Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the colors we get to see in the Midwest and I’m a huge fan of all the fall activities that come with the chilly weather like football, corn mazes and apple picking. But I don’t love the dry skin that seems to follow as well.
It was surprising to read that this time of year also brings the driest weather as most of us associates that with winter.
I’m always touting the benefits of drinking water. Water is absolutely crucial to to our bodies, from cell production to energy to sleep. Did you know that proper hydration will actually help your body fight off illness in the cold weather months? Being properly hydrated helps give your body the strength it needs to fight off bacteria and other infections.
When it comes to this dry fall weather, there is more than just drinking water. Fall is also a time of change; just as the outside changes, so does our insides.
Here some of my favorite tips to work with these changes:
- Cooked Foods: Eat warm, cooked foods like stews, root vegetables and even lightly sautéed greens to keep the internal fire burning and the digestion moving. Raw, cold salads are better left in the summer months.
- Hydrate through Foods: Apples, oranges, cabbage, kale and squash pack a punch of hydration.
- Sip Warm Water: Sipping warm water throughout the day helps the body rehydrate and improve circulation.
- Add Ghee to your diet: Ghee nourishes from the inside and helps heal the gut at the same time.
- Dry Brush: Using a dry brush helps exfoliate your dry, dead skin and keeps your lymph moving.
- Post Shower Oiling: An ayurvedic practice of massaging the body with warm oil (sesame or coconut work great) after showering for comfort and to combat dry skin.
- Mind the Scents: Change out candles and other fragrances for warming spices like cinnamon, vanilla, clove, frankincense.
Skip the processed drinks like gatorade and make your own electrolyte elixirs. Here are of the ones I make (these are great after a night of extra-imbibing too!)
- Juice 1/2 a lemon, lime and orange. Mix in a glass of water with a good pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt and a spoon of maple syrup
- Add a spoon of chia seeds to a glass of coconut water
- Or just adding a little pink salt to a glass of water will do too
The best advice I could leave you with is to also remember to breathe, chew your food completely, and slow down enough to give thanks.
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