Autumn and early winter are considered Vata season in Ayurveda. It is characterized by dryness and wind, air and space. Think of fallen dried up leaves blowing in the wind. Vata creates dryness in our body and anxiety or fear in our mind. We might have more intestinal gas than usual.
The important thing during this season for staying grounded and calm is to leave off the raw and cold foods. Instead eat warm, cooked and moist foods, rich in protein and healthy fats to keep us warm, grounded and calm. And your good gut microbes will thrive on the fats. Healthy fat choices for this season include:
- butter
- ghee (ultimate choice for gut health, get the recipe here)
- olive oil
- avocado oil
- avocado (fruit)
- nuts
- seeds
- full fat dairy and cheese
- other animal fats if you're a meat eater
- keep coconut oil for the hot weather - it's too cooling for autumn and winter
During Vata season, if you're a bean eater stick with small beans and lentils as they are easier to digest and produce less gas. Leave the larger beans for spring and summer because they are astringent and drying for the digestive tract. The following ones are better choices: green mung bean, yellow split mung (these two are the easiest to digest), black Beluga lentils, black French lentils, red lentils, small brown lentils (not the large "green" lentils which
can be irritating to the intestinal tract).
Check out my video showing how to make lentil soup flavourful. Allow it a moment to load.
And you're welcome to download my free gift to you of a lentil soup recipe, somewhat different from the one in my video, but just as delicious. Get it here.
