Everything changes, seasons, circumstances, our age, our bodies. 2020 is a great example of this, as we collectively try to regain our footing after many unexpected changes. The trick is to find a way to stay in balance amidst all the shifting.
I’m always looking for tools to assist our bodies in this constant readjustment and search for balance. While our body’s job is to keep us in homeostasis (at the correct temperature, pH balanced, stable blood sugar levels, etc.), our job is to listen to and honor our body’s needs.
One of my favorite tools for balance as the seasons change, is the philosophy of Ayurveda, a healing tradition from India. A diet, a philosophy and a lifestyle aimed at long term holistic health and longevity, Ayurveda suggests that we eat according to our dosha, or body type. There are three doshas that generally correspond with the seasons: Kapha (spring), Pitta (summer), and Vata (winter). Depending on your dosha, you may find yourself out of balance during the corresponding season. For instance, the body type of Vata, which has a constitution that tends toward coldness, dryness, and nervousness, will find it more difficult to stay in balance during the winter months.
While Ayurveda practitioners can help determine your dosha, and I use an Ayurveda questionnaire with my clients to see which way they lean, you can notice for yourself how the cold weather is impacting you. Everyone can benefit from a mindful and natural rebalancing with the seasons. Since we’re now deep in winter (my parents just sent me pictures of waist-deep snow in New Hampshire), let’s look at some basic Ayurveda food principles for Vata balance.
Dietary tips for Vata balance this winter:
- Shift foods away from cold and raw, and towards warm and cooked, in order to counteract the coldness of winter. While fresh salads are great and nourishing in the summer, in the cold weather, they can feel unsatisfying and even difficult to digest. Try cooking your veggies, warming any salads you might have, and lean towards creamy and pureed soups like butternut squash soup and curried lentil stews.
- Cook/eat heavier, grounding, nutrient-dense, whole foods: Instead of eating light or super processed foods (i.e. refined flour products which are stripped of nutrients), cook meals with substance and heft. Deep into winter is when I switch my breakfast from a light buckwheat cereal to an oatmeal with nuts, chia seeds, warmed fruit, warmed oat milk, and lots of cinnamon. Cooked grains like basmati brown rice are great. Root vegetables like roasted sweet potatoes, yams or beets are very grounding. For proteins, I love cooking with red lentils, eggs, and shrimp in the winter. If you eat meat, high quality chicken and beef (in moderation) and fish work well. Mung beans and dal are good vegetarian options. And nuts and seeds are great for snacks and as toppings on any dish.
- Counteract the dryness of the season with hydration and moisture: Drink plenty of (not cold) water and teas. Cook with good quality oils like olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, and ghee. Eat fats like avocado and olives. Warmed dairy is often suggested for Vata, although I recommend substitutes like coconut or oat milks, unless dairy agrees with your system (then choose organic dairy and eat in moderation. ‘Golden milk’ is a Vata favorite recipe: Warm milk (or milk substitute) over medium heat on a stove-top with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger (amounts descending in that order), a pinch of black pepper, and I recommend sweetening with some coconut nectar and/or a couple dates (in which case you’d use a blender before drinking).
- Add sweet and sour to your palate (naturally): Sweet examples- Butternut squash roasted with cinnamon and nutmeg, roasted sweet potato, or fresh dates for dessert. Sour examples- Miso soup, add a side of kimchee to your meal, or add a squeeze of lemon to water or tea.
- Cook with warming Vata-balancing spices: Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves are some great examples.
For traditional Ayurveda recipes, you can check out Ayurveda sites like: https://www.ayurveda.com. For seasonal recipe inspirations, you can check out the recipe blog www.detoxinista.com. She has great soup, stew, and curry options for winter.
I recently improvised a new winter favorite, a Coconut Curry Shrimp (or Scallop) dish with asparagus, which was fantastic! Since I improvised, I’ll just give you the basic directions: Start with a base of garlic, onions, and fresh ginger in olive oil, add chopped asparagus, bok choy, and any other veggies you’d like, sauté until soft. Then add a can of coconut milk, shake in a generous amount of curry powder, add sea salt to taste, and simmer until the vegetables are cooked to desired tenderness. Separately, sauté shrimp (or scallops) in olive oil in a pan, and then add to the curry mixture. Allow a few minutes for all ingredients to simmer together. Serve over brown rice.
You can also visit your local Indian restaurant (for takeout of course) and check out their curried dishes!
A fun, non-food tip: A very Vata client of mine recently introduced me to the haramaki, which is a Japanese stomach warmer. It’s a piece of fabric that fits over your waist and keeps your core warm in the winter. Brilliant! Not traditionally from Ayurveda, but it’s a great Vata solution:)
Generally, when the seasons change, you want to listen to the subtle or not so subtle shifts in your body, and honor what’s needed to keep you in balance (which may also mean changes in exercise or lifestyle habits). It’s a constant dance with your body and the world around you, as nothing in life is stagnant. But the care you have for your health can be a constant on which you depend.
Wishing you a cozy winter full of peace, joy, warmth, and balance.
P.S. – Holiday Gift Certificates for Coaching available here, for you or a loved one!
Leave a Reply