Until I got sick, I had never heard of or really thought about "seasonal eating". Since learning about it, I now try my best to alter my diet and keep myself in tune with the current season.
Seasonal eating can be hard depending on where you live; but for me, Maine has long winters, which means I should be feeding my body warm foods for most of the year.
If you happen to garden, think about what you store for the winter months: canned goods, potatoes, squash, meat, etc. Those are the foods you should be eating all winter long.
I love salads. I love crunchy, raw vegetables and fruits probably more than most people do; but now, just thinking about eating those in the winter (or at all) makes my stomach turn. Think about it- when it's a cold and raw 10 degrees outside, the last thing you should be putting in your stomach is cold, raw, crunchy food. You need to warm up your body and eat easy, digestible foods like soups and stews. Those crunchy vegetables, smoothies and fruits are easier for our bodies to digest in the warmer months, and should be eaten then.
I know you may think this is absurd, or that it won't harm you if you eat however you want in whatever season, but it honestly may and probably will affect you at some point in your life. I never thought I'd get a stomach disorder at 20, but it happens, and that is why I'm writing this post. Are you bloating more in the winter? Maybe you're eating too many hard foods.
There is this belief that eating healthy means salads, fruits, low carbs/keto, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc., and while those may indeed be helpful if you're looking to lose some weight (consult a doctor first), you need to also look into what it can do to you on the negative side. Women need more carbs then men, did you know that? Having low carbs can actually be really bad for women: carbs are essential for good thyroid health, and if you're not eating enough carbs it can negatively affect your hormones and your cycle. I say this because so many people do not fully research or consult their doctor before starting anything or putting things into their body. I never used to, but I now check everything I consume. So if you’re thinking of starting a diet, check with your doctor, know your facts and look at how you could do it while still eating seasonally.
You need to research before taking on a new diet, and make sure you understand why eating some foods are better than others even down to knowing what temperature is best for food and drinks. Warmer liquids for example are helpful for your digestion, so skip the ice cold water because it hurts you more than helps. Just because we are easily able to grab strawberries at the grocery store in January does not mean they're good for our body then.
Seasonal foods not only taste better and are better for the environment, they also provide many other benefits, from cheaper groceries, being able to be in tune with your body, help fight off illness, increases your energy, and so much more.
I highly recommend you check out the following articles for more on why it is so beneficial:
Let me know your thoughts on this.
-Loreal
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