Health Watch — Eating Green: Buy Locally

Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications  and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

We hear a lot lately about going green to save the planet. Making a few changes to your eating habits can help the environment and improve your health. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about ways you can go green with your diet.

Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say one thing to do is buy locally grown fruits and vegetables in season. Farmers markets are a great shopping option, but many grocery stores are starting to emphasize locally grown produce. Local produce is good for the planet because fewer resources are needed to transport it. There’s no scientific proof that locally grown produce is more nutritious, but it is possible that foods might lose nutrients in transit, so fresher foods could be more nutritious. Buying foods in season also helps your budget because they tend to be less expensive.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/nutrition to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in nutrition.

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