The Truth About Pumpkin Spice

Learn how this fall favorite can help bring balance to the body and mind.

Nature is always in flux, and there’s no greater reminder of this than the change of seasons.

I live in West Virginia where we get to experience the glory of all four seasons – spring, summer, fall, and winter. Even if we favor one season and complain about another, we have to admit that each is beautiful in its own way. Yet the transitions from one to another can sometimes wreak havoc on our bodies, especially if we’re not armed with the knowledge and the tools to make those transitions smoother.

Each season has its own qualities. Summer is hot, sharp, bright, oily, and humid. Fall is cool, light, dry, rough, windy (mobile), and clear. Winter is cool, very dry, light, rough, hard, clear and mobile. Spring is heavy, oily, damp, slow, cloudy and stable. If we want to create balance in the body and mind, we can do so by eating and engaging in activities that bring balance to the dominant qualities of each season.

So how does pumpkin spice fit into this equation?

According to Ayurveda, one of the easiest ways we can bring balance to the body and mind is by eating foods that are in season and cooking with herbs and spices that have qualities that are opposite to the season. In autumn, pumpkin spice fulfills both those requirements.

Pumpkins come into season in the fall. Pumpkins are heavy, moist, and grow close to the ground. These qualities balance the light, dry, mobile qualities of autumn. The spices -cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves - are warming (not hot) spices that complement the coolness of the season.

The problem with the ubiquitousness of pumpkin spice is that it’s almost always full of artificial flavors and refined sugar. So if you’re a fan of pumpkin spice, stick to the real stuff and sweeten with raw honey or pure maple syrup!

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me. My goal in everything I do, whether it’s teaching a drop-in yoga class or working with my long-term Body Wisdom course members, is to help you learn more about yourself so that you can feel your best year-round.