Nutrition in Native Foods

Eating local is in. The "locovore" lifestyle is one of the top food trends, according to the Food Channel. Some of the locally-produced foods easiest to find are those native to the Americas. These plants adapted to the American climate over thousands of years, grow well in just about any home garden or local farm plot and are bursting with nutrition.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are native to the Americas, and native peoples introduced them to the first European colonists, according to Chef James Ehler's FoodReference.com. Pumpkins are extraordinarily rich in vitamin A, potassium and carotenoids, antioxidants which fight cancer and heart disease and help protect your sight. Chef Ehler recommends choosing smaller pumpkins, as they are more tender than larger ones.

Corn

Corn was the primary grain and one of the key staple foods of North American peoples, particularly those of the American southwest, according to the University of Alabama. Corn is a good source of thiamine, a B vitamin responsible for converting food to energy. Corn also contains betacryptoxanthin, a cancer-fighting antioxidant.

Beans

Beans, specifically kidney and white beans, were another staple food of Native American peoples. Eaten with corn and squashes such as pumpkins, beans helped provide all the nutrition needed for a healthy diet, according to the University of Alabama. Beans supply protein and soluble fiber, a type of fiber which helps remove cholesterol from your bloodstream and lowers your risk of cancer.

Blueberries

Vegetables aren't the only native foods that are good for you. Blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America. Blueberries are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and thaimine. Eat fresh fruits rather than dried fruit, as the drying process removes some nutrients.