4 Healthy Habits to Carry Into Fall

Summer is drawing to a close, and as the season changes, flannels replace swimsuits, and foliage is at its boldest. It seems like just yesterday, we were saying, “Hot Girl Summer is finally here!” and suddenly the days are getting shorter, the sun is less bright, and pumpkin spice is back.

It can be difficult to avoid letting your mood reflect the seasonal shift. But when you have a plan, it’s easier to carry healthy habits into the cooler months. Here are 4 tips for creating a healthy lifestyle this fall:

Tips for Creating Healthy Habits this Fall

1. Recalibrate Your Plate

In autumn, there is a significant shift in energy, climate, and diet. It is one of the official harvest times in nature, and we find ourselves presented with an abundance of nourishing foods. First, come the remaining fruits and watery vegetables of summer, and then the root vegetables and squashes, most of which require heat to prepare. Fall also brings a harvest of whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. Our diet thus shifts to more cooked foods and richer protein and fat foods as the weather cools and the days shorten. Fewer raw fruits, vegetables, and complex carbs are now the mainstay of the diet, especially as we begin to creep into the winter. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid the produce section. Here are 3 delicious and nutritious foods that are in season throughout the fall:

Apple

In the fall, apples are at their best. Apples are high in fibre, potassium, vitamin C, calcium, and folic acid. Since apples are so versatile, it’s not hard to work them into your diet. Many of our most popular juices have apples as a primary ingredient!

Pumpkin

Not only do pumpkins make great jack-o-lanterns they also have significant nutritional benefits. Pumpkins are full of carotenoids, vitamin C and E, riboflavin, iron, fibre, and potassium.

Carrot

Carrots can be harvested through the fall and are full of nutrients, such as fibre, vitamin A and C, potassium, and manganese. Our Beta Blaster juice contains carrots and is packed with these healthy nutrients to keep you feeling your best all season long.

2. Try a Fall Cleanse

Seasonal changes reflect stress times in nature and when we most need to lighten our outward demands and turn within to listen to what our body needs. Often our body’s needs mirror the natural cycles in nature. With summer coming to a close, autumn brings the perfect time to detoxify your body in preparation for the cooler weather. In spring and summer, we tend to eat more fresh citrus and leafy greens; in the fall, we rely on other harvests, such as apples, grapes and root vegetables. A 3-7 day juice cleanse can help reset your body to prepare for the seasonal diet change many people experience throughout the cooler months of the year.

3. Seek the Sun

As the days get shorter and summer draws to a close, there are fewer hours to soak up the sun. But don’t fret! There is still ample time to enjoy the sunshine in the fall. The cooler weather allows us to spend time outdoors without baking in the summer heat. Try to take your workout outdoors; sun exposure can elevate your mood and make movement more enjoyable. Much like houseplants, we need sunshine to thrive. The sun’s rays give off ultraviolet B (UVB) that our skin uses to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” and plays a vital role in bone health.

Fall is a great time to revisit your daily supplements and consider adding vitamin D to your routine (if you haven’t already), especially if you find the sun barely peeking out. Another way to boost your vitamin D intake is through your diet—incorporating foods such as mushrooms, orange juice, and fortified soy are good sources of vitamin D when the sun isn’t shining.

If you plan on indulging in some sun, make sure you protect your skin and apply SPF. Although the UV rays aren’t as intense as they are during the summer, they can still cause damage to the skin.

4. Keep Moving

Exercise is essential to your overall health and wellness, and as the cooler weather approaches, many of us find an excuse to avoid the gym. But hitting the gym isn’t the only way to get exercise. Without the heat and humidity, spending time outdoors becomes much more comfortable, and walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise outside.

Walking is an easy way to sneak exercise into your daily routine. Make it a habit and walk every day when you get home from work, or try planning fall activities that involve walking, such as apple picking or adventuring through a corn maze. Another great way to get in a little extra exercise during the fall is hiking. Fall is a perfect time to go hiking, with cool weather, no bugs, and beautiful views. Not to mention, hiking boosts cardiovascular health as you increase your elevation and work your legs. By simply moving your body, you can stay in shape all season long.

Take Fall Wellness Into Your Own Hands

Start the season off on the right foot and carry your healthy summer habits forward into fall.