Is It Really More Beneficial to Eat Seasonally?
Trying to “shop healthy” at the grocery store can seem overwhelming. There are already so many things to think about at the grocery store, like choosing whether or not to go organic, reading and assessing whether nutrition labels are full of sneaky marketing claims. and watching your budget. So, how important is it, really, to prioritize buying and eating in-season produce?
What does “eating seasonally” mean?
Before we can answer that question, it’s important to define exactly what “eating seasonally” means. According to Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD—founder of BZ Nutrition in New York City—it’s about knowing when certain fruits and vegetables grow naturally in your climate, and then eating them only in those seasons. In the United States, this can vary widely from state to state, and many types of produce grow in more than one season. But, in general, fall and winter are prime time for things like sweet potatoes, cauliflower, citrus fruits, and pears. Spring and summer are when berries, zucchini, tomatoes, and eggplant are at their freshest and most flavorful.
(The USDA Seasonal Produce Guide is a good point of reference for a more comprehensive list.)
Consuming fruits and vegetables in season has an impact on the food’s nutritional value, says Zeitlin. “You get the maximum amount of nutrients the [produce] has to offer when it’s picked at its ripest and sold to you over the next few days.” Indeed, research shows that fresh produce loses certain nutrients over time once it’s harvested. The longer it sits in storage, travels to the grocery store, and hangs out on store shelves, the more nutrient depletion can occur—spinach, for example, has been found to lose 47 percent of its folate content after eight days of storage, and 80 percent of its Vitamin C content after just three days. This is less of an issue if buying truly fresh produce, but those blueberries shipped in from Chile in December may not be as nutrient-dense as the ones you enjoy during the summer.
Foods that are in season usually contains fewer chemicals
Food grown outside of their natural season and environment need a lot more help in the form of pesticides, chemicals and preservatives to grow and be appealing to consumers. It makes sense when you think about it – we wouldn’t do so well if we were suddenly plonked in the Arctic and would need lots of protection — plants are the same!
Natural phytochemicals help our bodies
Phytochemicals are chemicals plants make in reaction to their environment. They perform lots of jobs - much like medicines - to keep the plant healthy and protection against animal predators. They are extremely beneficial to our health too. They function as antioxidants, help detoxification, and can reduce DNA damage. Food that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides, chemicals and preservatives often have higher phytochemical levels - necessary because they have to protect themselves in their environment.
Eating with the seasons often saves money
When we buy what’s in season, we avoid having to fork over extra money for food that’s grown further away or off-season. Shipping produce across the country or the world tacks on extra cost for us. When produce is in season, supply and demand are balanced. Trying to get a good tomato during winter in New York, on the other hand, is a different story. Keep an eye out for price fluctuations at the grocery store; costs rise and fall depending on what’s in season.
Seasonal eating expands your horizons
When we focus on fall’s rutabagas, for instance, rather than clinging onto last season’s tomatoes, we get the chance to explore new flavors and experiment with new recipes. A diverse diet usually means a balanced diet, and a balanced diet means smoother, clearer skin, more energy, and a faster metabolism.
Our bodies crave the seasonal changes
The changing seasons and our subsequent changing diets are basically nature’s way of adjusting our bodies for the coming shift. In the spring, for instance, leafy greens like spinach help us detox and alkalize after a heavier winter diet; in summer, we naturally replenish lost fluids and cool down with cucumbers, melons, and so on.
So determine what’s in season right now and dig in. You’ll be rewarded with high quality produce, packed with nutrition, at a lower cost. And your taste buds will definitely thank you for it!
