Ayurveda Special: What should be your perfect routine in winter?

Ayurveda has answers to everything. From how to conduct your daily life to protecting the body from changing seasons, this ancient system of medicine can help you lead a perfectly healthy and happy life.

With winter in its full bloom in India, does Ayurveda have any tips and recommendations?

Ayurveda suggested routine for winter

According to Ayurvedacharya Dr, Ranjana Chawla, Ayurveda emphasizes self-care practices in all the seasons and it is called Ritucharya. It includes both Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle to manage the mental and bodily imbalances that are a part of seasonal changes. In winter, most people suffer from Vata Dosha due to which roughness, lightness, mobility, and dryness enter the atmosphere affecting the human body.

Such imbalances can cause dry skin, disturbed mind, insomnia, and constipation. This is where practicing a disciplined Ayurvedic routine can keep such health problems at bay. Ayurveda recommends drinking a hot cup of herbal tea made from simple ingredients like tulsi, ginger, licorice, cardamom, and cinnamon at least once a day in between meals.

What should you eat during winter?

In winter the focus should be on eating warm as well as moist foods to balance the prevailing dryness, light, and cold in the surrounding atmosphere. Oatmeal, warm stewed apples flavoured with clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon is ideal for breakfast.

For lunch, you can take steamed vegetables with rice and dal. Root vegetables are easily available during winter. At dinner, you can take a warm bowl of soup made from root vegetables. You can add pumpkins, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and squashes to the soup.

Managing proper daily routine

Eating and sleeping at the right time and taking around five meals throughout the day usually at the same time is advisable. Waking up within half an hour from sunrise and practicing any form of exercise daily as well as meditation is advisable.

Abhyanga snan or massaging the body with warm oil before bath is highly recommended in Ayurveda for overall health and keeping the skin soft and supple.