Australian Natural Health — January-February 2018

Eating in line with nature not only offers a host of

health benefits, but it can also expose you to a broader

range of nutrients, which positively impacts your gut

microbiome. GR ACIE BALEV examines the intricacies

of seasonal eating.

Sense

H

Seasonal

FOOD & DIET

Hippocrates once said: “Whoever wishes

to investigate medicine properly should

proceed thus: in the first place to consider

the seasons of the year and what effect each

of them produces.”

As the father of medicine was alluding,

eating what’s in season (known as seasonal

eating) is a highly intuitive means to

sustenance and vitality, as well as disease

prevention. It’s thought that the behaviour

taps into innate biological intelligence that

we aren’t necessarily aware of, but that

dictates out palates. On a physiological level,

as the climate changes, the body’s nutritional

requirements will shift to adapt, maintaining

homeostasis or balance, and overall

wellbeing. In short, our nutritional needs

are – at least to an extent – environmentally

conditioned and met by the consumption of

fresh, seasonal produce.

EVOLUTIONARY EATING

When it comes to seasonal eating, the view

of evolutionary adaptation is applied by

anthropologists and nutritionists alike. As we

have evolved over the past 200,000 years to

consume foods that will support our survival

needs under specific living conditions at any

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