Does Eating Locally Mean Eating Healthier?

By Tina Tran June 6, 2008 - 10:23am

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So we've long heard about the benefits of shopping locally. Now a university has been given the go ahead (and funding) to study whether it's actually healthier. Here's the thought process ...

"By definition, locally farmed food is not going to come from large commercial food companies, so people who eat locally aren’t going to consume as much processed food, which typically contains lots of refined carbohydrates, sugar, fat and preservatives.

By focusing your diet on products grown and raised within 100 miles of your home, you will likely end up eating more fruits and vegetables as well. Shopping for fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets is also pleasurable and may lead to more variety in your diet. Eating local often means you can meet the people who produce your food, and you can also ask questions about pesticide use and farming methods.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/boosting-health-with-local-food/

What are your thoughts? Are you sold on the idea that buying local may boost health?

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Alison Beaver

I think it is a great idea to buy locally, and it makes sense that it would also equate to eating healthier.

In my curiosity to find out what is the best way to eat produce: fresh, canned or frozen, I found that frozen and fresh are still the "ideal". Canned produce makes it a close race, though, depending on how the fruits and veggies were picked, processed and stored.

We've heard that we need to eat our fruits and veggies, but many times our produce is coming from distance locations, and in the process of shipping and storing, many of the nutrients may have been lost by the time you are actually consuming the produce! (of course, we lose some of the nutrients in the cooking process as well).

So, I think buying produce close to home would help us eat healthier, and our bodies may have the chance at gaining some more of the lost nutrients!

June 7, 2008 - 1:42pm

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alysiak

is my motto, one that I learned from Jonny Bowden when I had the opportunity to interview him for an online community years ago. Ever since, I've tried to eliminate as much processed, refined and packaged foods as possible from my kitchen and substitute fresh, whole foods. Unfortunately, a farmer's market, something I was able to enjoy in our community in California, is not so easily available where I live now.

But, if there is one near you, I wholeheartedly recommend taking advantage of the fresh, nowadays often organic, produce and other products - artisan cheeses and other foods.

I don't mind paying a little higher price at the whole foods market here, for the chance of buying "clean" and green.

June 6, 2008 - 8:06pm