Above: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
Most of us probably have a list of favorite foods that we have to include in our diet no matter what. For some people, that could be something as simple as an apple while for others that could be something as exotic as a dragonfruit. Our favorite foods are often worth the expense, but it is important to change up your diet every once in a while. After all, variety is the spice of life, and your diet is no exception.
One way to keep your diet fresh and exciting is to start eating seasonally. This practice is highly recommended in Ayurveda. Eating seasonally is not easy; it will require you to keep track of different foods all year long in order to find out what is and isn’t in season. However, there are advantages to a seasonal diet that makes it worth it in the long run. In fact, today we will share with you 4 reasons why you should shift to a seasonal diet. And no, you don’t need a garden to eat seasonally; you can still buy products from your natural foods store or grocery store as long as you shop smart.
1. A Seasonal Diet Can Help You Eat Tastier, Fresher & Healthier Food
To all you strawberry lovers out there, have you ever felt a desire to eat a strawberry in the middle of winter? They might be easy to find in your local grocery store, but you may have noticed that the taste is just a little bit off, no matter how many stores you go to. That’s because those strawberries are not in season. Thanks to modern technology, it has become more and more convenient to find some of your favorite seasonal foods in grocery stores. Not only is it easier to grow foods despite harsh weather conditions, poor soil quality, et cetera, but it is also easier to ship them anywhere in the world. These methods, however, can negatively alter the quality of these foods, especially when they’re used to make foods that aren’t in season.
Nature has a different suggestion. Fruits and vegetables have been inherently designed to ebb and flow with the seasons, evident by how different foods grow and ripen. This is nature’s way of telling us what we should be eating throughout the year. Simply put, when fruits and vegetables are in season, not only do they taste better, but they are more nutritious for you. So even though you want that strawberry during winter, if you wait until summer, (which is its peak season), you’ll be rewarded with a fresher, tastier, and healthier experience. Even better, due to how nutritious they are, eating foods that are in season may be more beneficial for your skin and hair.
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2. A Seasonal Diet Is Better for Your Wallet
If you do want to purchase some strawberries and you don’t care too much about the taste (for example, you are planning on using them in a recipe), then you may be deterred by the price. Foods that are out of season generally have a higher cost than when they’re in season. This is simple economics. When foods are in season, supply is at its peak because of harvesting; this forces prices to drop. However, when foods are not in season and supply becomes smaller, this will force prices to skyrocket. Therefore, it can be more economical to live on a seasonal diet. Your diet and your wallet will thank you.
3. A Seasonal Diet Is Good for the Environment
Even if you aren’t concerned about the quality or price of the foods you are buying that aren’t in season, you should be worried about the environmental impact. To get out-of-season foods into your local grocery stores, they may have to travel a large distance from places where they are currently in season, which could be outside of your country. This increases the carbon footprint of these foods, which is bad for the environment. Plus, in order to prevent these foods from spoiling due to lengthy travel times, they have likely been in contact with harsh chemicals like pesticides and preservatives that are terrible for your internal health as well as the health of your skin & hair. Out-of-season foods might be touted as natural, but the process it takes to get to your grocery store may not be worthwhile in the long run.
Eating seasonal can promote flawless skin and gorgeous hair, but there are more tips you can implement to live a healthier lifestyle. Listen to this episode of the Apsara Skin Care podcast to find out more. Enjoy and please leave us a review on our iTunes podcast page.
4. A Seasonal Diet Can Encourage You to Buy More Local, Organic Food
If you want to minimize your food’s carbon footprint, a seasonal diet is an excellent choice because you may feel motivated to include more local, organic food into your diet. A great tip you can utilize when trying a seasonal diet is to go to your local farmer’s market. A farmer’s market will allow you to ask about the quality of foods before you buy them. Over time, this will help you learn more about foods that are in season, feel more comfortable with the foods you are eating, and worry less about what’s actually going inside your body.
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Go natural. It is good karma!
3 comments
I have 2 concerns. I am 70 years old and I this past year I stopped using colouring shampoo that I was buying from the health food store; still, it had chemicals. Now I have salt & pepper hair. What can be done for this type of hair?
Also, related to my age, I starting seeing occasional long, thick, dark hairs growing here and there on my face and under the chin. I pluck them but wish they hadn’t appeared. Probably a hormonal issue but can something be done? I eat mostly organic and try to follow an ayrvedic diet. I am vata-pitta.
Thank you for any advice
Lisa
Do not forget the satisfaction we get when we finally get to eat the fruit we love when the anticipated season finally arrives. Priceless! Waiting for the peaches, apricots and plums.
Hi
I need some diy method to naturally shed off upper lip hair as permanent solution.
Thanks.