Monsoon Regimen

Ayurveda envisages body rhythm as part of the Universal rhythmicity.

Seasonal changes in atmosphere have considerable influence on the body functions and following a seasonal diet and lifestyle helps us sail smoothly through each passing season.

"Eat when hungry.. And eat 80% of your hunger

Drink water only when thirsty"

This holds an important role everyday no matter what the season is!

Monsoon implies low immunity owing to strong winds, less sun rays, muddy unclean and stagnated water. Monsoon, thus, increases vata predominantly and pitta starts to accumulate in our bodies. All our diet and routine should focus on pacifying vata and pitta. It is the beginning of the winter solstice or the dakshinayana.

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Diet for Monsoon:

Intermittent fasting or semi- fasting as per capacity is good to maintain your digestive fire. Fasting will enhance your immunity if done in moderation.

These food items are healthy for this season-

You can have fresh buttermilk with black salt along with lunch. Avoid curds. Use cow 's ghee or sesame oil while cooking in moderate amount.

Grains: Old rice, red rice, barley, jowar, roasted

grains, methi, kulith, ragi, moong dal, moong, masoor, masoor dal are good to use. To balance the high humidity, roast your grains before cooking.

Spices : Ginger, turmeric, pepper, long pepper, cumin seeds (jeera), asafetida (hing), mint leaves (pudina), carrom seeds (ajwain) (Use moderate spices) are beneficial to add while cooking.

Use a moderate amount of spices in this season

so as to counterbalance the Vata Dosha.

Vegetables: bottle gourd, ladies finger, bitter gourd, spiny gourd, parwal, ridge gourd, ivy gourd, moringa (drumstick), Indian squash, local seasonal herbs cooked as vegetables like bharangi leaves (sickle senna/cassia tora), moringa flowers, etc. are good. Avoid leafy vegetables that grow close to soil. Avoid raw salads. Boil, steam or saute vegetables.

Fruits: Local mangoes, litchi, cherry, plum, lemon, peaches, guava, pomegranate, any local and seasonal fruits are good. Have fruits in daytime only.

Juices: Lemon jaggery juice, mint lemon, gi

nger lemon, honey in normal water (not h

ot) are good hydrating drinks for this season.

Water: Drink water that is filtered, boiled and cooled. Having water boiled with ginger or carom seeds is highly beneficial.

Following lifestyle changes are reccomended:

As the body strength is low in Monsoons, avoid these:

• Heavy exercises

• High intensity work out

• Traveling

Prefer doing low intensity work out, yogasana, restorative poses.

As the digestive fire is low, avoid these practices:

• Overeating

• Munching for too long

• Consuming heavy sweets, deserts

• Sleeping in daytime

Prolonged exposure to rain and winds can lead to imbalance and should be avoided.

Dhoopan:

Fumigation of house using guggul, agaru, mustard, carom seeds, etc at morning and evening time is good to keep the air pure.