Just like the leaves, which become dry and brittle as we move into October and November, the cold dries out the body during autumn. Your body may need a little support to stay moisturized as the season plugs on. Incorporate salty, sweet, sour, and demulcent foods and teas into to stay hydrated during the dry fall season.
Sour Fruits Stimulate Saliva
When you sip something sour, your mouth starts to water, easing the dryness of fall that causes your mouth to feel parched. Your body naturally craves things that are sour during the fall, like apples and cranberries which come into season during this time of year. Note: Cranberries are diuretic that can also dry you out.
Use caution with cold sours in the fall such as blueberries. Sour taste opens pores,causing loss of heat. Therefore, if you use sours to stimulate hydration, dress warmly to prevent heat loss through the skin. A lemon, cinnamon tea however, is warming for this time of year.
Experiment with a lime and salt digestive appetizer before meals to encourage your body to get the digestive juices flowing. This makes digestion more smooth and efficient, saving you from uncomfortable gas and bloating. Having a glass of warm water with lemon in the morning gives a similar effect.
Salty Foods Can Help Retain Water
The cold weather can make some individuals pee more. Staying warm, and an extra pinch of salt, can help retain moisture.
Oily & Demulcent Foods Coat Dry Tissues
Oatmeal, groundflax, and chia seeds have a demulcent, slimy quality that will coat dry tissues, and keep your mouth feeling moist.The slimy quality of these foods also nourishes the mucosal lining of your stomach, protecting it from dryness.
Oily Foods & Massage Oils
Oily foods can nourish & moisten dry skin from within. Choose foods with healthy fats such as salmon, olive oil, and sesame oil.
Hydrating Teas
Herbal teas with the above qualities (sour, demulcent, salty, or oily) can also help your body stay hydrated. A few days a week, have licorice tea or marshmallow tea. Licorice and marshmallow have a demulcent, slimy quality that will make you feel more hydrated and nourished than plain water. They will leave your mouth feeling gently salivated and refreshed, and will keep your mind and body calm.