Products that are not available in certain seasons of the year or products that are available throughout the year, but the associated quantity and fluctuation of prices are referred to as seasonal products. Common examples of seasonal products are fashion clothing, beverages, etc...
Today, technology allows us to have strawberries in the winter, but scientists and researchers tell us to avoid them. Here's why:
• When you buy seasonal products and fruits, you know for a fact that just a little back the fruit or vegetable you are planning to cut up and serve in your salad was part of a plant. Nutrition levels of fresh and seasonal foods are very high and it is not surprising that this level decreases considerably, the longer you stay without consuming the food.
Therefore, it is a good idea to eat freshly picked fruits, or freshly harvested produce. In doing so, you will also be supporting local farmers and local markets, which, in turn, works well for the entire economy.
• Supermarkets add shine to your fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh and attractive. By shine, we mean that supermarkets and huge food chains strive to ensure that food is attractive, although it is not in season. To do this, they naturally compromise on the level of food nutrition. So who loses in the end? You, the consumer.
• Seasonal foods are more or less organic and if you are going to eat non-seasonal foods, keep in mind that they are probably full of pesticides as well. Healthy eating decreases many notches when you give non-seasonal foods.
• Seasonal foods are also good for the environment. Even if you do not have a single green thumb, all of us can be good environmentalists by reducing the number of miles of food that food has to do before it reaches your table. The more local you eat, the less likely you are to use foods that have been blown from half the world, consuming a lot more fuel.
• The world is slowly moving towards locally produced seasonal foods. Highly acclaimed chefs and gourmets like Gordon Ramsay make a point to introduce local seasonal food into their menus and there is a reason for this change. Today, the focus is on the taste, taste and nutritional goodness that are derived from food.
• Foods that are produced out of season are often sprayed with chemicals of all kinds because it requires a bit of bending of the rules of nature for these foods to survive the bizarre season in which they are brought to the world.
• Seasonal foods are also not expensive because it does not cost the earth to produce them at a time when they should not be ideally available. Seasonal foods are cheaper to produce and therefore cheaper to buy as well.
• Nature has its own cycle for a very good reason. Foods that appear in winter are usually because they are of the type of heating and keep it warm. Similarly, in summer you have food cooling and these keep your body cool. If we revisit this natural order, we probably will not receive any of the benefits of nature that were for us. What's more, we could be doing more harm than good by eating foods that are clearly not in season.
• The same vegetables or fruits produced in seasons when they are not intended, appear to have different nutritional values. This goes a long way to show that there is indeed something to say to eat seasonal food. In fact, research by scientists demonstrates this concept, so it is always a good idea to eat fresh seasonal foods.
• The more preservatives added to non-seasonal foods, the more nutrients they lose and do not provide them with any health benefits. So, in effect, you are paying for noxious preservatives and not for nutrition when you buy non-seasonal foods.
• One of the biggest reasons why you should opt for seasonal foods is because they are full of antioxidants that are so good for you. Antioxidants fight free radicals, keep them young and keep diseases at bay. Look for fresh seasonal berries and enjoy them whenever you can because they are extremely good for your health.
• Seasonal fruits and berries can be incorporated into your daily diet without any hassles. Combine them in shakes or make juices out of them and enjoy the goodness they offer.
• Seasonal foods are a way to reconnect with the cycle that nature intended for us. It helps you become a natural being as opposed to someone who is governed by the whims of supermarkets.