Ayurveda makes it easy to maintain good health and to improve it when necessary. The thousands of factors that affect our health are simplified in the basic principles of the three doshas.

Ayurveda understands the body in terms of three basic principles or 'doshas' - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They underlie all bodily processes. Balance of the doshas promotes health and well being and imbalanced doshas cause illness.

When the doshas are balanced we enjoy perfect health, feel good and radiate natural beauty.

Many factors influence the balance of the doshas, such as daily routine, diet and the seasons. The suggestions offered here are to help you maintain your inner balance. This is not a strict regime. Ayurveda should enrich life, not restrict it. Above all you should have fun and feel good when trying out something new.

Diet

In winter Agni, the inner digestive fire, tends to be stronger than at other times because of the cold weather outside. Stronger digestion means you may eat heavier, richer foods.

A light diet at this time causes the body to burn off tissues and causes Vata imbalance. The wind and cold also increase Vata because they have the properties of air, dryness, cold and irregularity. For this reason Vata reducing measures are advised in autumn and winter.

Favour

warm and nourishing foods such as hotpot, stew, pasta, casseroles, milk products (e.g. cream, ricepudding), nuts, and almonds. Particularly tasty are soaked dry fruits such as dates, raisins and figs, which can be taken with cream or cinnamon for added flavour.

Take less raw foods, salads, cabbage and dry foods.

Use ghee (clarified butter) when cooking. Ghee is highly regarded in Ayurveda for its health-promoting properties. Favor sweet, sour and salty foods.

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Vata pacifying spices include:

Cinnamon, fennel, aniseed, nutmeg, cumin, cardamom, liquorice, cloves, fresh ginger, parsley and basil. The spice mixture Vata Churna is also good to use.

Avoid ice cold drinks; drink something warm such as:

Vata Tea, Gentle Breath Tea, Vata Milk Shake, Almond Energy Drink Mix or Raja's Cup, a delicious Ayurvedic alternative to coffee. Drink Lassi with your midday meal. Lassi is prepared with 1 part yoghurt to 3 parts water with a little rock salt. Sweet Lassi can be prepared by adding sugar and cardamom and cinnamon or vanilla essence. Sip hot water regularly. Avoid stimulants such as coffee, black tea or cigarettes.

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