Nature has given us precious gifts according to different months and seasons of the year, which we know as seasonal fruits and vegetables. In today's fast-paced life, people often, for the sake of taste or trend, start consuming those things which are not of that season, or are stored in cold storage for a long time. But do you know that our health is directly related to the way our plate is decorated, which is in accordance with the natural cycles of nature? When we make out-of-season vegetables or artificially cooked fruits a part of our daily routine, our body gradually becomes deprived of the nutrients it needs to fight the challenges of the season. Our elders have always emphasized that whatever grows in season is most beneficial and today's modern science has also confirmed this ancient Indian knowledge. Precious Law of Nature: Different nutrition for every season and its surefire benefits. Nature's specialty is that it produces fruits and vegetables as per the needs of our body in every cycle of summer, winter and rainy season. During summers, when the body needs cooling and protection from dehydration, nature gives us juicy fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, cucumber and mango which are rich in water and natural electrolytes. At the same time, when monsoon or winter season arrives and the immunity of our body starts weakening, then orange, guava, amla, spinach, fenugreek, carrot and green leafy vegetables become the shield of our health. All those antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are found in abundance in these seasonal foods which keep the body safe from problems like diseases, viral infections and joint pain prevalent in that particular season. If we understand this coordination of nature and adapt our food plate accordingly, then half of the diseases will not come near us just like that. Why is it important to adopt local and seasonal food? Perfect combination of taste and health: In today's era, due to the global market, vegetables from any corner of the world are easily available in any city, but it also has its own disadvantages. When a fruit or vegetable travels a very long distance to reach us, its nutritional quality reduces to a great extent along the way. Apart from this, many types of harmful chemicals and preservatives are used to cook the crop quickly or to keep it fresh for a long time, which directly have a bad effect on our liver and stomach. On the contrary, vegetables and fruits grown locally and available fresh in that season not only taste excellent but also have the highest amount of nutrients. When you choose seasonal produce from your nearby farms or markets, you are not only providing pure nutrition to your body but are also contributing to environmental protection and the livelihood of local farmers. Balance of colors in your plate: How to make your plate a health powerhouse An ideal and healthy plate is one which has the right balance of colors, because every color of fruit or vegetable brings with it a different type of phytonutrient. When red, yellow, green, purple and white seasonal fruits together grace our plate, our body gets the right mix of all types of vitamins like Vitamin A, C, E, iron, potassium and fiber. For example, consuming red carrot halwa or juice, green fenugreek parathas and fresh guavas in the winter thali helps in increasing hemoglobin in the body and strengthening the digestive system. In summer, the combination of light bottle gourd, taroi, tinda and fresh lemon water cools the stomach and protects from problems like acidity. We have to understand that food is not just a means to fill our stomach, but it is the fuel of our cells and if the fuel is pure and natural, then the machine i.e. our body will continue to run smoothly throughout our life without any major malfunction. Stay away from junk food and packed items: Save your future generation by adopting seasonal food. In today's new generation, the trend of fast food, processed snacks and canned juices is increasing rapidly, due to which diseases like obesity, diabetes and thyroid are becoming prevalent at an early age. There is no trace of fiber in these packed items and the quantity of salt, sugar and flour is much more than required, which destroys the health of the intestines. If we want to give a happy and energetic life to our children and family, we have to throw out junk food from our kitchen and give priority to fresh seasonal fruit chaat, homemade fresh lemonade, coconut water and traditional green vegetables. When children become accustomed to seasonal and natural food since childhood, their immunity becomes stronger and their mental and physical development also happens in a much better manner. Direct connection between mental health and happiness: It has been scientifically proven that our stomach is the second brain of our body, which is called the gut-brain axis. When we consume fresh, nutritious and seasonal food, the number of good bacteria i.e. good microorganisms in our stomach increases, which help in the production of happy hormones like serotonin. On the contrary, eating unhygienic and unseasonal food leads to mental problems like lethargy, stress and depression. So, if you want to always be energetic, stress-free and mentally happy, start your day with some fresh seasonal fruit and include seasonal green vegetables and pulses in your lunch and dinner. This small change can have a revolutionary effect on your lifestyle. Take a pledge today: Bring this change of nature in your kitchen. Now is the time to think deeply about our lifestyle and eating habits and avoid the mistake of eating anything in any season by getting misled by advertisements. Whenever you go to the market, keep special attention on which fruit or vegetable is available locally at that time, the freshest and cheapest, that is the key to your real health. Together with your family, discuss which fresh gift of nature should be included in today's plate. By adopting a little discipline and awareness, you can not only avoid visiting the doctor, but can also live a long, healthy, disease-free and happy life. So what are you waiting for, fill your dinner plate with nature's colors and seasonal nutrition today itself and make a new beginning in your health.
