Summer’s Finally Here: Warm Weather Diversity
As the warm weather approaches, it is a great time for some local diversity!
Warm weather brings more time outside, basking in the sun, catching up on a patio, or new adventure road trips. It can also bring more food outside of our routine - BBQ’s, beers and all the outdoor festivals! But this post is not just about the joys of warmer weather!
Beyond the diversity in our daily life, activities, and location, warmer weather allows us to also enjoy some diversity in our fiber sourc
Fiber in our food comes from the cellular walls in plant foods – anything grown from the earth. Fibers are compounds in our food such as cellulose, lignin, or pectin, that are resistant to digestive enzymes. This enzyme resistance helps to ensure that the fibers reach the intestines instead of being broken down in the stomach from digestive enzymes. Once past the stomach, these fibers play an important role in the function of our digestive system and body’s complex ecosystem.
If you’ve been following along with us for a while, you’ll know that we love to talk about fiber here. Fiber offers a wide range of benefits for the body – helping lower cholesterol, mitigate risks of diabetes (type 2), heart disease and stroke, and colorectal cancer. Fiber is also key in helping prevent constipation, which is important for our pelvic floor health! The more regular our bowel movements are, the less pressure is put on our pelvic floor muscles. This can help reduce pelvic dysfunction as we age and our hormones transition.
There are lots of other benefits of fiber as well, the digestive system is the center of the body’s complex ecosystem. Our digestive system contains trillions of bacteria. The role of this bacteria microbiome includes producing and regulating hormones, immune system protection, metabolic processes, and more! These bacteria are fed by the fiber that we get in our diet. Different bacteria species thrive off different fiber fuel sources, this is where our warm weather diversity comes in – we need fiber diversity!
During the warmer summer months, the foods that are locally grown and available are abundant. This is the perfect time of year to get some diversity in your fiber sources. Find a local farmers market, source out a farm to table grocery box delivery, or start a garden of your own! Maybe try a new fruit, vegetable, grain, nut, seed, bean or legume – these are all of the fiber fuel sources! As you bring more diversity to your fiber intake, be mindful that your digestive system may thank you with some gurgles, bloat, gas, or changes in bowel function. This is the bacteria balance changing as you fuel it with different fuel sources, and is completely normal. If you do find yourself uncomfortable due to these changes, take a deep breath! Some of these bacteria need oxygen to thrive. Other gut soothing tips include: licorice tincture, mint tea, ginger tea, eating at regular intervals, gentle mindful movement, and resting.
This summer while you’re enjoying the warm weather, think of all of the diversity that comes with it. From activities to fiber, your body will thank you for the mindful adventures, changes in foods, and fiber that you fuel your body with.
Resources:
https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthy-sustainable-diets/starchy-foods-sugar-and-fibre/fibre/#:~:text=Fibre%20helps%20to%20keep%20our,different%20effects%20on%20our%20body.
