Eat Better, Visit a Farmers Market
By Paul Rothbart
Eating healthier foods has become trendy. There is nothing pretentious about this trend. Nutrition is essential to a healthy, productive, and longer life. Processed foods are best avoided. Many fresh items in supermarkets are not really that fresh, especially in the winter. While there is not anything wrong with them per se, they are often shipped long distances and so are not truly fresh. They may contain preservatives and you don't always know where they were grown. During the growing season, you may want to visit a local farmers market. Even if you live in an urban area, it is worth the drive. Here are some benefits.
Better Nutrition
Produce at farmers markets has usually been recently harvested. It's fresh and no preservatives have been used. You can find organic foods as well. That means no pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals. Some markets also sell locally produced meats. The animals used are generally not fed antibiotics or growth hormones. The foods are high in nutritional value.
Fresh and Local
The foods at a farmers market are local, grown in your state, and perhaps in the area you live in. This means they are fresher than most supermarket foods. You may find fruit and vegetables that were picked that morning. Fresh foods taste better. Local markets are often located at the farms that produce the food. You can see where your food is growing and feel confident about its nutritional value.
Less Expensive
It's very common for farmers markets to have lower prices than supermarkets, especially chains. Farmers have less overhead than a corporate supermarket. They don't have processing costs, much lower advertising budgets, and the food doesn't have to be shipped cross-country. This can help you stretch your food budget further while getting better produce.
Support Small Business
Many local farms are small businesses. It can be difficult for them to compete with large, national, or regional markets. Giving small businesses support is good for your local economy. It also gives you a sense of well-being. This can be beneficial to mental health. People also tend to be more relaxed and sociable when shopping at a farmers market. You may get to know the owners and some regular customers, making your shopping experience a social event. This can also benefit your mental health.
It's important to eat fresh, healthy foods. The produce at a supermarket may not be the best you can get. A trip to a local farmers market can be fun. You can find fresh, healthy foods at a reasonable price and feel good about supporting local farmers.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bothell, Wash.