Summer Traditions and Health

It’s getting cooler in the evening and the smell of fall is in the air. 

I always remember great childhood memories about the Obon festival in Japan.  The Obon festival is a buddhist custom to welcome the spirits of our ancestors. It is always celebrated in late August in my hometown. During this Obon holiday, people go back to their hometowns to spend time with their families, pay homage at their home altars, and visit ancestral tombs. We also go to the Obon festival wearing the yukata (traditional summer attire), watch fireworks, dance traditional dances, eat traditional foods and play many games with children.

Also during the late summer season, we have special sweet sauce marinated charcoal grilled eels. These are rich in vitamin B1 which is required in our bodies for good metabolism including improvements to glucose levels, amino acids and lipids. It helps prevent fatigue from summer heat. Seasonal foods are important to understand and recognize for good health. Human cultures around the world have embraced consuming certain foods at certain times of the year. These cultural traditions are not just for fun - they are important parts of our lives. Keep this in mind as you work on your overall health this fall and think about what kind of foods your body is craving.