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Coffee Grounds: The organic superfood for your fruit and vegetable plants
Don’t let those gorgeous aromatic grounds go to waste!
19 July 2023
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Most people want to be healthier, happier, have more energy and boost their immune systems. We live in an era where convenience and fast-food dominates our diet, so it’s easy to overlook the tremendous health benefits that come from cultivating and consuming organic homegrown food.
There are load of reasons why homegrown, organic food should be a firm fixture in both your garden and your diet. For a start, growing your own fruit and vegetables offers the joy of being outside. But did you know it also provides a wealth of nutritional benefits that can positively impact your overall well-being?
Homegrown, organic food is bursting with flavour and nutrients, and is undoubtedly a lot better for you than food bought at a supermarket.
Commercially grown food (including most “fresh” produce in your supermarket) loses nutritional value and density (and therefore it’s health and energy-boosting properties) during long-distance transportation and storage.
Homegrown fruits and vegetables are picked at the peak of ripeness. So this ensures maximum nutrient retention, thus allowing you to absorb the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that they provide.
Having a home garden encourages a shift towards a healthier, plant-based diet. When you have access to a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs just steps away from your kitchen, then you’re more likely to incorporate them into your daily meals.
Eating more fresh, whole foods can lead to improved digestion and weight management. If can also help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
By growing your own food, you also have complete control over what goes into it. Conventional farming practices often involve the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers. As a result, this can can leave behind harmful residues on the produce.
Some studies have suggested links between the number of cases of certain forms of cancer increasing at the same rate (and in the same areas) where there have been high concentrations of toxic pesticides and herbicides heavily sprayed on crops.
These chemicals (many of which are classed as ‘carcinogens’ ie cancer-causing substances) get into our food supply either through the soil or from them being sprayed directly onto our food.
By choosing organic methods, you eliminate the risk of exposure to these potentially toxic chemicals, therefore ensuring that the food you consume is pure and safe for your body.
All health starts in the gut. It’s where most of your immune system is situated (about 70%). It’s also where most of your serotonin, which regulates your mood and helps you to feel calm and focused is produced.
With our current lifestyles, humans are spending less time outside. As a result, we’re more susceptible to a variety of gut and immunity issues.
To help with this, many people buy expensive probiotics. However, did you know one of the BEST probiotics for your gut is working with/in the soil. You’ll expose yourself to a variety of microbes, that in turn helps your own microbiome.
In addition, growing your own food also allows you to try a wide range of fruits and vegetables that may not be readily available in the regular supermarkets (particularly with the food shortages we’ve had this year!).
This diversity translates into a wider spectrum of nutrients, as different fruits and vegetables offer varying health benefits.
So eating a “rainbow” of homegrown produce ensures you receive a broad array of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals to keep your gut nice and healthy.
Researchers are discovering links between depression and inflammation. Eating nutrient rich produce (like homegrown food) helps bring down inflammation in your body.
PLUS it’s been scientifically proven that being out in nature is a therapeutic and stress-relieving activity that boosts your feel-good hormones of serotonin and dopamine.
Gardening, and the process of planting, cultivating, and harvesting small or big amounts of anything you’ve grown can significantly reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve overall mental well-being.
Homegrown, organic food promotes sustainability and reduces your carbon footprint. So by cultivating your own fruits and vegetables, you decrease reliance on industrial agriculture, which often involves large-scale monocropping, excessive water usage, and transportation emissions.
Additionally, practicing composting and using natural fertilisers nurtures the soil, thus preserving its health and biodiversity for future generations.
So, growing your own food is both incredibly rewarding and offers numerous health benefits.
Creating nutrient-rich produce, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, and doing your bit for sustainability? Plus, the huge bonus of eating delicious, fresh foods whilst enhancing your mental well-being?
We reckon growing your own food is a powerful tool for improving your overall health.
So, roll up your sleeves, grab some seeds, get outdoors and get growing. Your taste buds, your health, and the planet will thank you!
By Sally Beaton
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