In Ayurveda, Autumn is considered a vata season, as it shared characteristics with this particular Dosha.

By making diet and lifestyle choices that counter the effects of each season, you can better maintain your internal sense of equilibrium throughout the year. The autumn and vata qualities are rough, dry, cool, mobile, clear and subtle. The Air element is everywhere

If we consider the Ayurvedic principle that opposites balance, vata season will be less aggravating if you fill it with warmth, oiliness, deep nourishment, loving relationships, and a sense of stability, routine, and groundedness. In other terms, comfort food with friends by the fire!

It’s a good moment to consider a simple cleanse, but fasting is not recommend. Your diet is a powerful way to soothe vata this fall.

Substantive, oily, nourishing foods that are high in protein, high in fat, brought to life with warming, stimulating spices, and served hot, will go a long way toward maintaining your internal reserves of moisture and keeping you grounded through the vata season.

In general, you’ll want to reduce your consumption of raw vegetables, cold and frozen foods, as well as the bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes. If you do eat these foods, eat them in moderation and make sure that they are soaked, well cooked, or served with ghee.

There are many lifestyles tips for a balanced Autumn season : daily routine, self massages, daily walks…have a look, information is easy to find!

Focus on : Seasonal diet

What does it mean to eat seasonal, nutritionally speaking?

Simply stated, your nutritional needs do change from summer to winter, and all year-round.

During summer, we are outside more often, exposing our skin to the sun, stronger and more direct in this season. Our bodies are able to convert the sunlight into vitamin D. Also, our bodies are programmed to focus on thermoregulation, which means maintaining proper body temperature. . We also lose a lot of electrolytes through sweat in the summertime, so it may be important to replenish fluids and electrolytes in the summer as well.

When it’s cold out, we may need more food since our bodies require more energy to heat ourselves up. Many of us are spending more time indoors, which means less vitamin D and often puts us in closer contact with other people, especially in poorly-ventilated spaces with folks who may be carrying germs. This means that we may need to take extra steps to protect ourselves from getting sick, like eating more immune-boosting nutrients. More time indoors can also lead to greater exposure to air pollutants, which can cause inflammation, respiratory diseases, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses, so we need extra nutrients in cooler weather to protect against these.

Instead of eating the same small group of fruits and vegetables year-round, seasonal eating encourages a varied diet. Branching out from your favourite kinds of fresh produce will give you important vitamins and minerals that you might not usually get.‌ Additionally, the quality and freshness of in-season produce are better than out-of-season produce. Because demand for certain crops is high year-round, they are modified to grow in bulk and to resist disease, but these modifications take away some of their nutritious benefits. When fruits and vegetables are grown during their natural timeframe, they will grow and thrive without any harmful additives.

Winter dietary requirements

Now that we have established that we need to adjust our diet with the weather… What is good for us to adjust in our nutrition during the cold season? The A meal answer is down below!

* Focus on vitamin D rich foods:

Less sun + indoor coziness = less vit D…which is a problem as your body needs vit D to absorb calcium! Fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms, liver and fortified dairy products, orange juice, soy milk and cereals… You can have your vit D level checked as well, and take supplements if needed. (don’t forget to add vit K to the mix, they work in conjunction)

* Omega-3 fatty acids

They have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, slow the development of plaque in the arteries and reduce the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke. And when it comes to the colder months that can cause skin to get flaky, itchy and dry, getting an adequate amount of O3 fatty acids can be very helpful. Foods rich of it help to fight inflammation, regulate skin’s oil production, improve balanced hydration, soothe skin irritation, and can help soften dry skin. Good food sources of omega-3s are mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

* Vitamin C is key to a functioning immune system

Although the literature has been mixed on whether vitamin C appears to protect against getting sick, some research shows it has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of colds. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant that mops up free radicals, preventing them from damaging cells and causing inflammation, helping to make the body stronger and more resilient overall. Vitamin C-rich foods include oranges, grapefruits, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and brussels sprouts.

* Plant-based protein and fiber in your comfort food rotation:

Very rich winter food is often meat based in our society. It can cause digestive discomfort and constipation… in this case, just add loads of veg and/or fruits to your meals! (at the same time, you will add also nutrients and water to your diet!)

* HYDRATE ! Even if it’s cold, you need to stay well hydrated, as our body needs it! Ok you are not sweating like a fountain, but you are loosing water never the less!

Answer : Soup is indeed the key

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