“Hearty vegetable soups are just the thing for the transition to Autumn (Sept 8 - 22, the week before and after it “begins”). Light fare will still be appreciated, and adding root vegetables - you could use sweet potatoes, beets, or turnips along with or instead of carrots and potatoes - gives this soup a little heft and makes it a great meal. The roasted tomatoes and a little EVOO add depth and richness that belies the simple preparation. If you have okra, that will add another layer of flavor and richness to this staple. …”

Not only are seasonal fruits and veggies less expensive and possible to grow on your own — or help a friend with harvesting, by eating seasonally and possibly even locally or hyper-locally you are tending your microbiome.

Recent circadian biology research has shown that populations eating traditional diets have gut microbiomes that change seasonally. Not only do our bodies modify the molecules they create — like melatonin — based on light, moisture, and temperature, but we also shift the microbes in our guts based on either these factors or our diet, and almost certainly both.

Beets are a wonderful complement to spring greens - bright, grounding, both sweet and bitter, so possessing qualities supportive to all doshas in different preparations.