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PL Healthy Choices

Seasonal Senses

By amelia kirkland

Springtime can be the best of times and the worst of times. Warming temps and blossoming trees give us a sense of growth and renewal, but springtime can also bring about trepidation and dread in some people.

While we love the idea of spending more time outdoors in fewer layers of clothing, we might ask ourselves, “How am I going to look in shorts after hiding behind jeans and leggings all winter?” or “Will I be able to take long walks through Weymouth without ending up a sneezing, watery, itchy mess?”

We are here to unpack these conundrums with useful tips on how to make the most of springtime while mitigating some of its pitfalls.

When the weather turns warm, people want to get outside. Stay-at-home orders in 2020 brought about many more home gardeners. I am in great hopes that this trend continues into 2021. When done responsibly, gardening is great for the soil and environment, but it is also great for you. It provides physical exercise, mental challenges and a healthy dose of vitamin D.

One thing to remember when gardening, or engaging in any outdoor activity, is to remember your sunscreen. CDC statistics show North Carolinians to be at moderate risk for skin cancers. In 2017, 25.5 new cases of melanoma were reported per 100,000 people in our state.

Late spring/early summer planting is exciting. We really get into the “meat” of summer fruits and veggies around this time. Some favorite crops to grow during this timeframe are tomatoes, eggplant, peppers of all kinds, zucchini and yellow squash, and even celery. These are what we think of on a blue plate special in the South—you know, those plates that are filled with summer veggies that your Grandma grew.

We are between planting zones 7 and 8, so we can use the planting guide from either of these zones, allowing for plenty of yummy things to grow!

Even if you’re not so much of a gardener, you can still reap the benefits of fresh, locally grown produce by visiting the farmer’s market or subscribing to Sandhills Farm 2 Table. Mandy Davis, director of Sandhills Farm 2 Table,

says May will bring lots of strawberries and spring onions, and by month’s end we will start to see blueberries.

By the beginning of June, yellow squash and zucchini will be coming in. This provides us with freshness throughout the spring. And Mandy’s best advice: “Eat with the seasons.”

Spring, of course, is also allergy season. For many, that can mean irritated eyes, sneezing and rashes— starting as early as late February, with allergies in full swing come May. There are plenty of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to battle seasonal allergies, but there are some good all-natural remedies as well.

Did you know, for instance, that diffusing essential oils can combat seasonal allergies? Synergistic combinations, or blends that work more effectively together than singly, such as lavender, peppermint and lemon, can benefit the respiratory system. According to local massage and bodywork expert Kacey Graner, tea tree oil, cypress, rosemary, eucalyptus, chamomile and frankincense can be helpful too.

Local honey is also a wonderful combatant for seasonal allergies. Local bees make honey from nectar of native plants, some of which may be causing your sneezing. So when you consume local honey, you are treating the allergy symptoms to allergens specific to our locale.

Seasonal allergies can cause inflammation and swelling of the lining of the nose and the protective tissues around the eyes. Honey is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, so one theory about honey is that it combats seasonal allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation.

Honey is also known for its antimicrobial properties, so it’s great for staving off a spring cold. My grandmother used to mix honey with a little lemon juice and vinegar, offering antimicrobial properties. She would mix these ingredients with a little hot water and drink it every day. As a tonic or tea, I like to add ginger to this concoction; it creates a warming sensation in my throat, heart and mind.

Spring is a fabulous, uplifting time of year. Hopefully, we’ve provided you with some tips and tricks to make yours even more pleasurable.

You can find Sandhills Farm 2 Table at sandhillsfarm2table. com, Kacey Graner at kgmassagetherapy.net and Dees Bees honey at deesbeesapiary.com.

PL

Amelia Kirkland has been an advocate for good health for more than 30 years. She is the founder of The Helpful Plate (thehelpfulplate.com), a company committed to empowering people to lead fulfilling, healthy lives. She is an avid cyclist, runner and student of Pilates.

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