How to Keep Brain-Healthy Fruits and Veggies Fresh

A diet full of fruits and vegetables is one of the most important ingredients in a brain-healthy diet. Berries and leafy greens specifically top the list of brain health supporting produce. Berries are great for the brain because they contain antioxidants and compounds known as flavonoids that help build healthy connections between brain cells. Kale and other vegetables from the cabbage family contain an important phytochemical that can contain brain-boosting power.

While having a refrigerator full of fruits and vegetables will help keep a brain-healthy diet in check, it probably happens all too often, though, where you find yourself throwing away rotting produce you seemed to have just bought. This can cause a lot of frustration and wasted money. However, don’t get discouraged from stocking the refrigerator full of these great brain foods! We have some easy ways to help keep brain-healthy fruits and vegetables fresh longer:
 

Following these tips will help make it easier (and less expensive) to keep lots of delicious fruits and vegetables on hand while reaping all the brain health benefits. Read on for more on the ways to keep your fridge stocked with the best fruits and vegetables for your brain!

5 Ways to Keep Brain-Healthy Fruits & Veggies Fresh

1. Our first basic rule for you: Do not store fruits and vegetables together! Certain fruits can give off high levels of ethylene – a ripening agent in fruit. This means that if stored together, vegetables can ripen too quickly, meaning quicker to spoil.
    
2. Treat your leafy greens and fresh herbs like flowers. Trim the stems and store your greens and herbs in a jar of water. This will ensure that they will last fresher longer!
    
3. Give your berries a vinegar bath! This might sound odd, but trust us – this is a tip to remember! First, fill a bowl with a diluted vinegar mixture - about 1 cup of vinegar and 4 cups of water. Let the berries sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse the berries to remove any excess vinegar flavor. Finally, you store the fruit in a container lined with paper towel. The vinegar bath will kill off any mold spores!
    
4. Try not to cut your fruits. If you don’t plan on eating your fruit right away, avoid cutting them up. A cut up piece of fruit is going to spoil faster than one that is not.
    
5. Clean your fridge! It might not be fun, but it is necessary to do. If you have any residue or bacteria left in your fridge, this will increase the spoilage of all foods in your fridge. Be sure to clean the fridge regularly!

Take advantage of all the brain benefits fruits and vegetables have to offer! With these tips, you’ll not only enjoy your fresh produce longer, but you’ll also save yourself frustration and money!