Do you take the time to celebrate seasons?

June Solstice is just behind us. An opportunity to celebrate longer days in the Southern Hemisphere, Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and International Yoga Day. Solstice is also the time your body produces the highest levels of hormones.

A recent study from 2021 based on millions of blood tests found that hormone-producing glands grow and shrink in continuous, self-regulating annual cycles. One of the main manifestations of this nature-associated internal clock is moodiness peaking in winter.

Beyond mood, stress, growth hormones or reproductive hormones are also affected by seasons. Our hormonal systems have ‘set points’ that produce hormonal peaks. And one of the highest hormonal peaks is seen during the solstice.

Adjusting your diet to support your seasonal hormonal pattern can be a game changer.

By working with nature, you align your nutritional intake with your hormonal needs. As the season change, so does your food.

Seasonal food for hormonal balance will shift from raw rocket, tomatoes, or radishes in Summer to warming cooked cabbages, cauliflower or broccoli, in Winter, from slow-cooked meat to legume-based dish, or from fresh avocados to wild-caught salmon.

Farmers’ markets are the best place to shop for seasonal produce. Plants freshly picked when ripe will reset your hormones, balance your mind and increases your connection to the environment.

Eating in alignment with the seasons means you honour your hormonal needs. While you learn how to navigate your hormonal changes, you feel calm and in control.