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What is seasonal eating, and why should we do it? We live in a world where we can get anything we desire, at any time. Food is abundant and we can have avocado on toast every day, Sunday dinners every week! In the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda, there is a special term for eating seasonally: Ritucharya. The concept of Ritucharya breaks down what to eat during each season to maintain health and prevent disease. Foods that are grown and consumed during their appropriate seasons are more nutritionally dense. In a study monitoring the vitamin C content of broccoli, it was found that broccoli grown during its peak season (Autumn) had a higher vitamin C content than broccoli grown during the spring. Not only that, but our digestive systems change through the seasons too - we have higher levels of the enzyme amylase in the Autumn, to help digest the grains and root vegetables harvested at this time! So eating in accordance with nature naturally supports good digestion. In nature, if a Deer eats the trees and shrubs of summer in the winter, it can cause serious illness in them, as their digestive tracts change to digest the different plants that grow through the year. When foods are grown out of season, they aren't able to follow their natural growing and ripening rhythms. For certain fruits and vegetables to be available year-round, post-harvest treatments, known as ripening agents, are used. These include chemicals, gases, and heat processes. Some produce is also coated with an edible film to protect it. Researchers have found that artificially ripened produce is often not as nutritious or tasty as naturally ripened produce. Have you noticed that a strawberry or tomato from your neighbor or local farmers market tastes much better than one from a supermarket? Foods grown in season do not need any interference to make them look good and produce in large volumes. In these cases, appearance always wins over taste. So foods grown in season naturally have better taste and nutritional value! It’s also more environmentally friendly, as buying seasonal food also means it is grown here in the UK. So no planes trains and ships needed to get them to you. Another great reason to eat seasonally, is the cost will always be less, as foods in season grow in abundance, so naturally they are cheaper. Check out Eating Seasonally UK Here
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