As the seasons shift, your body starts whispering for something different, even if you don’t realize it yet. Each season has its own energy, and your body thrives when it flows with it.
Fall is the season of grounding, preserving, and warming up from the inside out. That means it’s time to let go of the iced matchas, cold smoothies, and raw salads. Those might've worked for the heat of summer, but now they can weaken digestion, create internal dampness, and mess with your energy.
So what’s the move?
Warm foods, grounding herbs, and slow nourishment. And yes, this can be fully plant-based and deeply healing.
Why Cold Foods Don’t Work in the Fall
Your digestive system is seen as a “digestive fire” ruled by the Spleen and Stomach. Cold foods put that fire out. When the weather cools and we keep eating cold/raw foods, we tax the Spleen, slow down Qi (energy) movement, and weaken our immunity.
So if you’re feeling sluggish, bloated, cold in your hands and feet, or just off, this might be why.
What to Eat Instead: Warming Vegan Foods
All these foods are plant-based and help nourish Yang, build Blood, and support smooth Qi flow.
Cooked Root Veggies
These ground your energy and nourish Earth element (Spleen/Stomach).
-
Sweet potatoes
-
Yams
-
Carrots
-
Beets
-
Turnips
-
Daikon radish (cooked)
-
Winter squash (butternut, kabocha, acorn)
-
Pumpkin
-
Rutabaga
Roast them with sesame oil + warming spices for a healing side dish.
Warming Grains + Legumes
Soft-cooked grains support digestion and give sustainable energy.
-
Brown rice
-
Oats (think cinnamon porridge)
-
Millet
-
Quinoa
-
Buckwheat
-
Barley
-
Red or black lentils
-
Black beans
-
Adzuki beans
-
Mung beans
Add a touch of cumin, turmeric, or fennel seeds while cooking for extra warmth.
Aromatic Veggies + Alliums
These help break up internal cold and support circulation.
-
Garlic
-
Leeks
-
Green onions (scallions)
-
Shallots
-
Yellow onions
-
Ginger
-
Turmeric
Use them as your flavor base for soups, sautés, and teas.
Cooked Fruits (for Yin + Blood)
Warm fruits nourish the Lungs and Blood while keeping it sweet.
-
Stewed apples with cinnamon
-
Baked pears with clove or nutmeg
-
Figs (baked or in oatmeal)
-
Dates (especially red dates / jujube)
-
Goji berries (add to tea or congee)
-
Dried apricots
-
Raisins
These are great in breakfast bowls or nighttime tonics.
Vegan Healthy Fats
Fat helps anchor energy and nourishes Blood in fall.
-
Sesame oil
-
Coconut oil
-
Olive oil (used warm)
-
Tahini
-
Almond or walnut butter (in warm drinks or sauces)
Warming Herbs + Spices (Vegan Friendly)
These support digestion, warm the body, and move stagnant Qi.
-
Ginger
-
Cinnamon
-
Clove
-
Nutmeg
-
Cardamom
-
Fennel seeds
-
Cumin
-
Star anise
-
Black pepper
-
Schisandra
-
Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis – great for Blood)
-
Astragalus (immunity & Qi tonic)
Now Let's get into the herbs to support your body's warmth and protection during the season shifts.
1. Food for the Blood Blend / Food for the Blood+ (tea or capsules)
Warming and nourishing – supports circulation and blood building.
What's inside and how they support:
-
Burdock Root – cleansing and mildly warming
-
Mexican Sarsaparilla Root – blood tonic, gently warming
-
Dandelion Root – supports digestion and liver; mildly warming
-
Kalawalla Root – warming, anti-stagnant
-
Guaco – opens circulation, slight warmth
-
Nettle Leaf – tonifying Qi and blood, mild warmth (Avail in FFTB+)
-
Schisandra Berry – astringes Qi, mild warming energetics (Avail in FFTB+)
Energetics: calming yet mildly warming and moistening; Taste: mild, earthy
Find these blends here.
Therapeutic Cellular Cleanse Capsules
Includes herbs that support immune and digestive flow with warming properties:
What's inside and how they support:
-
Ginger Root – classic warming herb, boosts digestion
-
Rhubarb Root – bitter yet warming for detox protocols
-
Mexican Cascara Sagrada – gently stimulating and warming
Find this blend here.
My Picks for Warming Focus Blends
-
Food for the Blood Blend / Food for the Blood+ (tea or capsules) – high in root and blood-building herbs that also deliver gentle warmth. Makes a great warming tea ritual.
-
Therapeutic Cellular Cleanse – contains ginger root, the go-to warming herb; excellent for a warming supportive detox.
How to Use These Blends Warmth-Style
-
Brew as hot tea: simmer 1–2 tsp in boiling water for at least 10 minutes to extract warming benefits.
-
Add warming spices: cinnamon, clove, or black pepper stirred into the tea enhance internal heat.