Prepare Your Immune System for Season Change

Teri Cochrane on
Eat seasonal foods to support your immune health.

It’s that time of the year again! August, a month of transitions. Ragweed blooms. Late summer colors emerge. Students return back-to-school and seasonal dietary changes are on the horizon.

Here on the East Coast, transitions are a natural part of our annual fluctuations. Not only does the earth shift as it makes its rounds on its axis, but so do we! Human beings are not static, but rather dynamic and, as our environment changes, we need to adapt.

Let’s face it – change can be daunting. We are creatures of habit, patterned to think and behave in ways that are comfortable, that reduce conflict and err on the side of the familiar. But is there a way for us to embrace natural and inevitable shifts to our environment, our schedule, and our bodies? Here’s how I approach change in this transitional month.

Preparing the Body & Senses for Change

Introduce Change on Your Plate

One of the first ways we can help the body acclimatize to a new season is to enjoy some of the bounty that season brings with it – namely, food. As late summer emerges, immerse yourself in its colors and flavors by introducing cherries, bell peppers and heartier herbs. Try grilling red or green peppers to capture the essence of late summer or adding cherry shish kabobs to a fresh salad to prepare your palate for a change.

Get Ahead of Allergies and Immune Support

We can prepare our immune system for the impacts of seasonal changes by anticipating what will come our way: allergies/ragweed season, temperature changes, mold, cold and flu season and reduced sunlight.

Most colleges begin classes this month, and whether it's preschool or a university, being back in a larger population has its impacts on our health. Stay a step ahead by shifting your supplementation before the seasonal shift is in full swing Introduce an immune support supplement, an allergy modulator like quercetin or bromelain, and invest in a blue light panel if you are prone to SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

During every back-to-school season my kids would get sick. It was inevitable! Preparing our immune system for change is giving it an excellent foundation to work from as allergies, cold and flu season and challenging weather approach.

When we eat seasonally, we take in crucial vitamins and minerals in the foods that grow during that season. Did you know that bell peppers are high in vitamin C? Cherries are also a great source of vitamins C, A, and antioxidants. When we eat seasonally with foods that don’t affect us, and counter seasonally against the foods that do, we support a robust immune system.

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