The new year often starts with intentions for better health. New year, new you as they say. As we near the end of the first month of 2023, here is some food for thought when it comes to treating yourself better, eating a well-rounded diet, and maintaining overall health.
We all know that eating fruits and veggies is a great place to start when it comes to building a healthy lifestyle, but did you know that a diet rich in fruits and veggies can actually have a tangible effect on health? Fresh produce has been shown to:
- lower blood pressure
- reduce the risk of heart disease
- ward off certain types of cancer
- lower your chances of suffering from digestive problems
- have a positive affect on your blood sugar
There are many different families of fruits and vegetables out there all of which come with their own unique benefits to health and wellbeing. Eating a diverse range of fresh foods ensures you are giving your body a well-rounded medley of nutrients.
Diversity is important when it comes to giving our body the necessary nutrients. One of the easiest ways to ensure diversity in your produce choices, and therefore nutrient intake, is to choose lots of colors, different shapes, and varieties. Additionally, there are lots of ways to incorporate vegetables into soups and stews, and fruits into breakfast smoothies and oats to keep your intake of fresh foods high, especially in the winter months, when our bodies might need extra support.
Buying Local
A great way to keep a steady supply of fresh foods on hand is by sourcing your produce from local farms, or opting to grow your own. Buying local ensures not only that your produce is fresh and in season, but it has also proven to be better for your health.
As soon as a fruit or vegetable is picked, it begins to lose its nutritional value as vitamins such as C, E, and A, begin to deteriorate shortly after being plucked from the stem. The longer a fresh food sits, the more nutritional value is lost. If you can’t grow a garden, a CSA farm share may be an option; there are several local options and some markets inform buyers of the farms that they source from.
Gardening
Gardening from home is another way to maintain your intake of fresh foods, and to source your produce locally! Here in Montana this can be hard in the wintertime, as it might only be herbs that are happy on the windowsill.
Infrastructure such as the Tower Garden can help immensely in cultivating quality, home-grown produce indoors. The Tower Garden is a new addition to the Evolution of Balance office and is now producing fresh produce. Come by and check it out at your next appointment!
Whether we garden or not, having a full spectrum of fruits and veggies in our diet is important. Some people take a daily multivitamin to round out their diet. Dr. Steve has found that he prefers Juice Plus+ in place of a daily multivitamin. Juice Plus makes and distributes the Tower Garden.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Tower Garden or Juice Plus supplements, talk to Dr. Steve.
Resources:
The Harvard School of Public Health
Health Benefits of Eating Local Produce | Down to Earth Organic and Natural