As the leaves start changing, autumn brings a renewed focus on health and hygge. This season offers many natural products to help boost wellness. From warming spices to cozy blankets, autumnal items provide benefits from nutrition to stress relief. This guide covers the best autumn products to help you feel your best this fall.
Pumpkin-Flavored Foods and Drinks
Pumpkins offer a wide array of nutritional benefits. This bright orange squash is packed with antioxidants like alpha and beta-carotene which get converted into vitamin A to support eye and immune health. Pumpkin flesh is also rich in fiber, providing 7 grams per 1 cup roasted. This aids digestion, gut health and heart health.
Enjoy nutrient-dense real pumpkin in soups and baked goods like muffins, breads, pancakes and waffles. Look for pumpkin puree without added sugars. Pumpkin also stars in lattes, smoothies, oats, chilis and grain bowls for breakfast and lunch. Check labels and choose versions made with real pumpkin, not just artificial flavoring.
Some delicious and healthy ways to eat more pumpkin include:
- Pumpkin yogurt parfait with granola and cinnamon
- Pumpkin pie overnight oats with chia seeds
- Pumpkin soup loaded with vegetables
- Pumpkin maple muffins using almond and oat flour
- Golden milk latte with pumpkin pie spice
Apples and Apple Cider for Nutrition
Apples shine as a superfood fall fruit. Their red, yellow and green varieties offer an array of nutrients and health benefits. Just one medium apple contains 4 grams of fiber to improve digestion and heart health. Apples also provide 9% of your daily vitamin C needs for immunity support as well as antioxidants like quercetin that fight inflammation.
Crunch into fresh, organic apples sliced with peanut or almond butter for a snack. Bake apples filled with raisins, nuts and cinnamon for a naturally sweet dessert. Add shredded apples to salads, slaws, yogurt bowls and chia puddings. Turn apples intosauces, chutneys or pies to savor their goodness all season long.
Homemade or fresh apple cider also packs nutritional power with antioxidants, probiotics from fermentation, and vitamins C, B6, A and potassium. Sip warm spiced cider or add cider to cocktails and mocktails. Try these healthy apple recipes:
- Apple peach spinach salad with cider vinaigrette
- Turkey maple apple sandwich on whole grain bread
- Apple oat crumble for breakfast
- Sparkling apple cider mule cocktail
Warming Spices and Teas
Warm, fragrant spices evoke autumn and come packed with health benefits. Cinnamon provides antioxidants shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar and triglycerides. Ginger aids digestion and contains anti-inflammatory compounds that ease joint pain. Nutmeg supports brain health and improves cognition.
Sip spiced teas or add autumn spices to oatmeal, smoothies, sauces, curries, and baked goods. Try combinations like cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg or ginger with cloves. Spiced drinks and foods help boost circulation and immunity as the weather cools. Brew up:
- Chai tea latte with almond milk
- Golden milk with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon
- Moroccan mint tea with cardamom and cloves
- Cranberry pecan oatmeal with ginger and nutmeg
Essential Oil Diffusers and Candles
Autumn makes the perfect time to create a relaxing haven at home. Essential oil diffusers and scented candles infuse spaces with calming scents of the season.
Natural aromas like cinnamon, clove, cedarwood and pine needles promote relaxation. These woody and spicy scents invoke coziness and comfort. Diffuse oils or light candles in the bedroom, living room or bathroom for self-care. When shopping for diffusers, look for models with auto shut-off and adjustable diffusion settings. Try these autumnal essential oil blends:
- Cedarwood, bergamot and orange
- Cinnamon and clove
- Pine needle and lemon
- Pumpkin pie spice
For candles, choose non-toxic soy or beeswax versions scented with pure essential oils. Avoid artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.
Cozy Home Goods for Hygge
The Danish tradition of “hygge” epitomizes coziness and comfort. As a seasonal wellness practice, hygge helps combat stress during darker months.
Create hygge at home with candles, plush blankets, soft furnishings and warm beverages. Other ways to cultivate this ritual include reading, listening to soothing music, journaling and disconnecting from technology. Prioritize self-care through:
- Cooking warm, nutritious meals
- Curling up in a fuzzy weighted blanket
- Taking an Epsom salt or essential oil bath
- Lighting candles during gentle yoga or meditation
- Spending time reflecting and writing in a gratitude journal
- Immersing in art, music, puzzles or inspirational books
A focus on simple pleasures nurtures contentment and wellbeing. Help beat the autumn blues by carving out little pockets of hygge.
Welcome Autumnal Wellness
Fall offers many natural ways to renew wellness through food, home goods and lifestyle practices. Pumpkin, apples, spices, aromatherapy and cozy spaces help boost nutrition, immunity, mood and self-care. With these tips and products, enjoy fall as a season for revitalizing health.
