A new array of nutritious, nourishing, whole foods marks every change of season. Seasonal eating has been the norm since the old days. However, technological advancement has presented a shift from seasonal eating. No matter the time of the year, you can now quickly get any fruit or vegetable at your local supermarket or grocery shop. With the new trend, we are missing out on the real benefits of eating with the seasons! Seasonal eating is not just a trendy food movement. It has significant advantages. Let’s have a close look at some of the benefits!

• Better flavor and freshness

In-season produce is always fresher, tastes better, sweeter, and perfectly ripe. When fruits and vegetables are harvested at the right time and naturally ripened, they always have much more flavor and freshness. Out-of-season fruits tend to be heated in hot houses to artificially ripen before they are stocked on the shelves, significantly reducing the flavor and changing the texture and the taste.

• Higher nutritional value

Seasonal eating specialists explain that foods produced and consumed at their peak offer perfect flavor and greater nutrition. Studies show that out-of-season produce stored in refrigerators tends to cause chemical changes and nutrient losses. Dietitians argue that the longer a fruit or vegetable takes to get from the farm to the table, the higher the nutrient loss occurs. For instance, leafy greens lose almost 50% of their original vitamin C during transportation, storage, and grocery store shelf time.

• Environmental friendly

Out-of-season production heavily depends on pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. These toxic compounds significantly deplete the soil, contaminate the water and may cause health-related problems. Seasonal production means lower greenhouse gas emissions and fewer environmentally friendly chemicals.

• Less expensive

Farmers harvest a large abundance of produce when a crop is in season. As a result, the cost of the produce tends to go down. Similarly, storage expenses are not incurred when the crop is in season, reducing the production costs usually passed onto the consumer. When we buy produce that is out of season, we are forced to source it from other locations with different climates, which results in transportation costs and storage costs.

• Supports the Body’s natural nutritional needs

Crops and produce have a natural cycle that supports our health and nutritional needs for that particular season. For instance, during winter, many citrus products are in season. They are primarily high in Vitamin C, essential in preventing infections such as colds and flu. Winter vegetables are perfect for preparing hot meals, soups and other warm meals. On the other hand, in-season summer produce like the stone fruits provide us with extra beta-carotenes and other vital carotenoids, which help protect us against sun damage. Salad vegetables are also in season during summer, offering a tasty, excellent summer salad.

In-season eating presents several benefits to our health, environment and economy. When possible, it is essential to adopt in-season eating. However, it’s important to note that it’s not always possible to eat seasonally for everyone all of the time, but when you can, it’s a wise choice.

You may consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC, to learn more about the benefits of seasonal eating.