When it comes to your diet, there are lots of facts and figures that can come in to play. Preservatives, pesticides, additives, these are all things the modern day consumer has to think about when choosing the food that will go into their bodies. Eating seasonally is a fun and easy way to become a more conscientious consumer as well as overcome some of the challenges of finding fresh and truly healthy ingredients. Here are 6 Benefits of aligning your eating habits with the Earth’s natural cycle.

It’s More Flavorful

Produce that is in season quite simply taste better. It is fresher and has the fullness of its flavor. The natural conditions of the earth allow produce to grow and ripen to their utmost potential. There are noticeable differences between a vegetable that has been manipulated with chemicals or unnatural elements and one cultivated by the Earth’s ebb and flow of sun, rain, and wind. If you’ve ever had the privilege of going apple picking or eating berries right off the vine, you know just how much more vibrant the flavor can be than blueberries from the grocery store in the middle of winter.

It’s More Cost Effective

With the cost of organic and all natural produce constantly hovering above affordability for the average family, what better way to stay healthy and keep from burning a hole in your wallet than by simply buying produce that is in season? Although pineapples are available all year round, you’ll most likely find that they are cheaper in the summer months since there is a higher yield and there will be more local farmers who are supplying them. This cuts out a great deal of the costs accumulated in the cultivation and transportation of produce that results in its high prices.

It Supports Environmental Sustainability

Eating seasonally reduces the demand for out of season produce, which in turn helps support the local farmers that are providing cheaper and cleaner produce. The rise in local farmers can aid the decline in genetically engineered food and mega-farming that often uses practices that deplete the soil of its nutrients.

It’s More Nutritious

Since the organic and all-natural farming practices used when growing produce that is in season are not diminishing the soil in which the produce is growing, the juicy tomatoes plucked from the vine in July when they’re at their ripest will be packed with all of its appropriate nutrients and goodness.

It Adds Variety to Your Diet All Year

This is a benefit of eating seasonably that can be especially enjoyable and may even encourage some creativity. Since you’re diet is constantly changing with the seasons, you are more likely to have a wider variety of food. In your adventure into new types of seasonal produce you may also begin to try preparing your food in different and exciting ways.

It Supports Community

Food has always been a medium through which people have been able to come together. Investing in a minor detail like when and why you buy certain produce is an easy way to help keep our farmland rich in nutrients and support your local farmers and produce markets. Not to mention, it invites conversation between people about how to cultivate communities in which healthy living and eating is a regular and accessible practice for everyone.

Eating seasonally is a way in which we can all be more mindful consumers and contribute to the natural agricultural cycle. So, put on your chef hat and start whipping up some seasonally delicious dishes at home or, if you’re not quite the chef, head over to a Nanoosh and try something on the new seasonal menu!

There are certain foods that, whether you are making them at home or eating in a restaurant, just make you think of the Mediterranean: olives, couscous, pesto, hummus, olive oil, falafel… the list goes on.

The Mediterranean basin includes parts of three continents: Africa, Europe and Asia. The unique mix of cultures, combined with a climate that lends itself to the cultivation of foods often originally unique to the region, results in an almost infinite blend of dish possibilities, all with an unforgettable taste.

In contrast to the popularized images of the Mediterranean region as a long coastline of beaches, the topography is actually quite varied. While there are beautiful white beaches and pristine cerulean waters, the region also has high mountains, rocky shores and cliffs, wetlands, savannas, forests, and arid stretches of land with thick shrubs.

What is Mediterranean Climate Like?

Like any region, the climate, together with the soil, is one of the main elements that determines the sort of crops that can be grown there. The Mediterranean climate is distinguished by erratic rainfall and mild temperatures. Irregular topography and closeness to a large salt water body also allows for a wide variety of soil types, and, as a result, a wide variety of crops.

What Foods Grow in the Mediterranean Region?

1. Olives, figs and dates 

The olive tree is the characteristic crop of the Mediterranean region. The olive tree, like the fig and date trees, have long, widespread roots with limited foliage which are well-adapted to the climate and soil quality in much of the Mediterranean basin.

2. Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits, like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, grow well in the Mediterranean region due to a similar root structure as olive trees, but also because the fruits have thick skins, which are well adapted to the climate.

3. Grapes

Grapes, cultivated for the fruit or for making wine, grow very well in the region thanks to the mild temperature and ideal moisture conditions in many areas of the region. Each sub-region has grapes that offer specific flavors. Sherry is grown in the Andalusia in Spain, Nero d’Avola from Sicily, Patrimonio from Corsica (there are also wines in Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Israel).

4. Fresh Vegetables and Legumes

In most of the Mediterranean countries, the majority of the crops cultivated are fresh vegetables. These include eggplant, chili peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, cucumber and pulses like chickpeas, peas, and lentils.

5. Cereals and Grains

After fresh vegetables, the most widespread crop is cereals: wheat, barley, and couscous are some of the most popular grains cultivated in the region. There´s nothing like freshly-baked bread dipped in olive oil!

Where is the Meat?

The Mediterranean region doesn’t have a whole lot of grazing animals. This is because plants with shallow roots, like grass, do not do very well. Without grass, animals like cows and pigs cannot eat, and grain-fed cow farming is not a common practice. As a result, people cook with olive oil instead of with animal fat, and eat a lot of fish, fruits and vegetables.

This adaptation resulted from soil and climate limitations, but has resulted in the very healthy Mediterranean Diet that is now famed all over the world for its ability to promote maintain a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and contributing to a good overall health.

It’s pomegranate season! This beautiful fruit, known for its rich pink color, crowned top, and ruby edible pearls, known as arils, has been cherished around the world for centuries for its taste, versatility, health benefits, and cultural significance.

Because pomegranate fits so well into the holistically healthy lifestyle that Nanoosh stands for, we have incorporated it into our Fattoush Salad, which is available only while pomegranate is in season. Eating food that is in season means that the ingredients are at their nutritional peak, you will eat a greater variety of foods, and you will likely be supporting sustainable farmers.

While pomegranate has gained popularity around the world due to the marketing of pomegranate juice, there is a rich history and folklore connected to the yummy fruit.

History of Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit related to few others – it belongs to the Punicaceae family, which includes only one genus and two species. The trees they come from grow to about 20 to 30ft tall, and some have been known to live for two centuries! In the northern hemisphere, the trees produce fruit from about September to February, which is why you will find it in our seasonal Fattoush Salad.

Pomegranate has been around for about 8000 years, The pomegranate tree has its origins in the area spanning Iran and the Himalayas, though it has been cultivated in ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region.

The pomegranate fruit is believed to have powerful properties, and, as a result, it is used to symbolize abstractions like passion, prosperity, hope and abundance in many religious texts and mythology. In the Babylonian Talmud, it was carried across the desert with groups of traveling people so they may find solace in pomegranate’s thirst-quenching fruit.

In the 14^th and 15^th centuries, it expanded into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and tropical Africa, and eventually to the West Indies and Central and South America.

Popularity and Uses

The popularity of pomegranate fruit and fruit juice has fluctuated over the past century; however it remains a staple in the Middle East and Mediterranean region. Getting the juicy seeds out of the hard outer layer is laborious for some, though for others, like in the Italian culture, it is a family activity.

In Iran, pomegranate juice is a popular beverage. It is traditionally obtained by crushing or pressing the seeds in a basket press.

In North America, pomegranate is seen as quite an exotic fruit choice. However, because some companies have chosen to bottle and commercialize pomegranate juice in the United States, it is a bit more accessible in a processed form.

Benefits

Even if you enjoy pomegranate juice now and again, there is nothing like eating the whole fruit. One fruit contains 45% of your Daily Value of Fiber, 48% of Vitamin C, and a surprising 5 grams of protein. It is also rich in Vitamin K, Folate, B Vitamins, and a range of minerals. They also have three types of antioxidants, which will support overall health.

Eating Seasonal Foods

As we mentioned earlier, eating foods that are in season means that they are at their nutritional peak. If you eat seasonal foods throughout the year, you will eat a greater variety of foods, and you will more likely be supporting sustainable farmers. For this reason, Nanoosh incorporates seasonal foods into its menu throughout the year. Don’t let the pomegranate season go by without giving it a try!

Have you ever wondered what gives Nanoosh’s basmati turmeric rice that strong yellow flavor? Turmeric, a yellow-colored spice used widely in Mediterranean and Southeast Asian cuisine. Not only has it been used in foods for hundreds, or even thousands, of years, it has also been used as medicine in traditional health systems for just as long.

It’s not just an “Old Wives Tale” anymore. Research has demonstrated the potent health benefits of turmeric, confirming the effectiveness of many of the traditional uses.

For Nanoosh, your enjoyment of our food is just as important as how it contributes to your health. Turmeric is just one of the elements that does just that. In order to make the most of turmeric it has to be taken with a bit of fat as it is fat soluble which is why we are mixing it with our extra virgin olive oil when preparing our rice!

What are the health benefits of turmeric?

It is an Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to fighting foreign invaders (bacteria and viruses), and helps to repair damage already done. However, when your body experiences inflammation beyond just a short while, it leads to many long-term detrimental conditions, including heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various other degenerative conditions.

The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, one of turmeric’s compounds,  are so strong that it may be even as strong as some anti-inflammatory drugs.

Boosts Antioxidant Activity in the Body

Why are antioxidants so important? They are a category of compounds that help fight off free radicals, which, when uncontrolled, cause cell damage and promote cancer. Curcumin is also the component responsible for this health benefit. In addition to bringing along its own antioxidants,   it also boosts the activity of antioxidant enzymes found naturally in the body.

Lowers the Risk of Brain Diseases

The cells found in the brain, neurons, make new connections over your lifetime, and increase in number in certain parts of the brain. A growth hormone regulates this process naturally, but it appears that curcumin in turmeric can increase the amount of this growth hormone in the body.

This may help to stave off brain-related diseases, potentially even Alzheimer’s, and degeneration of brain function due to age.

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Turmeric is not only delicious, it is great for your health. However, outside of Southeast Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, it is rarely consumed. With its one-of-a-kind taste and amazing health benefits, it is about time to integrate it into our regular diet.

Just a few more another reason to love Nanoosh’s turmeric rice!

p.s another great alternative we tasted is golden milk – a warm combination of turmeric and coconut milk or oil. Highly recommended in the morning or before you go to sleep!

For years, the Mediterranean diet has been highlighted as one of the healthiest diets in the world.

Best of all, Mediterranean food is anything but boring. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition describes the Mediterranean diet being famous for its flavors and variety as much as for its health benefits.

These foods owe their amazing, tangy, flavorful qualities to the variety of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables. They owe their palatability most of all, however, to the spices used for seasoning.

What’s better is these herbs and spices also have powerful properties that help promote health.

And what happens when you combine them with Latin American Spices? Not only do the tastes complement each other wonderfully, their health benefits are also multiplied.

At Nanoosh, we have found the perfect blend of health and taste-boosting herbs, spices, and salsas from both geographic regions, giving traditional Mediterranean food a slight spin.

If you check out our new menu, you will see you can always count on traditional turmeric, cardamom, and giardiniera in our dishes. Then, you can choose to spice it up with Latin American pickled jalapeño pepper and tangy cilantro salsa or, for the more intrepid, red habanero and tomato salsa.

How will these spices, herbs and salsas boost your health?

Antioxidant Boost

Habanero peppers are also very powerful antioxidants. Among many other properties, they have a compound called capsanthin, which is a carotenoid antioxidant that may also act against cancer. Peppers are also high in vitamin C, which is not only an antioxidant, it also helps strengthen your immune system.

Anti-inflammatory

Chronic inflammation may cause heart problems, like blocked arteries, and tissue destruction.

When you think of habanero and jalapeño peppers, you might be thinking that they cause inflammation, because of their “heat”.. However, those “hot” qualities are exactly what reduces inflammation at the cellular level. The same component mentioned in the previous point, capsanthin, is also a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Promotes Healthy Digestion

Giardiniera are Italian pickled vegetables that achieve their particular taste through fermentation. Fermented foods promote a healthy ecosystem for beneficial bacteria in our gut, promoting optical physical and digestive functioning. Cilantro, or coriander, is used in both Mediterranean and Latin American cooking. While studies are limited, traditional medicine has used it to promote healthy digestion for hundreds of years.

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Now, at Nanoosh, not only can you enjoy authentic, healthy, fresh and fast Mediterranean food, you can also choose to enjoy some food fusion, experience Latin American tastes, and boost your health!