Monthly Ayurvedic Wisdom
Simple, practical tips from Dr. Jay Apte to help you live in harmony with nature through the timeless principles of Ayurveda.
Curious George was very impressed with the Ayurvedic concepts we discussed. He asked me, “Dr. Apte, I had never heard about Ritucharya, Ritusandhi, or any of these Ayurvedic concepts before. They make so much sense! I wish more people knew about Ayurveda and followed these concepts so they could really stay healthy.”
I answered, “These concepts are one of the unique aspects of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is the science of Nature, and it guides us to stay in tune with Nature.”
Staying in tune with Nature means balancing our diet and lifestyle with each season. Remember, what happens inside shows outside.
With every season, we change our clothes—but that is not enough. We also need to change what we consume and how we live our daily lives.
During fall, our shorts and T-shirts go into storage boxes, and sweaters and jackets come out because we feel the cooler temperatures. Unfortunately, many of us continue eating salads, cooling fruits, and drinking ice-cold water or other cold beverages.
According to Ayurveda, this can increase coldness and dryness in the body during fall, contributing to concerns such as dry skin, constipation, aches and pains, anxiety, and more.
During fall, we need to choose foods that help warm and moisten the body.
Remember when we said, “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails”?
Ayurveda recommends doing exactly that.
During summer, we balanced the heat energy of Pitta dosha with cooling foods. Fall is predominantly associated with Vata dosha, which is characterized by qualities such as cold, dry, and light. To balance these qualities, we want to favor foods that are warm, moist, and nourishing.
Food Choices
For breakfast:
Favor oatmeal, grits, or other warm cereals. French toast or pancakes can also be good choices, especially when prepared with butter or topped with a little butter and syrup.
For lunch and dinner:
Think warm, nourishing meals such as soups and stews, or cooked meats and vegetables with some gravy or sauce, served with rice, quinoa, or other grains.
Favor Seasonal Vegetables
Fall is marked by pumpkin patches and an abundance of beautiful seasonal vegetables.
All varieties of pumpkin and squash, winter melon, and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, beets, jicama, and carrots are ideal choices during this season.
The Ayurvedic concept is that foods that grow in or close to the ground tend to be heavier and more grounding, which can help balance Vata dosha during fall.
Favor Seasonal Fruits and Nuts
Persimmons, pears, apples, oranges, and pomegranates are some of the fruits of fall. If you notice the colors of these fruits, you’ll see beautiful orange and red tones. In Ayurveda, these warmer colors are understood to have a heating effect and can help balance the cold qualities of Vata during the fall season.
Almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pecans are also good choices during this season because they are considered warming and nourishing.
So, our effort during fall and early winter should be to balance Vata dosha by choosing foods that are warm, moist, nourishing, and grounding.
George, try making some of these changes in your diet. You may notice that you feel more comfortable, grounded, and peaceful as you move through the fall season.
Next month, I will guide you through some lifestyle changes that can help you stay in tune with the season.
Want to learn how Ayurveda can support you through seasonal changes and other shifts in your health and well-being?
Schedule a consultation with Jay Apte to explore personalized Ayurvedic guidance for your unique needs.