The Practical Nutritionist, LLC

Audrey J Pellegrino, M. Ed, M.HN,CNW®

Nationally board Certified Nutritional Wellness

Holistic Nutritionist/Educator

603-768-3214

practicalnutrition@gmail.com

www.pnutritionist.com

Diet and Weather

My husband is a weather buff; I rely on him far more than I do the weather channel. I can keep him very busy answering all of my weather questions, considering how quickly the weather changes in New Hampshire. As we approach August we are coming into the days that meteorologist buffs call the dog days of summer. That means the days will be hot and humid with less air flow and as the month ends we tend to start getting cooler nights and less humidity.

But what does all this weather have to do with our diet? Throughout time we have always eaten with the seasons and weather. This allowed our bodies to get the nutrients and energy that we needed to coincide with the weather or season. Ecologists consider the seasons to be a source of natural diversity and we should concentrate on seasonal diversity in our diets as well. When milk was compared in the winter and summer differences were found. Iodine was higher in the winter; beta-carotene was higher in the summer. In spinach that was harvested in the winter versus the summer there was a three-fold difference in the vitamin C content.

The sun naturally energizes our bodies and tends to increase our emotional spirits. It also causes our bodies to remain warm so we have less need for hot or heavy foods. Cold weather asks for warm, hearty and spicy foods. Summer asks for lighter, cooling foods, which is also the way of traditional Chinese medicine. The foods include strawberries, apple, pear, plum, peppermint, cilantro, summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn.

As the month ends and we begin to feel the weather shift, here in New Hampshire we should begin to think of Autumnal foods and warming spices such as ginger, mustard seeds, peppercorn, carrot, sweet potato, onions, and garlic. So this year as the weather changes listen closely to your body and watch the garden harvests, both will tell you what you should be eating.