Autumn has arrived: cool and changeable weather, dry leaves, wind and first frosty nights. Nature retreats and prepares for renewal. What happens in nature also happens in our body: the Vata qualities of cold, rough, dry and changeable influence the mind-body system and can easily lead to an excess of Vata. This results in restlessness, anxiety and susceptibility to infections.

Our many participants in the webinar "Winterfit" prepare themselves optimally for this change of season. What can you do if you do not participate in the webinar?

Who isn't sniffy and in a bad mood at this time of year? And how many people suffer even more from back and joint pain in the cold than usual? All this does not have to be the case.

Maharishi Ayurveda offers a variety of ways to balance the rising Vata dosha. The qualities of cold, harsh, dry and changeable that now dominate nature also dry out our bodies and favour a disruption of natural rhythms. This limits the flexibility of the joints, sleep becomes less restful and the skin becomes noticeably rougher and drier (not only from the heating air!). With the right diet, herbal supplements and the appropriate skin care, you can already achieve a lot.

Nutrition in the Vata season

All animals prepare for winter by building up some weight reserves. This enables them to better withstand the cold. Ayurveda recommends choosing a diet that allows more "ojas" to be produced. Ojas is the finest end product of digestion that makes the mind happy and the body resilient.

Ojas is created when particularly nutritious food is digested well. For this, the digestive system needs quality raw materials and enough time to process everything perfectly.

Healthy fats

Important foods in the Vata season include "healthy" fats, well-prepared grains and "earthy" vegetables. As an ideal fat for cooking and over ready-made hot dishes, ghee is the right choice. Our Ayurvedic ghee made from Austrian organic butter meets and exceeds all expectations in this regard. To cover the need for omega 3 fatty acids for healthy skin and mucous membranes, linseed oil, hemp oil and the vegan omega 3 algae oil from Norsan are suitable. All of these fats should also be used in an amount of 1 tablespoon per meal if you have a tendency to high blood lipids.

Grains and pulses

To balance Vata, foods made from wheat and spelt are particularly suitable in autumn, unless there is a personal intolerance against them. The higher protein requirement for a strong immune system can be met by well-cooked pulses such as lentils and mung beans. Since the digestive system is very susceptible to flatulence and cramping pains in the abdomen during the Vata season, sufficient wind-promoting spices such as fennel, coriander and (cruciferous) cumin should be used in cooking. Seasoning with Vata-Churna is highly recommended!

Earthy vegetables

The amount of raw vegetables (salads, fruits) should be reduced significantly, as these foods increase Vata. In the Vata season, the proportion of raw vegetables in the diet should not exceed 10%.

Very favourable, however, are "earthy" vegetables, such as all root vegetables and pumpkin. Carrots, parsnips, beetroot, celery and other tuberous vegetables should be well seasoned and cooked to make vegetable curries and soups. Soups are particularly beneficial when they are cooked for a long time, making the ingredients well broken down and easy to digest. The body needs the extra liquid to protect itself from dehydration.

Hot water

Now is the ideal time to take a typical Ayurvedic "hot water cure" for a few days. Boil uncontaminated tap water for about 5-10 minutes, let it stand for a few minutes so that the sediments settle, and pour it into a high-quality thermos flask. Drink a few sips every half hour or so, and do this from early morning until late at night. If you keep this up for a week, a dehydrated body is sure to be rehydrated and rid of water-soluble waste products.

Food supplements

If you are burdened with anxiety or dark thoughts during the dark season, you should definitely counteract this in good time with Vata-balancing medicinal plants. Particularly suitable are our MA1401 (Vata Balance), Ashwagandha and Shatavari. Don't forget to supplement vitamin D in sufficient doses during the low-sun period.

Skin care

Due to the change of seasons, the skin is particularly stressed and dries out easily. There is no better compensation for this than an Ayurvedic (self-) oil massage, which you should do once or several times a week during the cold season. A warm shower or a full bath AFTER the oil massage completes the Vata-balancing effect. Our high-quality oils such as Vata massage oil and MP1 oil are suitable.

For dry skin, in addition to the regular oil massage, we recommend the use of the MA989 Ayurskin nutritional supplement and the Vata-balancing products of our skin care series, the Vata care cream, the Vata body lotion and the Vata body care products. The MA989 Ayurskin food supplement contains valuable medicinal herbs that nourish and regenerate the skin from within.

Summary

Autumn brings an increase of Vata in man and nature. If this increase leads to an imbalance of Vata, we feel unwell because restlessness, fears, negative moods and physical weakness result from it.

By balancing Vata with the right diet, the ideal body care and the appropriate food supplements, Vata comes into balance and enables the attitude to life that a balanced Vata deserves: physical lightness, mental clarity and the feeling of complete fulfilment.

Take care of your Vata!