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Starting your alkaline journey can be overwhelming, and the grocery store can be confusing.
How can tropical fruits be “in season” during the dead of winter in Minneapolis?
Why is the “health food section” mainly packaged foods with a zillion ingredients?
Where are the foods that are energizing and good for my gut?
It seems like this store is just aisles of sugar and acid…
I get it—I was a sugar and acid addict at one point! My goal is to be the friend and guide I wanted back then. I remember going to the store and letting anxiety take over me because all I saw were sugar and acid-packed choices. This is why I created the lists below, and I am always here to support your alkaline journey via this blog, my personal Instagram, my books, and working with me directly.
Everything is “always in season” in American grocery stores, but that comes at a high cost for your gut, our planet, and even your wallet. This is because out-of-season to your hometown or city food is flown in from around the world.
From seed to sold, here’s an example of an out-of-season apple’s journey:
It was grown under China's produce regulations, picked before ripe, and stored in a special freezer for several weeks.
Then, your apple was flown across the world and soaked in ETHYLENE GAS to start the ripening process upon arrival in the USA.
Next, the apple got waxed to make it "pretty" (and seal in all the toxins it just received) and put on a truck or maybe another plane and then a truck before finally landing in your hand at the grocery store.
During this process, harmful toxins were added, nutrients were drastically lost, and unnecessary CO2 emissions polluted our air from all that travel. It also probably tastes rather bland compared to your favorite apple grower at the farmer’s market.
THIS is just one example of why eating seasonally is part of my Strength-Eating™ lifestyle
Dr. Daryl’s Top Gut-Healthy Picks For Winter
1. Root Vegetables
Root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, and parsnips should be winter staples. They’re packed with fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion by feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gut. These vegetables will also help you stay “rooted in health” thanks to their potent amounts of antioxidants and essential vitamins like A and C, which shield your immune system from colds and other miserable illnesses.
A recipe my family loves: Roasted sweet potatoes and veggies.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale are in their prime during winter and phenomenal for those seeking optimal health, healing, and energy! They are brimming with prebiotic fiber that helps your gut flourish and loaded with energizing glucosinolates, compounds that support detoxification and overall health.
I couldn’t pick one, so here are my three favorite cruciferous veggie winter recipes:
Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios and Lemon
3. Winter fruits
Persimmons, pears, citrus, pomegranates, and kumquats are all grown in cold weather. They are nature’s candy and sweet on your gut, so eat them up! Start your day with my Pomegranate Chia Pudding, and end it with this delightful mocktail!
And lastly, watch out for these winter foods that many people will say are good for their gut—but they are NOT.
Bone broth. It’s often filled with chemical substitutes, vinegar (yeast and sugar), and lead! For a deep dive, please read this blog post. For a nourishing and hydrating alternative, please use my homemade chicken bone broth recipe.
Fermented foods. While they are sources of pre and probiotics, they are also packed with yeast and acid! Get into the nitty gritty with me via this blog post.
Dried fruits. They are often coated with sugar, additives, and preservatives that will destroy your gut.
It’s vital to eat gut-healthy foods year-round, but especially in winter when seasonal depression can easily creep in. Here’s why:
95% of serotonin (your happy, feel-good hormone) is made in the gut.
Your gut and mental state are intrinsically connected, so eat for happiness this winter—and make sure to drop in liquid joy—Acid-Kicking Vitamin D.
Happy eating and wintering!
