Photo: The Gifted Photographer / Flickr

If you want to stock up on superfoods that fight high cholesterol, heart disease and many other diseases, look no further than your supermarket’s display of autumn veggies. Berries (including blue berries and goji berries) have had a lot of very good press recently, but you’ll find a whole lot of goodness in foods you eat every day like sweet potato and the onion, too.

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin

These perfect autumn veggies are packed with vitamin A. Sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin C (to keep those colds at bay), calcium and potassium. Other healthy choices from the dark orange vegetable family are carrots and butternut squash.

Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous – or cabbage-related – vegetables are considered by many to be the super stars of the veggie world. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprout and kale all contain alkaloids that may help prevent cancer. They’re also high in fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that women who eat more cruciferous vegetables have a better memory. To get the most from these vegetables, it’s recommended you cook them in a steamer.

The onion family

Vegetables in the allium (onion) family include garlic, onions, chives, leeks, chives and shallots. They contain sulphur compounds that may protect against some cancers, as well as heart disease. As an added bonus, they also help the liver eliminate toxins from the body.

Beetroot

The pigment that gives beetroot its fabulous fuchsia colour is also a powerful cancer fighter. Researchers have noted that beetroot is particularly effective in preventing colon cancer, and they are also rich in folate, a vital B vitamin.

If you’re looking for ways to include autumn veggies in your diet, take a look at BBC Food Seasons for great recipes using seasonal ingredients every month of the year.

Tags: antioxidants, Healthy diet, minerals, vegetables, vitamins