Guidelines for Vata Season
Many of us associate seasons with specific types of food, yet we are generally still largely unaware of how biological rhythms cause changes in appetite. We generally consume less food in the spring and summer and in the fall more carbohydrates and more protein in winter.
One of the principles of healthy eating is keeping in harmony with the natural cycles and our own physiological cycles thus improving the internal flow of energy and balancing the functional activity of our organs. If we take in foods that do not take into account seasonal rhythms, this saps our energy and causes imbalances that can lead to disease.
Ayurveda defines foods and lifestyle not only according to the psychophysical constitution or dosha of each person, but also according to the relationship between our personal constitution and seasonal changes.
Vata season generally begins late September in autumn, unless you live in Texas where it is still in the 90’s! It is a time when the Air element (Vayu) is predominant. There is a greater lightness, cool, dry and fresh quality in the air. There is also a tendency for winds to blow in changing directions. In Ayurveda we say that like increases like, so aggravated doshas are pacified by a diet and lifestyle that is opposite in nature to the prevailing conditions .The seasonal tendencies of autumn aggravate Vata Dosha, but also let us not forget that we have all 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha and Vata dosha may get aggravated in each and everyone of us.
Vata is characterized by qualities of light, dry, mobile, cold, hard, rough, sharp, subtle, flowing and clear. Vata rules the nervous system, controls the moisture levels in the body, the feeling of relaxation and how we digest food. Autumn is a time for balancing Vata, by maintaining a regular routine and a Vata pacifying diet to avoid increased Vata imbalances such as restlessness, insomnia, constipation, dry skin, and worry. Balancing Vata during the autumn season also allows us to build a strong natural immunity against the cold and flu that tends to strike during the winter .
Dietary Guidelines:
Think about the Vata qualities of light, dry, mobile, cold, hard, rough, sharp, subtle, flowing and clear. Include foods of the opposite quality and avoid foods with the same quality. The most important principle to remember about food during Vata season is to have hot cooked food. Since Vata is cold, dry and rough, hot cooked food made with a little olive oil or ghee is soothing and calms down restless Vata immediately. Also hot beverages like herbal teas or hot milk have an immediate effect of balancing Vata. Cold sandwiches, cold salads, dry cereal with cold milk are the types of foods that can create a Vata imbalance and should preferably be avoided during this season.
Foods to include in Vata season:
Foods with sweet, sour and salty tastes .
Grains: basmati rice,oats, quinoa , wheat products such as bulgur,couscous, pasta, cream of wheat.
Dairy: warm milk, buttermilk cottage cheese, lassi,
Oils: olive, sesame ,ghee & butter
Sweeteners: raw honey, molasses, turbinado sugar, date sugar
Sweet juicy fruits
Nuts in moderation such as cashews, almonds and pistachios are good for Vata. Sesame seeds are especially balancing for Vata.
Foods to avoid : dry cereal, granola, bread, cold foods, ice cream, barley, corn, buckwheat, rye, dried fruit (raisins & prunes should be soaked in water first, dates are fine.). Acidic fruits like blueberries. Apples and pears are good when cooked. Salads and raw vegetables, beans , broccoli, cabbage, in general should be avoided except mung dahl, tofu and green beans.
Daily Routine for Vata Season:
Get up early and brush your teeth. Take a tablespoon of sesame oil and swish it in your mouth for 3 minutes. This nourishes the mouth, strengthens the teeth and prevents bleeding gums.
Drink a glass of room temperature water which helps to cleanse the GI track, flush the kidneys, and stimulates peristalsis. It is not a good idea to start the day with tea or coffee, as this drains kidney energy, stresses the adrenals, causes constipation, and is habit-forming.
Give yourself a self-massage ( abhyangha) with warm sesame or coconut oil. This counteracts the seasonal tendency towards dryness, joint pain and muscle aches. Then shower with warm water.
Use some essential oils that are grounding such as vetiver, orange or geranium essential oils . You may also add a few drops of these essential oils to your self-massage oils or use while taking a bath.
For breakfast have a bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat to which you can add cinnamon & hot milk or a date and almond shake, made from soaked dates, soaked and peeled almonds, and boiled milk (or a substitute) – blended together with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Ideally lunch should be the main meal of the day. Opt for hearty grains, steamed or sautéed vegetables, (unleavened) breads, soups and stews are excellent choices for lunch.
Avoid raw salads, soft drinks, cold drinks, ice, peas, yeast and fermented foods and because they cause gas and can disrupt digestion.
Snacks: include an herbal tea ,unleavened wheat bread ,dates, or fresh fruit or hot milk with almonds .Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can aggravate Vata and should be avoided.
Dinner : ideally it is a bit smaller and lighter than lunch but should provide enough soothing nourishment to pacify vata. Soups, stews, or a smaller serving of lunch are a perfect choice.
If you practice yoga, use more grounding poses to mobilize Vata energy in a downward direction. You can also include alternate nose breathing. This breathing practice purifies accumulated toxins due to tension and constriction of channels. Breathing practices help us relax, but also relax the subtle channels which can easily become strained.
At the end of the day make yourself a cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg and cardamom or a pinch of ginger and a little sugar or honey for a good night’s sleep .
While these general tips can help to start incorporating Ayurveda and feeling better, ideally adjustments should be made if you suffer from any imbalances due to change of seasons and the individual constitution of a person needs to be taken into account as well ; for instance if you have a Pitta imbalance during Vata season, then your diet needs to take into account that imbalance. Consider an Ayurvedic consultation which will help to customize your routine. There are some herbal remedies that are great for reducing Vata, maintaining inner strength and balance and reduce symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty in digestion, constipation and anxiety.
Rome was not built in a day, so take one or two things at a time, that you can incorporate into your daily and weekly routine.
Namaste,
Tamara
Many of us associate seasons with specific types of food, yet we are generally still largely unaware of how biological rhythms cause changes in appetite. We generally consume less food in the spring and summer and in the fall more carbohydrates and more protein in winter.
One of the principles of healthy eating is keeping in harmony with the natural cycles and our own physiological cycles thus improving the internal flow of energy and balancing the functional activity of our organs. If we take in foods that do not take into account seasonal rhythms, this saps our energy and causes imbalances that can lead to disease.
Ayurveda defines foods and lifestyle not only according to the psychophysical constitution or dosha of each person, but also according to the relationship between our personal constitution and seasonal changes.
Vata season generally begins late September in autumn, unless you live in Texas where it is still in the 90’s! It is a time when the Air element (Vayu) is predominant. There is a greater lightness, cool, dry and fresh quality in the air. There is also a tendency for winds to blow in changing directions. In Ayurveda we say that like increases like, so aggravated doshas are pacified by a diet and lifestyle that is opposite in nature to the prevailing conditions .The seasonal tendencies of autumn aggravate Vata Dosha, but also let us not forget that we have all 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha and Vata dosha may get aggravated in each and everyone of us.
Vata is characterized by qualities of light, dry, mobile, cold, hard, rough, sharp, subtle, flowing and clear. Vata rules the nervous system, controls the moisture levels in the body, the feeling of relaxation and how we digest food. Autumn is a time for balancing Vata, by maintaining a regular routine and a Vata pacifying diet to avoid increased Vata imbalances such as restlessness, insomnia, constipation, dry skin, and worry. Balancing Vata during the autumn season also allows us to build a strong natural immunity against the cold and flu that tends to strike during the winter .
Dietary Guidelines:
Think about the Vata qualities of light, dry, mobile, cold, hard, rough, sharp, subtle, flowing and clear. Include foods of the opposite quality and avoid foods with the same quality. The most important principle to remember about food during Vata season is to have hot cooked food. Since Vata is cold, dry and rough, hot cooked food made with a little olive oil or ghee is soothing and calms down restless Vata immediately. Also hot beverages like herbal teas or hot milk have an immediate effect of balancing Vata. Cold sandwiches, cold salads, dry cereal with cold milk are the types of foods that can create a Vata imbalance and should preferably be avoided during this season.
Foods to include in Vata season:
Foods with sweet, sour and salty tastes .
Grains: basmati rice,oats, quinoa , wheat products such as bulgur,couscous, pasta, cream of wheat.
Dairy: warm milk, buttermilk cottage cheese, lassi,
Oils: olive, sesame ,ghee & butter
Sweeteners: raw honey, molasses, turbinado sugar, date sugar
Sweet juicy fruits
Nuts in moderation such as cashews, almonds and pistachios are good for Vata. Sesame seeds are especially balancing for Vata.
Foods to avoid : dry cereal, granola, bread, cold foods, ice cream, barley, corn, buckwheat, rye, dried fruit (raisins & prunes should be soaked in water first, dates are fine.). Acidic fruits like blueberries. Apples and pears are good when cooked. Salads and raw vegetables, beans , broccoli, cabbage, in general should be avoided except mung dahl, tofu and green beans.
Daily Routine for Vata Season:
Get up early and brush your teeth. Take a tablespoon of sesame oil and swish it in your mouth for 3 minutes. This nourishes the mouth, strengthens the teeth and prevents bleeding gums.
Drink a glass of room temperature water which helps to cleanse the GI track, flush the kidneys, and stimulates peristalsis. It is not a good idea to start the day with tea or coffee, as this drains kidney energy, stresses the adrenals, causes constipation, and is habit-forming.
Give yourself a self-massage ( abhyangha) with warm sesame or coconut oil. This counteracts the seasonal tendency towards dryness, joint pain and muscle aches. Then shower with warm water.
Use some essential oils that are grounding such as vetiver, orange or geranium essential oils . You may also add a few drops of these essential oils to your self-massage oils or use while taking a bath.
For breakfast have a bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat to which you can add cinnamon & hot milk or a date and almond shake, made from soaked dates, soaked and peeled almonds, and boiled milk (or a substitute) – blended together with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Ideally lunch should be the main meal of the day. Opt for hearty grains, steamed or sautéed vegetables, (unleavened) breads, soups and stews are excellent choices for lunch.
Avoid raw salads, soft drinks, cold drinks, ice, peas, yeast and fermented foods and because they cause gas and can disrupt digestion.
Snacks: include an herbal tea ,unleavened wheat bread ,dates, or fresh fruit or hot milk with almonds .Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can aggravate Vata and should be avoided.
Dinner : ideally it is a bit smaller and lighter than lunch but should provide enough soothing nourishment to pacify vata. Soups, stews, or a smaller serving of lunch are a perfect choice.
If you practice yoga, use more grounding poses to mobilize Vata energy in a downward direction. You can also include alternate nose breathing. This breathing practice purifies accumulated toxins due to tension and constriction of channels. Breathing practices help us relax, but also relax the subtle channels which can easily become strained.
At the end of the day make yourself a cup of warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg and cardamom or a pinch of ginger and a little sugar or honey for a good night’s sleep .
While these general tips can help to start incorporating Ayurveda and feeling better, ideally adjustments should be made if you suffer from any imbalances due to change of seasons and the individual constitution of a person needs to be taken into account as well ; for instance if you have a Pitta imbalance during Vata season, then your diet needs to take into account that imbalance. Consider an Ayurvedic consultation which will help to customize your routine. There are some herbal remedies that are great for reducing Vata, maintaining inner strength and balance and reduce symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty in digestion, constipation and anxiety.
Rome was not built in a day, so take one or two things at a time, that you can incorporate into your daily and weekly routine.
Namaste,
Tamara
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