Fall is in the air.
Old timers say the first cold snap occurs 30 days after the first morning fog. If this is true, our first touch of cooler air will appear mid-October. Time will tell, but it is certain the weather is changing. The days are growing shorter. The angle of the rays of Florida sunshine is shifting. The air feels different than those hot muggy days of summer. And we all rejoice.
Human biological functions ebb and flow with nature, including the seasonal rhythms. As summer moves into autumn, the environment around us shifts, providing different wellness options. Getting in sync with the natural seasonal changes enables us to maximize our fitness and nourishment with minimal effort and stress.
FALL OUTDOOR EVENTS
With cooler weather, Florida outdoor activity is more inviting. Get the whole family involved with hiking and walking trips in nature. Even the dog. The weather still makes swimming enjoyable as well as more vigorous outings for friends and family. Plan a community get-together for volleyball or horseshoes followed by a picnic or pot luck dinner.
The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department offers outdoor games for every age group, including tennis lessons, football, golf and even Pokémon clubs.
Start training now for the Tampa YMCA’s annual Goody Goody Turkey Gobble 5K held Thanksgiving morning. Or join the weekly Fit-Family-Fun events at 6 p.m. every Friday at the Plant City Family YMCA.
FALL FOODS FOR WELLNESS
The drier, cooler days of autumn shift our appetites toward heavier, more nutrient-dense foods. Think foods with a lot of minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals in every bite. Recipes call for hearty soups, broths and stews offering easy-to-digest comfort foods.
Nature leads the way for our food selection as farmers harvest apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, walnuts and pecans. In Florida, our winter vegetables start to come in with collards, cabbage, turnips and cauliflower.
The healthy avocado is my fall favorite I enjoy all year round. Unlike other fruits that are high in carbohydrates, avocados are high in the “good” type of fats. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid.
Oleic acid has been linked to reduced inflammation and beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer, according to numerous published peer-reviewed articles in PubMed. Florida avocados ripen in October and November with some fruits weighing in at two to three pounds. Enjoy them in salads, on sandwiches and or as guacamole.
WELCOME COOLER WEATHER WITH A GENTLE FAST
An occasional liquid fast can be an effective cleansing tool. As the liver and gallbladder shift gears for the new food types, a day of water, juices and soups can create lightness of body and clarity for the mind.
Add ginger tea to promote detoxification of the body while aloe vera juice improves digestion and assists with elimination.
The malic acid found in apple juice is reputed to detox the gallbladder and support the liver function. I include apple juice in every meal the entire week of the equinoxes each year as a tool to transition the season.
Jennifer E. Closshey, Ph.D., is a doctor of integrative health based out of Plant City. Contact her at JenniferClosshey@gmail.com.