Nov
Food Tips, Free Recipes
Rebalance this Fall
Seasonal change is an important element in the rhythm of life. Our amazing bodies are wired with mechanisms to help aid us in adjusting to each new season. Every season should influence what we eat and how we move, which in turn will have enormous health benefits.
Perhaps you are craving heartier meals? Maybe you prefer a warm soup to your usual smoothie? Are you looking to retreat to your home a bit more? Think of autumn as a grace period, it’s natures way of allowing us to adjust from the extreme heat of summer to the cold winter temperatures ahead. Autumn calls for a slower pace, a period to reconnect, reevaluate and rebuild. It’s a time to sync our bodies with the cooler temperatures and shorter days.
Food is a wonderful tool that allows us to connect to the season. For those of us in the northeast, autumnal meals should highlight root and cruciferous vegetables, as well as dark leafy greens.
Root vegetables are energy boosters and are considered to be “grounding” due to the energetic properties they absorb growing beneath the soil toward the earth. They are a great source of fiber, Vitamin A, C, E and folate.These vegetables are essential to keeping you healthy and focused during cooler months. They are packed with vitamins and minerals which will help protect your body against the usual seasonal viruses. As an added bonus, root vegetables aid in digestion and help maintain body weight.
Similarly, cruciferous vegetables are high in fiber, folate, Vitamins A,C and K as well as magnesium, iron and selenium. This group of vegetables is packed with nutrients that no other food group can come close to! They possess high levels of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and are immunity boosters! Keeping inflammation at bay is important year round, as high inflammation increases risk of sickness and autoimmune disease. Including cruciferous vegetables to your plate during the colder months will boost your immune system by deploying inflammatory busting vitamins and minerals.
Leafy dark greens consist of Vitamin B, magnesium and aid in relieving stress and anxiety, a common symptom during the colder winter months in the Northern parts of the country. Leafy greens help maintain brain health and function thanks to the high folate (B9) content. These vegetables also support healthy bone and muscle growth.
Seasonal foods grown locally contain more vitamins, minerals and nutrients – keeping you at your peak! The more color on your plate the better!
Try these fall foods:
Onion, garlic, ginger, sweet potato, turnip, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, chard, spinach and carrot
Kale Salad Recipe
