According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), some of the most common disorders caused by a weakened immune system are due to a lack of micronutrients for one diet lacking vitamins and minerals due to the deficient consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Therefore, the habit of taking five servings of fruit and vegetables a day It is of vital importance. And if they are also in season, all the better, because they offer great benefits for the people who enjoy them and for our own ecosystem.
1.-Greater flavor and juiciness; There's an incredible difference between the taste of seasonal fruit and fruit that's out of season. Because it's not kept in cold storage, seasonal fruit retains its flavor and juiciness. Picked at its peak ripeness, it's much tastier than fruit that's been transported unripe and will ripen in refrigerated containers.
2. Seasonal fruits and vegetables offer us what we need. Nature is wise. In winter we need more vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, and that's why agriculture offers us [something] in winter oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, cauliflower, kiwis.
In summer we need more hydration and foods that contain more water, such as... watermelon, melon, pear, or fruits rich in beta-carotene to protect our skin like the carrot or mango.
3. They contribute to the sustainability of the agri-food system. Consuming seasonal and locally grown fruits and vegetables helps respect nature's cycle, which in turn helps protect the environment. Eating fruit that is currently available in our fields, rather than having to be imported from other latitudes and climates, prevents the emission of a greater amount of CO2.2 to the atmosphere.
And if it's harvested at its peak, it doesn't require refrigeration, thus reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, it helps respect the natural production cycle, making it more ecological and environmentally friendly.
4.-More nutrients and vitamins. Freshly picked and consumed fruit retains its nutritional properties much better because it is completely natural. It is harvested at its optimal ripeness, so vitamins and minerals are at their peak.
5.- Best price. It's the best value for money in your shopping basket because out-of-season produce often has to be imported from distant regions or countries. Therefore, seasonal fruit doesn't have the added cost of transportation from other parts of the world.
6. You can use it to make better preserves. Besides eating these foods at their peak, you can prepare them in a better way by making homemade preserves and dehydrating them. This is an ideal way to continue enjoying these fruits and vegetables throughout the rest of the year. Plus, you'll have taken advantage of the best flavor and the best price.
In these calendars created by the OCU, you can check which fruits and vegetables are in season, depending on the time of year.
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