July’s superfood is just peachy. Stone fruits, such as cherries, nectarines, and peaches, get their name from their pit, or stone, found in the middle of the fruit. Whether you’re relaxing by the beach or running to work, this fruit has all the essential vitamins and minerals to have you feeling radiant. Packed with vitamin C and full of fiber, stone fruits provide key nutrients for a healthy mind and body.
Natural cherries, not to be confused with maraschino cherries, contain vitamin c, antioxidants, and melatonin. Because of their melatonin content, cherries are a natural way to help regulate sleep cycles and to ensure adults get their full 7–9 hours. After hitting the gym or climbing up Bishops, the antioxidants in cherries are great for healing over worked muscles. Eat them by the handful or toss them into a smoothie!
Nectarines, the less fuzzy cousins of peaches, may be one of the most refreshing fruits of the summer. High in beta-carotene, an antioxidant used by the body to produce vitamin A, nectarines are great for promoting skin, teeth, and bone health. Nectarines can be eaten sliced up as a snack or tossed into a salad.
Need some inspiration? Here are a dozen different ways to serve a stone fruit. Many people don’t know that mangoes and green almonds, the younger non-processed version of almonds, are also considered stone fruit. Both fruits can add a sweet, tangy flavor to any smoothie.