Dr. Scarlett Cooper, Naturopathic Doctor
  • Home
  • About Dr. Cooper
  • Naturopathic Medicine
    • What is Naturopathic Medicine?
    • Naturopathic Doctor's Oath
    • Guiding Principles
    • Therapies Offered
    • New Patients
    • Children's Health Care
    • Complimentary Consultations
  • Resources
    • Podcasts and Events
    • Blog
    • Recipes >
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch/Dinner
      • Healthy Dessert
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Paleo
      • Sugar-Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • List of Resources
  • Contact

Health Benefits to Eating Seasonally

5/17/2015

1 Comment

 
Q:  Are there any health benefits to eating seasonally?

A:  There is a host of reasons why eating food that is in season and grown locally is beneficial to the health of our planet.  Supporting local farmers also contributes to the economy of our community.  Less often addressed, however, are the health impacts on our body.


Food that is grown locally will be in season for the region where it is grown.  Modern technology and science allow us the luxury of importing and storing foods that do not naturally grow in our climate, such as avocadoes, bananas, and numerous other tropical fruits.  Even foods that are not exotic, such as apples, are often picked months before we actually consume them, and are allowed to slowly ripen in an environment called CA (controlled atmosphere) storage.  This process guarantees the availability of apples all year long.

This raises the question, does eating foods that are in season for the part of the world where we live have superior health benefits compared to imported foods?  The exceptional flavour of local food would suggest so, and the research confirms this; an extremely important factor affecting the nutrient content of produce is the amount of time that passes between when it is harvested and when it is consumed.  Browsing the average grocery store, there is an abundance of produce that has been imported from other countries and even other continents; days to weeks have passed from the time it was picked to its arrival on store shelves. 

Once harvested, nutrients start to break down.  Several studies show that some supermarket produce can have just half the amount of vitamin C and folate compared to produce that is freshly picked.  When you consume locally grown food that is in season, you have the luxury of gaining the full nutrient potential that these foods offer.  While this is a different luxury than being able to access the same foods all year long, eating seasonally can actually expand the variety of foods in your diet.  Explore the selection of local fruits and vegetables in the produce department, attend your local Farmer’s Market, and visit www.getlocalbc.org for a full seasonal chart.
Picture
Sources:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/12-045.htm
http://chriskresser.com/why-local-trumps-organic-for-nutrient-content/
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/7_benefits_of_eating_local_foods
http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/food/SeasonalEating/Pages/HealthyFoodSeasonBySeason.aspx

1 Comment

Organic on a Budget

8/31/2012

0 Comments

 
In a perfect world, everything we eat would be organic.  For most people, however, budgeting to eat 100% organic can be challenging.  That's why I love the research done by Environmental Working Group (EWG).  They have analyzed 49 fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue and have published the results on their website to help guide consumers as to which foods are most important to choose organic.  You can read the full list of 'Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce', and the condensed version, 'The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15' in the image below:
Picture
Since the benefits of eating non-organic fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of having a diet low in fruits and vegetables, this guide is very useful to help make decisions in the grocery store.  If you're just starting to take interest in organically grown foods, the risks of consuming pesticides may be worth considering:

Since the very nature of pesticides is to kill living organisms ("pests"), and humans are also considered living organisms, pesticides are toxic to us by their very definition.  In particular, the health risks that pesticides confer have been validated by researchers and physicians internationally, as well as by US and international government agencies.  Pesticides have been linked to many health conditions, such as:

  • Brain and nervous system toxicity
  • Cancer
  • Hormone disruption
  • Skin, eye and lung irritation

As an investment in our health and our future, a great first step is to be mindful of the produce we are consuming and to make educated choices about reducing our pesticide exposure.  Making small changes such as this can make a big difference when it comes to our long-term health, and so I wish for you good health and happy eating!

--
Sources:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
0 Comments

    Author

    Dr. Cooper is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in British Columbia and has a general family practice in Surrey and Squamish.

    Archives

    October 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    December 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Allergies
    Antioxidant
    Breakfast
    Budget Tips
    Cancer
    Dairy Free
    Dessert
    Digestive Health
    Food Prep Tips
    Gluten Free
    Local
    Lunch/Dinner
    Naturopathic Medicine
    Organic
    Paleo
    Pediatrics
    Seasonal
    Sugar Free
    Vegan
    Vegetarian

    RSS Feed

Island Integrative Health
104 Front Street, Nanaimo BC, V9R 5H7

250-754-0887
[email protected]