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Spring is the time of year many people start their gardens. Seeds have been planted and begin to sprout, and nature is waking from its winter slumber. But if the seeds are just sprouting, what foods are seasonally available to eat in the spring? Today, we will look at seasonal springtime foods for better gut health!woman holding vegetables with Gut Healthy Springtime Foods

If you don’t have a garden already, check out this article to learn about how gardening can improve your gut health!

Why is eating seasonally better?

You’ll already know the answer if you’ve read any of our other articles on this topic (Summer and Fall Seasonal Foods). But if you’re new around here, this quick section will help you understand why eating seasonally is so important for your health.

If we look at hunter-gatherer tribes (yes, they still exist today), they only eat what is seasonally available. The gut microbiome shows a drastic difference between the hunter-gatherer tribes compared to the average person. Their gut microbiome changes from season to season. 

The foods they eat provide their body the nutrients they need at that time. So if it’s a season where the sun is hotter and there is more UV exposure, the foods they eat help protect them from that. If the weather is starting to get colder, the foods they eat will help them bulk up and have enough calories to last while there is less to hunt. 

Psychology studies show that dietary changes through the seasons can affect your brain health and have a large impact on mood and other mental disorders. 

Foods that are seasonally available are also significantly higher in polyphenol content, which helps your body adapt to seasonal changes. Studies show that the nutritional quality of produce is significantly declining because of soil quality. In the last 50 years, the nutritional content of produce has declined by 25-50%, depending on the region and food type. 

So it’s even more important to make sure the foods you eat have better nutritional quality.

When we shop for food, we know that fruits and vegetables are a staple for good health. So we hit that section expecting to get all of the great benefits from those foods. Unfortunately, what we are getting can be seriously lacking in the nutrients department. 

Grocery stores get their produce from other places that have the right conditions for the foods to grow. However, for those foods to make it to the store and not be rotten, they must be picked earlier. This prevents the produce from getting all the nutritional content it normally would have had. 

To remedy this, there have been genetic modifications that help the food stay fresh for longer or to ripen at a slower rate. These modifications alter the DNA of the food. Although the FDA considers these foods safe, animal studies show that repeated consumption of genetically modified foods has the potential to be toxic. 

By eating what is local and seasonally available, you’re able to avoid these concerns while providing your body with the right nutrition that it needs for that time of the year. 

In spring, many people experience seasonal allergies. By exposing yourself to local, fresh ingredients, you can boost your gut health and, therefore, your immune response to improve these reactions. 

What produce is in season in spring?

So now that you know the importance of eating seasonally, here is a list of foods that are in season in spring!

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Avocados
  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Collard Greens
  • Garlic
  • Herbs
  • Kale
  • Kiwi
  • Lemons
  • Lettuce
  • Limes
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Pineapples
  • Plantains
  • Radishes
  • Rhubarb
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnips

While shopping in a grocery store is the most convenient way to shop, it can be hard to know if the produce is fresh and local or if it’s been imported and modified. 

Talk to local growers, farmers, or people at farmer’s markets to learn more about their produce. Shopping with local growers is the best way to know what goes into the food you’re purchasing, and it supports local business owners. This allows them to continue providing high-quality foods, stay in business longer, and give you the confidence that what you’re feeding your family is safe. 

Seasonal Springtime Recipes

Whether you’re looking for a new recipe to try for Easter or you just need some diversity in your diet, we have a ton of great recipes for you to try out! Let us know what you think of them, and share your favorite ones on Facebook or Pinterest! This helps us share information about improving gut health with more people!

Breakfasts

Lunch

Dinners

Side-Dishes

Snacks/Desserts

Smoothies

Remember that eating with the seasons provides your body with the nutrition it needs during that time of the year. Whatever elements you’re being exposed to, so are the fruits and vegetables, which makes them the perfect energy source to keep your body healthy. 

With the longer daytime hours and the need for more energy, the springtime foods are perfect to give you the energy you need, the protection from the longer exposure to sun, and the nutrients your body needs for the added energy expenditure!

All of these foods help your gut microbiome stay at its healthiest, but it never hurts to have an extra hand in that. Grab your Atrantil here to keep your gut going while you’re getting used to eating a little differently! 

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