8 Superfoods You Should Be Eating This Fall by Michael Petrushansky

image credit: Lali Masriera

Tthere are many wonderful things about fall: leaves turning a myriad of gorgeous, fiery hues, refreshing, crisp autumn air, cute fall fashion, and all the nostalgic feels everywhere you turn - but lets get real, one of the best parts of all has to be the FOOD. And we're not just talking pumpkin spice... everything. We're talking all of the seasonal goodness and potent superfoods that just feel so great to eat because they're nourishing and supporting our bodies in all the right ways.

Here are our top 8 picks for fall!

Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms are one of the best foods to start consuming during the fall equinox because they act as potent adaptogens, helping strengthen all systems in the body in a holistic way. Adaptogens are where it's at if you want to feel like a warrior of wellness all year long. Medicinal mushrooms like Reishi, Cordyceps, Lion's Maine, and Chaga, to name a few, contain compounds, such as special polysaccharides and antioxidants, that help fight disease, combat free radical damage, and also strengthen the immune system. Did we mention you can get a solid dose in the form of a delicious raw chocolate treat with our Active Superfood Bark by Rawmio (pictured above)? The most delicious way to get in those medicinal mushrooms for sure.

Winter Squash

Deep orange squashes like kabocha and butternut aren't only absolutely delectable and super easy to prepare, they're also loaded with Vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, which acts as a powerful anti-aging antioxidant. Vitamin A is also a beauty nutrient, helping to prevent premature wrinkling, and will help keep the skin healthy, supple, and glowing all fall and winter long. Kabocha is by far our favorite variety of winter squash, with its dense, buttery texture and sweet, nutty flavor. So tasty steamed or roasted, served as a side dish, or made into a pureed "pumpkin" style soup. Kabocha can also be used as a sub-in for actual pumpkin in pumpkin pie recipes!

Yams and Sweet Potatoes

Yams and sweet potatoes are a favorite amongst athletes due to their rich supply of slow-burning complex carbohydates, but they're also awash with beta carotene and loads of potassium. They're also a great source of healthy dietary fiber to keep digestion running smooth. Our favorite way to prepare them is to slice them in half lengthwise, coat with a little coconut oil, sprinkle with cinnamon, bake at 450 for 45 minutes, then drizzle on some Dastony Stone Ground Almond, Sesame Tahini, or Sprouted Pumpkin Seed Butters. You can even add yogurt or granola on top for a really healthy, filling, and satisfying breakfast meal.

Nut Butters

Nut and seed butters offer a great source of energy, protein, and healthy fats - all of which are so important during colder weather. Your body will naturally gravitate towards heavier foods during the fall and winter in an effort to stay balanced and energized, and nut and seed butters are a wonderful, low sugar choice. Use them as a dip for fruit and veggie slices, use them as a base for sauces and dressings, or simply drizzle them over your oatmeal in the morning, or right onto baked sweet potatoes and winter squash for dinner. Healthy fats also help the body to absorb many critical immune-system building Vitamins like Vitamin A and D. Get those fats in!

Hardy Dark Greens (Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Cabbage, Broccoli)

Speaking of fat soluble vitamins....greens are awash with them! Dark greens are important ALL year round, but the wealth of minerals that dark greens provide can be especially grounding for us in the transition from summer to fall. Greens are potent detoxifiers, are incredible for the digestive system, and are rich with iron, calcium, magnesium and Vitamin K for healthy bones and blood. Hardy greens like chard and kale also grow with a robustness all year round, making them a great seasonal option. If eating them raw loses its appeal for you during the fall and winter (it's only natural!), try lightly steaming them and serving them with a little balsamic vinegar or a drizzle of tahini dressing.

Probiotics

With 80% of our immune system residing in the digestive system, we cannot talk about staying well in the fall and winter without adressing gut health. Don't wait until you start to feel sick, or worse yet, after taking a round of antibiotics, to start loading up on the probiotics. Start now as a preventative measure so that when your body is fighting off that virus you have an army there of friendly flora to back it up. We make it super easy with our Sunbiotics Vanilla Probiotic with Prebiotics Chewable Tablet and our Sunbiotics Vanilla Probiotics with Prebiotics Powder. You'll look forward to taking your daily dose - they're both completely delicious and certified organic - no funky additives.

Cultured Foods

While we're on the topic of probiotics, we can't forget to mention all of the superfoods which come to us naturally loaded with healthy gut flora. We're talking sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, unpasteurized miso, cultured nut cheeses, etc. All of these foods help promote healthy digestion and pH balance within the gut, and also help build up a very robust immune system so your body has the strength to fight of the yuckies that tend to circulate this time of year.

Hemp CBD Raw Chocolate

Not only does CBD from hemp act as an adaptogenic substance, helping to support all systems in the body, it is also incredibly good for the nervous system and the brain. This means good things if you tend to experience a crash in your mood during the shorter, darker days of fall and winter. Raw chocolate and CBD are like a match made in superfood heaven since BOTH have the ability to activate pleasure receptors in the brain, and boost endorphin levels. We've married the two together in our absolutely delicious Hemp CBD Raw Chocolate Bars and Hearts by Veggimins. And in case you're wondering, YES, we offer case discounts. ; )

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and downright delicious fall!