December is the month of Christmas, cold weather, snow, long family gatherings, delicious food, gifts, flavors, and breaking the rules. It’s the month where conviviality marries tradition, and food becomes the protagonist of moments spent with loved ones.
During this period, it’s easy to overindulge and overload the body, but don’t worry! To limit the damage caused by the feasts that precede and follow Christmas, simply eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, nourishing yourself according to natural cycles and rhythms.
Here’s the seasonal fruits and vegetables available in December.
Fruits and Vegetables to Add to Your December Shopping List
Among the seasonal vegetables, you can choose from beets, broccoli, artichokes, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts, chicory, endive, fennel, leeks, radicchio, horseradish, turnip, celery, celeriac, spinach, Jerusalem artichoke, valerian, and pumpkin.
Similarly, you can indulge in choosing seasonal fruits: oranges, persimmons, apples and quinces, kiwi, loquats, pears, and grapefruits, not forgetting the beneficial properties of dried fruits like hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds.
During this time, citrus fruits cannot be missing from the tables, the protagonists of winter, rich in vitamin C to help protect you from winter illnesses.
Those with a balcony garden in December may still have various vegetables, such as cutting lettuce, arugula, and herbs, including rosemary, oregano, sage, and parsley. Ornamental cabbages should be harvested before the arrival of frost.
It is advisable to protect potted plants from frost with appropriate non-woven fabric covers. Herbs and leafy vegetables fear frost and need to be protected, especially at night, with covers that can be removed during sunny days.
Pomegranate: The Antioxidant Superfood
A special mention among citrus fruits goes to the pomegranate: a fruit with great antioxidant properties, thanks to the presence of vitamin C and polyphenols. It can be a good ally in the prevention of vascular diseases, heart issues, and certain forms of cancer.
The common name “pomegranate” has its roots in ancient Latin “malum granatum,” terms that in Italian refer to the words “apple” and “with seeds.”
The literal translation “apple with seeds” fully expresses its characteristics. This fruit, used as a supplement, is perfect, especially for mature skin that benefits from moisturizing and anti-inflammatory factors, in the peel and even in the pomegranate flower.
The pomegranate is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants.
Some Research on Pomegranate
According to a study conducted by researchers in Korea, pomegranate juice prevents collagen deterioration and the formation of free radicals, thus preventing tissue breakdown and wrinkle formation.
Used for centuries for its therapeutic properties, this fruit is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as minerals such as potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium. Finally, it contains tannins, flavonoids, and ellagic acid, with antioxidant action.
It has been shown that pomegranate extract, rich in ellagic acid, stimulates the regeneration of the dermis and epidermis and has a protective effect on elastin fibers against enzymatic degradation: ellagic acid attaches to the fibers, increases their stability, and thus their longevity.
Ellagic acid, therefore:
- has a complete and powerful anti-radical action, effectively protecting the skin from oxidative stress and, therefore, premature aging;
- limits the peroxidation rate of skin lipids, induced by oxidative stress due to an incorrect lifestyle;
- is an ideal candidate to care for the skin of smokers, thin and atonic, characterized by accelerated aging, dull complexion, and lack of brightness.
The causes of premature aging and excessive psycho-physical fatigue that weaken the body, and from which pomegranate can protect you, are:
- toxic substances such as solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, detergents;
- a diet lacking in minerals and vitamins;
- water contamination and infections;
- exposure to UVA and UVB rays;
- air pollution.
The synergy of antioxidant factors – among which vitamin C stands out – present in pomegranate improves the health of the circulatory system and fights couperose.
Moreover, the punicic acid contained in the fruit promotes thickening of the skin’s outermost layer and firms supporting tissues.
In addition to consuming it on our tables, we can use pomegranate to:
- reduce skin stress. Simply massage the affected areas with a few drops of organic pomegranate oil, gently tapping with your fingertips around the eyes, corners of the lips, and forehead lines for a few minutes, morning and evening;
- reduce the activity of free radicals. Used regularly, organic pomegranate oil restores firmness to the skin, making it impermeable to atmospheric stress, especially UVA rays, which are aggressive even in winter, preventing chapping and reducing signs of sagging.
Useful Tips
Do your lips lose color, firmness, and crack easily in winter?
Just mix pomegranate juice with a teaspoon of olive oil and apply it to your lips in the morning to help restore their condition!
Sicilian IGP Red Orange
Another important citrus fruit in December is the unique Sicilian IGP Red Orange. It is in its sweet taste, fading into a slightly bitter aftertaste, and in the classic blood color that we find all the scents of the eastern coast of Sicily, south of Mount Etna.
Sicilian IGP Red Orange
We can distinguish 3 varieties of Sicilian IGP Red Orange:
- Tarocco: spherical and seedless;
- Moro: egg-shaped and particularly suitable for squeezing;
- Sanguinello: not very sweet but with a high citric acid content.
They can only be cultivated in Sicily because they require very particular climatic conditions and soil characteristics, made possible by the presence of Mount Etna.
Citrus Fruits Are Beautiful Too!
With oranges or grapefruits, you can also create decorations to scent the whole house and create a delightful Christmas atmosphere!
To harness the aroma of tangerines, simply place the peels on a sheet of absorbent paper and place it on the radiator to release all its natural essences into the environment. By drying slices of tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and oranges, you can create ornaments for the Christmas tree, simple but with a great visual and olfactory impact.
December Fruits and Vegetables Ensure a Winter Full of Colors
Not only summer, but winter is also rich in colors! Just think of the purple-red color of beets, the green of artichokes, and the orange of citrus fruits. They are real colors of health, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that protect us from seasonal illnesses.
