Ayurveda and Winter Care!!!

Ayurveda believes that Nature influences our Body Mind and Soul deeply. This is the reason Ayurveda has described in detail the Daily as well as Seasonal regimens- because the way we live our day and night life in each season influences are life to a great extent.

These Daily regimens are also deeply influenced by the change in weather (seasons). For example, a person waking up at 4:00 am in the morning during summer would wake up in winters at around 5:00 am.

The reason of specification of these regimens is to maintain the health of a healthy individual so as to accomplish the basic aim of Ayurveda.

A human body, according to Ayurveda comprises of three Biological humors Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These hold our body in normal condition and in vitiated condition cause diseases. In order to maintain them in the healthy state and maintain equilibrium between them, one must follow the daily and seasonal regimen.

The seasonal regimen or Ritucharya is based on the weather outside the window and not on the months of the calendar. The Sun moves towards South for Six Months during winter season. The food therefore in this season should be rich in sweet sour and salty taste. The digestive fire is high so people can digest things, which would otherwise be difficult to digest.

Diet for winter as per Ayurveda:

-Milk flavored with Kesar, and milk products are good to eat.

-Ghajak - Sweet cakes made of Sesame seeds (til) and Jaggery is very common.

-Sweet dishes made of nuts are very common desert.

-Always drink warm water. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in water content. Zucchini, lauki squash, asparagus, apples, grapes, oranges and carrots are good.

-Halwa (sweet preparation) made of Carrots is good.

-Roasted peanuts and other nuts are a good stuff to snack.

-Avoid bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.

-Ayurvedic preparation Chyawanprash, helps in increasing the immune power and is also very effective in preventing upper respiratory tract infections.

-Amalaki Rasayana made of Amla (Indian Gooseberry), the richest source of vitamin C and a natural anti-oxidant can also be taken as rejuvenating medicine.

-Have warm Pakoras (small vegetable balls smeared in a batter of chickpea flour and deep fried in oil) with the Chai (Indian tea).

-Sip warm herbal teas made of dry ginger, black pepper and clove.

Lifestyle :

-Since winter season is driven by Vata it may make the skin dry, the feet chap and the lips crack so here are some ways to keep yourself healthy and good looking in the winter season as well.

-Keep yourself warm. Always cover yourself with woolen clothes. Wear scarf and Gloves when you move out of the house. Keep the home temperature as per your comfort and use a humidifier or place a bowl of water on the radiators to add moisture to the air.

-Wear a natural lip balm to protect your lips. Ghee (clarified butter) is a good choice.

-Enjoy the sun for at least some time in the day.

-Massage yourself with warm mustard oil or any medicated oil like the Dashmolabala oil.

-Do exercise daily to burn out the excess calories.

-Steam treatments are good but avoid Saunas.

-Do Udvartana (scrub) at least once a week with fine powder made of barley flour, Turmeric and china clay.