Brrrrr…. Ah… The Frosty mornings....Time to ditch that cold sandwich

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Brrrr....The Cold snap has just caught everyone by surprise ...

just when the cool Autumn wind was blowing the leaves, where did this sudden drop in temperature come from?

Did the nature forget its still Autumn time.. and its just too early for winter?

Or may be its just a wake up call from nature to prepare for Winter. Its time to ditch that cold sandwich, opt for grilled ones instead, or choose warm spicy soup or a hot drink. Ayurveda suggest the diet and lifestyle needs to adapt to the seasonal changes to keep healthy.

Swap Cold Sandwiches for Warm, Nourishing Meals

This is the right time to take out all those spices hidden in your spice cabinet, and use them in your food, spice up your pasta / noodles or rice. Indulge in warm curries or look for Rasam recipe, the body needs nourishment in this weather to keep yourself warm. Add some more ginger and pepper to the Kitchari  or have some Moringa soup. You could also add Moringa drumsticks to your curry or Moringa dal or have some chutney made with Moringa leaves and lots of garlic and pepper.  Do add an extra drizzle of oil or ghee to keep away that dry skin.

Go for warm cooked meals this Autumn and Winter, slightly cut back on salads and have more soups instead, more warm food, warm clothes.. that’s the Ayurvedic Mantra for winter months. Avoid those cold fizzy drinks with your food, have warm lemon water or ginger tea with your meals instead.

Tulsi and Amla for Daily Immune Support

Time to support your Immune system with the goodness of herbs, some to help with immunity and some warming herbs which help with the cold weather. Tulsi (Holy Basil )and Amla ( Indian Gooseberry ) is a perfect combo to take during winter months for Immunity support ,alongwith Kapalbhati Pranayma ( Breath of fire in Breathing techniques of yoga). An ideal immunity support for winter months is Chyvanprash, it’s almost like a jam made from Amla ( Indian Gooseberry) but packed with the goodness of almost 40 herbs .

Trikatu for Digestion and Warming the Body

A combination of three spices – ‘Trikatu’ is also a wonderful addition. The warm herbs in Trikatu help the digestion and to keep cold at bay. Trikatu can be taken with honey or as a tea or before food. Another combination which I found interesting was 3 Fruits and Spices, a blend of Triphala with spices which helps as well.

Seasonal Haritaki : Haritaki and Ginger for November–December 

November December is the time when Haritaki does wonders when combined with ginger, it can be either ginger tea or dried ginger powder with Haritaki, of course you can add a bit of honey for it to taste better or most of the times its easier to pop the Haritaki capsule and have some ginger tea with it.

So lets take a step towards preparing for winter by exercising in the morning and snuggling in those warm throws in the evening and enjoying a cup of warm Ginger and Cinnamon tea while reading or enjoying your favourite TV show.

Still need a bit more information on how to adapt to the changing seasons and how to support your health during Autumn and winter with the help of Ayurveda? Or do your health problems increase during these winter months?  To find answers to these you can always visit us at Dr Wakde’s Natural Health clinic to know more.