There are Good Reasons to Eat with the Seasons
Posted by Kelli de Sante' on 17th Oct 2021
There are good reasons to eat with the seasons
Eating with the seasons provides health benefits for your body and your local community.*
Eating produce that is in season comes with a variety of benefits. The taste of a fresh peach right off of the tree in the middle of summer, or a ripe grapefruit in winter is irreplaceable. It just tastes so good! But there are other reasons to eat in-season fruit and vegetables besides taste. They are more nutritious, have a lighter effect on the environment, are less expensive and you are supporting local growers in your community.*
Today, every kind of fruit and vegetable can be transported from lands far away. It’s easy to forget that some of these readily available foods found at our grocery stores are not in season in your region of the world. 1*
According to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), seasonal food are “…food that is outdoor-grown or produced during the natural growing/production period for the country or region where it is produced. It need not necessarily be consumed locally to where it is produced….” 1*
“…There is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India called Ayurveda. This system supports a concept called ritucharya, which is grounded in eating with the seasons as “…an essential component to health and disease prevention…” The principles behind this are that changing your diet with the changing seasons allows the body to benefit from the specific nutrients needed to flourish in a changing climate.(1,2)*
Consider these benefits of eating those foods that are in season:
In-season produce is more nutrient-dense.
The quality of soil, particular climate and the amount of sunlight all contribute to the nutritional make-up of foods. According to one study that examined vitamin C content in broccoli, “…broccoli grown in-season during the fall had twice as much vitamin C as broccoli that was grown out of season in the spring…” This study was originally created to study the nutritional differences between organic versus conventionally-grown produce but concluded that growing seasons had more impact on vitamin C content than whether it was grown organically or conventionally.1*
Better for the environment
Approximately half of the fruit and one-third of the vegetables purchased in the United States are brought in from other countries. To describe these imports, Tim Lang, professor of Food Policy at City University London’s Centre for Food Policy, coined the term ‘food miles’ in an effort to increase awareness of the environmental impact of food consumerism across the miles.(1,3)*
There are of course benefits of having access to year-round produce, especially in cold climates where vegetation can’t during the winter months. The growing global food market has also benefitted international trade, and provided lower-income countries access to food. The downside to the increasing global demand and availability for food is it has come with a major environmental impact. Food now travels farther than it ever has which collectively leaves a large carbon footprint. 1*
Growing methods also play a role in the environmental impact. “…Studies have gone as far as to show that out-of-season foods grown in greenhouses in the United Kingdom require greater energy consumption than the same product grown elsewhere in-season then imported and buying with the seasons and locally from a farmers’ market or through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program can help reduce the distance from farm to plate as well as our carbon footprint…”(1,4)*
Better quality and flavor
Most people will agree most fruits and vegetables have the best flavor when purchased from the local farmers’ market. When it comes straight from the farm, you are getting the freshest produce possible. When produce is shipped long distances, measures are taken to keep the produce fresh, including picking it before it has had a chance to ripen. Producers use post-harvest treatments such as irradiation, edible coatings, and heat to control ripening, and spoilage during transportation, which oftentimes decreases quality and taste. Bananas, for example, have been shown to be significantly affected by ripening agents. They affect the color, texture, and flavor.1*
The affordability factor
When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are more available, and when there is plenty of supply, prices are better! The cost of transporting produce from other countries all has to be factored into the cost of the produce. Another great reason to buy in season and buy local!1*
Going to the Farmers’ Markets is fun!
Besides finding in-season produce at your local farmers’ market, it gives you the opportunity to get out and meet new people. You are also supporting small businesses and individuals in your community. Instead of going big box, support your neighbors and local farmers first. You really can make a direct and positive impact on your community that way.*
Produce grown close to home is freshly picked from soil that hopefully is organic and provides you with the natural Probiotics needed to keep your guts healthy. Body Biotics™ Bio-identical SBO Probiotics Consortia™ was developed on this very premise of getting the rich, soil-borne bacteria for a healthy microbiome. That is why it is always important to supplement with Body Biotics™ daily, as we don’t always get our products straight from the farm and during transport, produce can lose some of its nutritional density.
Buy local when you can. Buy organic when you can. Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables as much as possible. These things will help keep your body healthy.*
Healthiest wishes,
Kelli
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