We wouldn’t expect an apple tree to behave in October exactly as it does in May, yet we often expect our bodies to carry on regardless of the season, our age or what else is happening in our lives.
As autumn arrives, we naturally start doing things differently. The evenings draw in, salads give way to soups and casseroles, we reach for an extra layer and perhaps find ourselves wanting to slow down a little.
Nature has seasons – and so do we.
Our bodies are constantly adapting. What we need can change according to the time of year, how active we are, how well we're sleeping, our stress levels and, of course, our stage of life.
Yet we're not always very good at adapting with them.
Most of us know when our car needs a service or the boiler needs checking, but when did you last properly check in with yourself?
Not just whether you're ill, but how well you actually feel.
How is your energy? Are you sleeping well? Is your digestion comfortable? How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Are you maintaining your strength and fitness? Are you relying on caffeine to get through the day or finding yourself reaching for sugar every afternoon?
Sometimes changes happen so gradually that we simply accept them as normal.
And our needs do change as we move through life. The habits that worked perfectly well at 25 may not serve us quite so well at 45 or 65. Maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important as we age, hormonal changes can influence how we feel, and sleep and recovery may need a little more attention.
That doesn't mean we should fear getting older. Quite the opposite. Looking after ourselves now gives us a much better foundation for enjoying the years ahead.
You don't need to completely overhaul your diet to start supporting your health.
One of the simplest things I teach my clients is to look for four elements on their plate: protein, fibre, colour and healthy fats.
Instead of counting calories or worrying about the latest list of foods you should and shouldn't eat, look at your next meal and ask whether you've got all four.
Autumn is a wonderful time to put this into practice. Think warming lentil soups, casseroles packed with vegetables, roasted root veg, porridge topped with stewed apple, nuts and seeds, or a colourful curry with vegetables and chickpeas.
Healthy eating certainly doesn't have to mean cold salad in October!
The changing seasons can also provide a useful reminder to take stock of what's happening inside your body.
As we head towards winter, vitamin D is an obvious consideration because our ability to produce it from sunlight becomes limited during the darker months. But there are other useful markers too.
Do you know your blood sugar levels? Your cholesterol? What about iron, vitamin B12 or folate?
This is why I offer an Annual Health MOT. It combines a comprehensive blood test with a 30-minute Nutritional Therapy consultation, so rather than simply receiving a page of results, we can discuss what they mean in the context of your diet, lifestyle and how you're actually feeling.
For some people, it's reassurance that they're on the right track. For others, it can highlight something worth addressing before it becomes a bigger issue.
You don't have to wait until something feels wrong before you start paying attention to your health.
Blood results can give us useful information, but they're only one piece of the puzzle.
When someone comes to me wanting to improve their health, one of the areas I almost always want to understand is their gut.
Your digestive system doesn't simply process dinner. It breaks food down and helps you absorb the nutrients your body needs. Your gut microbiome – the community of microbes living within the digestive system – also interacts with your immune system, metabolism and many other processes throughout the body.
Fortunately, supporting it doesn't have to be complicated.
Try eating a good variety of plant foods, gradually increasing fibre if your current intake is low and leaving some space between meals rather than grazing throughout the day. Sit down to eat where possible, chew properly and give yourself a couple of hours between your evening meal and going to bed.
Small habits, repeated regularly, can make a much bigger difference than occasionally trying to be “perfect”.
Sometimes taking stock makes us realise we've drifted away from the habits that help us feel our best.
Holidays, busy periods at work, family commitments and simply life itself can knock routines sideways. You might notice your digestion isn't quite right, your energy has disappeared or you're eating and drinking very differently from how you'd like to.
That's exactly why I created my 28 Day Transformation Programme.
It's a structured gut reset designed to give your digestive system some support while helping you understand how different foods affect your body. It includes two 1:1 calls with me, so we can make sure you're in the right place before you begin and, importantly, that you know what to do once the 28 days are over.
My book, Nourish to Flourish – Transform Your Health and Vitality in Just 28 Days, follows the same principles, combining the science of gut health with more than 80 recipes and a practical programme you can follow at home.
We often talk about lifespan, but I'm much more interested in healthspan – the years we spend healthy, active and able to enjoy our lives.
And looking after your future health doesn't have to begin with a dramatic transformation.
Perhaps this autumn you need to add more protein and colourful vegetables to your meals. Maybe it's time to prioritise sleep, start walking more regularly or rebuild your strength. Perhaps you'd like some objective information about what's happening inside your body with a health MOT. Or maybe you already know your digestion and energy would benefit from a more structured reset.
The answer will be different for everyone.
So as the leaves change and we head into another season, take a moment to ask yourself: What does my body need from me right now?
You don't need to wait until something goes wrong to start looking after your health.
Wendy Hill is a Lichfield-based Nutritional Therapist and author of Nourish to Flourish. She helps people understand the root cause of their health concerns, feel better now and protect their health for the future. Find out more about Wendy's Annual Health MOT, 28 Day Transformation Programme and Nutritional Therapy services at www.hillstart.me.uk.
