We are officially in the deep Winters! We all need to take extra care at this time! If everyone could cast one wish for what 2022 will bring, it’s likely that nearly all of us would wish for COVID-19 to go away and never come back!
I wish that while we move past 2021 we do not leave behind the lessons it has taught us. More than anything the popular saying “Health is Wealth”, gives large meaning to our life, as health is considered the most valuable and precious for every individual. We have realized this very well in the past 2 years! Good health means not only the absence of disease in the body but a complete physical, mental, social as well as spiritual well-being!
Building a strong immune system must be our top priority at this time! Let’s go back to our roots and tap on to our 5000 year old ancient wisdom of Ayurveda!
We all know that the function of the immune system is to protect our bodies against foreign invaders. The invaders can come in the form of actual foreign bodies (pathogens) such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Toxins can also be created from within and show up as dis-ease anywhere in the body.
A proper immune system is an intricate balancing act. When functioning optimally, it is able to discriminate effectively, knowing when to fight pathogens and when to back down. Now if you have been following my blogs, you very well know by now that as per Ayurveda, digestion (Agni) is of great importance!
You guessed it right….. achieving a strong immune system lies in a strong digestive system! Your immune system is influenced by the power of agni (digestive fire), our ability to digest, assimilate, and absorb nutrients in our bodies. Our body is able to fight any infection if our immune system is strong which in turn depends on our digestion (agni)! If we have a lot of AMA (toxins from undigested food), an environment is created in which pathogens (disease causing microorganisms) are encouraged to thrive.
Ama can result from improper eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle practices. When you eat something you know is not good for you but you still eat it anyways, or you engage in an activity that you know is not good for you but you do it anyways, you are committing “Crime against your Wisdom” called “Prajnaparada”, in Sanskrit!
Our body knows how to heal itself! It keeps giving us signals! The body naturally wants to become balanced and healthy. But in this Vata dominated culture we forget to listen to those subtle signals and we go on committing crime against wisdom!
I encourage you to try out some of these ayurvedic guidelines and see for yourself the change in your energy and vitality and also build a strong immune system…
- Do not tax your digestion by eating heavy, rich, difficult to digest meals. Instead, eat easy to digest meals like khichari, lentil soups, vegetable soups, cooked vegetables.
- Avoid cold, heavy, oily “Kapha-genic foods”. They reduce agni (our digestive fire) and in turn weaken immune system. i.e. Avoid ice cold water with meals, avoid cheese, ice cream, yogurt, fried foods and packaged foods at all cost.
- Include spices such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper, cumin, coriander, fennel & cinnamon in your diet.
- Sip on herbal teas – ginger-lemon tea, dandelion tea (good for reducing kapha toxins). It is really important to keep the toxic load as low as possible so that your immune system can fight pathogens!
- Chyavanprash is an ayurvedic herbal jam made up of amla/amalaki (Indian gooseberry) and herbs and spices to boost immunity and improve strength & vitality. Take 1 tsp- 2 tsp every morning.
- Follow the rules of “Dinacharya” – Ayurvedic daily routines – and live in sync with nature.
- Follow the rules of “Ritucharya” – Ayurvedic seasonal routines – by eating seasonal foods and following an appropriate lifestyle routine for the season.
- Follow a diet and lifestyle regimen that is balancing for your unique mind body type “Prakruti“.
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Excess weight is a burden for the body. Placing undue stress on organs and metabolic functions impairs immune function.
- Get regular exercise. Just the right amount of movement helps the body become more resilient.
- Get sufficient, good-quality sleep. As per Ayurveda you must sleep by 10:00 pm. The body detoxifies & restores itself and counters the effects of stress during sleep and relaxation.
- Follow a daily routine which has time for some yoga, meditation and Pranayama (breathing exercises).
- Meditating for short periods each day can greatly reduce anxiety and stress, improve your quality of life, as well as boost immune function. Allow yourself to feel fully supported and let go of tensions you may be holding. Believe in yourself and start loving yourself! You can do it!
- MOST IMPORTANT- MANAGE STRESS! Stress has a direct effect on the immune system. It also impairs Agni leading to Ama (toxins) which taxes the immune system.
If you need to pick two most important points from this blog to begin with, I would suggest you pick …Stress management and going to bed by 10 pm!
I feel all these practices are intertwined! Once you start sleeping on time, you will be able to relax better and take care of your stress. And once you start sleeping well, you will wake up feeling energized and be present in the moment to actually listen to what your body is trying to tell you and so you will be able to make the right decisions for yourself in terms of diet and lifestyle.
Ayurveda’s holistic approach can help you develop a lifestyle that is good for your body and your mind while supporting health and immunity.
Want to LEARN MORE……
Check out OUR SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSES that include a perfect blend of Holistic Nutrition and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom!
- THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO STRESS MANAGEMENT
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR BLOOD SUGAR NATURALLY!
- BASICS OF HEALTHY EATING
- THE DIGESTION- IMMUNITY CONNECTION
- MANAGE BACK PAIN USING DIET & LIFESTYLE
- WHAT’S YOUR DOSHA?
- BASICS OF AYURVEDA
NAMASTE,
Preeti Syal
M.Sc., R.H.N., Certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant
The content provided in my blogs are for knowledge sharing purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.