Green Schmeen; Go Red or a Writing Sample I Did a While back for a Job Application I Never Heard Back From and Wanted to Post to Break my Ridiculously Long Posting Slump and signify that I'm Back in the Habit like Lauryn Hill. (Actually, The Miseducation of Jyff Finkle might have been a good title but I'll save that for another post)

Green Schmeen: Go Red: 5 Red Fruits That Will Keep You in the Pink.

Roses are red and violets are blue and if you eat red and colorful fruits, your body will thank you. Now that’s a cheesy way to begin a blog post but it’s better than showing a photo of Regis Philbin or my dad wearing a tank top,  eating an apple and showing off their old, yet surprisingly soft skin. Whether you’re just out of college and experiencing the ‘real world’ with two friends in a railroad apartment in Hoboken, or you are single and still young enough to be excited about the return of Boy Meets World, you’re probably not going to be cooking too many healthy, well-balanced meals (or any meals that can’t be prepared in a microwave at the 7-11, for that matter.)  

Fruits with reddish hues have pigments called carotenoids, which might sound like an ugly wart you’re going to have to get frozen off but carotenoids, like lycopene and beta-carotene, act as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants are not just diametrically opposed to everything oxidants stand for they are also great for the skin and can help reduce the risk of many cancers, including prostate cancer.  Here are five fruits to think about eating on a regular basis that can help you live long and look young, just like Marisa Tomei.

·         Berries:  Whether it’s a cranberry, a strawberry, a blueberry or a schnozzberry, berries are the little fruit that packs a big punch of antioxidants and will give your skin a healthy glow that you can’t get from a tanning bed.  Studies also show that eating berries can prevent age-related memory loss.  So, if you don’t want to end up forgetting the intro to the “pull my finger” joke like your grandfather, you should start popping berries into your mouth before you have to start popping pills.

·         Red grapes: There’s always room for red grapes (and Jell-O) and even a Kardashian can master the preparation of holding red grapes under water for three seconds before eating them. Red grapes are abundant in polyphenols, which have been shown to protect against certain cancers as well as heart disease in women. 

·         Peaches: “Millions of peaches, peaches for me.” Songs by the Presidents of the United States of America are probably not downloaded too often but the love of peaches that they sung about is still shared by people everywhere.  Peaches are low in fat but filled with sweet goodness. By replacing chips or cookies with a peach or two each day, you can get your sugar naturally and you’ll feel the energy it provides like a jolt, without feeling sluggish afterwards.

·         Watermelon: Summertime without watermelon is like wintertime without hot chocolate but watermelon is a lot better for you and just as refreshing.  Watermelon juice provides nutrients to the skin that act as a natural moisturizing cream to your face.  Like the banana, the watermelon is also high in potassium, but watermelon with seeds provides the opportunity to spit without being rude and that’s just more fun.

·         Tomato: No matter how you pronounce it, the tomato is a wonderful ball of nutrients and provides numerous health benefits. A salad without tomato slices is like the ‘70s band Kiss without makeup. It’s just not right. Tomatoes are high in antioxidants like Vitamin C and A that can help ward off diabetes and regular consumption of tomatoes can greatly reduce the onset of heart disease in women. The beauty of tomatoes is that they are just as good for you cooked as raw. The lycopene found in tomatoes that help ward off cancers are absorbed better in the body after it is cooked. Unlike cake, when it comes to long term health, you can have your pizza and eat it too.