Do you know all the benefits of seasonal foods on our health? Everything that we eat has a direct effect on our physical and mental health. We should consume fresh products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables without them being processed beforehand.
The best seasonal fruits, the ones that reach the supermarkets at their optimum harvest time, are those that retain all their properties and nutrients. This is because of the production and distribution process. Food is seasonal and therefore fresh fruit only needs to be freshly harvested and chilled ready to be distributed to the supermarkets when it is ready.
Winter fruits
Eating winter fruits during the cold months has never been so important. Eating fruit will help maintain a strong immune system during the months when we are more susceptible to illnesses. The changing climate conditions can affect us more during the winter months and makes us more vulnerable to colds and flu. Winter fruits can help us fight the effects of winter.
The fruits of January and February are usually bursting with vitamin C, an antioxidant that has an important protective role in the body. With the arrival of the fruits in March, we start to see the first fruits of spring such as strawberries that are highly diuretic.
Fruits of spring
The explosion of colour that comes from the spring fruits is very intense and their effects are very beneficial for people who suffer from hay fever for example. April fruits are full of minerals and nutrients. Strawberries for example are full of folic acid which is essential for bodies.
Amongst the fruits that appear in May and June, you will find apricots, peaches and cherries which are all considered essential for our digestive system. These fruits have a high water content which is essential for hydrating our bodies and protecting our skin from the sun’s rays during hot months.
Summer fruits
The arrival of the summon months also means the arrival of sweet summer fruits, one of the most important and necessary snacks during the summer period because of their high water content and essential vitamins. July fruits help to protect us from the heat and keep us hydrated throughout the hot summer months. Figs contains a lot of carbohydrates and will provide our bodies with a lot of energy to enjoy the summer.
During the month of August, we start to see more refreshing fruit such as the mango. With the fruits of September, we start to see fruits such as grapes and pomegranates which are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Fruits of Autumn
The falling of leaves and the start of rainfall marks the start of an autumn fruits in the supermarkets. You will be able to find fruits with an intense taste such as the kiwi, which contains one of the highest amounts of vitamin C, and is therefore essential in our diets.
The majority of November fruits are citric and this is the best month to get tangerines or grapefruit. Amongst December fruits, we can find lychees, an exotic fruit that is usually found in a preserved form, but is much easier to find fresh during the month of December.
All year round fruit
Fruit doesn’t just come straight from the plant that it grew on. In supermarkets, you can buy a wide variety of fruit and it doesn’t always have to be fresh. You can buy tinned, frozen, fresh, dried or liquid juice. There are a number of possibilities and therefore you can enjoy fruit all year round.
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