Blog  September 26, 2011

A Healthy Harvest

Canada’s beautiful and bountiful harvest season is in full swing, with local produce making a welcome appearance in kitchens and farmers’ markets across the country. Why not take advantage of this special time of year to give your healthy diet a seasonal lift?

The local food movement continues to gain popularity, and for good reason. In 2010, the Dietitians of Canada published a review of the evidence around the 100-mile diet. Compared to their imported cousins, local varieties of fruits and vegetables are often chosen for their taste and nutrition over shipability, picked closer to their peak of ripeness, and enjoy less handling and shorter field to fork times. For many types of produce, this translates to higher nutrient and antioxidant content and fresher, richer flavours.

Canada’s Food Guide recommends that adults consume 7–10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. However, the latest statistics reveal that only 35 per cent of Canadians reach this target, despite bushels of scientific data regarding the health benefits. Recent studies suggest that high produce intake can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke by an impressive 20–40 per cent. Evidence is also emerging for reduced incidences of a wide range of diseases, from cataracts and diverticulosis to diabetes and hypertension.

Upping your local produce consumption benefits more than just individual health. Supporting local farmers creates valuable jobs and strengthens relationships within communities. Minimizing transportation distances results in lower fossil fuel emissions and cleaner air. Smaller farms also tend to grow more variety, which sustains a larger agricultural gene pool and helps to protect our long-term food security. Who knew that munching on a delicious local salad could do so much good?

This harvest season, be sure to cook up some kale, savour a squash or take home a tomato from your friendly neighbourhood farmer for a healthy you and a healthy community!

A member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Melissa Lem is a Toronto family doctor who also works in rural and remote communities across Canada.