The fruits and vegetables we buy in the grocery store are actually still alive and according to new research from Rice University and the University of California at Davis, produce may be healthier for us depending on the time of day.

 

Once picked, produce can continue to metabolize and survive independently for some time. Even when they are cut, their cells remain active and alive.

 

The research shows that post-harvest vegetables and fruits can continue to perceive light and, as a result, their biological clocks keep on ticking. This is an advantage to the plants because it allows them to alter levels of important chemicals that protect them from being eaten by insects and other herbivores, the researchers found. This includes the process of ripening as these fruits and vegetables will often wait to ripen until their seeds are mature enough to germinate.

 

The research also shows that when it comes to human consumption, post-harvest fruits and vegetables may contain higher levels of phytochemicals at different times, which have anti-cancer effects.

 

While the science indicates we may want to consider our foods' daily schedules when deciding what time to eat them, this may not be convenient to the average family. However, it may be of interest to harvest crops and freeze or otherwise preserve them at specific times of day, when nutrients and valuable phytochemicals are at their peak.