By Carolyn Givens
Something Good Organics
Lately I have been studying in depth about how our gut bacteria affect our health. I’m amazed at how our gut microbiomes can change for the better when we feed the healthy bacteria in our systems.
A diet heavy with fruits and vegetables can be a great benefit to your overall health. Raspberries, dandelion greens, onions, leeks, apples, broccoli: They’re all high in fiber, which benefits your gut bacteria as well. And best of all, you’re not eating too much processed food, which feeds unhealthy bacteria and can cause health problems.
As well as eating healthy, it’s important to vary your vegetable diet. We can get in the habit of eating the exact same vegetables every day – carrot sticks in lunch, for instance, or spinach in a smoothie. That’s not a bad thing at all! But we can do better. Challenge yourself to “eat the rainbow.” Branch out into different vegetables. Maybe even one you’ve never tried!
You might think that because it’s winter, that there is nothing going on here at the Something Good Organics farm. We closed for Christmas vacation, it’s true, but moving into the new year, we have so many delicious vegetables to eat. Our farm stand fridge is full of luscious salad greens, beets, kale, broccoli, the sweetest carrots and more. We even have tomatoes lingering around.
If you want help and inspiration, consider joining a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program and let the farm inspire you to eat what’s freshest in season. Many of our CSA clients have been coming back and telling us that our celery is the best they have ever tasted.
Did you know that celery juice is a new trend in health food? If you want to jump on the bandwagon, drink 16 ounces of celery juice first thing in the morning (before eating breakfast). Juice can supplement a healthy diet by adding hydration, concentrated vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants to your diet. (Make sure you’re juicing organic foods, so you don’t end up drinking concentrated pesticides.) We’ve got you covered at the stand, if you decide to try it for yourself.
So don’t wait until the beginning of a new year, a new week or a new day to start incorporating more local vegetables into your life. Start small and you body will keep coming back for more. With so much amazing local, organic agriculture at your fingertips that’s grown all year round, we can truly dive into the deep end of optimal health.
Carolyn Givens operates Something Good Organics, a CSA program and a farm stand on the corner of Santa Rosa Road. Send email to carolyn@somethinggoodorganics.com for more information.
