Day 7: Seasonal Eating
Mental Health Pillar: Mastery
by Dr. Alex Herman, TCM Doctor at Citizen Yoga
We can all relate. The temperature drops, the leaves start to change color and our cravings start to shift from frozen yogurt and watermelon salad to hot apple cider and butternut squash while we visit pumpkin patches and cider mills instead of swimming pools and backyard barbecues. Blame it on Instagram algorithms, or quick tips from our social media wellness influencers, but the truth is, it’s simply Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Nature, it turns out, is the ultimate guide book to healthy eating and lifestyle. To live and nourish ourselves in accordance with it, is crucial to good health and is an essential principle of TCM.
We have it easy in the Midwest where four seasons are typical and the shift from one to the next is apparent, but subtle seasonal change exists everywhere. If we allow ourselves to recognize and lean into the transition, nature tells us exactly how to dress, what to eat, which activities to engage in and how to live comfortably, and thrive, throughout the year. All we have to do is listen!
A simple tip to make seasonal eating effortless is to eat what is plentiful and grown locally. Nature produces what is intended for your body at that time. This explains why we tend towards warmer, hardier options like dried foods, heavier grains, seeds, root vegetables and squashes this time of year, and cooling, watery, refreshing foods in the hotter months.
Not only does eating according to the season keep us comfortable as the weather changes, it quite literally helps to boost our immunity. The lung, in Chinese Medicine, the organ associated with this season, controls our pores and, if deficient, can make us prone to the common cold and symptoms of dryness. Aside from wearing layers to keep warm, eating food with lung nourishing properties, like pears, walnuts, cruciferous vegetables, apples, apricots, grapes, navy beans and flavors like ginger and garlic help to mitigate our symptoms and make for a healthier Fall.
Lastly, the tug to do less and stay cozy as the season progresses is real. These autumn months are meant for slowing down and letting go of all the excess we accumulated over the summer. Our lifestyle and cooking methods should, therefore, reflect that. Participating in less social engagement, preparing and eating more meals at home, and cooking food for longer periods on lower heat is optimal. Utilizing slow cookers, as well as roasting and baking, not only make for delicious food, but create a deeper warmth and seasonally appropriate energy that provides the nourishment, and sustenance needed for a healthy, comfortable season.
Today, try shopping for local seasonal produce and prepare a nourishing meal for yourself. Leave a suggestion or recipe in the comments below!
