By Dr. Puja Shah
You wouldn’t think this about the coldest season, but according to Ayurveda, winter can be a great season for your health.
In fact it’s said that winter is actually the best season to improve immunity, rather than decrease it.
In Ayurvedic terms, immunity is connected to your digestion. When your digestion is strong and your appetite is good, then immunity is strengthened. Whatever weakens digestion, weakens immunity. It’s that simple.
Besides diet and lifestyle which are big factors, there are three aspects that determine your immunity quotient:
- Hereditary (Sahaj) — the innate level of immunity, which you are born with.
- Seasonal (Kalaj) — fluctuating levels of immunity due to the change of seasons, different stages of life, and the planetary cycles.
- Established (Yuktikrit) — a balanced, permanent level of immunity that can be realized by following an ayurvedic diet and lifestyle.
If someone is born with an innately low level of immunity, that just cannot be changed. That’s why in Ayurveda, it’s crucial to focus on strengthening the second type of immunity, which can fluctuate with the seasons, one’s age, and even the planetary cycles.
Why winter is good news for your immunity
One reason that winter is a good season for building immunity is that digestion is stronger in cold weather. Just as your home’s heating system works harder in cold weather, so too does your inner digestive fire when the air turns chilly. This is a good thing!
Due to the digestive level being very high, people feel more hungry, and you can actually digest food better in winter, thus nourishing your body with greater efficiency.
The problem is that sometimes, as the appetite increases, people may eat more junk food, holiday sweets and heavy, hard-to-digest foods, and thus they weaken their immunity.
This debunks the theory that nature is to blame, since by following a good Ayurvedic daily routine, eating more superfoods that boost the immune system, plus by getting more rest, you can nourish the mind and body during winter.
The best foods to eat in the winter season
In general, Ayurveda recommends food that is fresh, organic, easy to digest, pure, and wholesome. These include fresh, organic milk and yogurt, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and of course the revered ghee (clarified butter).
Foods that are hard to digest should be avoided if you want to increase your immunity.
This means toss the packaged and canned goods from your shopping basket.
The tastes to focus on in the winter are sweet, sour and salty. It’s best to eat less of the astringent, bitter, and pungent tastes in winter, although all six tastes should be included in your diet.
Of course, warm, home-cooked, hearty foods are ideal, as long as they are not deep-fried and are cooked with easy-to-digest oils such as ghee or olive oil. Avoid cold or ice-cold foods or drinks, because those will put out the digestive fire.