Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter

Winter, with its dull skies and cold wet weather, is the heavy 'Kapha' season according to Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda describes three 'doshas' or qualities ascribed to all things. The Kapha dosha has the qualities of wet, cool, earthy and oily. It tends to bind, stabilize, lubricate and sustain.

The winter season is a time for consolidation and containment and a time to shelter from the cold in rest and reflection. Kapha's qualities of nourishing and sustaining complement the season's inactivity, enabling the mind and body to quietly recharge in preparation for the new year ahead. To stay balanced and healthy during the winter, try to follow the general guidelines below. You will likely have fewer colds, feel less run down and be charged and ready for the new year.

First and foremost, protect yourself from the elements and don't over extend your self. Even more than in the autumn season, a scarf is your first line of defense as the neck is the most vulnerable to the wind and cold, and it is the physical place where we catch colds, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Also as in the autumn, lubricate your nostrils and ears with oil or butter to protect those delicate vulnerable areas from the cold wind.

Spend plenty of time indoors by the fire or with several candles, reading, writing, sipping tea, with a blanket...get cozy. It's healthy to get outdoors all year 'round, but in the winter wait for those days when the sun is shining and there is no wind.

The Kapha times of day are from dawn to mid-mo
ing and from early evening until about 10 p.m., and these are ideal times to counter Kapha's cold heaviness with some warming exercise to enliven a sluggish mind and body. Winter is not a time for inactivity, but it is a time for extra rest and recharging. So now it's time for a full extra hour of sleep compared to summer.

The winter diet should be warming and substantial, with more whole grains, less fruit, lots of steamed or baked vegetables, especially root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, and more dairy and meats if these are in your diet. Soups are wonderful during the colder weather. Garlic, ginger and cayenne will add warmth and spice up your life.

To thrive this winter, stay warm and cozy, get lots of rest, eat warming foods, and do your warming exercises.

And of course, if you feel like you'd benefit from some extra support, we have wonderful natural supplements at Live Well to help with breaking up Kapha, warming the body, supporting the immune system, and recovering from any colds or flus more quickly. Bodywork, Massage Therapy, Gentle Chiropractic, Acupressure, Medicinal Aromatherapy or any combination of these powerful modalities are also available at Live Well.