Autumn, what an awesome creation by our Creator! Along with its magnificent beauty, Fall brings in a wonderful harvest for us all to appreciate and enjoy. As the light, refreshing fruits and vegetables of summer fade away, incoming crops provide us with a different kind of fuel. With cooling temperatures, we need foods that generate warmth and sustained energy.
Eating in Season
We live in a time when most foods are available year round, but did you ever stop and wonder why God supplies us with foods for each season? When eating with the season we reap the blessings of receiving:
The Most Flavorful Foods – Eating freshly picked foods taste amazing. Just imagine visiting an apple orchard in the fall. The aroma of ripened apples fills the air. The apples are so juicy and full of flavor. When you buy apples in the summer, they have very little smell or taste.
The Most Nutrient Dense Foods – When produce is first picked, it has the highest nutritional value. Your body gets all the vitamins, minerals, and disease fighting antioxidants that a food has to offer. As fresh produce is stored, it’s nutritional content declines.
The Most Variety – Rather than getting into a rut and purchasing the same few fruits and vegetables year round, eating seasonally provides variety, excitement, and change. Waiting for a favorite food to be in peak season, allows you to truly enjoy it at its best. Join a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program and experiment with produce that you haven’t tried.
The Most Value – You will save money when buying foods in season. Freshly harvested crops are more readily available and can be sold at a lower price than those shipped from far away and not in season.
Five Fabulous Fall Foods
The foods of fall are perfectly designed to promote health, boost our immune systems, and prevent sickness and disease as we move toward the cold and flu season. Here are a few you won’t want to miss.
1. Apples – The main fruit of fall, the apple, has health tremendous health benefits. Apples are a good source of fiber, potassium and antioxidants. In addition, research suggests that apples may be preventative against cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, constipation, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers. They are also shown to help lower cholesterol and increase weight loss.
2. Pumpkins – Not just a fun fall yard ornament, pumpkins are a super food from the flesh to the seeds. Pumpkins are a very good source of beta carotene/vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, riboflavin, potassium, and fiber. Pumpkin seeds are a bonus which can be roasted and eaten. They are rich in protein, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. In addition, pumpkin seeds may promote prostate health, have anti-inflammatory benefits with arthritis, and contain phytosterols, which are known to enhance the immune response.
3. Winter Squash Varieties – Winter squash is another richly colored vegetable, packed with carotenoids, which are major antioxidants. Generally, the richer the color, the higher the concentration. These squash are also a good source of fiber, Vitamin C, B vitamins, folic acid and potassium. Studies suggest that winter squash may have anti-inflammatory affects and may help in the regulation of blood sugar.
4. Nuts – Many nut varieties, such as pine nuts, walnuts, and pecans are harvested in the fall months. Nuts are a high in protein, healthy fats, fiber, and B vitamins. Some are rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, as well as Vitamin E. Full of antioxidants, they are a great health promoting, disease fighting food. Nuts are a great source of long term fuel due to their high fat content. Remember with this super food, a little bit goes a long way.
5. Ginger – When gathering up your fall foods, remember to include fresh herbs and spices, like ginger. Ginger has strong antioxidant capabilities and it is high in magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, and vitamin B6. Along with giving your immune system a boost, ginger gives gastrointestinal relief for motion and morning sickness, works as an anti- inflammatory, an anti-fungal and may help lower cholesterol and prevent certain cancers.
These are just a few of the wonderful selection of fall foods to explore. The warming foods above take longer to grow, but tend to have a longer shelf life than summer produce. They all provide powerful immune boosting antioxidants, to strengthen your body giving it the ability to fight off sickness as the weather begins to chill. God is amazing as He always cares for us and provides us just what we need. By eating the seasonal foods that we are blessed with, we can reap the benefits of great health.
