It's peak growing season and locally grown produce is readily available. Farmer's Markets have been stocked with berries, cherries, melons, beans, greens and corn. The peppers and tomatoes are ready to be picked! It's the perfect time to maximize your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients in the fresh produce you are eating. This can be achieved by combining foods. Eating some foods with other foods can result in many of the nutrients being more readily absorbed and used by the body. The easiest way to ensure you are maximizing the nutrient absorption of your food is to eat a variety of colorful food combined with a small amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (avocado, canola oil, nuts, or olive oil).The next time you are planning your meals, why not try a few of these combinations:

• Leafy green vegetables and citrus fruit or berries. The vitamin C in the fruit helps your body absorb the iron in the greens.
• Broccoli and tomatoes. Their cancer-fighting abilities are greater when eaten together.
• Tomatoes and olive oil. By combining the two your body can better absorb the carotenoids contained in tomatoes. Carotenoids are cancer-fighting compounds that are precursors to vitamin A. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of lycopene – a nutrient found to reduce risk of prostate and ovarian cancer.
• Salad and monounsaturated fat. The heart healthy fats found in avocadoes, canola oil, nuts or olive oil will increase the absorption of the antioxidants found in your leafy greens.

.