Wealden Times | WT209 | July 2019 | Summer supplement inside

The Summer Solstice on 21st June
this year marked the transition
into a new season and the start
of summer. It is on this day that the sun
rose and set at its most northern point,
leading to longer hours of daylight and
therefore the longest day of the year.
The word solstice is derived from the
Latin “sol” (sun) and “sistere” (to stand still)
and for me this says so much; this is the
time to stop, pause and reconnect with the
beauty of nature and the powerful effect that
the sun and its light has on all living things.
This time is celebrated by the druids
as a festival to give thanks to nature
and the changing faces of the seasons.
These seasonal rituals underpinning
practices such as druidism traditionally
evolved around farming practices. Now,
however, as our food production and
farming practices have changed to align
more with global demand than with
nature, this connection is less apparent.
Yet working intimately with the
change of seasons is a very simple and
powerful tool that can bring with it a
great opportunity to improve our physical
and emotional wellbeing. Indeed, the
inseparable relationship between the natural
environment around us, wherever we are
in the world, and our own wellbeing of
body, mind and spirit is a core belief in my
work at the Wild Clinic in Lewes and the
product formulations at Wild Nutrition.
The months leading to this seasonal
turning point allow us to celebrate by
feasting on nutrient-rich seasonal delights,
such as artichokes, asparagus, Jersey
potatoes, watercress or strawberries.
The longer, lighter evenings allow us to
relax with friends over a light evening
supper or wild swimming with your
family. Whichever ritual you choose
to celebrate nature’s gift of summer,
do so with abandon and gratitude.
Upping my water intake
During the winter or colder, damper
seasons, my water intake can be lower,
coming primarily through broths,
vegetables and fresh teas. In the summer
however, I have a natural pull to drink
more room temperature water, and water
rich fruits, such as watermelon. Adding
a morning green juice is a great way
to start the day feeling hydrated and
energised. A vegetable juice will provide
condensed nourishment from vitamins,
minerals and phytonutrients, but also
the natural water content they provide.
Try to make your juice with fresh
ingredients, such as cucumber, celery,
courgette, lettuce, fennel, lemon, lime
and mint, and drink within 15 minutes.
Eating summertime foods
The summertime produces some of
the most wonderful foods, such as
strawberries, that are particularly rich
in vitamin C, raspberries, apples,
runner beans, fennel, cucumber,
melon, rhubarb and rocket.
Eating in season also ensures
you are getting the best
flavours and nutrition
from your food and
can also support the
immune system and
skin from seasonal
ailments. Try to
source organic,
certified or just
a trusted source,
where possible.
Visit wildnutrition.com for Food-Grown® supplements and information
on Nutritional Therapists at clinics in Lewes and London
109
Health & Wellbeing
Wild at Heart
Henrietta Norton from Wild Nutrition explains how
she’ll be harnessing summer goodness to keep her
body and mind healthy throughout July
Here are just some of the changes I will
be making in this Season of Abundance
Exercising outside
What better way to enhance the benefits
of exercising than with an outdoor
routine in summer. Immersing ourselves
in nature supports our mental health
and physical wellbeing and is immensely
stress relieving. We don’t need a scientific
study to know that a walk through the
woods or cycling through the park is
uplifting and healing for the soul.
Adjusting my skincare
You can extend your summer changes
to your skincare routine, make-up and
sunscreen, too. There are some wonderful
naturally-derived, ethical products
available (my supplement regime shifts
during this season too) to help protect
your skin from oxidative damage and
contribute to collagen production.
SUPER BERRY SMOOTHIE
This smoothie will give you a nourishing kickstart
to the day, providing fats and protein to keep
hunger at bay and deliver a wonderfully creamy
texture. The seasonal berries offer a generous boost
of phytonutrients, such as anthocyanidins.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 dssp almond butter
(or a nut or seed butter of your preference)
½ an avocado
1 tsp coconut butter/oil
2 tbsp raspberries
(or blueberries/blackberries – fresh or frozen)
1 dssp Manuka honey
Fresh ground cinnamon or vanilla powder to taste
Almond milk to cover
Instructions
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend!