Gone are the days when the local market was filled with only seasonal fruits and vegetables. Today the bounty of produce in the vegetable market (mandis) includes broccoli in July as it does in the month of December. Therefore in today’s world, you can virtually have any food at any time! Beneficial?? Well, not necessarily..
Seasonal Fruits and vegetables are not only healthier but also good for the planet. Here‘s how:
- Vegetables have to be brought to you across long distances, if not from across the globe. Some statistics suggest that fruits and vegetables at your local supermarket travel between 3000 to 4000 kilometers, before they get to you.Doesn't suggest "fresh," does it?
- Fruits and veggies are picked while still immature, to ensure that they don't spoil along the way. Not only does this affect the fresh taste and aroma of your fruits and vegetables, it causes vitamin degradation and nutrient loss. Ultimately, you are likely to pay a higher price for inferior nutritional content.
- Researchers from the Austrian Consumers Association have confirmed that vegetables picked and frozen while in season are actually higher in nutrients than the same ones that were transported off season. Moreover, shipping fruits and vegetables over long distances has a huge impact on our planet in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions, atmosphere pollution and depletion of the earth's limited energy resources!
- The earth’s ecology works in tandem with our body ecology. Nutritionists say one of the principles of the body ecology system is to have land and ocean vegetables comprising 80% of each meal. Choosing the most vitamin and mineral rich vegetables will thus keep the immunity strong and health better. And not many know sea vegetables are a hidden treasure of nutrients which can now be bought in all seasons from online shopping portals.
- Pollution, pesticides and farming practices that strip the soil off minerals lead to foods that do not support our health. It is no surprise that people are experiencing mineral deficiencies and poor health. Apples are no more tasty and juicy while capsicums and peas are greener than they normally are.
- Though the types of fruits and vegetables in season will depend on where you live, but some general guidelines could be the same. Summertime is when our body usually desires more cooling foods, like cucumbers. Similarly, we tend to crave warm foods in the winter months. Foods that take longer to grow are generally more warming foods. All of the animal foods (poultry, beef, lamb and fish) fall into this category, as do the root vegetables. Nuts are warming, as well.
So whatever you do, don’t fall into the rut of the same foods year round. This will support the earth's healthy ecosystem, which in turn will support a healthy you!
Photo by Anupama Kinagi.
