September is a month of transition, hanging there between summer and fall. I feel the shift in subtle ways, like the cooler evenings and mornings (the best sleeping with the window open weather!) I’m also starting to crave less salad and raw foods. Those foods are great when its hot out, but cold foods take a lot of digestive fire which is beginning to slow down. So, as the season changes so should we! But we need to do it gradually, because:
- It’s still hot
- It’s easier to do things gradually
If you listen, your body is instinctively giving you signals. I don’t know about you but I am ready to have a break from the hot, dry, go go go of summer. I’m kind of starting think about how nice it will be to not be sweating all the time! The thing is, as summer winds down, your body can actually heat up. Ridiculous, I know! You may notice your skin being really dry or your sinuses running. Those are signs of heat getting stuck in the body.
At the end of summer, we need to clear out that accumulated heat by having cooling foods and fiber. Make sure you eat enough fiber to help clear out those toxins. The body doesn’t really want to be that hot so it starts producing mucus to trap all that leftover summer heat. And, as we all know, excess mucus is prime breeding ground for viruses!!
You gotta clear that shit before you get a cold!
Here are 4 tips to help you transition to fall.
HYDRATE
Hydrate like nobody’s business. I could go on and on about the reasons you need to stay hydrated but I will spare you the lecture and just remind you to hydrate. When you are not hydrated you may experience: headaches, dry skin, dizziness, unclear thinking, moodiness, constipation, kidney stones, fatigue, exhaustion, muscle weakness, cracking joints, increased heart rate…and I know you don’t want to feel like that so hydrate!
Hydration is way more than just drinking water. A big part of hydration is electrolytes. You can’t really absorb the water you are drinking without electrolytes. And, just to be clear I am NOT talking about Gatorade which is full of artificial junk you do not want in your body! Electrolytes are minerals so try adding high quality salt to your water, essential fatty acids to your food and powdered greens (this is what I use Vitamineral Greens) to your drinks.
It’s best to drink throughout the day instead of chugging. Try drinking at least a few sips, at least every 30 minutes. This approach maximizes hydration. Make sure your drinks are not cold but room temperature or warm.
SUPPORT YOUR LIVER
Take some kind of liver formula. This will help support the cleansing of old accumulated summer heat from the blood and liver and get you ready for the winter months. There are all kinds of great liver formulas out there. The one I use is Liver Rescue by Health Force Super Foods. But I also use Dandelion, Burdock, Turmeric, Yellowdock, Milk Thistle and Peppermint (which is also super cooling!) Some kind of overall detoxification can be invaluable for maintaining good health during seasonal changes.
FOOD AS MEDICINE
I know I’ve said it before but food is your best medicine so start by eating all the fabulous late summer harvest foods. Apples, for example, clear heat and clean the intestines. Pomegranates are liver and blood cleansers. Peaches promote elimination and strengthen digestion. Pears are demulcent and moistening and lord knows after a long hot summer we need some moisture!
Remember, these fruits are also providing us with fiber. Fiber is great for moving junk out of the gut, helping to clear toxins and get us ready to digest the heavier foods of winter. Also, these foods strengthen your immunity and help you transition to fall. They make your blood a little warmer and help moisture stay in the body. A gradual change into fall will be easier on your system.
Here are some food and herb suggestions:
- Root vegetables, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, squash. Start thinking more soups, steamed veggies, protein, nuts and seeds.
- Tulsi tea can help cool you in these last days of summer. Also drink teas made with orange peel, cardamom, dandelion, rosemary and CCF Tea. (click the link to get the recipe)
- Add spices to your food like ginger, basil, cinnamon, turmeric, ashwagandha, cumin, fennel and coriander.
ABHYANGA
Abhyanga or daily herbal oil massage is highly recommended to protect the nervous system. Use sesame oil for its more warming qualities and coconut or sunflower for more cooling effects. Read the full article on abhyanga here.
For more tips check out It’s starting to feel like fall
As fall approaches, the days become shorter and the nights longer. It’s a time to be grateful for the harvest from the earth and the abundance we have in our lives. It is a perfect time to become quiet and listen to what is trying to emerge from within us. What will you birth in the spring?
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