Do you know 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 vegetables, 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 vegetables only needs to be freshly harvested and chilled ready to be distributed to the supermarkets when it is ready.
Spring vegetables
The explosion of colour that comes from spring vegetables is very intense and their effects are very beneficial during the summer months. Spring vegetables are full of minerals and nutrients. Mustard greens for example are full of vitamins A, K and C which help our bodies to fight off illnesses.
Amongst the vegetables that appear in May and June, you will find fennel, celery and asparagus which all contain essential vitamins.
Summer vegetables
The arrival of the summon months also means the arrival of sweet summer vegetables, one of the most important and necessary snacks during the summer period because of their high water content and essential vitamins. July vegetables help to protect us from the heat and keep us hydrated throughout the hot summer months. Cucumbers contain a lot of water and will keep our bodies hydrated to allow us to enjoy the summer.
During the month of August, we start to see more refreshing vegetables such as aubergines. With the vegetables of September, we start to see vegetables such as mushrooms and shallots which are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Autumn vegetables
The falling of leaves and the start of rainfall marks the start of an autumn vegetables in the supermarkets. You will be able to find vegetables such as the broccoli, which contains one of the highest amounts of vitamin C, and is therefore essential in our diets.
The majority of November vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals to help prepare our bodies for the coming winter months and this is the best month to get turnips or cauliflower. Amongst December vegetables, we can find brussels sprouts, a variety of the cabbage and is often associated with Christmas dinner.
Winter vegetables
Eating winter vegetables during the cold months has never been so important. Eating vegetables all year round will keep you healthy but especially eating winter vegetables 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 vegetables can help us fight the effects of winter.
The vegetables of January and February are usually bursting with vitamins and minerals which have an important protective role in the body. With the arrival of the vegetables in March, we start to see the first vegetables of spring such as mustard greens that are highly diuretic.
All year round vegetables
Thanks to improved transportation and preservation techniques, we can now enjoy a variety of vegetables all year round. Vegetables don’t just come straight from the plant that it grew on. In supermarkets, you can buy a wide variety of vegetables and it doesn’t always have to be fresh. You can buy tinned, frozen, fresh or dried. There are a number of possibilities and therefore you can enjoy the benefits of vegetables all year round.
