Some of the best seasonal fruits and vegetables can be found during autumn. From tart and tangy cranberries to rich and buttery pumpkins, the options are endless for naturally good eating.

Avocados – High in fiber and packed with monounsaturated fats that can improve cholesterol, avocados are also rich in potassium, folate, and vitamins A, C and E. Enjoy avocados with a salad, taco or atop a whole wheat cracker or crisp bread.

Squash – From acorn to spaghetti, winter squash comes in many delicious and colorful varieties. Squash is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, potassium, fiber and vitamin A. Try it baked, boiled or as the base for soups and pies.

Apples - From turkey stuffing to salads, apples are the stars of good autumn eating. Also high in fiber (average of 4 grams) and potassium, apples contain more quercetin per serviing than any other fruit. Quercitin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that can prevent cell, tissue and blood vessel damage.

Cranberries - At their peak between October and December, cranberries are great sources of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and vitamin K. Tart, tangy and sweet, cranberries are used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections and according to recent studies, may lower cholesterol and blood pressure, promote oral health, and prevent cancer and heart disease.

Related Articles:

• Celebrate Fall at Home
• Stay Healthy During Flu Season

Beets – Known for their reddish-purple color, beets also grow in white, golden or rainbow varieties. Whether served raw on a salad or roasted with other vegetables, beets add beautiful color and powerful nutrients including folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin C and iron to any meal.

Pumpkin - Near synonymous with the fall, pumpkins were celebrated by Native Americans for their medicinal and nutritional properties. The star attractions at many fall festivals, pumpkins with their rich orange color, are loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, which may prevent blindness, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes are packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants that lower “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure, improves circulation, stabilizes blood sugar, lowers insulin resistance and may even aid weight loss. Try them mashed, baked or in a pie.

Sources: World’s Healthiest Foods; USDA

Image: fromthelbc, flickr

You know the scene. Unable to breathe, a man, usually middle-aged, clutches his chest and keels over. Often referred to as the “hollywood heart attack”–most people recognize crushing pain or pressure in the chest as a sign of a heart attack. But for women, heart attack symptoms can be far less dramatic than those depicted in the movies.

Read the full story

When it comes to finding the best way to lose weight, it all comes down to individual preferences and metabolic needs. That’s the finding of a new study comparing three popular weight loss diets, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the results of the study won’t stop the diet wars from raging on. Read the full story

Often praised for its health-enhancing properties, a new study is providing more evidence that a daily cup of green tea may lead to a healthier heart.

The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the Athens Medical School in Greece, shows that drinking tea improves blood flow and expands arteries, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. Read the full story

Maybe you’ve been thinking about losing weight for some time now. Perhaps you have even tried to lose weight before. If you’ve lost your motivation, now is the time to get started again.

Losing weight isn’t easy, but think of the benefits. Losing weight will help you feel better, make it easier to be physically active, and can improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Read the full story