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| Research showed that cabbage still responded to light patterns after a week on the shelf. Image: Shutterstock |
Think those fruits and veggies on the grocery store shelves
have already died? Think again. Two
studies out of Rice University from researcher Janet Braam and company have
shown that not only do fruits and vegetables change their physiology in line
with circadian rhythms, but they also continue to do so even after being
picked.
Circadian rhythms are, essentially, our biological clocks. Our brains and bodies
respond to the oscillation of the circadian rhythm, which is on a 24-hour
clock. Changes in the circadian rhythm determine when our sleep drive is
greatest, when we are hungriest, signals hormone production, and more. Circadian
rhythm is strongly linked to the light-dark cycle of the day, and can even be affected by external signals like exercise. All living
beings—humans, plants, animals, and even fungi—have a circadian rhythm.
