In This Issue:

• ​How To Soften The Impact Of Rising Food Prices​
• ​Should We Really Be Eating Raspberries In Winter?​
• ​Return To Regular Office Hours ​

How To Soften The Impact Of Rising Food Prices

I want to offer a practical tip that may help navigate one of the ripple effects of the Middle Eastern conflict we are beginning to see: rising and fluctuating food prices.

Modern food systems are highly global. Much of the produce we buy travels thousands of kilometres before arriving in Canadian grocery stores. When conflict disrupts shipping routes or pushes oil prices higher (up 15% per barrel since Friday!), transportation costs rise across the supply chain and eventually show up at the checkout.

One way to reduce your exposure to these swings is to choose food grown closer to home. Produce grown in Ontario travels much shorter distances, making it less affected by global freight disruptions. Imported produce can experience price perturbations of roughly 20-40% during global disruptions, while locally grown foods tend to fluctuate more modestly, often around 5-15%.

If you would like to know what foods are currently grown in Ontario, this seasonal guide is a helpful reference for planning your grocery list: Ontario In-Season Fruit & Vegetable Guide​

In addition to more stable pricing, locally grown food also carries a smaller environmental footprint because it requires far less transportation.

Should We Really Be Eating Raspberries In Winter?

Today’s global food system provides something remarkable: year-round access to fresh produce from around the world. This is nutritionally beneficial, particularly in regions where strictly local seasonal eating would limit dietary variety.

At the same time, there are advantages to seasonal eating. Across many traditional diets, foods naturally shift throughout the year. Fresh vegetables and fruits peak in summer and early autumn, while winter diets tend to rely more on stored foods, root vegetables, grains, legumes, and other energy-dense staples. This seasonal rhythm creates dietary diversity across the year rather than forcing it into every week.

There may also be biological reasons this rhythm matters. Research shows that our gut microbiome changes with the seasons. Some studies suggest these shifts are partly driven by dietary changes, particularly increased intake of fresh produce and fiber in warmer months, while others show that environmental factors such as temperature, daylight, and humidity can influence gut bacteria independently of diet. Most likely, both influences work together.

Seasonal eating, therefore, does more than reduce transportation costs and environmental impact. It also supports dietary patterns that historically shaped how our microbiome and our metabolism adapted throughout the year.

Return To Regular Office Hours

We’re happy to share that our office has returned to regular hours! You can schedule your appointment on:

• Tuesdays: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Thursdays: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• One Saturday/month 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

We look forward to seeing you during these times and continuing to support your health and well-being.

Dr. Dominika Zarzeczny Naturopathic Doctor ​ 📧 hello@drdominika.com​ 🌐 www.drdominika.com ​🗓️ Schedule an Appointment​ ​​​

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