene rich foods and see why else they are good for you!

1) Cantaloupe

In addition to beta carotene, cantaloupe is a great source of the important nutrients vitamin C and potassium. To learn more about why these so good for you check out Why is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important? and Why Potassium Is Important & Which Foods To Get It From!

2) Pumpkin

In addition to being a great source of both beta-carotene and alpha carotene, pumpkin is a low calorie source of fiber, potassium, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C. In SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven Pratt, M.D., pumpkin is called "one of the most nutritionally valuable foods known to man"! If you're interested in trying some delicious new pumpkin recipes, check out this Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie Recipe, Pumpkin Pancake Recipe, or Light Pumpkin Bread From Cooking Light!

3) Carrots

In addition to beta carotene, carrots are a good source of fiber, manganese, niacin, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. 

Fun Fact: Carrots were originally purple, red white, and yellow. The orange carrot was invented by the Dutch by crossbreeding red and yellow carrots in honor of the Dutch royal family. For a few more fun facts about carrots check out 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Carrots!

4. Sweet Potatoes

In addition to beta carotene, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, B6, manganese, potassium, and fiber. Also, sweet potatoes may enhance your memory! According to 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life by David Grotto, "Rats who ate purple-fleshed sweet potatoes showed significant improvement in cognitive function, which may be attributed to the anthocyanins present in the potato." More studies are needed to determine if this also applies to humans, but those results are certainly promising! 

5. Oranges

In addition to being a great source of vitamin C, oranges contain citrus flavonoids that have numerous potential health benefits. According to SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, "Citrus flavonoids have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, strengthen capillaries, act as anti-inflammatories, and they antiallergenic and antimicrobial. Flavonoid intake is inversely associated with the incidence of heart attack and stroke as well as a host of other ailments."

5 Foods You Think Are Healthy, But Aren't

In the video below, Everyday Health gives the scoop on five foods you might want to think twice about including in a healthy diet. Check it out! Also, don't forget to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) for lots of great healthy eating tips!

Seasonal Eating: 15 Fruits & Vegetables To Eat In Jan/Feb

While many varieties of fruits and vegetables can be found in supermarkets year round, loading up on produce when it is in season is always a smart choice! It's often fresher, better tasting, higher in nutrients, and cheaper. Here are 15 delicious fruits and vegetables to eat in January and February! Also, don't forget to follow Eat Groovy on Twitter (@EatGroovy) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/eatgroovy/) for lots of great healthy eating tips!

1) Kale

Spinach vs Kale: Which Is Healthier?

2) Brussels Sprouts

3 Great Reasons To Eat Brussels Sprouts!

3) Cauliflower

How to Make Garlic Roasted Cauliflower - Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe!

4) Grapefruit

5) Turnips

6) Oranges

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oranges!

7) Tangerines

8) Cabbage

9) Clementines

10) Parsnips

11) Broccoli

5 Reasons Broccoli Is Good For You

12) Beets

13) Pears

14) Leeks

15) Lemons

Why Is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important?

This Is 200 Calories

Watch this helpful video by ASAPScience to see what 200 calories looks like for different foods. You might be surprised!

How to Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget!

Eating healthy doesn't always have to cost a fortune! Check out this Howcast video for some great tips on how to eat healthy on a tight budget! 

3 Important Rules For Eating Fruit!

In addition to being delicious, fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Fruit is often high in antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. It's also a great natural energy source. However, there are a few rules you should follow when eating fruit to best benefit your health.

1. Avoid eating berries with dairy
Many people add high antioxidant fruit such as blueberries or raspberries to boost the antioxidant content of their dairy based smoothies. Antioxidants are great for your health by helping to protect the body from damaging free radicals. They have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, slower aging, and better skin. However, recent studies suggest that proteins in milk interfere with antioxidant absorption. To get the most antioxidant benefits from berries it's best to try to eat them at least an hour before dairy consumption.

2. Avoid eating fruit for desert 
The worst time to eat fruit is right after a meal. It is less likely to be digested properly, more likely to cause bloating and indigestion, and fewer of the nutrients are likely to be absorbed. Try eating fruit on an empty stomach to get the most benefits.

3. Chose fresh fruit over canned varieties when possible
Processed fruit is often less nutritious and may contain added sugar and preservatives that aren't good for you.