Top Winter Foods By Ayurveda For Your Diet

In winter days are shorter and colder as well and the nights are long. During this season we often feel more dry and cold, our skin gets dry, sinuses issue increases and joints dry out. Winter is also known as vata season, and you want to eat more nuts, grains, soups, stew, seeds, higher fat foods and much more. Most of the people gain a few kilos in winter. 

Here is the list of top 5 ayurveda winter foods that will help us to stay warm for winter without gaining weight and prevent getting sick and will improve your digestion. 

Seasonal Underground Vegetables

All the carrots, beets, yams, sweet potatoes, potatoes, squashes and all that that grows underground are heavy and more dense which make them perfect to consume in the winter season. These root veggies are the ideal foods to eat in winter ayurveda as they are nutrient dense and contain loads of minerals , fibre, vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants that keeps your immunity and overall health at its best. 

Protein 

Protein is essential for structural strength, immunity, skin health, and much more during the winter season. If you are a non vegetarian you can have a little bit of animal meat at this time and if you are a vegetarian you can go for seeds, nuts, yoghurt, tofu, cheese, and spirulina. Remember not to go overboard with the protein as people with sensitive gut health will not be able to digest lots of protein amount properly. 

Fat 

Good immunity depends upon the process of digestion. Ayurveda identifies digestive strength with agni or fire in the stomach. As during winter we become fairly lethargic due to which agni can lose its potency. Which is why it is important to include a good amount of these ayurveda foods like butter, ghee, natural oils and other fat sources in your diet. 

Fermented Foods 

Fermentation means to preserve the veggies for the winter, which helps in supporting gut microbial immunity this season. Fermented food is also considered the best ayurveda winter foods  as it also helps in warming the body. So try to eat these immunity boosting foods such as fermented yogurt, sauerkraut, pickel etc. 

More Fiber 

Fibre rich foods are abundant in winter and fall in order to support good intestinal health. Fibre works as a laxative which helps and makes it easier for stool to pass through your intestine. Ayurveda considered loose stools the better elimination to get rid of the heat that accumulates at the summer end. Excess heat in the body can cause constipation. You can get fibre from rice seeds, wheat, apple, and much more. 

Some Health Tips For Winter

Besides this, follow these simple tips to keep you going throughout the winter season. 

• Winter is the perfect time to give your body and mind a good amount of rest as the smaller the days and nights are longer during winter. So going to bed early and rising early can help you create a perfect balance.
• Winter helps you to slow down which can be beneficial in reducing stress levels to a great extent. Having an organised and planned routine for daily activities can help you in avoiding confusion and clutter and of course anxiety levels. 
• Since winter season can make you lethargic, you need to provide stimulation to your body by exercising, which will maintain your energy levels. 
• Yoga is a perfect way to calm your body, mind, and stay healthy. There are some moves that help in balancing kapha and vata in your body. 
• During winter try to avoid cold food and chilled beverages as it can impact your immunity. So, go for warm beverages, properly cooked food, this will keep your kapha and vata balanced. 
• During winter it is best to choose salty, sour, and sweet foods instead of pungent, astringent, and bitter tastes. 

If you experience symptoms of fever, cough, and cold then you can go for ayurvedic food list mentioned above to increase body heat and create a healthy balance in this season. 

Remember that every individual has a different body type, just following any random ayurvedic diet for winter won’t help. For instance, one can have a perfect balance of three doshas i.e vata, kapha and pitta in their body and some might have high pitta, or low vata etc. Imbalances of these doshas can lead to various diseases in the body. 

 So, it is better to consult an Ayurvedic nutritionist to understand what your body needs and then according to that you can follow ayurvedic diet plans, or ayurvedic diet as suggested by the doctor. What are your favourite ayurvedic drinks, or ayurvedic recipes for winter? Feel free to share with us in the comments section below.