Eat in harmony with the seasons.
At the start of a new year, many people refocus on health by eating lighter. One common dieting strategy is to have a salad for lunch. This may work great in the hot summer months, but can work against you in the dead of winter.
Eating summer foods like lettuce, tomatoes, or cucumbers can make your body work harder to stay warm in winter. Lettuce grows in spring and summer. It’s meant to be eaten when the body needs a cooling, light food. Tropical fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and bananas, also work against your body in winter. For example, oranges grow in warm and sunny climates. When you eat them you send your body the signal that you are in a warm, sunny environment where your skin can easily absorb and manufacture vitamin D. Your body responds by slowing down vitamin D production, which is interestingly linked to seasonal affective disorder, (SAD).
In these cold winter months, try choosing heartier foods like animal proteins, stews, grains, and beans. Eating foods when they are in season puts your body in harmony with nature. This will help strengthen your immune system and bolster your energy. There are many websites that list seasonal foods. Click HERE for an example.