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Vata Season & What It Means For You.

9/3/2014

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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



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