Ayurveda is a science of life which explains in detail how we can lead our life in disciplined and healthy manner. Ayurveda has laid out every detail how to live life every day and in every season. According to Ayurveda, health depends on variations in external environment and their influence on our body. So, Ayurveda explained the seasonal changes and the effects season’s will have on our body and gave a detailed diet and exercise plan that one need to follow in a given particular season.
"Spring is Nature’s way of saying “LET’S Party” – Robin Williams"
In Bhagvadgeeta Lord Krishna quoted that of all the season’s spring is the dominant and more influential. Spring is a season of beauty with sprouting buds, blossoming flowers and bright sun. Spring is warm, unctuous and moist which are qualities of Kapha. Spring comes after winter and before summer. As the snow and ice which melts after winter due to warmth in spring, likewise the accumulated kapha in the body dissolves and will cause Cold, Cough and other allergies. So, proper diet and activity which can keep Kapha in balance are advised in spring.
DO’S
Tastes – Pungent, Bitter and astringent are the tastes recommended for spring. These tastes help in reducing Kapha in the body which is predominant in spring.
Protein Foods – Legumes like garbanzo beans, Yellow split peas, pinto beans and red beans are good as they are warming and also protein source to body. Meats like Turkey, Chicken, Rabbit and Venison are recommended.
Exercise –Spring is ideal for taking walk in the garden, park while enjoying the beautiful colours of spring. It is simple and yet excellent way of exercising in spring. If you are looking for more exercise in spring some of these Yoga postures are also good: Sun salutations, kapha reducing poses like cow, Bow, Fish, Boat, Locus, Lion and Locust are good in spring.
Vegetables – Artichoke, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Asparagus, Green beans, Radishes, Kale, Eggplant, Spinach, okra, garlic and onions. These vegetables are to be used along with hot spices like Black pepper, Chilli powder, Cardamom, Caraway, Asafoetida and Cayenne.
Spring Drinks – Drinking tea made with herbs like ginger, fennel, black pepper and cardamom is good for spring allergies like hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and cough and cold. Honey is warming and alleviating for kapha. Even lassi made with ¼ yogurt and ¾ water is also good.
“Drink a tea made of hot water with a teaspoon of honey in it every morning.”- Kapha reducing and warming.
Ayurevdic Detox/ Panchakarma – Spring is ideal for detoxification therapies or Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments due to predominant Kapha in the body. Vamana, Nasya along with Sneha, Sweda are recommended.
"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity-Hippocrates"
DON’T’S
Animal Protein – Seafood’s like Crab, Lobster, Sea fish, salmon and Duck; Beef, Buffalo, Lamb and pork are not recommended because of their kapha increasing qualities.
Unctuous foods - Avoid oily, greasy foods, Cheese, dairy products, ice creams and cold foods which are kapha increasing by nature.
Day naps – It is very tempting to fall asleep during spring due to spring weather is optimum to make fall asleep during the day. Taking a nap during day time is not recommended by Ayurveda.
Vegetables – Cucumber, Olives, tomatoes (raw), Zucchini, sweet potatoes and Pumpkin squash are not recommended due to their nature to increase Kapha.
Leading life in a healthy way sure takes lot of sacrifices, but after all it is worth rather than going through suffering of life time illnesses. Ayurveda believes that one require deep spiritual insight in order to live in harmony with nature.