Eat an Ayurvedic diet this autumn to feel grounded
Autumn is a time of the year where the weather gets cooler and windier. We begin to have shorter daylight hours and longer nights. It’s a time of transition into cold, winter weather.
According to Ayurveda, November marks the beginning of vata season, which runs until February. It’s the time of the year when people also become susceptible to having a vata imbalance: skin and hair begin to feel dry, we’re more prone to catching the sniffles and the flu tends to spread fast. Our sinuses and nasal passages get easily irritated. Joints might hurt more. Anxiety builds more than usual. We might feel our bodies need more sleep. And we want to bundle up and keep warm with extra socks, cozy sweaters and warm blankets.
How can we keep ourselves healthy and strong during vata season?
A hearty Ayurvedic diet can prevent you from getting sick by keeping your digestive system and gut microbiome healthy. It focuses on adding heavy, warm and oilier foods to your diet to counter balance the airy vata season and to keep your mind-body feeling balanced. Fall Ayurvedic foods can also help you feel strong, supple, grounded and full of energy as you move into the colder months.
Here are some things you might want to try to build your digestive fire, also called ojas, this autumn:
Eat more root veggies. Great choices are carrots, turnips, sweet potatoes, squash and yams. Pumpkin is a good choice too. Steam your veggies and cook them well; avoid eating raw veggies because they can tend to create gas and excess vata.
Flavour your meals with more warming spices. These include cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, ginger and cardamom.
Add more healthy fats. Organic ghee, coconut oil, olive oil and butter can be added in small quantities to every meal
Include some quality protein, nuts, seeds. Good choices include lean organic meat and fish, mung beans, lentils, tofu, edamame. Legumes can cause gas and are not an optimal choice for protein during vata season. Organic tree nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts, and nut butters are good sources of protein.
Stews, soups, curries, and hot beverages. The key is to consume warm or hot entrees during vata season. Replace salads with lots of stews, soups and curries – homemade ones with fresh, wholesome ingredients are the best and if you have leftovers, simply freeze them. Hot herbal teas and lattes stave off germs and sniffles and keep you hydrated. Try this simple, yummy beverage that’s like drinking autumn in a cup LOL:
Indian-Spiced Apple Cider
1 cup organic apple cider
A pinch each of ground cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves (to your liking)
Heat everything in a sauce pan until piping hot and pour into your favourite mug to enjoy.
Typically, November is a high stress month as we begin to gear up for the holiday season. We can tend to skip meals, eat too much at holiday parties, consume extra alcohol and sleep in. When we deviate from our normal routine, especially at this time of the year, our immune system weakens and make us more susceptible to catching germs. Self care, relaxation and downtime are important to build into your daily routine so you don’t get frazzled and sick. Schedule in some “me” time every day for a walk, a short meditation, and doing something you enjoy, guilt-free.
There are many more things you can do to feel grounded during autumn and vata season based on your dosha or mind-body type. If you’re curious and would like to learn more, visit karensibal.com to book a free discovery call. And check out my book, The Little Book of Grounding: 75 simple ways to restore balance to your mind, body and spirit using ancient Ayurvedic teachings for today’s world.
Have a great rest of the week!