5 Essential Reasons To Eat Seasonally

‘Seasonal eating’ has been on-trend in the wellness world recently, but really it’s something humans have done since the beginning of time. If we truly want to feel the benefits of the foods we eat, seasonal eating is something we’d all benefit from doing too, as much as possible.

‘Seasonal eating’ is all about simply eating the foods that are in season in the country we live in. Sounds easy right? Perhaps not… take a look around your home, your local café menu, or your closest supermarket, you’ll probably soon notice that not everything you see is in-season. In our modern world, we’ve become accustomed to consuming foods we’d never have had access to even 50 years ago; fruits grown across the other side of the world; nuts grown thousands of miles away, then packed and shipped to us; exotic ingredients and packaged foods our grandparents wouldn’t recognise. 

If seasonal eating isn’t something you’ve thought about before, let us introduce you to the powerful benefits of choosing foods in season. Eating seasonally not only allows us to actually save money and support the planet by reducing food miles, but it also provides us with vital health benefits throughout the entire year. Read on for 5 essential reasons to start eating seasonally today: 

Nutrient Density

The term ‘nutrient density’ is also one more of us are hearing today, and there’s good reason for it; foods that are deemed ‘nutrient dense’ contain a high level of vitamins and minerals in proportion to their calorific content, which is needed now more than ever in a world full of processed foods. Dark leafy greens such as curly kale and cavolo nero are low in calories, yet are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, containing high levels of vitamins C, K, B vitamins, beta carotene, the minerals calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as antioxidants, fibre, and phytochemicals. Other highly nutrient-dense foods include oily fish such as salmon, liver, berries, eggs, beef, and cruciferous vegetables. 

So, where does seasonal eating fit into this? Well, it turns out that foods that are ‘in season’ and ready to pick right now contain much higher levels of nutrients than foods out of season. Foods harvested in their natural season contain rich levels of vitamins and minerals, and when also grown in their natural conditions, they’re able to absorb far more nutrients from the soil compared to produce grown in controlled, artificial environments for out-of-season availability. The vitamin C content of kale for example, is around 30% higher when in-season, and the antioxidant content is around 25% higher when in-season too. We’re completely committed to natural, seasonal harvests, so all of the foods you receive from us are at their most nutrient-dense and bursting with goodness! 

Health Support

Nature always provides what we need, exactly when we need it. Throughout Spring, herbs that support natural detoxification like dandelion leaf, nettle and cleavers all emerge from the ground, whilst red foods like tomatoes help protect skin from sun damage in Summer. As Autumn arrives, elderberries are a powerful way to protect the immune system, and Winter brings rosehips, an important source of vitamin C for countless uses, including immunity and skin health. When we consume foods that are naturally harvested during each season, we also consume the exact nutrients we need in order to thrive during that season, and the months beyond. As mentioned; the red skin of tomatoes such as our special Heritage Tomatoes contains lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from sun damage. Growing next to the tomatoes in our polytunnel is the mighty herb basil, which contains stress-reducing properties, especially important throughout Summer, which can become an especially busy season. By reducing the stress hormone cortisol, basil also helps strengthen the immune system for the coming Autumn months. 

As we shift into Autumn, grounding root veg and squash supply us with high amounts of immune-supporting vitamins. The fact that we never use chemical-filled fertilisers or pesticides also gives our food higher levels of phytonutrients – plants’ natural defence mechanisms - as the plants have to defend themselves rather than having chemicals defend them. Phytonutrients such as flavonoids and carotenoids provide benefits such as reducing inflammation and improving immunity. By releasing these natural defence mechanisms, the plant is richer in them, and we then consume the benefits. 

As well as fruit and veg, it’s important to note that the way we care for our animals makes a huge difference in terms of the nutrients they so graciously provide us when we consume them. When we allow our cattle to graze naturally, they build up healthy levels of vitamins and minerals that simply isn’t at all possible from factory farmed animals. The animals eat what grows naturally on the land, and they impart the seasonal benefits of those nutrients to us. 

Quantum Nutrition

Now, this one may sound a little ‘woo woo’, but there’s real science behind it… When food is grown naturally on the land, it not only absorbs the physical nutrients from the soil, but also the energy of the land and the sun, too. Quantum nutrition is an holistic approach that honours the energetic and vibrational qualities of food, aligning dietary choices with nature’s seasonal rhythms to support optimal health, balance, and vitality on both physical and energetic levels.

When plants absorb sunlight, they also absorb information; sunlight tells a plant what time of day it is, whereabouts on the planet it is, and how much to grow. When we consume that plant, we also consume that information, which helps align us with the energy of the planet. Foods harvested at the height of Summer for example, hold lots of ‘yang’ energy – dynamic, bright, energetic and bold energy that we then absorb through the foods. Foods harvested in Autumn and Winter hold plenty of calming, grounding ‘yin’ energy, which is imparted to us when we eat it, helping us connect with the energy of each season and live in a more aligned way with nature’s rhythms throughout the year. Within each of our Weekly Harvest Boxes then, you’ll not only receive the most nutrient-dense seasonal foods, but the very energy of the season itself. 

Gut Health

Much like the concept that in-season foods contain the nutrients we need in order to thrive at that specific time of year, seasonal foods also provide us with the specific gut bacteria that allows us to feel our best in that season. The types of carbohydrates, fibres, and polyphenols in seasonal produce promote different species of bacteria, and research suggests our gut microbiome may shift slightly with the seasons in response to changes in diet, sunlight and environment. Here’s a look at how seasonal foods shape our gut bacteria:

Spring: Bitter greens, leeks, artichokes and other Spring greens help increase levels of Bifidobacteria (helps break down carbs, supports immunity and mood levels) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (a major butyrate producer which helps reduce inflammation and nourishes the colon cells).

Summer: High in fibre, water content and polyphenols, Summer foods like leafy greens, green beans and juicy fruits boost Lactobacillus (great for digestion and gut wall integrity) and Akkermansia muciniphila (strengthens the gut barrier reduces inflammation and promotes a healthy metabolism)

Autumn: Squash, pumpkin, apples and root veg all help raise levels of Roseburia & Eubacterium spp. (these produce butyrate, which supports a strong gut lining and reduces systemic inflammation) and Akkermansia muciniphila (associated with a healthy and strong metabolism and immune system)

Winter: Winter veg like brussels sprouts, cabbage and root veg support Bifidobacteria (helps break down carbs, supports immunity and mood levels) and Roseburia (supports the gut lining and metabolism). 

Varying our diet throughout the year by choosing in-season foods grown in their natural environment helps us maintain a healthy and diverse microbiome all year long. 

Reconnecting To Your Roots

Finally, one of the most essential reasons to eat seasonally is that it reconnects us to our ancestral nature and re-boots our innate health. For thousands of years, we’ve consumed nutrient-dense foods at the right time, in the right way. Today, packaged and processed food is robbing us of our health, but by making more conscious choices about what we consume, we’re all actively playing a part in shaping the future of food. Each time we take a bite of natural, seasonal food, we give our bodies exactly what they need to thrive, and we support the process of growing and harvesting for the next season. Whether you make a leafy green salad in Spring, enjoy juicy tomatoes in Summer, bake a sweet apple pie in Autumn or a rich root veg casserole in Winter, you’re playing a vital role in the cycle of the seasons.  

Do you purposefully eat seasonally? Have you been enjoying seasonal produce this Summer? One of the easiest ways to start consuming more nutrient-dense in-season foods is with our Weekly Harvest Box Subscription. Every week, we deliver your share of the harvest. Grown with care on our member-owned farm and delivered straight to your door. Find out more here.

Written by Emma Newlyn