Autumn Seasonal Food Must-Haves in Your Diet

The fall is here and so are the pumpkins. During transitions like these, it’s advocated to craft a routine that helps you adapt to the new season. Moreover, when you keep your body and mind in line with the environment, getting into the mould can help in maintaining a balance. So, autumn is the perfect time to unwind and get ready for the darker, chilly months ahead. So, with variations in the food availability and produce, let’s see what all are the autumn must-haves.

• Apples:

Keep the doctor away with this delicious and detoxifying fall fruit. Apples are loaded with vitamin-C, which boosts the immunity and keeps infections at bay. The healthy polyphenol antioxidants improve metabolic balance and slow the rate at which sugar is absorbed in the blood. It also lowers the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. It makes an important fall food also because it aids digestion and weight loss.

• Pumpkin:

Pumpkin is a portion of comfort food. It is a great source of potassium and beta-carotene, which when consumed, gets converted into vitamin-A by the body. It is also a powerhouse of minerals like calcium, magnesium, vitamin-E, C and some B vitamins. The antioxidants in pumpkins can reduce the risk of chronic disease. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time and hence aiding weight loss.

• Root Vegetables:

Root vegetables are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps in boosting the health of gut bacteria. It reduces the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, heart disease and blood cancer. In autumn, there are plenty of options to choose from like sweet potatoes, beetroots, carrots, turnips, radish, cabbage, ginger, turnips, and ginger. They have great antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, which make them each day must-haves.

• Pomegranates:

Pomegranate is a superfood. They are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins- C and K, fibre, folate, and potassium. It has impressive anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of some serious diseases like cancer, arthritis and diabetes. It’s antibacterial and antiviral properties are beneficial against gum diseases and yeast infections.

• Wild Mushrooms:

None can go wrong with mushrooms. They are loaded with antioxidants that can help fight free radicals damage in the body. It has beta-glucan, which is a source of dietary fibre and is linked to improving cholesterol and enhancing heart health. B vitamins: riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid are also found in mushrooms that help in maintaining good skin, and nervous system.

Over to you
Fall is a season of hearty spices, cranberries, herbs like shilajit, Brahmi, fennel, dill, rosemary, and thyme, and whole grains. Make sure you dig into them in the form of soups, stews and pies. Remember to not overeat, as the digestive fire is potentially low. You should fill ⅔rd of your plate with raw, seasonal and regional foods and ⅓rd plate with whole grains, legumes, lean meat, or beans. This needs to be done, for better digestion and assimilation of food and for the overall health too.