Autumn has to be one of my favourite seasons. The veggie garden transforms into a sea of deep greens and purples, with a pop of vibrant colour from the squashes. It's brimming with fertility-protective nutrients. I also love the cosiness it brings, lots of teas and hot cacao in front of the fire or hugging the aga.
What does this season bring in terms of food?
Anything warm, with lots of flavour! My body is craving soup, stews, stewed fruits with warming spices, curries, and a load of root vegetables right now, and I am 100% leaning into them!
Favourite Autumnal Veg For Healthy Hormones & Fertility
This season is excellent for focusing on low-glycemic-index fruits like pears, apples, figs, and berries, which do not spike blood sugar levels and keep hormones balanced. Think about stewing them with comforting spices or making compotes for your breakfasts. If you have an apple tree in your garden, use those fresh apples rather than buying them at the supermarket. These fruits are fertility-protective as they're loaded with antioxidants, protecting your cells (and sperm/eggs) from damage.
Dark leafy greens like cavolo nero, kale, winter greens, and chard are rich in B vitamins like folate and liver tonics, helping the body eliminate toxins and excess hromones. If you stumble across a raddichio, pick one of those up. They are so unbelievably beautiful, glam up any dish in appearance and flavour, and give a nice crunchy texture to those roasted vegetables. Your liver will love you for it, too.
Then there is the squash, giving the most beautiful pop of colour, and there are so many varieties to play around with. Roast them with cumin and enjoy them with winter-warming salads, or blend them into a warming soup like the recipe below. You can also add them to your morning bowl of porridge. During the luteal phase of your cycle, post-ovulation, the body has a greater need for protein and a greater need for complex carbohydrates.
When you start to crave those more filling foods, that isn't because there is something wrong; that is because your body needs them. Ensure you are reaching for the better, more nutrient-dense carbs, like root veg, nuts/seeds, brown rice, quinoa, etc. Those are what your body wants (not a subway!). Sperm also loves beta-carotene-rich vegetables, so men should include them in their diets.
As for hot cacao, yes, please! Cacao is a brilliant source of magnesium and other minerals. Your hormones need magnesium for progesterone production, mood support, bloating and fluid retention. I always add some cinnamon, collagen and a little maple syrup.
Easting seasonally is the best way to get the most from your vegetables, and it will also taste better. Root vegetables taste delicious, roasted with herbs, pepper, and salt. Then add your protein, like fish, chicken, or even some fried eggs, and enjoy some of those rich leafy greens with it, too.
Butternut & Miso Soup
1 organic Butternut peeled and sliced into cubes
Drizzle of olive oil
1 organic onion roughly chopped
2 organic garlic cubes crushed
1/4 cup of green lentils - ideally, these sit covered in water for a few hours with some apple cider vinegar
1 tsp of cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp of white sesame seeds
1 tbsp of organic white miso paste
2 cups of organic chicken stock
2 picnhes of salt and 1/4 tsp pepper
water to add
Parsely or another herb for garnishing
Method:
Let the lentils sit covered in water and a tbsp of apple cider vinegar either overnight or atleast an hour.
Peel and chop the squash. Place it in a pan with olive oil, onions, garlic, cayenne pepper, and cumin, and roast for 45 minutes at around 180 degrees. You know its finished when the veg turns golden and soft.
Once the lentils have soaked, place them into a pan on the hob and cook for 30 minutes with some salt, cook until soft.
Once the butternut is cooked and the lentils are soft, let them cool and then add them to a blender, blend until a smoothe paste has been formed.
Add the blended mix to a pan on a hob, and add the chicken stock, miso paste, and sesame seeds.
Gently heat the soup, stirring regularly. You may want to add more water at this point or salt and pepper.
Once warmed through, serve the soup up and garnish with parsley (or any herb you have).
Enjoy!
Comments