Ayurved looks at health as a correct balance between three elements, fire (pitta), water (kapha) and air (vatta). One way to attain this balance is to recognize that our diets should change with the seasons. We should eat low fat in the spring, high carbohydrates in the summer, and high protein (fat) in the autumn and winter.
Autumn and winter are vatta aggravating times, when the weather is cold dry and brittle. To balance this vatta aggravation we should eat more warm, oily, dense and heavy foods.
Winter foods should be cooked and eaten in a peaceful environment avoiding all kinds of stimulations. Autumn and winter are times for food that is sweet, sour or salty in taste.
Winter foods include most fresh fruits, pasta, rice, dairy products, avocado, sweet foods and lots of fluids (especially warm drinks). Salads should have a creamy or oily dressing.
This is a time to eat more mung beans, soya beans in tofu, milk and cheese as you eat less kidney, lima, navy, pinto, split peas, white beans and black beans.
Have more warm drinks, herbal or spiced teas, warm milk, fruit and vegetable juice without ice.
Reduce carbonated drinks, cold or iced drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol. Eat more dairy except powdered milk and ice cream.
Increase apricots, banana, cherries, fresh figs, peaches, citrus fruits, dates, mango, papaya, grapes, berries, pineapple, plums. Reduce
dried fruits, apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, prunes, melons.
Rice, oats, wheat, pasta are good as you reduce barley, buckwheat, rye, corn, millet, rice cakes, puffed or dry cereals.
The spices to increase include asafoetidea, basil, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, clove, coriander, sage, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, onion, nutmeg, turmeric.
Reduce coriander seeds, fenugreek, parsley.
Eat more nuts in moderation, especially sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Reduce dry roasted or smoked nuts.
Eat more oils, especially sesame, but reduce corn oil.
Have more heavy veggies such as avocado, asparagus, beets, carrots, eggplant, leeks, olives, pumpkin, radish, sweet potato, spinach and zucchini.
Reduce raw or frozen vegetables, peas, brussel sprouts, broccoli cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, corn, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes.
Shifting one's diet to match the seasons may seem like a little thing, but this simple step can create complex and positive changes within.
