Nutrition

Nutrition – what does it mean and why is it important?

Nutrition is the process of taking in and using food for health and growth within the body. Now we’ve all come across supplements, vitamin and mineral pills and drinks, so why not just take these alongside your normal diet? 
The thing about nutrition is it’s not just how much of any given vitamin you have, but what form it’s in makes a massive difference in how your body can absorb and process it. Whilst nutritional supplements might look great, fruit and veg have much more readily available nutrients. They also contain a range of fibres and micronutrients that you won’t find in supplements as well.
What has this got to do with a local veg box company?
Well, a couple of things as it happens, we’re trying to make it clearer what nutrients certain vegetables are rich in, and the positive affect this can have on your mental and physical wellbeing. But further to this, simply buying local means you’re getting more nutrient rich fruit and veg. From the moment it is picked, fruit and veg starts losing it’s goodness. A large amount of supermarket fruit and veg is processed with shelf life in mind and not nutritional benefits, meaning they get transported over long distances and sit in distribution centres before making it onto the shelves. So, the fresher and more local fruit and veg is, the better the fruit and veg is for you! 
Below is a table of different vitamins, fruit and veg which are rich with those vitamins, and the specific positive effects of them. 

Vitamin A
Found in : Leafy greens and root vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potato, spinach and kale
Important for : Natural growth and development, good night vision, keeps skin healthy and helps with the body’s immune system

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Found in : Peas, apples, blueberries, cauliflower
Important for : Helps convert carbohydrates into energy, keeps your nervous system healthy and reduces stress

Vitamin B2 (Ryboflavin)
Found in : Milk and dairy, mushrooms
Important for : Supports growth and function of cells, helps metabolism. Also an antioxidant that maintains your skin and hair

Vitamin B6
Found in : Potatoes, peas, bananas, as well as fish and poultry
Important for : Particularly good during pregnancy to reduce nausea, and promote brain development

Vitamin B12
Found in : Mainly found in meat and eggs, and not so much in fruit and veg
Important for : Important for red blood cell formation, energy production and keeping nerve cells healthy

Vitamin C
Found in : Oranges, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli and kale
Important for : Good for supporting collagen production, which is important for skin, tendons and blood vessels. 

Vitamin D
Found in: Mushrooms, spinach, eggs and fish
Important for : Vital for optimising the use of calcium and phosphate in the body. 

Vitamin E
Found in : Green leafy veg are good sources as well as vegetable oils and nuts. Spinach, broccoli and tomato are good sources
Important for : Vitamin E is important to maintain good skin, retaining moisture, reducing itchiness and wrinkles

Vitamin K
Found in : Spinach, kale, Blueberries, Asparagus, Sprouts
Important for : Helps maintain liver function, also important for blood clotting and helping wounds heal