A deeper dive on local and seasonal eating - food as information

When you think about eating, what comes to mind? Calories? Nutrients? Flavor? While these are all important, eating is much more than fueling your body or satisfying hunger. It’s an intimate exchange of information between you, the plants you eat, and the environment. In a way, every bite of food is like opening a file of data — biochemical information that your body reads and processes. Plants encode their experiences in their molecular structures, shaped by their environment. By eating plants, we’re not just consuming nutrients; we’re taking in a "code" that informs our biology. Let’s explore this fascinating perspective and uncover why eating local, seasonal, and organic food helps ensure that the information we receive is as clean, accurate, and nourishing as possible.

Plants are incredible environmental sensors, constantly interacting with the soil, sunlight, water, and air around them. They "read" their environment to adapt and survive, encoding this information in their biochemistry. For example, plants produce polyphenols, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals to protect themselves from stressors like UV radiation, pests, or drought. These compounds aren’t just beneficial to the plant — they’re beneficial to us, helping fight inflammation, oxidative stress, and even chronic diseases. A plant’s access to minerals in the soil or changes in weather affect its vitamin and mineral content. Spinach grown in nutrient-rich soil will have higher levels of iron and magnesium than spinach grown in depleted soil. Compounds like terpenes, which are responsible for aroma, and alkaloids, which are used for plant defense, are reflections of the plant’s environment and evolutionary history. By eating plants, we effectively consume this environmental data, providing our bodies with insights into the conditions under which the plants were grown. This is particularly powerful when we eat locally and seasonally because the plants we consume are shaped by the same environment we’re living in.

Once we eat plants, the information they carry doesn’t just stay inert. It’s processed and transformed by our gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms in our digestive system. Many plant compounds are indigestible by us but are metabolized by gut bacteria into bioactive substances. For instance, polyphenols in berries are transformed into smaller molecules that help reduce inflammation and support heart and brain health. Dietary fiber feeds beneficial bacteria, leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids that nourish gut cells and regulate metabolism. The gut microbiome acts as an interpreter, sending the information from plants to the rest of the body. These signals influence immune responses, hormone regulation, and even gene expression.

The information in plants doesn’t just stop at digestion. Many compounds in plants act as epigenetic regulators, meaning they influence how our genes are expressed without altering the underlying DNA. Sulforaphane, found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, activates detoxification pathways and protects cells from damage. Polyphenols in green tea and dark chocolate can regulate genes involved in aging, inflammation, and cell repair. This is like plants rewriting parts of your biological software, turning certain genes on or off to help your body adapt to its environment.

Eating local and seasonal foods amplifies this exchange of information. Plants grown in the same environment as you experience the same conditions — the same weather, sunlight, and challenges — and their biochemical adaptations are tailored to those conditions. Root vegetables, hearty greens, and squashes, often available in colder months, are rich in carbohydrates and vitamins that support energy storage and immunity. Fresh fruits and hydrating vegetables like cucumbers and melons help cool the body and combat oxidative stress from heat and sun exposure. By eating seasonally, you’re essentially syncing your body with the environment, consuming the information it needs to thrive in real-time.

Organic farming practices are crucial for preserving the integrity of this biochemical information. Synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers disrupt the natural relationship between plants and their environment, corrupting the "code" we consume. Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, chelates (binds) essential minerals in the soil, making them unavailable to plants. This leads to nutrient deficiencies in the plants we eat. Glyphosate also interferes with the microbiome of plants and soil, disrupting the production of beneficial compounds. Organic farming supports healthier soil microbiomes, richer nutrient profiles, and plants that produce a more robust array of phytochemicals. By choosing organic, you’re opting for food that is free of synthetic chemicals, richer in nutrients, and more reflective of the plant’s natural relationship with its environment.

Local food doesn’t just taste better — it carries more accurate and intact information. Fruits and vegetables shipped from across the globe are often harvested before they’re fully ripe, meaning they haven’t developed their full spectrum of nutrients and phytochemicals. The longer the time between harvest and consumption, the more nutrients degrade. Local foods, harvested at peak ripeness, retain more of their biochemical "code." Locally grown foods often have a richer microbial profile, which can benefit your gut microbiome by introducing a diverse array of beneficial bacteria.

When we eat food grown organically, locally, and seasonally, we’re ensuring that the information we take in is clean, accurate, and beneficial. This "code" interacts with every system in our body, influencing immune function, metabolism, and brain health. Phytochemicals and nutrients help modulate immune responses, reducing inflammation and supporting resilience. Fiber and polyphenols influence gut health and blood sugar regulation, helping prevent metabolic diseases. Compounds like flavonoids can cross the blood-brain barrier, protecting neurons and supporting cognitive function. When this code is corrupted — by synthetic chemicals, monoculture farming, or excessive processing — our bodies receive flawed information. This can lead to dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and disease.

The modern agricultural system has introduced practices that disconnect us from this natural exchange of information. Chemical inputs, soil depletion, and long supply chains mean that the food on our plates is often less nutritious and more likely to carry corrupted signals. Healthy soil microbiomes are essential for nutrient-dense plants. Industrial farming erodes soil health, leading to crops with lower mineral and phytochemical levels. Ultra-processed foods strip away much of the natural code, leaving behind empty calories that confuse rather than nourish our bodies. To reclaim our health, we must return to practices that honor the interconnectedness of plants, soil, and human biology.

At BiotiQuest, we believe that health is about more than just treating symptoms — it’s about reconnecting with the natural intelligence of our bodies and the world around us. Our probiotics are designed with this philosophy in mind, using targeted strains that enhance your microbiome’s ability to decode and utilize the information from your food. For example, our proprietary strains help break down harmful residues in food, preserving the integrity of the "code" you consume. Like a diverse diet, our probiotics work in harmony to optimize gut health and metabolic function. By supporting your microbiome, we help you extract the full potential of the foods you eat, allowing your body to thrive in a world where clean, accurate information is harder to find.

Reclaiming the full power of food is about more than individual choices — it’s about rethinking how we grow, buy, and eat food as a society. You can start today by eating local and seasonal, choosing organic, diversifying your diet, and supporting regenerative agriculture. Eating isn’t just a biological necessity — it’s a form of communication with the environment. By choosing foods that reflect the rhythms of nature, we align our bodies with the world around us, promoting harmony and health. At BiotiQuest, we’re here to help you unlock the full potential of this connection. Let’s honor the wisdom encoded in plants and empower our bodies to thrive. Because when you eat better, you feel better — and it’s all connected.