Nutrition Tips as we move into Autumn
Fall correlates with the element of metal which can be harsh but is also bendable. Just as nature changes with the seasons, so do our bodies. These changes often bring discomfort but using the nutritional principles of TCM can help us adapt.
Early autumn
As we come out of the late summer months, our bodies tend to hold on to more dampness. Moisture in the body is like the humidity we feel stepping outside after a summer rainstorm. We’ve just come out of stagnant heat in which the air doesn’t want to move and our brains and bodies want to run back into an air-conditioned room where we can breathe and think clearly.
In TCM, this is the best time to strengthen the spleen. The spleen is responsible for transporting our food and turning it into nutrients. It also produces white blood cells which nourish other organs, including our thymus gland. The spleen’s activities help to fight off colds and infections.
Since colds are more prominent in the fall with the change of weather, strengthening the spleen and getting rid of the dampness we’ve accumulated throughout the summer months is essential to maintain health. Eating more juicy foods like apples, pears, grapefruits, and dates is great in the early days of fall to help your body adapt to the changes.
Foods that contribute to building more dampness within our bodies are noodles, potatoes, bananas, wheat, and dairy. It’s best to avoid these foods in early autumn to help the body adapt and transition into a new season. Also avoid cold foods like watermelon and bitter melon, which are perfect in the summer months but during this transition leads to digestive problems, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Radish tea is excellent to incorporate into your diet in early autumn. Drinking it clears summer heat from your body, eliminating the phlegm and dampness that has accumulated. It improves the appetite and digestive functions and works as an anti-inflammatory for the lungs. The method to making this tea is as follows:
Wash 100 g of white radish slices.
Boil water.
Add a small amount of non-MSG salt to the water.
Place radishes in the water.
Brew for about five minutes.
Pour into a cup and enjoy up to two times a day for maximum health benefits.
Like the weather, our bodies transform with nature. Adapting to the seasonal changes with the right nutrition allows us to do it smoothly and with little discomfort.
Mid-autumn
In TCM, when yin and yang are in balance, we refer to that as being in homeostasis, which is our body’s natural state. Yin is our body’s energy that restores us and allows our bodies and minds to slow down, rest, and relax. In the mid-autumn months, nourishing yin is of utmost importance. We are similar to the animals that hibernate and use these months to prepare.
Storing our energy and giving ourselves time to decompress and relax makes it easier to go through the colder months healthily. Not only is nourishing yin important but with mid-autumn comes dryness, so moistening is also essential to balance.
Mid-autumn is not the right time to eat dry foods such as anything fried or smoked. Incorporating juicer foods into your diet, such as honey, soymilk, and pears will leave you feeling nourished and energized. A higher intake of water is also crucial in maintaining health and balance in these months.
For so many, being in front of the computer all day eyes can make our eyes feel sore and fatigued. Incorporating a goji tea can help combat feelings of soreness and fatigue. Goji is rich in carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it has incredible therapeutic effects.
To make, simply add goji berries to boiling water for 30 minutes. Wait for it to cool before drinking for maximum benefits.
Late autumn
With late autumn comes colder weather. This is the time of the year that the lungs are most affected and we’re more likely to catch a cold or the flu. It’s an excellent time to choose more black-colored foods such as black sesame and black beans. Some other great foods to eat all through fall are:
Sweet potato – Sweet potato has the effect of quenching thirst, moistening the lungs, benefiting the digestive system, and even having an anti-cancer effect.
Pumpkin – Rich in nutrients, it contains vitamin C, glucose, vitamin E, folate, iron, and more. TCM teaches that it has anti-inflammatory pain relief and detox effects.
Grapefruit – Grapefruit is rich in insulin, pectin, vitamins, minerals, fiber and can even suppress bacteria. It is also anti-cancerous, good for blood sugar, and high in antioxidants.
Being aware of our bodies and what works and doesn’t is the key to maintaining health and wellness. What works for one person may not work for you. TCM modalities and proper nutrition help you stay in tune with your body and adapt to nature and the change of seasons easier and easier every year.
Fall is the perfect time to begin a holistic healthcare routine. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like a free consultation.
Sending love,
Dr. Kallie Harrison DACM, LAc, RN
