When biting into fruit or vegetables at their peak of freshness, it is a delicacy to relish. However, shoppers notice grocery stores with tired pink tomatoes that should have stayed on the vine longer. Yet, they were shipped due to consumer demand, regardless of their readiness.
Eating seasonally harvested foods gives the body the best chance at receiving the highest nutrients, diversifying gut microbiome and boosting health.
Optimal health with optimal ingredients
Seasonally picked produce is of optimal nutritional value, tastes fresher and is more flavorful when they are at the peak of the season. Plus, eating seasonally harvested food harmonizes with nature’s production cycle and gives the gut a diverse diet promoting a more robust immune system.
It is also cheaper since seasonal produce grown locally does not have to be shipped from a grower in another state or country, lessening the cost altogether.
Studies have shown that the more diverse the diet, the more diverse the microbiome, and the more adaptable and robust it will be to prevent illness.
Researchers Dr. Mark L. Heiman and Dr. Frank L. Greenway concluded in ScienceDirect, Molecular Metabolism, that a healthy gastrointestinal microbiome depends on dietary diversity.
“Unfortunately, dietary diversity has been lost during the past 50 years. Dietary choices that exclude food products from animals or plants will narrow the G.I. microbiome further,” according to the study.
From their study, it is known that variety of fresh produce is key to a healthy gut microbiome.
Related article, Greater Gainesville’s Farmer’s Markets
List of seasonal foods for October
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides consumers with a guide on which crops are available for each season.
Here are Florida delicacies available in October:
- Avocado
- Star Fruit
- Cucumber
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Mushrooms
- Oranges
- Squash
- Sweet Corn
- Tangerine
- Tomato
How seasonal foods can optimize health
Gut dysbiosis, or low microbial diversity, can lead to numerous health issues. The first signs of dysbiosis are digestive problems and symptoms such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea and general malaise.
If this dysbiosis continues, it can lead to more significant health problems like IBS, gut inflammation and eventually chronic illness. These do not allow the body to absorb sufficient nutrients. Choosing foods at the peak of their nutrition optimizes the gut bacteria boosting immune systems.
“I think bringing awareness to how we are eating, and feeding our bodies and the kind of lifestyles we have that will contribute to our overall health,” according to Alba Osorio, M.S., R.D., L.D./N., a UF Health dietitian. “It’s good to take time to realize that food is fuel, [nourishing] our body, and can greatly impact how our body works. Unfortunately, we sometimes use food as comfort and for the wrong reasons.”
Local grocery stores and farmer’s markets are great places to find fresh Florida produce. If unable to locate a specific food, ask the grocery store manager or market vendors of its availability.
For information, visit Florida Consumer Resources: Buy Fresh From Florida, Crops in Season.
By Deborah Holmén.