Diet and Lifestyle Changes for Better Health
As we move from Winter into the Spring season, you may have noticed feelings of invigoration within you, with an urge to exercise and reconnect with nature, spending time outside in the sunshine, working in the garden. With the changing seasons, it is important to understand the natural changes which occur inside our body in response to the outside seasonal change. In Ayurveda, health is considered to be good when a balance between mind, body and the environment is maintained. To do this it is very important to adapt ourselves to the seasonal routine/regimen suitable for each season (diet and lifestyle changes). I will here suggest some great tips for optimizing your health during the seasonal change from winter to spring.
Effects of Spring on our body
Period – mid March to mid May
Spring seasons arrive in the period of the Northern Solstice. During this period Sun rays become stronger as compared to winter. Winds become increasingly sharp. Fresh green grass starts coming out of the soil, trees are full of beautiful flowers with wonderful scent. Birds start singing as winter is gone and the weather is warm again .
Kapha dosha which has undergone an increase in cold season becomes liquefied by the heat of the Sun in spring. It diminishes the digestive fire and gives rise to many diseases. Hence Kapha should be controlled quickly during this period. To know more about the 3 doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and how they affect your body, you can book a consultation, via this link.
Signs and symptoms of kapha aggravation during spring season:
Cough, cold, sneezing, rhinitis, bronchitis, Sinusitis, indigestion, feeling of heaviness, nausea, excess salivation etc.
On the other hand, a person with balanced doshas enjoys this weather. She or He feels fresh and ready to enjoy the season. The mind becomes active and starts enjoying blossoms and cool breezes. You gain energy, enthusiasm and have a relaxing experience.
Diet regimen:
During this period, one should consume easily digestible foods.
Food items tasting bitter, pungent and astringent are to be consumed more. Besides them, honey is to be included in the diet.
Include barley, wheat, rice, bitter vegetables, and mango in your diet.
Spices such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, and fennel help stimulate digestion and detoxify the skin, for which we also have an Ama Tea. These spices pacify the aggravated kapha in the body. They stimulate the digestive fire or agni and this restores optimal digestion.
Eating times:
Kapha is predominant during the time 6:00 am to 10:00 am so avoid excess eating during this period. Stick with a light breakfast. During this season, let lunch be the biggest meal of the day as pitta dosha is predominant around noon. It will aid in proper digestion of the food.
Drinks:
Drink fresh ginger tea with honey or Kapha Tea balance kapha.
Drink warm lemon water with a little salt in the morning to stimulate elimination of kapha.
Foods to be avoided:
Foods which are hard to digest are to be avoided.
Avoid heavy, oily, sweet & sour foods and drinks. As these foods naturally increase kapha, they will aggravate the present symptoms of kapha.
Lifestyle changes:
– Go for rigorous exercises, this will help in clearing the increased kapha. Exercising outdoors helps to reconnect with nature and promotes a healthy mind.
– Avoid day-time naps, especially sleeping after lunch as this slows down the digestion.
– Do some meditation to keep yourself calm.
– If you smoke, cut down on your smoking habit. Smoking causes indigestion that again results in kapha aggravation. Well, actually you should not smoke at all ever. But you already know that so I will not preach about it . You know what to do about it
– Practice self-massage daily. In Ayurveda, there is a self-massage ritual known as ‘Abhyanga’. It can be performed every morning using warm Sesame Oil
Triphala powder/Triphala capsule
Contains three of the most important Ayurvedic herbs for detoxifying and rejuvenating the body.
Take 1/2 teaspoon or one capsule at ncherry ight . Increase to 1 teaspoon or two capsules after one week. You can use it for up to six months at a time.
Turmeric + Honey/ Turmeric capsule..
Turmeric is a kitchen herb that is effective for drying mucus and soothing irritation associated with allergies.
Take 1/4 with 1 teaspoon raw Honey three times a day or one capsule at night (Organic India Turmeric Capsules) or if your allergies are acting up one capsule in morning and one at night . Raw honey is suggested to help digest the turmeric and make it taste better. It will not aggravate a kapha imbalance if used in this proportion. Regular honey can lose its medicinal benefits and can aggravate both pitta and kapha.
MP 16 Nasya oil is used in your nostrils and ears to increase lubrication. This soothes mucous membranes and other tissues of the nose.