Ritucharya: Ayurveda’s secrets of seasonal eating
Ritucharya, an ancient Ayurvedic practice, combines "Ritu" (season) and "charya" (regimen or discipline). It provides guidelines for lifestyle and diet to align with seasonal changes, helping maintain the balance of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) in the body. By adapting to the physical and mental effects of each season, Ritucharya promotes overall health and well-being.
Varsha Ritucharya: Ayurvedic Guide to Monsoon Wellness
As the monsoon season, or Varsha Ritu, arrives from mid-June to mid-August, it brings high humidity, heavy rains and fluctuating temperatures. While the rain rejuvenates the earth, this season can also lead to an increase in both Vata and Pitta doshas, causing digestive issues, weakened immunity and a tendency towards infections. To maintain balance and health during this season, Ayurveda offers specific dietary and lifestyle recommendations under the practice of Ritucharya.
What to Avoid During Varsha Ritu:
To maintain balance during the monsoon season, it's essential to avoid certain foods that can aggravate Vata and Pitta doshas:
- Heavy & Oily Food: These can burden your digestive system and increase sluggishness.
- Cold Foods & Beverages: These can weaken digestion and aggravate Vata dosha.
- Fermented Food: Such as pickles and curd, which can increase Pitta dosha.
- Raw Food: Like raw vegetables and salads, which are hard to digest during this season.
- Non-vegetarian Food: Often heavy and difficult to digest.
- Excessively Spicy Food: These can further aggravate Pitta dosha and cause digestive issues.
What to Consume During Varsha Ritu
To counteract the imbalances of Vata and Pitta doshas during Varsha Ritu, focus on consuming foods that are easy to digest, warming and grounding:
-
Fruits & Vegetables:
- Seasonal fruits like apples, pears, pomegranates, etc.
- Cooked vegetables like zucchini, pumpkin, gourds, etc.
- Grains: Easily digestible grains like rice and wheat.
- Legumes: Split mung dal, toor dal and other well-cooked legumes.
- Spices & Herbs: Ginger powder, black pepper, cumin, asafoetida (hing) and turmeric, etc.
- Beverages: Warm herbal teas like ginger tea, tulsi tea and spiced teas.
Lifestyle Practices for Varsha Ritu
In addition to dietary changes, Ayurveda recommends certain lifestyle practices to keep your doshas balanced and maintain overall well-being during the monsoon season:
- Wear dry, warm clothes and avoid getting wet in the rain.
- Engage in light exercises such as yoga and walking.
- Ensure your drinking water is boiled and filtered to prevent waterborne diseases.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule to support your body's natural rhythms.
- Avoid sleeping in the daytime as it can slow down metabolism.
- Keep your surroundings dry and clean to prevent mould and dampness.
- Avoid walking in dirty or damp water to reduce the risk of infections.
By embracing Varsha Ritucharya, you can handle seasonal changes with ease and maintain your health and well-being throughout the monsoon season. These Ayurvedic guidelines offer a simple yet effective way to keep your doshas balanced and enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of Varsha Ritu.