As we near the end of summer, you probably notice that your body experiences a seasonal shift as much as its surrounding environment. We acclimate and reacclimate with shifts in temperature and humidity, compensating for extremes in cold and heat by shifting metabolic levels and hormone production. But the convenience of chain grocery stores and supermarkets have disconnected us from seasonal eating, and the wisdom inherent in consuming the foods that grow at particular times of the year.

So what can you do to help your body stay balanced in the heat of summer and the chill of winter?

In the summertime, make sure you eat foods that are cooling to your body. These are often foods that have a high water content, like cucumber and watermelon. Other summer foods, like tomatoes, stone fruit, berries, and leafy greens are all deeply nourishing. Intended to be consumed during the warmer months, these fruits and vegetables will help keep you balanced in the heat.

Conversely, in the winter, eat warming foods that will help keep your body temperature appropriately elevated and your metabolism active. These include hot foods like soups and broths, root vegetables like yams and beets, winter greens like kale, winter squashes, and spices that invigorate your system, like ginger, cayenne and cinnamon.

Experiment with foods to discover what is warming or cooling for you, and implement these changes in your diet as the seasons shift. Wondering how to discover which foods grow seasonally? Pay a visit to your local farmers market, or ask the produce manager at your grocery store. As you start incorporating seasonal produce, your body will naturally shift to crave what it needs, and you’ll feel more balanced in no time.

There’s also a way to discover the foods that will help you thrive around the calendar from the comfort of your own home: the ph360 FOOD dashboard. ph360 uses your body’s unique blueprint to determine those foods that may be most helpful to you, and those that may do the most harm. Start learning more about what works for you today with ph360™ and Shae™!