Dear ,

 

If we look at the qualities of Vata season - cold, airy/windy, moveable, light, cold, dry and rough, we simply draw upon the principle of opposites to help achieve balance. We want to eat differently in each of the three Ayurvedic seasons to maintain balance, i.e. Vata (mid-autumn to late winter), Kapha (late winter to early summer) and Pitta (summer to mid-autumn). 

 

 

Now is the time to increase healthy fats to counteract the dryness of the Vata season. We can experience dry skin, dry cracking joints, lung irritation and coughing caused by dryness, dry bowels and constipation. Oil the body, ears and nostrils with almond oil or sesame oil to lubricate the outside, and eat liberally of avocados, olive oil, ghee and butter to lubricate the inside. The extra oils and fats will also help keep us warm and things moving down there. To help you on your way, I'm gifting you my ghee recipe. Just click the ghee photo to download it :) 

 

Vata season environment is light and airy/windy.  Root vegetables will help to ground us.  Put away the raw salads and partake of warm soups and stews full of root vegetables such as winter squash, sweet potato, beets, carrots, celeriac.  Root vegetables provide density and heaviness to counteract the light, airy quality of Vata so we feel less anxious, also smoothness and moisture to alleviate the dry, rough quality that can cause constipation. 

 

This is the best season to enjoy fermented foods, whereas in other seasons they could imbalance us if we eat too much. Sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, cheese, brined pickles, etc, all contain the sour taste. The sour taste contains the nature element of earth which is dense and heavy. This quality helps to ground and calm us during Vata season which is light and airy/windy. Fermented foods provide loads of healthy bacteria to help balance our gut microbiome so we have less bloating. 

 

Soluble fibre is moist and slippery and so counteracts the dry quality of Vata and alleviate constipation and rough moods. It's found in many plant foods but is especially abundant in moist and slippery oatmeal, chia seed, flax seed, psyllium, marshmallow root tea, mung bean and brussels sprouts, all of which are easy to digest during Vata season.

 

Protein provides density and heaviness to help ground the light and airy Vata quality which can cause imbalanced blood sugar which causes anxiety. This is the best season to eat mung beans (easy to digest for delicate Vata digestion) and/or animal products, such as meat, fish and dairy. (If you cannot eat dairy let's get on a call to chat and I'll explain how you can overcome this food sensitivity and others. Book a call here.) Another good protein source is nuts and seeds, which also contain healthy fats as mentioned above. 

 

Vata season will soon be over. By the end of February, the cold snow and ice start melting and the maple sap starts to run. This signals the start of Kapha season and a big change of diet and general lifestyle to help us shed the lethargy of winter. Remember for good gut health, our diet should change with the season. Stay tuned for a new food lifestyle for Kapha season. 

 

In health. Stay warm! Check out past newsletters here.

P.S. I take only ONE new client each week for my Digestive Reset Program. A recent client said to me that she thought there was a great deal of wisdom in my approach to gut health. It is a personalized intuitive approach, and one which takes into account your particular bodily constitution. Every client gets my special attention. Let's talk to see whether my program is the next best step for you. Book a time here.