Winter Food – An Ayurvedic view
Winter is here with lots of memories of enjoying snowflakes and the engaging smell of cakes and wine. Every season, every occasion, every memory is always tied to some sort of food or gifts. But have you ever noticed some changes in your body like frequent colds, an increased tendency to eat more and dry skin etc?
Ayurvedic perspective of winter
- Live with nature’s rhythm.
Sounds interesting, right? Ayurveda, the science of life that evolved almost 2000 years ago, will give you an excellent explanation of seasonal diets and regimes. According to Ayurveda, winter has 2 phases-early and late phases (Hemantha and Shishira respectively). Owing to the season, some physiological differences happen to our body constituents (doshas). Agni or our digestive power also increases during winter, which can also impact our health.
- Winter diet
We are what we eat.’
So, each meal should be focused on providing adequate nutrients to our body.
Warmth is what we want to get from our menu. So, try to include the following things in every meal.
- Healthy fats
Nowadays, people curse fat as their villains in their stories of weight loss. But you know something-our body needs healthy fats for the assimilation of almost all vital nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins. In winter, it is essential for proving warmth to the whole body. Your body needs some essential fatty acids for healthy eyes, brain and skin. They promote wound healing and assure adequate blood clotting. You can get it from coconut oil, ghee, avocado, nuts, seeds etc.
- Vegetables from roots
Bulbous roots like potato,beetroot,turnip,radish,ginger,sweet potatoes etc are rich sources sources of vitamins, iron, complex carbohydrates, potassium, manganese, fiber etc. They can improve eye health and help to prevent chronic infections, build immunity, fights inflammation etc.
- Dietary Fibers
As constipation can be a very common health issue during winter, it is advisable to increase the intake of wheat, seeds, Amla, whole grains, figs, apples, oats etc. This can also prevent ‘winter blues’ and boost our immunity.
- Protein rich foods
During winter, people are restricted from moving outdoors freely. Thus, most of the time, they stay indoors, and with increased appetite, they are forced to eat more food, which in turn leads to weight gain. Here, lean meat, nuts, seeds, legumes, yogurt etc. can be our saviors. Remember, a high protein diet makes you feel fuller for a long time. Protein also aids in improving tissue damage repair and bone health improvement.
- Chukku Kappi – A traditional Kerala recipe
A blend of sweetness and spiciness, a hot beverage with a rich aroma of dry ginger, coriander, Tulsi etc. is such a healthy way to start every winter morning. It can control and prevent colds, sore throats and many more climate-induced health issues.
LET’S CONCLUDE
Make sure to include each nutrient on your plate every time you eat. Stick to your seasonally available fruits and veggies as they are nature’s gift to fine tune with the climatic changes. Quality, timing and quantity of meals influence our health. So, we can add supplements along with our normal diet for complete healthcare.
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