Seasonal health
As I put my garden to bed for the winter, I find myself reflecting on the parallels between our gardens, nature and ourselves. This is a significant time of year, where great changes occur, and the type of stressors we encounter morphs us into a chaotic jumble of dis-ease.
In a garden, the soil is everything. Healthy soil equals healthy plants. This is not unlike the human body. Our body's soil (gut flora, tissues, chemistry) needs to be healthy if we want to feel healthy. Not ironically, the plants that endure the harsh cold climate contain the most amounts of nutrients. As we venture into these seasonal changes, we too must consume nutrient dense foods - foods which contain vital nutrients - minerals, proteins and fats, to help us endure.
Root vegetables dig deep into the soil collecting vital nutrients that help them stay alive, even after harvested (if stored properly, they'll endure all winter). If, during the months preceding winter, we dig deep into good solid nutrition, we will have the stored nutrients to help us endure the stressful winter months. If the soil isn't dug deep enough, the root growth will be stunted. This is not unlike our substandard health.
Good soil contains a wonderful combination of worms, bugs and numerous microorganisms that convert the nutrients in the soil into usable micronutrients to sustain our life. Our body "soil" also contains wonderful and necessary, microorganisms - bacteria, viruses and yeasts that in proper balance sustain our life.
Like soil, we too need sun and water. We both need tender loving care. If our health is not attended to, we wind up with overgrowth of things we don't want or need - bacteria, bugs, parasites, etc. "Weeds" crown out the good, leaving little room for the good to proliferate.
As in nature, we reap what we sow. If we don't sow good biological nutrients, we will reap a poor harvest. We call that disease. If we want a good spring crop, we prepare the soil before the snow falls and stays, allowing for time to take care of the soil's basic needs. With a little support in the spring, we can enjoy the bounteous fruits of our labors, commensurate with the amount of care we put into it.
We are at choice. We can choose to live frenetic lives, jumping from one unhealthy decision to another, or we can take the hint of nature and slow down a little. Consume warming foods that are consistent with the results we want in our "soils." Drinking warm, nourishing, homemade soups, not only provide vital nutrients, but are calming and supportive to our health.
Unless we are overly busy digging ourselves out of snow piles, our physical activity is probably less, so eat less. But make what you eat count. Eat good, solid beneficial foods, so that next year, we can spring forth with lots of energy and health!
Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.