Why Produce from Farmer’s Markets is Healthier

The Gene Smart Team4138 Views356 Comments

Healthy Produce is Just Around the Corner!

Sweet corn, juicy peaches, and ripe raspberries are all staples of the summer season. Enjoy these delicious healthy produce summer staples from local, sustainable sources while supporting your community by heading out to your local farmer’s market. Not only will you get a healthy dose of sunshine and fresh air, but you’ll get even more health benefits by choosing fresh picked fruits and vegetables. Keep reading to learn how produce from the farmer’s market can help improve your anti inflammatory diet.

Why Produce from Farmer’s Markets is Healthier

Fruits and vegetables at your local farmer’s market come from nearby farms and gardens, and are expertly harvested, carefully picked for freshness and purity. In addition to enjoying produce at its peak flavor, you’ll also be gaining more vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. Processing and refining fruits and vegetables can take away from their naturally high levels of polyphenols.

What Are Polyphenols & How Can They Help?

Polyphenols are compounds found in plants and their fruits that contribute many of their health promoting benefits. The Gene Smart Anti Inflammatory Diet emphasizes those plant-based polyphenols which have an impact on gene expression. Among its health benefits, this approach has been shown to regulate energy metabolism and enhance genes that keep us healthy.

Polyphenols, such as those found in dark skinned fruits & vegetables from the farmer’s market, have been shown to act positively on a number of inflammatory diseases. In heart disease, polyphenols reduce platelet aggregation, improve blood lipids, and reduce blood pressure. In diabetes, polyphenols can help reduce blood glucose levels. Several polyphenols from healthy produce have been shown to block processes in individual cells that contribute to arthritis. Polyphenols have also been shown to help reduce bone density loss and reduce your risk for cancer. Besides helping in these diseases, polyphenols also play an important role in weight loss by increasing energy expenditure and metabolic rate which typically slows as you lose weight.

There are many delicious high-polyphenol fruits and vegetables to choose from. Head to your local farmer’s market and grab a few of your tried-and-true favorites, or opt for something new! The following foods are likely offered at your local famer’s market and are filled with polyphenols.

Apples
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Grapes
Pears
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Onions
Parsley

Click here for a complete list of high polyphenol foods.

We encourage you to get your polyphenols through the foods you eat, but for many, taking a premium quality supplement can help ensure that you are getting sufficient amounts of polyphenols each day. We created our high quality Pomegranate & Green Tea Extract supplement to support your anti inflammatory diet. It delivers a unique blend of polyphenols from pomegranates and green tea.

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