given time, the theory posits that because
our bodies are sensitive to climactic
change, they have adapted to respond
best to what is seasonally available.
“As human beings, we are strongly
influenced by our environment,
including the change of seasons.
Seasonal appetite change may certainly
be accounted for by evolutionary
adaptation,” says naturopath Amanda
Harasym of Elevate Sydney Clinic
(elevate.com.au).
“Humans have evolved to consume
certain foods at appropriate times of
the year to provide our bodies with
adequate nutrients to survive in the face
of seasonal changes. In the spring and
summer, raw, fresh, leafy, cooling foods
flourish. This includes vegetables and
fruits such as apricot, artichoke, arugula,
asparagus, beet, Swiss chard, kale,
cherries, parsley, dandelion greens, kiwi,
leek, lettuce, nettle, spinach, pea greens,
and strawberries. These foods are light
and detoxifying, perfect for preparing
your body for summer.”
So, when the cravings kick in this
summer, know that it may be more
than just social or cultural conditioning
chiming in to inspire your next meal – it
might just be a matter of evolution.
OBEYING SUMMER CRAVINGS
Consider this scenario. It’s a long
summer day and you’ve been frolicking
outdoors in 30-degree (plus) heat from
sunrise at 5am right through to sunset at
8pm. Your seasonal fruit salad and froyo
cravings are more than just a matter of
taste – they’re a matter of biology.
The temperature soars, the days get
longer and the sun’s rays are felt more
intensely as summer settles into full
swing. Culturally, this means more
time spent outdoors, increased physical
activity and plenty of socialising.
Physiologically, our bodies call for
support through these changing
conditions and turn to nutrition –
specifically in-season wholefoods. This is
where your summertime food cravings
stand justified for helping to balance
your body’s key physiological processes,
including temperature, metabolism, pH
and blood sugar.
A study published in the Yale Journal
of Biology and Medicine concluded that
“food intake appears to be controlled
as if it is a mechanism of temperature
regulation” and that the “food eaten
appears to be determined, at least partly,
by the organism’s ability to dissipate the
heat of food metabolism”; demonstrating
why summer heat could compel us to
choose fresh and cooling seasonal food
to keep the body in balance.These foods also boast higher water
content, as the body seeks hydration to
counter the loss of electrolytes during
physical activity and sun exposure.
“When active outdoors, our bodies
sweat, losing fluid and electrolytes.
It is not uncommon for people to
crave either sweet or salty foods as
the body seeks to replace sodium and
electrolytes,” says Harasym. “Low
sodium levels combined with low
hydration levels is a very dangerous
situation and can lead to a condition
called hyponatremia.”
In addition to rehydrating, the body
will also seek to protect itself from the
detrimental effects of time spent in the
harsh Aussie sun, ushering cravings
for plant foods rich in flavonoids – a
class of compounds known for their
ultraviolet UVB photoprotective
properties. A 2008 study published
in the Journal of Natural Products
assessed nutritional compounds
quercetin and rutin as agents that
could be potentially used in sunscreen
products. The study concluded that
both flavonoids gave sun protection
factor (SPF) values similar to that of
standard sunscreen ingredients and
also provided a non-negligible level of
photoprotection in the UVA range. So
while we aren’t suggesting you ditch
your sunscreen, the study results dohelp to explain that insatiable appetite
for summertime cherries and berries.
Once again, seasonal food cravings
emerge to support and protect the
body’s delicate physiological balance
under changing conditions, and
that fruit salad-topped cup of frozen
yoghurt you just can’t get enough of
becomes an even greater hero.DIETARY DIVERSITY
Diversifying your diet via seasonal eating
appears to also diversify your health. By
eating what is seasonally available, we
are more likely to experiment with new
kinds of produce and broaden our eating
horizons, consequently expanding our“Seasonal food cravings
emerge to support
and protect the body’s
delicate physiological
balance under
changing conditions.”54 | AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HEALTH naturalhealthmag.com.au