Winter is the time for comfort, good food & warmth, a friendly hand’s touch, & a talk beside the fire: it is time for home – Edith Sitwell
As said above, we certainly feel hungrier in the winter. Did you know why?
The internal core body temperature drops due to the cold environment. The body must work harder and spend more energy to maintain this core temperature, which increases appetite. Eating contributes to the production of internal heat, which raises the body temperature.
Ayurveda quotes this 5000 years ago, in terms of ‘Agni’
The Agni (digestive power) becomes trapped in the body (like in a closed chamber) during sheeta kala (Hemanta / Shishir) as a result of the contact with the cold wind and becomes strong or powerful enough to digest food that is naturally heavy and excessive in quantity. Further, it says that, if the body is not provided with enough food, the increasing Agni consumes the intrinsic fluids and tissues of the body which results in fatigue, malnutrition & weakened immunity. But excess eating will also lead to weight gain. Then what to do ??
Let’s ask Ayurveda !!
♦ In Vegetables, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Bottle gourd, carrot, and beetroot
♦ In Seasonal fruits, Amla, Grapes, Oranges, sweet lime, Figs, Guava, custard apple, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Dates, Papaya, Winter melon, and Dry fruits.
♦ Eat Madhura (Sweet), Sour, and salty food. Avoid Pungent, bitter tastes. You can include milk and milk products, ghee, jaggery, Honey, and sugarcane in your diet
♦ Newly harvested grains including rice, wheat, green gram & various legumes can be added. As they are heavy to digest, they can satisfy intense hunger for a longer period of time
♦ Fish, meat, and chicken can all be included in the diets of non-vegetarians
♦ For a drink, add buttermilk, ginger tea, herbal teas, and hot or lukewarm water
♦ Vitamin D deficiency – We spent a lot of time inside our homes during the winter, so a lack of sun exposure may result in vitamin D deficiency.
♦ Along with a morning walk, you can fulfill this need for Vitamin D by adding Til laddu, dry fruit laddu, Aliv/ Halim seeds laddus, Gond ke laddu, and milk to your diet
You can try these traditional recipes at home to enjoy healthy winter
♦ Til – gud ki roti
♦ Gajar ka halwa
♦ Badam ka Halwa
♦ Oondhiyo
♦ Gol papadi
♦ Parathas with different stuffing
♦ Besan ke laddu
Beneficial Ayurveda herbs for winter
♦Ashwagandha
♦Shatavari
♦Curcumin
♦Tulsi
♦Ginger
♦Amala
♦Yastimadhu
You can add supplements of these herbs to your diet
Things to avoid !!!
♦ Vata, which has a sheeta (cold) quality is also vitiated during this cold season
♦ Try to avoid foods that aggravate the Vata dosha
Enjoy your winter by spending time with your loved ones !!
