Importance of Eating Locally Grown Food

We are living in the age where we can procure any kind of vegetable or rice or pulses grown in any part of the world. Gone are the days when we relied on locally grown fruits, vegetables and grains.

But the question is does being global in food is necessary? Does being global in food has more benefits? Each vegetable is packed with nutrients and energy. But eating food which is grown thousands of miles away from where we live, makes sense?

Honestly, our ancestors were intelligent because they understood the importance of eating locally grown food. Each vegetable, fruit or grain grown has specific needs with regards to soil, water and climate. Our ancestors understood the rhythm between our body and the food we eat. They knew perfectly that eating locally grown food is more acceptable to our bodies.

Today, while we are eating global food, we are ignoring the fact that firstly chemicals are used to fly these fruits, vegetables and grains. Secondly, our bodies are not accepting these foods easily because the climate in which they are grown is different than we live in.

The famous celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has a lovely mantra on eating local food – “Think Global, Eat Local.”

Below are the reasons to eat locally grown food:

DNA programming

Our DNA codes all the information within and passes it on to every individual born in the family. It also codes the kind of food we have been eating, climatic conditions suiting us as well as the environmental information around us.

Hence, eating locally grown food or the food which is culturally relevant to us is more readily digested by the body. For example, if you’re based in the southern part of India, then coconut oil becomes an essential part of your diet.

And it is good to eat it as the body is aware of this. Our ancestors particularly paid attention to these details of the DNA as to what have been the eating habits across generations. This is how eating rituals were formed.

Better Digestion

Locally grown food is climatically more suited to the body. For example, if you’re travelling to Punjab, it is a good idea to eat Rajma or Paranthas and drink Lassi. As this is better digested by the body as these foods fulfil the nutrition requirements of the body.

Likewise, while in South India, eating food made in coconut oil or eating rice, idli and dosa is much better. And once you’re back home, resume to the local food available in your region.

Freshness Intact

When you purchase locally grown food, the freshness is intact. Visualize the locally grown tomatoes in front of your eyes as opposed to some foreign variety of tomatoes. They both will surely look different. The freshness in the local variety will be more and so the essential nutrients and vitamins it has will remain intact.

Chemical Free

Transporting vegetables and fruits from one country to another takes time. Hence, they are packed with chemicals to avoid them rotting. When they arrive in our local markets, they look good, but from within they are full of chemicals which aren’t good for health.

Secondly, the chemicals kill all the good vitamins, nutrients and minerals in them which renders them of not doing much good to our body. So, eating them is as good as eating nothing.

Tastes Better

There are no issues like delay in transportation or using extra chemicals in locally grown food. They hit the market at the right time as they are harvested. So, they are packed with great taste.

And remember we eat not just with our mouth but using all our five senses. Food that looks appealing to the eyes, fragrant to the nose and delicious to the tongue gets digested better. Nothing can beat the locally grown fruits and vegetables in terms of taste.

Above, are a few reasons why should switch to locally grown food. It supports our metabolism system completely. Living in this age of information and increased level of stress, it is important to eat healthy food. And health food needn’t be global, rather it should be more of LOCAL.

Anchal Anurag Jyoti