Balanced Eating for Autumn!

Dr. Michael here!

Autumn is associated with the Metal Element in Five Element acupuncture. From a Five Element perspective, autumn typically falls during the months of late October, November, and early December here in Florida, when the air turns drier, temperatures turn cooler, and leaves turn color. It is a season of harvest, preparations for hibernation, and nature contracting and moving downward towards the earth. When the Metal element is in balance, it provides quality and essence in people. Just as the trees shed leaves naturally in autumn, the Metal Element within us gives us the capacity to let go gracefully. Metal allows us the ability to process grief and other strong emotional states and defends us against respiratory conditions.

I recommend that this time of autumn be a period of intentional centering through meditation or mindful breathing techniques, along with acupuncture to balance your Metal organs, the Lungs and Large Intestines. To eat healthfully during this season, I recommend gently changing your diet to add or remove some foods. Eating according to this season helps balance your inner center, support your Metal organs, and flow better with the energy of your Metal element. 

Consider adding astringent and sour foods into your diet during this season: sourdough bread, sauerkraut, olives, cheese, yogurt, citric fruit, and the sour varieties of apples. A little goes a long way; take care not to over-consume extremely sour foods. Foods that contain and deliver moisture are also recommended: soybean products such as tofu or tempeh, barley, pear, persimmon, eggs, clams, pork, golden-orange vegetables, black and white fungus, spinach, oysters and mussels, and almonds/peanuts. Use a pinch of salt while cooking to draw out that moisture. 

For cleansing and protection, I recommend also adding pungent foods into your diet at this time. Hot peppers and chilies, for those who like spicy things, are beneficial to protect the lungs, but for those with spice intolerances, savory members of the onion family such as turnip, ginger, cabbage, onion, and especially garlic may also be used. Beta-carotene foods (golden-yellow) such as carrot, winter squash, pumpkin, broccoli, kale, mustard green, and wheatgrass are beneficial to your Metal Element.

How does it work? How am I meant to prepare these foods? They should be prepared as simply as possible, with a bit of spicy seasoning as you tolerate. Cook with less water, and at low heat, for longer periods of time. This allows for more focused preparation to help bolster the greater amounts of energy required by a cooler season. Begin adding the bitter and salty flavors that move energy inward and downward gradually; the same gradual way fall slowly turns to winter. Soups, stews, and crockpot meals are ideal during this season.

Alongside regular exercise, adjusting your diet in each season to the foods that support the organs of that season help to keep you healthy. Stay tuned for more diet tips for each of the other seasons. 

At the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center, we understand that your health needs are as unique as you are. So we highly recommend you come in for an acupuncture treatment at least once during each season to balance your energy according to the season and to discuss these topics with your acupuncture physician. We will work together to create a health plan that is individualized and tailored to your specific needs. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Please call us at (904) 296-9545 to schedule your appointment today!

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