by Parisa Wong, Nutritionist
The climate changes rapidly in autumn and changing
your eating pattern to match the season is the key to health. In autumn, due to
the rapid changes in temperature and climate, many people find that their physical ailments are aggravated. Changing
your diet so that it is more suited to the changes in temperature can help to
prevent many symptoms..
According to Chinese medicine, Yang foods should be eaten in spring and
summer and Yin foods in autumn and winter. Autumn is actually a very good
time to nurture the body when you are in sync with the season.
Nourishing
your arteries and decreasing dryness
The air is dry in autumn, and people are more
easily irritable. At this time of the year, choose foods that cleanse your arteries
and moisturize dryness to balance the autumn dryness. Good choices include:
pears, kiwi, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, carrots, walnuts, lotus root, chrysanthemum, duck, duck eggs, etc.
- Lotus root is a powerful plant that has been used in
East and Southeast Asian traditional medicine and cuisine for centuries. Lotus
root contains both fiber and complex carbohydrates. These two components work
together to help manage your body’s cholesterol and blood sugar. Fiber and
complex carbohydrates also help steady the digestive process and nourish dryness.
Nourishing
your lungs
Autumn is the best time to nourish and
replenish the lungs. Foods that nourish the lungs include: almonds, apples,
broccoli, kale, pumpkin, squash, molasses, lily and water chestnut. The best
of the season is almonds. There are two types of almonds: sweet almonds and
bitter almonds. Sweet almonds have a stronger effect of nourishing the lungs.
Almonds contain lots of healthy fats,
fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. From a western perspective, almonds lower blood sugar levels, reduce blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. They can also reduce hunger and
promote weight loss. From a Chinese perspective, almonds moisturize the lungs, relieve cough, smooth
the intestines, have a relieving effect on a dry cough and address lung
deficiency and chronic cough.
- In Chinese medicine a common food used in
cooking to nourish the lungs is white fungus. White fungus (Tremella fuciformis) is a wild edible mushroom that grows on tree bark and branches, especially on broad-leaved trees. It has been used as one of Chinese herbs because of its medicinal benefits for centuries. It tastes sweet and goes to the lung channel. It is commonly used for healing dry coughs, dry skin, clearing heat in the lungs, nourishing the bodies.
Nourishing
the blood
One of the most important principles of
Chinese nutrition in the autumn diet is to eat less spicy and more foods that
are sour, such as oranges and green apples.
Other foods that are beneficial include:
- Grapes nourish
blood, promote body fluids and quench thirst. They invigorate the spleen and have
diuretic properties. Eating grapes in early autumn can also help the body
detoxify and relieve internal heat. Red grapes can soften blood vessels,
invigorate blood and remove stasis. - White grapes
have the added effect of moisturizing
the lungs and are suitable for people with a cough and poor respiratory system.
Green grapes focus on clearing away heat and detoxification. Purple grapes are
rich in anthocyanins which can beautify and fight aging. Black grapes nourish
yin and nourish the kidney more prominently.
Other
Recommendations
The autumn diet regimen should avoid cold foods
such as raw salad, cold drinks and food directly from the fridge. It is also important to avoid a lot of dry
food and fried foods. Warm foods, like soup or porridge, are the better choice in
the fall.
In addition, people’s vitamin A reserves in
the body are likely to decrease in autumn. This can result in problems such as
decreased night vision, dry eyes and respiratory tract infections. Choosing
more orange and yellow vegetables, such as pumpkins, carrots and tomatoes, can help
ensure that your vitamin A stays adequate.
Personalized
Nutritional Support
A balanced diet is the foundation to health.
What is optimum varies from person to person and is dependent on your
underlying conditions, your age and health status.
If you have questions about what type of
foods or nutritional plan is best for you, I would welcome the opportunity to
work with you. For more information on my approach to nutrition, check out my
blog on Yin Yang theory and detoxification or check out my bio on the
Naturopathic Foundations website.
To book an appointment, please contact Naturopathic Foundations
Health Clinic at 905-940-2727.
