Spotlight on Eggplant-While this beautiful purple veggie is available throughout the year, its peak season is August through October. Eating with the seasons not only is more affordable and tastes better, but it contains more nutrients than foods grown out of season due to its natural maturation and ripening process. Eggplant contains a phytonutrient called nasunin a potent antioxidant which helps rid the body of free radicals. In animal studies, nasunin protects cell membranes of the brain from damage. Nasunin also act as an iron chelator. Iron is an essential nutrient but for men and post-menopausal women, iron is not easily excreted and can accumulate, thus promoting cellular damage which can promote cancer and increasing free-radical damage in joints-a primary factor in rheumatoid arthritis. Choose eggplants that are smooth, heavy, and shiny.