Did you ever think that what you eat could
not only benefit you but also those around you? Imagine being able to do good
by your community just by eating certain foods. These are the realities of
eating farm-to-table. Now before your mind fills with visions of ploughing
fields and turning in your stilettos and briefcase for garden gloves and a hoe;
you don’t need to grow your own food to eat farm-to-table. I’m talking about
eating locally grown food.
What’s In It for You?
Eating farm-to-table offers up loads of
benefits for those who make the effort to do it. When you opt to eat locally
grown food that comes to your table without all kinds of stops along the way,
you get the freshest food possible. What this does is give you food that not
only tastes better, but is more nutritious too. According to the Harvard School
of Public Health, even foods that follow the highest standards when it comes to
post-harvest handling still lose some of their nutritional value when they
travel to locations farther away. The
longer time they spend in transit, the lower the nutritional value when it
finally gets to you. Shopping locally often means that you’re able to buy the
food within 24 hours after it’s harvested so you get to enjoy maximum
freshness, nutrition, and flavor.
We all know that when something tastes
good, we’re a lot more likely to eat it and this goes for adults and children.
Fruits and vegetables that are fresh tend to taste as luscious and rich as they
look which makes them a whole lot more appealing. And when it comes to fresh
fruits and veggies; the health benefits are endless:
·
They’re low in fat and calories
making them great for filling up to keep your weight in check
·
They contain antioxidants that
have been linked to a lower risk of cancer
·
Diets rich in fruits and
vegetables lower
blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke
·
Fruits and veggies are a high
source of fiber so you can enjoy better gastrointestinal health
·
Orange fruits and veggies can
reduce vision problems thanks to beta carotene and lutein
·
Leafy greens are excellent sources
of calcium that strengthen bones and protect against osteoarthritis
Choosing to eat locally grown organic foods
also give you the added benefits that come from eating foods that haven’t been
treated with chemicals and pesticides, which have been linked to all kinds of
conditions, some of which include cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
And, the shorter the distance they travel, the less contaminants they risk
coming into contact with for food that’s safer all around.
What’s In It for Your Community?
What you eat isn’t just about you. When you
choose to eat farm-to-table you’re benefiting your community and even the
world. Here’s how:
·
You benefit the local economy
and support local farmers
·
You encourage sustainable
agriculture
·
You help send the message to
governments that locally grown, organic foods that are free of contaminants are
people want
·
You help maintain more green
space and farmland in your community
·
Your food doesn’t have to
travel as far to get to your plate meaning a smaller carbon footprint thanks to
less greenhouse gas emissions
Eating farm-to-table isn’t always more
expensive, but when you consider all of the benefits for you and those around
you, it certainly does justify the extra few cents you might have to spend
sometimes. Eating locally gets you a whole lot more bang for your buck at the
end of the day.
You can learn more about nutrition and
healthy eating by clicking here.
Adrienne is a freelance writer and author
who has written extensively on all things health and fitness for more than a
decade. When she's not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or
off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her
beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to
master the stand-up paddle board.
References
·
Healthy & Sustainable Food:
Local and Urban Agriculture. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved on
March 19, 2014, from http://chge.med.harvard.edu/topic/local-and-urban-agriculture
·
Vegetables and Fruits: Get
Plenty Every Day. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved on March 19, 2014,
from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vegetables-full-story/
·
Klavinski, Rita. (April 2013).
7 benefits of eating local foods. Michigan State University. Retrieved on March
19, 2014, from http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/7_benefits_of_eating_local_foods
·
Food and Your Bones. National
Osteoporosis Foundation. Retrieved on March 19, 2014, from http://nof.org/foods
