As our lifestyle and diet lose touch with nature’s cycle, our physical health and ecosystem balance deteriorate with the rapid depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution and pollution. weakening of the overall health of our planet. Seasonal eating refers to eating foods that grow in our geographic region and in the flow of nature following seasonal changes. In other words, it is about eating locally produced fruits and vegetables in the right seasons to thrive, with the myriad benefits this brings to our health and the environment.
The benefits of seasonal food.
Seasonal produce grows completely naturally, without the need for environmental amenities, harmful chemicals, pesticides or ripening agents. It is therefore as beneficial for our health as it is for the soil, air and water to prefer these products in our diet.
Improves holistic health.
All foods grown naturally in the right season contain nutritional elements that are particularly beneficial to the human body at that season and in that environment. Winter fruits like carrots, pumpkin and citrus fruits, for example, are rich in vitamins, especially A and C, which boost the immune system. On the other hand, summer fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and peaches contain high amounts of water to meet our body’s increasing water needs.
Strengthens the immune system.
Fruits and vegetables that are sun-ripened in season and harvested in time to be eaten without delay are significantly higher in antioxidants, nutrients and healthy bacteria (probiotics) than produce harvested before they are ripe to prevent rot and filled with chemical preservatives to survive the thousands of kilometers that separate them from our tables.
While a healthy intestinal flora, the keystone of the immune system, depends on healthy intestinal bacteria. The preservatives and chemicals found in many foods eaten out of season harm these healthy bacteria in the gut flora, upsetting the balance and weakening the immune system. Seasonal produce is high in fiber to support gut health and rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to boost the immune system.
Support small local producers to contribute to the local economy.
Today, all fruits and vegetables are available in supermarkets, greengrocers and even in fruit and vegetable markets, in season and out of season, all year round. However, these fruits and vegetables are often produced in several large greenhouses and factory farms that provide the right growing conditions. This means that every product you buy out of season does not support local producers and small businesses, but industrial agricultural companies that mass produce using pesticides, harvest before maturity and prioritize quantity over quality.
The benefits of consuming local products.
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LOCAL FOODS ARE FRESHER.
Local foods are fresher, taste better and are likely to be more nutritious. At a farmers market, most local produce has been picked within the last 24 hours, ensuring it’s ripe and optimally nutrient dense. By contrast, most supermarket produce was picked days or weeks before it hit its shelves.
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DISCOVER NEW FOODS.
Eating healthy can get boring if you stick to the staples; there are only a limited number of times you can eat oatmeal for breakfast and chicken with broccoli for dinner. For example, how many varieties of tomatoes can you find at your local grocery store? Maybe three? Local farmers nurture nearly 300 varieties of tomatoes each year, leaving little room for boredom.
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EAT MINDFULLY.
It’s easy to devour a microwaved meal when you don’t know where it came from, who produced it, and how it got to your plate. In contrast, when you shop locally, you are more tied to the food you eat; you know who produced it, what farm it came from and how it got from farm to fork. By shopping and eating locally, you are closer to your food and its impact on your body.
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LESS WASTE.
Because buying local shortens the distribution chain, forcing food directly from farm to fork, less waste is produced in the process. Not only does buying local reduce transportation and shipping packaging, but it also reduces pollution-related environmental waste and food waste.
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SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
When you buy food from the grocery store, most of the costs you incur are related to transporting, processing, packaging, refrigerating and marketing that food, and not necessarily to the farmers themselves. When you buy from a local farmer, farmers market or local store, you support your local community and your money goes back into producing other local foods.
