Be Prepared for the Changing Season
posted 20 February 2007
by Dr Seema Datta
Long winter months of overconsumption, lack of exercise, lack of sun and lack of fresh air impact the body and create certain imbalances, causing the body to accumulate ama. This ama needs to be digested before the next season starts. This will prepare your body to face the changes in the surrounding environment and the season.
The season is changing, the sun’s rays are getting stronger and these strong rays start to melt kapha accumulated during the winter. This extra kapha can block different micro channels and disturb the digestive system, resulting in long lasting coughs and colds or various digestive problems. It can also precipitate allergies.
Little changes in diet and lifestyle can detoxify our body and mind, give a boost to the immune system, and help us to confront the changes it will be facing with the change in the season.
Tips to follow:
1. Eat kapha reducing food, ie consider food with bitter, astringent and pungent tastes and avoid sweet, salty and sour tasting food.
2. Avoid oily, fried foods.
3. Eat a lightly spiced nourishing diet of cooked fresh vegetables, whole grains and dal soups.
4. Sip hot water through the day to help eliminate toxins.
5. Consider using herbal preparations to help the liver, lungs and kidneys to detoxify.
6. Try using ginger, dry ginger powder, turmeric, black pepper & cumin seeds in your recipes.
7. Whole grain millet and oatmeal are useful to balance kapha.
8. All beans except moong beans should be avoided as they are heavy to digest.
9. Exercise helps to reduce kapha, so come out of hibernation - it’s time to start simple exercise again.
10. I CAN SHOW YOU DIFFERENT RECIPES TO COMPLEMENT ALL THESE GIVEN TIPS. Want to know how?
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