Well autumn has definitely arrived. Leaves are turning golden red and orange
and the air is starting to smell of smoke, decomposing leaves and damp.
I believe to achieve optimal health, we need to be in tune with the seasons, and adapt with them, as we are part of nature too. Autumn is a time to slow down, stock up on food as this time is naturally a time where harvests are strong and there is plenty of vegetables such as root veg, brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) and apples and pears are the only fruit around now until next Spring/summer. Eating seasonally is someting I always recommend. When we eat local and seasonal food, the food is naturally fresher and richer in vitamins and minerals.
Autumn is soup and broth season. One of my favourite soups is butternut squash. I share a recipe below for a great family favourite.
Other things to consider this autumn is aligning with your circadian rhythm. The nights are drawing in now the clocks have changed, but because of modern day lights, our bodies get confused. Ideally in the olden days, the sun would go down (around 5pm now) and then our melatonin (sleep hormone) would increase. But because we watch TV, have LED lights on and stay on our phones all night, our brains aren't keeping in touch with the natural day/night cycles. To tackle this, keep side lights on while turn off bright lights. Even better, invest in some non-blue light bulbs or bluelight blocking glasses to wear (https://www.blockbluelight.co.uk/). Turn your phones, TVs & devices off at least an hour before bed. This can be profound for improving sleep, and in turn helping with energy and hormones. There is a setting on phones where you can adjust the backlight to be more yellow and less blue, that is also helpful.
We do need more sleep in autumn and winter, and perhaps less intense exercise. It is a nurturing time. Rest when you can, keep warm and opt for warming foods and spices such as ginger, cardamon, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary and thyme.
Interestingly hair-loss can be an issue around this time too. We naturally shed more in Autumn and Spring. If you are experiencing hair loss, it is worth contemplating some common causes: low functioning thryoid (very common in women), low iron (again quite common), high androgens, chronic stress or low protein or micronutrient intake. A quick blood test at the GP can help, or ones you can buy online from MediChecks or Thriva can be helpful too. If you are struggling with long-term hair-loss, naturopathy can be a great way to dig deep to find the root cause (no pun intended!). If you are interested in a consultation, please do contact me.
Butternut & Coconut Soup (Dairy free, vegan, gluten free).
1 butternut squash (or frozen chunks if more convenient), skinned & chopped
1 large onion (red or white), chopped
2-4 cloves of garlic, chopped roughly
3 large carrots, washed & chopped
1 stock cube (veg or chicken if you wish. I like Kallo or Marigold)
3-4 large florets of cauliflower, chopped roughly
1/3 cup of red lentils (couple of small handfuls)
1/2 tin of coconut milk (I like Biona)
optional ginger (fresh/dried), paprika
Fry the onions (in olive oil or coconut oil) for a few minutes until softened in a large saucepan
Add the rest of the veg, cook for a further few minutes
Add the lentils
Pour around 500ml of stock into, enough to just cover the veggies, not higher
Add the garlic
Cover with a lid and cook for 20-30 minutes
With a food processor (I use hand held), blend until smooth
Add the coconut milk and stir
Add the optional spices
Then serve with whatever you like. Bread, sourdough, oatcakes etc
Many thanks,
Rosie, ND
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