According to the Ayurvedic seasonal cycles, autumn is considered to be Vata season and is the time of year when the energetic principles of Air and Space are strongest. Staying warm in spite of the drying out caused by the wind and cold is crucial to abundant health during the autumn months.
Cleansing the body is an ancient Indian practice that is particularly beneficial to do when the seasons change. Ritucharya is a seasonal routine where diet and lifestyle are adapted to the particular season. This helps us to maintain hormonal balance, prevent unnecessary weight gain, and be healthy. The changing of the seasons is a great time to detoxify so that the body can function more efficiently.
Fasting for Your Dosha
To find out your unique dosha, take the quiz.
If you are Vata dosha, try a short fruit or juice fast (such as orange juice, mango juice, grape juice, or ginger tea) or a longer Khichdi diet (recipe below).
If you are Pitta dosha, try a short fruit or juice fast (such as apple juice or pomegranate juice) or a longer Khichdi diet.
If you are Kapha dosha, try a short liquid fast of hot water, lemon & honey, or a juice fast (such as apple juice or cranberry juice) or a longer Khichdi diet.
Seasonal Tips
A ritucharya cleanse is simply a mindful choice to understand the rhythm of nature and choose the foods that support the transition from autumn to winter. Here are simple tips to help with this transition:
- Ideally wake up with the sun (and definitely before 8am)
- Scrape the tongue using a copper or steel tongue scraper every morning to remove the build-up of toxins
- Enjoy the stillness and peace of the early morning hours by meditating and praying
- Use vetiver and citrus essential oils
- Drink warm water (with or without lime, lemon, and ginger) first thing in the morning on an empty stomach
- Practice yoga and meditation
- Start eating more semi-solid foods and slowly introduce heavy, creamy, and earthy solid foods. Eat Khichdi (recipe below) for dinner at least once a week.
- Run steam baths and humidifiers to stay internally moist
- Wear autumn-colors like reds, oranges, and yellows and wear enough layers to keep you warm throughout the day
- When outdoors, minimize your exposure to drafts by covering your head and ears to protect them from the wind and cold
- Sleep by 10pm
Ayurveda teaches us that in order for us to live with optimal health, it is important to follow daily routines as well as seasonal routines. As the seasons change, we also need to change our eating habits, lifestyle, and physical activity accordingly.
To find out your unique dosha, take the quiz.
If you need help balancing your doshas to optimize your health, please reach out to me.
Khichdi (Indian Red Lentils & Rice)
Khichdi is a phenomenally energizing and rejuvenating Indian lentil dish. This is a wonderful family recipe of ours and is excellent to use as a 1-3 day cleanse to balance Kapha.
If using it as the detox meal, feel free to add as much water as you’d like to make it more soupy, lighter, and even easier to digest. You might also want to omit the tomato and chili.
coconut oil
1 bay leaf OR cinnamon stick
1 medium onion, chopped
½ tsp garlic paste
½ tsp ginger paste
1 large tomato, chopped
1 green chili, chopped (optional)
½ tbsp coriander powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp red chili powder, optional
2 ¾ cup water
salt, to taste
¾ cup masoor dal (red lentils)
¾ cup Basmati rice
chopped coriander leaves
½ tsp garam masala
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the bay leaf or cinnamon stick. Add the onions. Cook until transparent. Add ginger-garlic paste with a bit of water to prevent them from burning. Cook for a minute. Add tomatoes, green chili if using, and all the dry powder spices except for the garam masala and salt. Cook for 10 minutes on a low flame.
Add the water and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil. Add dal and rice. After 5 minutes, turn the heat to medium and allow to cook. Keep checking and when a little bit of the water is left (this should take around 10-12 minutes), check the rice for doneness. When the rice is nearly done, add the chopped coriander leaves and garam masala and cover the pot. Turn the heat to very low. After 10 minutes, your khichdi will be ready.
Enjoy!
If you need help with diet, nutrition, or supplementation for your unique dosha and genetics, please reach out to me.