Importance of Consuming Seasonal Vegetables

Vegetables are an asset for India because after China, India is the second country to produce most vegetables. Yet there are an increasing number of health problems that are arising regularly because of a lack of good eating habits, especially in relation to consumption of vegetables. It is a commonly known fact that eating all varieties of vegetables will keep you away from adverse health issues.

But not everyone knows the importance of eating vegetables in the right season!
Seasons and vegetables complement each other by producing unique veggies in each season whose nutrition levels are rich. Vegetables are good for health but are more effective if consumed during the right season.

Vegetables Cultivated in Different Seasons

Spring: Carrots, Chive, Fennel, Peas, Potatoes, Spinach

Winter: Onions, Garlic, Perpetual Spinach, Broad Beans, Spring Onion, Winter Salads.

Summer: Arugula, Cucumber, Kohlrabi, Shallots, Zucchini, Egg Plant

Rainy: Cucumber, Beans, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Bitter Gourd Melon, Teasel Gourd.

Note: Vegetables listed here are the ones most commonly used and do not reflect the entire range.

Each season cultivates a bunch of vegetables that contain a good amount of nutritional value. But it is people who don’t get benefitted by them as they do not fully understand the advantages of vegetable consumption.

Common Reasons among People for Ignoring Vegetables

There was time when there were equal numbers of people in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian section but today statistics have raised displaying polarization. According to a research done by HUFFPOST, more than 70% of Indians are non-vegetarians today and the rest have replaced vegetables with other artificial eateries.

Benefits of raw vegetables

Financial stability is and has never been an issue for people in any developing country across Asia with regard to consuming food; it has always been the choice of individuals. However, with too much exposure to non vegetarian food has lead people to rely more on meat consumption than healthy veggies.

The reason for inadequate intake of vegetables among humans is due to several reasons but however, trends in consumption pattern vary from region to region based on the availability, lifestyle and environmental influences.

Few of those common reasons are

• Lack of availability of all sorts of vegetables
• Lack of knowledge on vegetable nutrition
• Obsession towards a variety of evolving meat cuisines

However, a survey done by global nutrition says that the general recommendation of intake of vegetables is at least 400 grams per person a day or about 146 kg per person a year. The national nutrition guideline recommends an average of 300 grams per day by each person. Vegetables also include green leafy vegetables and each leafy veggie has abundance of iron in it that can generate lots of physical energy in human body.

It’s never too late to nourish your eating habits and most importantly vegetables don’t discriminate according to age unlike how meat does.

Seasonal Veggies Have Health Secrets

Get Vedas Veggies’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

Remember me for faster sign in

Vegetables that grow in different season have different health benefits. Just like fruits, vegetables also yield different vegetables in different seasons. Have a look at them with their benefits.

Everything that is cultivated through nature has a secret energy within.

Summer Season

Bitter gourd- This veggie when consumed its prime season, which is summer, can balance the blood sugar levels and lower bad cholesterol as well. It generates vitamin A and C along with powerful antioxidants which can diminish wrinkles and reduce the signs of ageing.

Cucumber- This veggie contains 96% water that keeps the body hydrated for long on a hot and sunny day. Blood pressure can be regulated to a large extent by eating cucumber as salad as it contains lots of potassium, fiber and magnesium.

Tomatoes- Tomatoes help in lowering inflammation and cholesterol in human body and can generate antioxidants and vitamins A, C and K as well.

Bottle gourd- It is the best vegetable to combat with summer heat as it keeps away the problem of acidity which tends to occur commonly in summer season.

Winter Season

Green leafy Veggies

Carrots- When compared to other vegetables, carrots have the highest amount of Carotene. Human body converts carotene in to vitamin A and that helps in healthy skin, immune system and good eye health & vision.

Turnips- These veggies are root vegetables that look like apples. Ironically, they taste sweet and contain fiber, foliate vitamins and minerals, and these veggies only grow in winter season.

Spinach- These leaves contains flavonoids and carotenoids which are antioxidants along with lots of vitamins and minerals. Spinach is considered the healthiest vegetable in the world because of the rich nutritious it carries like vitamin A, C and K and omega-3 fatty acids as well. To acquire complete nutrition form these veggies, avoid boiling or cooking the veggie and eat raw.

Spring Season

Radish- These vegetables are rare to cultivate apart from the spring season. Radishes are red and white with hefty dose of vitamin C and serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. They are an important source of potassium which is a primary requirement for kidney and blood health in humans.

Vidalia Onions- Other onion varieties can be accessed throughout year but Vidalia onions are only available during spring season. These veggies contain lots of sulfur-containing compounds which are helpful to address teary eyes, asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Rainy Season

Tubers- Monsoon is the time for potatoes and sweet potatoes, in this time they are less prone to giving birth to bacteria. Eating potatoes in rainy season will improve the nutritious affects of this veggie.

Indian Squash- Also called as ‘Tinda’ is the only vegetable that is healthy and yummy too. Its numerous health benefits include anti-inflammatory agents which control and prevent bloating, acidity and heart burn and keep the digestion process smooth. It is high in fiber content and keeps bowel disorders at bay.

Eat Seasonal Veggies for Ideal health

Most often people plan extraordinary diets for better body functioning and ignore the simple idea of having seasonal veggies and fruits to achieve ideal health. Having seasonal veggies will not just help your body function properly but also comes with a group of other advantages like cost effectiveness, being natural, better taste and healthier effects.

Today in India around 30–33% people eat vegetables on and off and the rest are just planning on their diet while consuming meat. Never say no to meat if it’s one of your favorites but also avail the benefits veggies possess.

Make yourself a promise that you will not ill-treat your body by being only a carnivore; always be flexible and broaden your choice for other cuisines that are provide nutrition from vegetables.

Originally shared on http://vedaveggies.com/blog/importance-of-consuming-seasonal-vegetables