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| A walk on the wild side |
| In late summer, wild edible plants are at their peak before autumn's chill sets in. This means that trees and bushes are usually laden with fruit, nuts, and berries. While blackberries, apples, mulberries, and other foraged goodies await your discovery, caution is key when seeking nature's gifts. |
| As fall approaches, here's how to forage safely and enjoy seasonal wild flavors. |
| 🍒 What's ripe in late summer? |
| | • | Berries: Blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, strawberries, and mulberries ripen in August. Elderberries appear ripe but must be cooked before eating. | |
| | • | Fruits: Crabapples, wild pears, plums, peaches, grapes, and pawpaws are in season. Choose ripe, undamaged fruits. | |
| | • | Greens: Chickweed, lamb's quarters, plantain, and wild lettuce thrive before frosts. Young greens taste best. | |
| | • | Seeds and nuts: Gather wild sunflower seeds once dry. Look for fallen acorns and beechnuts. | |
| | • | Mushrooms: With rain, diverse mushrooms emerge, but pick them only with expert identification. (Certain wild varieties can be toxic or fatal.) | |
| ⚠️ Forage safely: |
| | • | Verify, check, and verify again: Harvest only plants you can positively identify. Poisonous look-alikes exist. When in doubt, do not pick! | |
| | • | Don't trespass: Never forage on private property without direct permission from the owner. Know public land regulations. | |
| | • | Go equipped: Dress appropriately for the terrain and have baskets, clippers, identification guides, first aid items, and other essentials on hand. | |
| | • | Don't hog resources: Harvest only what you'll use, leaving enough fruit for wildlife and your fellow foragers. Avoid trampling habitats. | |
| | • | Clean thoroughly: Remove dirt and debris before eating. Proper prep of mushrooms is vital. | |
| Tell us: Do you enjoy foraging? What's your favorite wild find? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com. (Please note that we may use your name and response in an upcoming newsletter!) |
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| What we're using |
| When it comes to foraging for your own food, it's always better to be safe than sorry. For that, you'll need a guide to all the edible wild plants you're likely to encounter. Edible Wild Plants for Beginners provides profiles of common edible wild plants, including information on where to find them, how to cook with them, dangerous look-alikes to avoid, and the best time to harvest. There are even tips on how to cultivate them in your own garden. |
| Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health. |
 | | | Edible Wild Plants for Beginners Book |  | | 4.6 | 1,900+ ratings | | | | | |
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| Fend off frailty with flavonols |
| As we age, it's normal for our mobility, strength, and fitness to decline. But emerging research shows that eating flavonol-rich foods like blackberries and apples may help guard against the development of frailty. |
| 🌱 What are flavonols? Flavonols are natural compounds found in many fruits, veggies, teas, and wines. They act as antioxidants, fighting cellular damage from free radicals. Common flavonols include quercetin in apples and kaempferol in broccoli. These plant nutrients boast anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and other beneficial effects for your body. |
| 💪🏻 Warding off frailty. Studies link higher flavonol intake with lesser odds of becoming frail. Consuming just 10 milligrams per day may reduce frailty risk by 20%. Flavonols' antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities can likely strengthen your immune system, muscles, bones, and more to help fend protect against the weight loss, fatigue, and functional decline involved in frailty. |
| 🤸🏻 Preserving mobility. Frailty is linked with a higher risk of falls, fractures, hospitalization, and a need for long-term care. If flavonols can help postpone frailty, your mobility, balance, and fitness may benefit. You'll also be better equipped for daily tasks and an active lifestyle! |
| 🌟 Top flavonol foods. Aim for 10 mg of flavonols daily from foods like blackberries, blueberries, apples, onions, kale, broccoli, tea, and red wine. To learn more about flavonols, check out this full guide. |
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| What we're digesting |
| 🧠 Sugars can affect learning and memory. It may be possible to rewire or strengthen memories during adolescence and adulthood using complex sugars. |
| 🌿 Microgreens: What they are and how to grow them. Forage in your own kitchen by learning how to grow your own nutritious, convenient microgreens. |
| 🚶🏼♀️ Can walking for an hour every day help you lose weight? Yes. It's an effective way to burn calories while you're out and about plucking berries and low-hanging fruit. |
| 🥦 Leafy greens may protect your lungs from infection. Molecules naturally found in cruciferous vegetables could bolster immunity and preserve lung health. |
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| That's all for today. Forage freely and enjoy nature's abundance before the weather turns! |
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| Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | a basketful of windfall plums. | | |
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