Health Awareness and Disease Prevention
Eating Right for the Seasons
Adjusting your diet to seasonal changes has been considered
a healthy practice in many traditional diets throughout the
world. The human body is continually changing to adapt to
the surrounding environment. The right food choices can help
the body change more efficiently. As a general rule we need
to warm up for the winter and cool down for the summer. The
thermal nature of food is an important concept to understand.
Food can be classified as naturally warming or cooling which
is not to imply that it has been heated or refrigerated. Cinnamon
and ginger are naturally warming. Fruits such as watermelon
are naturally cooling. In addition, different cooking methods
can also provide a warming or cooling affect on the body.
Eating heavier, warming foods during the winter thickens the
blood and enables the body to generate more heat to counteract
the cold climate. It's common to gain a little weight to act
as a natural layer of protection for the colder season of
winter. As we move towards summer and increasingly warmer
weather we need to lighten up our food choices and shed a
few pounds for a smooth seasonal transition.
It's best to eat more winter-warming foods progressively
throughout the fall and summer-cooling foods progressively
throughout the spring. Meats, root vegetables and long-cooked
meals are very warming and make for great winter choices,
but as spring approaches it is best to slowly introduce
lighter and more cooling meals. Fruits and leafy, watery
vegetables are good choices to lighten the diet and cleanse
the body. Cooking methods should increasingly change as
well. Roasting and baking are good winter-warming methods
where as steaming, stir-frying and salad dishes are considered
good summer-cooling methods. A slow transition is best and
so diet changes for the upcoming season should begin during
the previous season.
Forming good habits for healthy eating is important but
can be challenging. Eating should be celebrated and enjoyable.
Making small changes and being consistent helps to form
good habits. Have fun and don't bit off more than you can
chew. :D
Christopher Carlow, D. Ac.
Doctor of Acupuncture
Date: 3/6/06
