Just as the seasons change, so do nature’s bounties. In Ayurveda, we should follow nature’s signals to provide guidance on how to improve our overall health and wellness. Staying in balance according to the season will offer the best health and beauty benefits. Consuming seasonal fruits and veggies will help you get the most nutrients out of the fruits and veggies you already love. Take a look below at fruits and vegetables that are in season during fall/autumn and try to incorporate these yummy, vegan and all natural goodies. 

There’s a reason they say an apple a day keeps the dr. away..I’m still trying to figure out who they are. But “they” are right…not only are apples amazing for you health, apples are chockfull of vitamins and antioxidants that help improve your skin, hair and overall beauty from the inside out. Apples are high in natural collagen and elastin, vitamin C and a variety of polyphenols. Here is what apples can do for you: 

• Whitens Teeth 
• Prevent aging, wrinkles and sagging skin
•  Act as an all natural toner
•  Prevent sun damage, reduce dark spot and clear blemishes (mash up apples and apply to clean skin as a mask and remove after 15-20 mins, wash off with cold water).

Pumpkin 

No fall list can be complete without some talk about Pumpkin and this list is no exception! Pumpkins are more than just a pretty, round decorative – they are gift from nature that is meant to be used for it’s abundance of nutrients. Packed with vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, vitamin C, E and beta-carotene—just to name a few help promote glowing skin and beautiful hair! 

Apply pumpkin to hair and skin for additional beauty benefits: 

Pumpkin Hair Mask Recipe: Mix together a ½ cup of pumpkin puree with a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply to hair for an hour. This will help restore and hydrate, dry, damaged hair. You can also mix in our Neem Healing Oil, which contains Pumpkin Seed Oil and work into scalp to help stimulate hair follicles. 

Pumpkin Face Scrub Recipe: Mix together pumpkin puree, a natural, vegan face oil and some turmeric, chickpea flour or you can use our all natural, vegan Indian Glow Face Scrub to exfoliate your skin. Scrub in gentle upward, circular motions (do not scrub hard) and rinse off with cool water, followed by a moisturizer. 

These delicious potatoes are much healthier than their white potato counterparts. They are much more nutrient-rich. Sweet potatoes contain Omega 3, fatty acids magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc and vitamins A, B, C, K and E. Sweet potato is considered an excellent source of natural, health-promoting compounds known as beta-carotene and anthocyanin that also help improve hair health and skin health, while preventing aging. You can apply cooked, mashed sweet potatoes directly to your face as a healthy skin mask. My favorite way of eating sweet potatoes is as a home made sweet potatoes fries. Just chop up sweet potatoes, leaving the skin on in the shape of fries, toss in some olive oil and top with sea salt and grinded black pepper. 

Ok, ok…brussel sprouts get a bad rep and I know why! As a kid, all I remember is all of the family sitcoms and cartoons I watched showing little kids disgusted by these little green cabbage like veggies, but guess what if seasoned right, these are delicious and again, very good for your health and beauty! As a major bonus, brussel sprouts contain cancer and infection fighting properties, incorporating this super food into your diet is a great way to significantly improve your health, boost your immune system and prevent aging. 

Cauliflower 

There is something comforting and warm about cauliflower. I make a really delicious vegan Manchurian cauliflower that my hubby and family absolutely love! Cauliflower is high in phytonutrients and compounds that lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Some of the vitamins, minerals and other useful nutrients that are naturally found in cauliflower are Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, fats, niacin, copper and iron. These nutrients help hair and skin by cleaning and detoxifying your system, thereby helping regenerate healthy skin cells and hair follicles. 

So there you have it! 5 of some of the healthiest fall fruits and veggies that promote health, wellness, skin and hair! Start incorporating these as well as a variety of other colorful produce into your diet and reap the benefits of natural beauty, radiant skin and shiny hair! 

What are your favorite fall fruits or veggies?

Do you have any recipes using a seasonal produce you want to share? I would love to hear from you! Comment below!