Beyond the Soil

A plant’s roots draw water and minerals from the soil to nourish and sustain its leaves. They regulate water and mineral movement and keep crucial fluids flowing. Roots store energy collected by the leaves, slowly releasing it to fuel growth, activity and reproduction for plants. During a long, cold winter, the underground portion of a plant stores vital energy after the leaves die back, allowing the plant to regenerate in the spring.

Read more about eating the stems, skins and tops of veggies

Roots are most abundant during the cooler months of the year as that is the time when their sugar concentration is higher, making them extremely delicious as well as excellent sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. There are so many attributes that make roots good eats! Roots firm themselves deep into the earth, drawing the nutrients from the bountiful soil while their greens are hard at work taking nutrients from the sun. Roots anchor us in the wintertime by providing a plethora of nutrients to keep us healthy through the cooler months.

In the winter time we want to slow down, be still, more thoughtful, pensive and eating from the robust root family helps support that grounding downward inward energy. If we want our feet firmly planted on this green planet, we must reconnect with the primal energy of Mother Earth. What better time to do this reconnecting than the autumn and winter, when leaves have fallen, when we have celebrated yet another harvest and are preparing for the deep cool white winter to settle in.

Beyond the Surface

What do root vegetables and our middle organs and reproductive system have in common? They are all located deep beyond the surface. Roots are deep in the soil of the earth, and our organs deep within our core, or what yoga teachings refer to as the “root and navel center.” Beets, for example, are lovely, deep red, antioxidant-rich roots, robust in shape and flavor and resemble a womb in shape. The beta-carotene in beets may help maintain a vigorous reproductive system in women. The corpus luteum (develops in an ovary following ovulation) has the highest concentration of beta-carotene than any other organ.¹ Beets are also recommended for women experiencing irregular menses.

Take a Look at Your Roots!

Root vegetables provide carbohydrates, minerals (such as potassium), vitamins, fiber and plant chemicals (phytonutrients), which are known to be health promoting and anti-aging.

Root vegetables are highly nutritious and good sources of fiber, which can increase feelings of satiety, aid weight loss and keep you regular, ridding you of that winter bloat. Add root vegetables to your meals for a mix of vibrant colors, textures, nutrients, and flavors to meals. One or two daily doses of roots may decrease your desire for sweets, helping to regulate your blood sugar levels, provided that you pair them with ample protein and beneficial fats.

Read more about healthy fats that don't make you fat

Depending on where you live, the harvest times will surely vary; however, most roots are amenable to year-round use. Be sure to try some root-based recipes – for a few yummy ways to celebrate the season and reconnect with your roots.

Image: Skånska Matupplevelser

Reference

1Hass, E. (2006). Staying Healthy with Nutrition

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The human body is an amazing machine and during pregnancy the body becomes finely tuned to support the growth of a new life, re-organizing itself to readily process the good stuff you put in, and clear out the inappropriate materials from the blood stream.

The lesson in cravings, is to look for the foods, deficits and behaviors in your life that are the underlying cause of your cravings. This may require a radical shift in perspective because many people view cravings as a weakness, when they're actually important messages meant to assist you in maintaining balance.

When you experience cravings, deconstruct them by asking yourself three questions:

• What does my bod
• Why does it w?
• Will I be satisfied if I

This will lay the groundwork for deconstructing your prenatal cravings, allowing you to decide whether to indulge in your fantasy food or choose something your body needs.

What Are Your Cravings Saying?

There are six basic causes of cravings, and your cravings are your body's way of telling you it's time for some change in what you're eating (or what you aren't).

Hydration

The body doesn’t send the message “thirsty” until it’s on the verge of dehydration. Instead, thirst often manifests as mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a strange craving is to drink a full glass of water. Remember, during pregnancy the body requires more water to conduct the metabolic processes. So grab your stainless steel water bottle and drink away-to the tune of at least eight tall glasses of water daily.

Imbalance

Certain foods are more expansive while other foods are more contractive. Whether you are eating foods that are either extremely expansive or extremely contractive you’ll crave the opposite to balance yourself out. If you’re eating a diet too rich in sugar or breads (expansive) you may start craving meat or coffee (contractive). Your body, in its infinite wisdom, wants to bring you back into balance, so if you eat within a balanced continuum of whole foods, you can avoid sharp swings in cravings.

Nostalgia

Sometimes we experience cravings for foods we’ve eaten in the past, including foods similar to what our ancestors ate, childhood favorites or something recently eaten. A good way to re-construct these cravings is to eat a healthier version of your ancestral or childhood foods, and remember to eat them in moderation.

Seasonal Shifts

The body often craves foods that balance out the elements of the season. In the spring people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus fruits. In the summer cooling foods like fruit, raw food and ice cream are favorites. The fall brings a desire for grounding foods like squash, root veggies, onions and nuts. And in the winter people crave hot foods and heat-producing foods like animal protein, oil and fat. People will also crave foods associated with holidays such as turkey, eggnog, and sweets.

Lack of Nutrients

If the body has inadequate nutrients it will produce odd cravings. General inadequate nutritional distribution produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy like caffeine-and caffeine and pregnancy is not a healthy mix. Inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings (and nausea!), but like caffeine, salt can increase your blood pressure. Instead of reaching for salted peanuts, make a salad full of leafy greens, broccoli florets, carrot, peas and a legume, or snack on some roasted sweet potatoes.

Hormones

When the body experiences menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels often cause strange cravings. You're pregnant-enjoy it. Your cravings are your body’s unique way of trying to find balance. So when you have that craving for mustard on your pizza, go for it.

Photo Credit: phallin

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