Plants are very important for nutrition, and our health condition is closely related to their use because they make up a large percentage of the food we eat daily. The benefits of consuming plant foods (fresh or cooked fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, legumes, and whole grains) are numerous. They improve the digestive system because they are rich in vegetable fibres. Vitamins and minerals contribute to improving immunity, which is crucial for reducing the risk of many diseases.
Plant foods reduce inflammation because antioxidants attack free radicals, which are the main causes of inflammation in humans. Consuming fresh foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, flavonoids, selenium, vitamins C and E improves the moisture and elasticity of the skin. Plant foods also improve blood sugar levels, provide more energy, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, strengthen bones, improve mood, clear the mind, and enable better sleep.
Apart from food, plants are also important for our environment. Through photosynthesis, organic compounds necessary for plant nutrition are synthesized, and oxygen is released. Plants are alive and, in order to grow and develop properly with healthy roots, leaves, and stems, they need light, water, heat, and quality soil rich in minerals.
Every plant reproduces. Some plants produce seeds from which new plants grow, while others have flowers that spread pollen for reproduction. Air temperature and humidity have a significant impact on the growth and development of plants. However, changing weather patterns can threaten the plant web of life that sustains our planet.
Large companies working for better yields are creating new hybrid varieties that are more resistant to diseases and provide higher yields, but this leads to the loss of indigenous varieties of fruits and vegetables. The increased use of pesticides leads to the destruction of numerous pollinators, crucial for plant yields, especially the bee population, which is essential for a healthy environment.
Recently, the number of farmers trying to create organic food has been growing. Instead of using chemical preparations to fight diseases and pests, they use natural-based preparations. For example:
- Nettle is a multi-purpose fertilizer that enriches the soil with iron and selenium and is also used to disinfect plants.
- Chamomile destroys the caterpillars on apples, pears, and plums and is used against pests that feed on plant juices.
- Garlic is used as an insecticide and fungicide.
- Horsetail is used against various bacterial diseases of plants.
We need to learn from nature, as nature helps itself, so we should take care of it and destroy less. Let’s help nature so it can help us. Plants can be both poison and medicine; it depends on how we use them.
From the students of first year SUGS “Lazar Tanev” – Skopje, North Macedonia
