51. Fall Foods That Strengthen Digestion

Written By Bree Luck

As the season cools and dries, your body changes too. Kate shares exactly how to pivot your meals toward warm, moist, grounding foods, plus easy spice pairings and a gentle two-week transition mindset that protects digestion at the seasonal “joint” (the ṛtu sandhi). Expect soups and stews, cooked fruit, warm water rituals, and smart use of fat and seeds. If you’re feeling the first signs of dryness—skin, eyes, stools—this episode gives you simple, delicious ways to respond.

What You’ll Learn

  • Why fall is naturally “cleansing” and how a short, simpler diet window helps digestion recalibrate.

  • Core fall cooking shifts: soups/stews, cooked fruit, warm (not cold) drinks, and more oil.

  • Spices that stoke agni (digestive fire) without overheating: ginger, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, turmeric.

  • When to avoid potential irritants (e.g., caffeine, nightshades, nuts during a cleanse window).

  • Moisture matters: adding ghee, olive, coconut, sesame, flax, or hemp (used appropriately).

  • Practical pantry habits: toasted seed toppers, a go-to dressing or tahini sauce, and a thermos of hot water.

  • Mindful eating cues: sit down, breathe, and let the nervous system settle before meals.

Episode Highlights (Breakdown)

  • Seasonal logic: Cold + dry outside calls for warm + moist in your bowl.

  • Soups & stews: Blend greens with veggie broth, coconut milk, ginger, and cumin; add a scoop of cooked grain for texture.

  • Beans for gentle detox: think mung beans (and classic kitchari) cooked very soft.

  • Cooked fruit > raw fruit in cold weather: sautéed apples with ghee + cinnamon, stewed pears, stewed prunes.

  • Warm water ritual: swap the water bottle for a thermos; consider plain hot water between meals.

  • Fats & oils: increase slightly if you notice dryness (skin, eyes, stools).

  • Seeds = mineral boost: toast pumpkin/sunflower; finish with ume plum vinegar or tamari as a daily topper.

  • Dressings you’ll use: olive/hemp/flax oil with ume plum or balsamic, herbs; or a lemon-tahini drizzle.

  • Root veg & squash love: carrot, beet, fennel, kale, collards, winter squash + coconut milk + red lentils + ginger = fall gold.

  • Eating posture: sit, slow down, and skip screens to keep wind (vāta) from spiking.

Mentioned in this episode:

Call to Action

  • Join Kate’s Fall Community Cleanse (10 days of gentle transitions, spices, and guided routines).

  • Grab the Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook for the fall section (soups, stews, cooked fruits).

  • Try the thermos swap: carry hot water for one week and notice the difference.

  • Share your fall bowl: Tag @healwithkate with your soup/stew and seed topper!

The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Fall Cleanse: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsors:
Osi Oils. These handcrafted, organic oils are rooted in Ayurvedic tradition and thoughtfully formulated to support your skin, your senses, and your dosha.  Get 20% off at https://www.osioils.com/?ref_cca=kateodonnell with the code AYURVEDA20.

Acknowledge, makers of full-spectrum hemp tinctures grown on a regenerative organic farm. Try the Sleep tincture with code KATE30 for 30% off your 1st order at https://acknowledge.co

Bree Luck https://www.awkwardsage.com
Next

50. From Rope to Remedies: The Real Story of Hemp and CBD