Amazing Dietary and Lifestyle Tips to Stay Healthy in These Winters

Abstract

Winter is almost here…!!!The chilly waves, making the sun more loving and cozy. As the season shifts people are worried about adjusting and maintaining a healthy body. But is it really a problem..???? NO, once a proper understanding about intrinsic nature and qualities and how they change according to season makes it easier to maintain a healthy body by taking proper diet, healthy lifestyles and improving immune system. According to ayurveda it is important to tune with nature as it makes us aware about our own “prakriti” which consists of three energies- “pitta” energy-for digestion, “kapha”-for stability, “vata”- for movement. These energies are made in nature from the combination of elements- air, water, fire , earth and sky. To adjust according to season it is important to balance these energies or doshas. Let’s discuss more about the winter season and some amazing lifestyle and dietary tips to stay healthy and away from diseases.

Introduction

According to the ayurveda system of seasonal living is called ritucharya. “Ritu means season and “charya” means procedure. Following these charyas will make our body and mind adjust in different seasons and body balance does not get disturb. Based on the movement of the sun, ayurveda divides the year into two sections namely adanakala and visargakal contain three seasons each. Adanakala contains shishira (winter), vasanta (spring) and grishma (summer)while visargakala contains varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn) and hemanata (late autumn). Every season has different energies and imbalance in these energies causes diseases and illness. According to ayurveda winter is considered as kapha season and sometimes it shows vata doshas.

It is important to balance kapha and vata doshas to stay healthy in winters. If kapha is balanced it provides a healthy body and balanced mind but if it is imbalanced it leads to dull skin, weight gain, negative emotions and if vata is imbalanced it leads to depression and isolation. Ayurveda believes the winter season helps to strengthen immunity since digestion is stronger in winters due to this people get hungry more often and digest more which helps in nourishment of the body. Choosing the ayurvedic lifestyle, immunity boosting food helps to maintain a good body and mind. Let’s discuss more about ayurvedic tips to increase immunity during the shifting season.

Here are Some lifestyle Tips to Stay Healthy these Winters.

1. Say Mo to Cotton Clothes

In winter, woolen clothes should be worn. As wollen provides insulation and keeps our body warm and aids in protecting us from cold and flu.

2. Proper Rest

Winters are perfect to give the body proper rest as the days are shorter and nights are longer. This makes perfect balance that one should go to bed early and wake up early too.

3. Do Exercise

Physical activity gets low in winters as compared to other seasons due to laziness so for body stimulation and prevents lethargy one should do exercise regularly.

4. Hot Homemade Food and Hot Beverages

People start consuming more junk food in winters due to digestion, but it is unhealthy. So in winters one should choose hot homemade food to maintain immunity and avoid cold beverages as it can lead to imbalance in vata and pitta dosha.

5. Avoid astringent and pungent tastes

According to ayurveda winter season matches the different tastes. One can choose salty, sour and sweet tastes but should avoid astringent and pungent.

6. Natural Herbs

If an individual shows any sign or symptom of cold and flu he must choose herbs for increasing body heat and balance the temperatures in winters.

7. Liquids

In winter intake of water becomes low due to less thrust in comparison to summer. Water is a carrier of nutrients to the body. At Least 6-8 glasses of water should be consumed.

Dietary Tips

In winters easily digestible food should be consumed for boosting immunity. Junk food, fried food, processed foods, foods loaded with chemicals and preservatives should be avoided. Here some of the natural ayurvedic immunity boosters food are mentioned.

In winters easily digestible food should be consumed for boosting immunity. Junk food, fried food, processed foods, foods loaded with chemicals and preservatives should be avoided. Here some of the natural ayurvedic immunity boosters food are mentioned.

1. Consume more winter vegetables

Heat is required by the body in winters. It is easy to maintain by adding vegetables which are available in winters. They help to keep the body warm and also supplies various nutrients. Turnips, carrots, radish, spinach, broccoli, green fenugreek can be added to the diet.

2. Add whole grains

Oats, bajra, millets and other whole grains should be added in the diet in winters. As they help in reducing the vata and also add fibre and nutrients to the diet.

3. Eat more legumes/pulses

In winters legumes are consumed with ghee because in winters it is easy to digest proteins with little fat. Proteins help in body building.

3. Intake of nuts

Other than meal nuts like almonds, cashew and walnuts should be consumed in winters as they provide warmth to the body, loaded with nutrients and are easily digested in the winters.

4. Intake of hot beverages

Intake of herbal teas, turmeric milk, soups should be increased in  winters they aid in maintaining body heat and boosts immunity.

5. Herbs and Spices

More herbs and spices in winters help to reduce vata and keep the body warm naturally. Some of the natural spices are- turmeric, clove cardamom, cinamon, cumin.

Yoga tips

To maintain kapha and vata doshas in winter one of the best things is to do some exercise or yoga. It assures stimulation in the body and prevents lethargy. Some of the yoga tips should follow in this winters are

1. Time Management

Best time to do yoga is in the early morning 6AM to 10AM  and evening 6PM to 10PM. In this time you feel more active and the energies are on the higher side.

2. Try warm heat producing movements

Always start yoga with Surya namaskar in winters it is beneficial to remove coldness.

3. Increase strength

Includes more leg exercise in the routine it increases the strength in legs makes more positive and provides emotional stability.

4. Music

Light music while doing yoga lifts up the mood and makes up the mind for exercise.

Yoga asanas that you can practices in winters are

1. Surya namaskara (Sun salutation)
2. Matasyana (Fish pose
3.  Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
4.  Salamba sarvangasana (shoulderstand)
5. Salabhasana ( locust pose)
6. Balasana (child’s pose)
7. Anjaneyasana (low lunge)

Home Remedies

Home Remedies are simple treatments using available ingredients at home. In winter due to the cold temperature, we can easily catch colds and flu. To get rid of them we can try some healthy home remedies some of them are

1. After a meal, you can take hot milk with turmeric.
2. For cough ginger juice mixed with honey gives relief.
3. Hot soups with added crushed cloves, and cinnamon give relief from congestion.

Home Made Foods

Our mothers, grandmothers especially our nani and dadi are experts in  making delicious homemade foods. As soon as winter comes they start preparing pinis, peanut chikkis and lots of things that help us to keep warm and build immunity. Pinnis are prepared in many states of India during winters. It has amazing taste and has lots of nutritional values and health benefits. It boosts up immunity, helps in reducing joint pains, and provides energy. Peanut chikkis are also a healthy option to satisfy hunger and strengthen the body in winters.

Herbal Remedies for Low immunity by Planet Ayurveda

Planet ayurveda is a leading company in herbal medicines. Herbal products prepared are GMP certified and distributed all over the world. The products are 100% safe and prepared by using natural herbs following classical texts. They are formulated under guidance of experts Ayurvedic MD supervision. Ayurvedic medications have the ability to boost the immunity and balance kapha and vata doshas. Planet ayurveda has the best solution to treat the various problems that occur during winters. For proper care you can try a Winter Care Pack from planet ayurveda.  It is the complete solution for all the problems.

WInter Care Pack

1. Giloy capsules
2.  Vikramprash
3.  Saffron-almond body butter
4.  Panchashakti Asav
5. Arjun tea

Product Description

1. Giloy capsules

Giloy capsules are formulated using the natural herb Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia). It is antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic. It helps in boosting immunity, purifies blood, improves digestion, gout, treats skin problems and also works well in infections, inflammation. In winters when giloy capsules are consumed they aid in boosting immunity, relieve mild to strong fever, treat bacterial and virus infection, treat skin infections, dryness, cracks.

Dosage- 1 capsule twice a day after meal

2. Vikramprash

Vikramprash is a polyherbal formulation in paste form by planet ayurveda. It contains47 natural herbs some of them are Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Agnimantha (Premna mucronata), Syonak (Oroxylum indicum), Kashmarya (Gmelina arborea), Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) that all are effective in winter related problems. It helps to maintain balance in doshas (ernergies), rejuvenate body tissues (dhatus) and release toxins and waste (malas)  from the body.

Dosage– 1 teaspoonful twice a day after meal

3. Saffron Almond Butter

In winters dry, crack, rough skin is a common problem. Saffron almond body butter contains natural ingredients and formulated by planet ayurveda. Each and every ingredient like saffron extract (Crocus sativus), Almond oil (Prunus dulcis), Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa), olive fruit oil (Olea europaea), Sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annuus) etc.. When used on a regular basis it moisturizes skin, makes it soft and glowing and hydrates skin for longer times.

Dosage– Apply and gently massage on the skin once a day

4. Panchashakti asav

It is a solution containing 5 aqueous extract derived from ashwagandharishta, Arjunarist, Drakshasava, Kumaryasav, Lohasava. It  increases the body’s ability to fight infection. It also promotes a good and healthy digestive system.

Dosage– 2 tsp twice a day after meal

5. Arjun Tea

Arjun tea has various natural herbs like Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Pipal Tvak (Ficus religiosa), Dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanichum), Chhoti elaichi (Elettaria cardamomum). They all have natural cardiac glycosides, polyphenols, pro-anthocyanins and antioxidants. It aod to improve clogged arteries, cholesterol, cardiovascular problems and fight overall winter problems.

Dosage– 1 cup daily (morning)

Conclusion

In the above article, we have discussed how the season is shifting and how to maintain balance by using ayurvedic lifestyle tips, dietary tips, yoga and some home remedies, homemade food and ayurvedic medications. Planet ayurveda Winter care pack is beneficial in treating problems related to winters. It is a perfect solution because all the products are formulated with natural herbs. They all are pure free from adulteration, chemicals and preservatives. Shows positive results on patients when used regularly.