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Try heart-healthy produce this summer

There's no better season than summer to add ripe, just-picked, heart-healthy fruits and veggies to your diet. Produce is plentiful right now. And it's rich in powerful nutrients that may help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and even certain cancers. Check out this approach for boosting the variety in your diet.

Put a rainbow in your diet

To get the most health benefits from fruits and veggies, eat a variety of colors.

Green

Collard greens

Cucumbers

Green beans

Limes

Zucchini

Red

Cherries

Raspberries

Red peppers

Tomatoes

Strawberries

Watermelon

Blue/purple

Blackberries

Blueberries

Boysenberries

Eggplant

Plums

Yellow/orange

Corn

Cantaloupe

Nectarines

Peaches

Squash

Reviewed 6/19/2025

Sources

American Heart Association. "How to Eat More Fruit and Vegetables." https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/how-to-eat-more-fruits-and-vegetables.
Produce for Better Health Foundation. "About The Buzz: Eating Fruits & Veggies Lowers Stroke Risk?" https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/buzz-eating-fruits-veggies-lowers-stroke-risk.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Seasonal Produce Guide." https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/seasonal-produce-guide.