“I can’t believe it’s dark already!!” Said every Canadian by mid-October. This shifting of seasons is preparing our bodies and routines for slowing down throughout the coming winter months, to conserve energy and rest a bit more.

If you think back to the days before we had electricity (really not that long ago!), and think about the evening activities that were enjoyed, it did not include staying up late watching Netflix, finishing that report on the computer, or scrolling through Facebook on your iPad.

You would maybe be playing cards, having tea or chatting over candle light in the early evenings, and then going to bed shortly after. You would go to sleep when it was dark, and rise with the sun.

Now, we can literally stay up all night with artificial light, and never get into the rhythm of the seasons. This is terribly difficult on the body, because for generations before us, we have lived with the natural light available.

This friction of fighting against the seasons can cause an immense amount of stress on the body. And we know that stress causes inflammation, and inflammation is the cause of most disease!

How to Thrive through the Seasonal Change….

1. Supplementation… Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? “Adults need anywhere from 7-13 cups of produce daily to get all the health benefits of fruits and vegetables — including possible protection against obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.”1

With our busy schedules, it is often difficult to get all of the nutrients into our diet that we need. It is recommended to supplement your diet with high quality nutrients and vitamins to keep you healthy. Talk to your Homeopath or Naturopath about any vitamin deficiencies you may need assistance with.

spoon with dietary supplements on fruits background

2. Eat with the Seasons… Try to create a few meals per week that focus on the foods that are in season now ~ squash, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnip, potatoes and parsnips. These foods are ‘warming’ foods, as in they help your body to stay warm through the coming months. They are also the foods that are higher in carbohydrate levels, as it takes more energy to produce heat and maintain your body temperature throughout the winter.

homemade autumn butternut squash soup with pumpkin seeds bacon and basil on wooden background

These foods are also the foods that our ancestors ate to be able to shovel their driveways, take care of barnyard animals and literally survive throughout the winter. So you don’t need to eat large quantities of them to experience their warming effects (while we hire someone to plough our driveway, just walk to the door to let the dog out and sit at a desk inside throughout the winter!) Our lifestyles demand very different nutritional requirements than even a hundred years ago, but the underlying needs remain the same.

For best meal planning, pair these warming foods with a green salad full of healthy fats and vegetables such as avocado, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumber. Dress your salad with a delicious mix of hemp oil, lemon juice and a bit of Himalayan sea salt.

3. Relax a bit more than you usually do. Winter is the time for hibernating a little bit. Take time to have that lingering sea salt bath, get lost in a good book under a warm blanket and spend time on your favourite hobby. Shut down electronics by mid-evening and go to bed a littler earlier than usual. Also, make a bit of time to exercise and keep your body strong throughout the colder months. Choose higher intensity workouts that can be done indoors, or go to a yoga or dance class.

Closeup shot of a woman holding tea mug. Close up of young woman's hand holding a cup of hot tea. Relaxed girl drinking tea. Shallow depth of field with focus on tea mug.

Just remember to choose health every day, and do something kind for yourself. Try no to just wait around for spring, but enjoy each day (even when it’s minus 40!)

With Sources From:

1 – http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/fruits-veggies-more-matters#1

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Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner

Jo-Anne works with Fournier disAbility & Health Management Solutions to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.

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