The Benefits of Seasonal Food Consumption

Regarding food and not only, but there is also a cyclicity to which the human body must relate to function in optimal parameters.

Lately, more and more people are developing their philosophy when it comes to food: local foods, organic food, seasonal foods, all are intensely debated by those who aim to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Of all these, the diet consisting predominantly of seasonal foods is perhaps the easiest to overlook, for the simple reason that it does not generate as many contradictory opinions.

It is normal for seasonal foods to be considered healthy, but unfortunately, this is not a sufficient reason for everyone.

In search of the perfect figure and a healthy lifestyle, more and more people choose to stop at the supermarket even in summer, to buy fruits and vegetables, even if the market is a stone's throw away.

Why? Because vegetables look better and spoil harder, which is a time saver. It means you won't have to shop too soon.

Comfort and convenience cost us more and more, and the negative effects are immediately seen on our health.

Why is it important to make a minimum effort to consume seasonal foods?

They are healthier

When products appear in the season, under normal growing conditions, they contain a multitude of natural nutrients.

Research has shown that some crops can have up to three times more nutrients when they grow naturally in season.

A natural product does not look perfect, is perishable, and spoils much faster than imported ones.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables retain their vital nutrients because they do not require such elaborate transport.

It is preferable to consume local natural products, to the detriment of imported ones, because any imported product is chemically treated to last for long periods.

They taste better

Seasonal food is significantly tastier than off-season food.

Products that start to ripen naturally before being picked are delicious!

You probably noticed this when you tried to eat tomatoes in February, but they didn't taste the same as in the summer, as did the apricots.

They are cheaper

Products that are consumed locally, shortly after being harvested, do not require maintenance or transportation costs.

Also, most of them are found in the market and can be purchased directly from manufacturers, thus avoiding the costs involved in hiring an intermediary.

Moreover, because they are seasonal products, it often happens that their price drops a lot, precisely because the production exceeds the demand, and the producers prefer to sell the goods cheaper than to stay with the product that spoils.

There are a variety of products throughout the year

There is a wide range of products that you can consume throughout the year, whether it is spring ( spinach, stevia, nettles), summer (tomatoes, strawberries, cherries), autumn (apples, grapes, cabbage, radishes). black, celery, beets, carrots), or winter (turnips).

They respond to the seasonal needs of the body

Whether it's fresh fruits or vegetables, or foods that can be cooked and cooked, these are the best solution for consumption in the summer.

Most are easily digestible and at the same time full of vitamins and other essential substances for the optimal functioning of the body in summer when caloric intake is high and the need for hydration is higher than in the rest of the year.

What are the disadvantages of consuming imported fruits and vegetables?

Imported vegetables and fruits are generally tasteless, have a woody consistency and a beautiful appearance, are often preferred by buyers, to the detriment of Romanian products.

Most are brought from the Mediterranean countries and are treated with pesticides.

Depending on the distance from the country of origin, they are treated with higher or lower concentrations of chemicals, causing negative effects on the body, liver, kidneys, or central nervous system.

According to nutritionists, some of the most contaminated are celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, nectarines, or bell peppers, at the opposite end of which are onions, corn, mangoes, pears, kiwis, or eggplants.

To avoid possible side effects, it is recommended to consume it carefully and to wash it properly before consuming it.

Other experts recommend washing them in a solution that contains water, apple cider vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide.