Lately, I have been growing a bit tired of eating carrots, brussel sprouts, squashes, potatoes (both sweet and white), hearty soups and heavy crockpot meals. I have been longing for the vibrant greens of spring and the sweet crunch of pea pods which I eat by the handfuls. My body knows that spring is officially here and that warmer weather and longer days are just around the corner and it is anxiously awaiting its full arrival. You could even say that, “I just can’t wait!” However, I know that my excitement to ‘spring’ forward (pun intended) must be slowed down a bit if I want to remain healthy and avoid the common cold viruses that are typical this time of year.
Choosing what we eat during the spring season is critical in helping our immune system to stay strong and able to fight off the viruses it comes in contact with at this time of year.
Just as the weather transitions from cold winter through the ups and downs of spring into the hot summer, our bodies also transition with the changing seasons. We have the ability to help or hinder this process through our daily choices.
First, let’s look at food. Food can be classified as hot or cold regardless of the temperature of the food. For example, root crops are generally considered hot foods as they warm us while salad greens are cold foods because they cool us. Another way to think of this is by looking at how they grow and what their predominant make up is. Root crops grow down into the ground and are rich in starches. They are quite suitable for hunkering ‘down’ for a cold winter and their starches provide energy to generate heat to warm us. Salad greens and pea shoots grow up signifying ‘getting up’ and moving about which happens more in spring as the weather warms and we become more active. These types of veggies are also rich in fiber which helps ‘move’ along our digestive system and helps our bodies detox. In fact, many of the rich greens that grow in spring, like dandelion greens, are known for their detoxifying effects. I know I am looking forward to warmer weather because I will become more active and I will lose the 5-7 pounds without effort that I typically put on every winter. Now, that is cause to celebrate because being lighter just feels so uplifting and the extra vitamin D from the bright sun brings about a much sunnier disposition as well! Yes, spring feels mighty fine!
Next, let’s consider the weather during Spring. Spring brings dampness in the form of lingering snow showers or rain and it is often still a bit cold. It is also very windy in the spring and that wind seems so much stronger and colder – often bringing a chill to our bones – than wind during other seasons. Our liver feels this effect and it is vulnerable in the spring. Wind can also cause a stirring up of emotions, joint pain and yep, the common colds. Rushing the process of leaving our coat and extra layers of clothing at home can stir up a cold and make us miserably sick.
So how can you stay healthy this spring? Listen carefully to your body and what it is telling you. If you are feeling off or your emotions, especially irritability and anger, seem to be getting the best of you, then you are not making the best choices to meet the needs of your body. Take notice of any headaches or indigestion you may have. Also, the Spring allergies you hate? They are trying to tell you something and you should listen. One practical thing you can do is to consider keeping a jacket or sweater on when you go outside for just a bit longer. Wear a light scarf or make sure the nape of the neck and the upper part of the back are protected from the wind. There is a Chinese proverb that once interpreted states, “bundle up in the spring and stay cool in the autumn”. Just like you would protect young seedlings in your garden this spring, you need to gradually warm up to spring to maintain a healthy disposition. I know this is hard to do. I live in Wisconsin where people, being so tired of the many months of the long cold winter, start sporting shorts as soon as the temperature is over 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Let me tell you, I am not one of them! Besides being careful to stay warm, gradually change your diet. Begin to eat more leafy greens in a side salad now and then but still linger over that hot bowl of veggie soup as well for just a little longer. Look for a gentle sweetness in veggies such as sweet potatoes that soothe the liver while it is working overtime through this transition. Looking to what produce is in season is a great cue to what you should be eating. Eating seasonally means that we choose to eat the foods that can be grown in our local area at that point in time. There are many benefits to doing this. Here are a few:
Want to celebrate Spring once it's here? One way I celebrate is by signing up for my local CSA (community supported agriculture). A CSA is where you pay upfront now to receive seasonal produce throughout the entire growing season. It brings new things to try as well as the traditional produce of the season – all grown locally! I highly encourage you to seek out your local CSAs and while you are, ask about their spring produce with all its abundance of dark leafy greens loaded with nutrients and fiber and begin to indulge a little in the abundance of spring.
Have a happy and healthy spring!
Choosing what we eat during the spring season is critical in helping our immune system to stay strong and able to fight off the viruses it comes in contact with at this time of year.
Just as the weather transitions from cold winter through the ups and downs of spring into the hot summer, our bodies also transition with the changing seasons. We have the ability to help or hinder this process through our daily choices.
First, let’s look at food. Food can be classified as hot or cold regardless of the temperature of the food. For example, root crops are generally considered hot foods as they warm us while salad greens are cold foods because they cool us. Another way to think of this is by looking at how they grow and what their predominant make up is. Root crops grow down into the ground and are rich in starches. They are quite suitable for hunkering ‘down’ for a cold winter and their starches provide energy to generate heat to warm us. Salad greens and pea shoots grow up signifying ‘getting up’ and moving about which happens more in spring as the weather warms and we become more active. These types of veggies are also rich in fiber which helps ‘move’ along our digestive system and helps our bodies detox. In fact, many of the rich greens that grow in spring, like dandelion greens, are known for their detoxifying effects. I know I am looking forward to warmer weather because I will become more active and I will lose the 5-7 pounds without effort that I typically put on every winter. Now, that is cause to celebrate because being lighter just feels so uplifting and the extra vitamin D from the bright sun brings about a much sunnier disposition as well! Yes, spring feels mighty fine!
Next, let’s consider the weather during Spring. Spring brings dampness in the form of lingering snow showers or rain and it is often still a bit cold. It is also very windy in the spring and that wind seems so much stronger and colder – often bringing a chill to our bones – than wind during other seasons. Our liver feels this effect and it is vulnerable in the spring. Wind can also cause a stirring up of emotions, joint pain and yep, the common colds. Rushing the process of leaving our coat and extra layers of clothing at home can stir up a cold and make us miserably sick.
So how can you stay healthy this spring? Listen carefully to your body and what it is telling you. If you are feeling off or your emotions, especially irritability and anger, seem to be getting the best of you, then you are not making the best choices to meet the needs of your body. Take notice of any headaches or indigestion you may have. Also, the Spring allergies you hate? They are trying to tell you something and you should listen. One practical thing you can do is to consider keeping a jacket or sweater on when you go outside for just a bit longer. Wear a light scarf or make sure the nape of the neck and the upper part of the back are protected from the wind. There is a Chinese proverb that once interpreted states, “bundle up in the spring and stay cool in the autumn”. Just like you would protect young seedlings in your garden this spring, you need to gradually warm up to spring to maintain a healthy disposition. I know this is hard to do. I live in Wisconsin where people, being so tired of the many months of the long cold winter, start sporting shorts as soon as the temperature is over 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Let me tell you, I am not one of them! Besides being careful to stay warm, gradually change your diet. Begin to eat more leafy greens in a side salad now and then but still linger over that hot bowl of veggie soup as well for just a little longer. Look for a gentle sweetness in veggies such as sweet potatoes that soothe the liver while it is working overtime through this transition. Looking to what produce is in season is a great cue to what you should be eating. Eating seasonally means that we choose to eat the foods that can be grown in our local area at that point in time. There are many benefits to doing this. Here are a few:
- Budget-friendly as foods in season are less expensive because they are readily available
- Easier to find because they are so readily available
- Tastier because they are fresher and haven’t been sitting in storage
- More nutritious because once they are picked, they begin to lose their nutrients so fresher = more nutrients
- Environmentally friendly because it reduces the need for extensive transportation
- Community minded because local foods are purchased from area farmers
- Supports your body’s natural needs
Want to celebrate Spring once it's here? One way I celebrate is by signing up for my local CSA (community supported agriculture). A CSA is where you pay upfront now to receive seasonal produce throughout the entire growing season. It brings new things to try as well as the traditional produce of the season – all grown locally! I highly encourage you to seek out your local CSAs and while you are, ask about their spring produce with all its abundance of dark leafy greens loaded with nutrients and fiber and begin to indulge a little in the abundance of spring.
Have a happy and healthy spring!
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