by Erin Stokes, ND, Medical Director at FoodState®
Autumn is the season of harvest, as well as a time of transition. We see evidence of this transition everywhere, as the days become shorter and the nights grow longer. Leaves change color and fall from the trees, and animals prepare for the upcoming winter by gathering food.
What are humans doing to adapt to the seasonal change? Usually, not much.
At this time of year, our bodies need more sleep (but we often don’t get it), and it’s also an ideal time to focus on optimizing digestive function. Between 60-80% of immune cells are located in and around the gastrointestinal tract. So, it stands to reason that a healthy GI tract is an excellent way to prepare ahead of time for winter’s immune challenges.
It’s a concept called seasonal therapeutics. No matter which season it is, there is always an emphasis on being proactive to get ahead of seasonal challenges.
Here are a few ways to support your patient’s digestive and overall health during the fall season:
- Avoid individual food allergens and high glycemic load carbohydrates. Focus instead on whole foods with a strong emphasis on increasing vegetable intake. This is a good time of year to help people identify those food allergens and sensitivities. Food allergens can be identified with an elimination diet, or alternatively, some prefer to selectively eliminate the most common offenders one at a time, such as gluten or dairy.
- Support a healthy inflammatory response in the GI tract with herbs such as tumeric root, boswelia serrate, and ginger root.
- Depending in the individual, consider proactively increasing frequency and/or potency of probiotics when moving into the Autumn months. Some individuals may need additional immune support as the seasons transition. One way to improve digestive and immune support is with probiotics.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Posted with permission from Innate Response™
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