By Leona West
When we eat according to the season, we eat fruits and vegetables that are naturally abundant during specific times of the year.
For example, in the cooler months of the year, we see more hearty greens, yams, and gourds. Whereas in the summer, foods that naturally complement warm weather, such as watermelon and strawberries, are more common.
When you eat foods that are local and in season, they will always carry the most amount of antioxidants. And antioxidants are key to maintaining the strength of the immune system.
Get familiar with herbs and spices
Check out your local farmer’s market to get the scoop on what season. Don’t forget to use herbs and spices when preparing your food to promote hearty immune function thanks to their high antioxidant activity!
Herbs and spices are one key component to immunity that is largely ignored in the American diet. Besides giving depth and dimension to food, herbs, and spices actually promote health and hearty immune function.
Herbs and spices actually carry higher amounts of antioxidant activity than some of the high antioxidant foods that we think of, like blueberry and pomegranate.
When you are eating with herbs and spices, you are automatically nourishing your immunity because you are bringing a lot of antioxidant activity to each meal.
The cooler months of the year are notoriously known as cold and flu season. Herbs that have a natural, and powerful, antimicrobial function in the body are the herbs we typically see accompanying holiday dishes: thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
It is helpful to remember that incorporating herbs and spices into your meals does not require any radical shift in diet. In fact, it can be as easy as sprinkling fresh thyme over baked squash.
The top 3 herbs to begin to incorporate are:
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Oregano
Eat local
Eating local goes beyond supporting your immediate community.
For example, local bee products can profoundly influence immune function. This is especially true during the spring season when allergies and asthma have a tendency to flare up. While honey will have too much sugar if you are suffering from candida, you can still reap the immune regulating benefits by choosing to use local bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly.
When shopping for local foods, keep in mind that we now have access to foods that have been shipped from all over the world. This means that at the market we can typically find any food we desire, in spite of the season.
If you would like to get an idea of what fruits and vegetables are fresh and seasonal in your area:
- Shop at your local farmer’s market. Whatever is on the tables at your farmer’s market is typically what is in season. And while you can buy the same seasonal foods at your local grocery store, check and see where the food was originally grown.
Many stores now label where food is sourced, or you can even find this information on the PLU (price look-up) sticker that dots certain fruits and vegetables. This information is important. Locally grown food has not been shipped halfway across the globe, and it is, therefore, picked closer to its peak of maturity. This means that it has maximum nutrient value and that its nutrients, specifically antioxidants, are still active.
- Look into Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). If you find that your schedule cannot accommodate the times when the farmer’s market is up and running, you can also subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in your area.
What to Remember Most About This Article:
Boosting the health of your immune system is often as simple as changing the way you eat. When you eat according to the season, you will naturally select fresh fruits and vegetables that are abundant during specific times of the year. Local, seasonal foods contain the largest amount of antioxidants to strengthen the immune system.
Additionally, using herbs and spices is one key way to boost immunity and improve the flavor of your food. Herbs and spices contain large amounts of antioxidants to rival many top antioxidant foods, like pomegranates and blueberries.
To start eating fresh, local foods to boost your immune function, you can use the following tips:
- Shop at local farmer’s markets for what is in season.
- Consider Community Supported Agriculture programs to access fresh, flavorful, locally grown foods.
Leona West Fox is a functional medicine nutritionist. She can be reached at her website: leonawest.com or by email at leonanutrition@yahoo.com.