Spring equinox: time for change

According to Ayurveda, the whole world consists of three types of energy, or three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Kapha, heavy and cold energy dominates in spring. And our body, which reacts to changes in nature, changes accordingly: edema appears or increases, digestive difficulties arise, we complain of lethargy and drowsiness, we are drawn to sweet and cold … “Warm and light dishes with pungent, bitter or astringent taste, says psychologist and wellness coach Nadya Andreeva. – First of all, these are vegetables. Baked, boiled or stewed. All types of cabbage, beets, carrots, potatoes, spinach, asparagus, celery, eggplant, radishes, peppers, green peas will do. It is worth excluding only zucchini and tomatoes. Fresh herbs and any germinated seeds are extremely useful. From fruits, preference should be given to apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, apricots and dried fruits. It is good to cook buckwheat, barley and corn porridge more often in water.

“Dairy products should be postponed until summer. They contribute to the formation of mucus, which during kapha is already formed in excess, the psychologist notes. “If you can’t give up your favorite curds and yogurts, try to eat them less often, choose low-fat (but not fat-free!) And add warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to them to stimulate digestion.” Any sweeteners should be discarded in favor of honey.

Some of the most important products at this time will be ginger, turmeric and dandelion root (you can buy it at the pharmacy). All of them have a bitter taste, which means they support the immune system and help cleanse the intestines.

Useful exercise

Yes, the spring equinox, which symbolizes the change of seasons, is conducive to change, but still you should not radically change the menu at one moment: sharp jumps are associated with stress, and therefore rarely lead to long-term sustainable results. To make “breakdowns” less common, first determine what exactly you are going to work with. For example, you want to train yourself to drink a glass of warm water with ginger on an empty stomach, eat fresh herbs with every meal, stop overeating, give up dairy … “Divide the sheet into two columns. In the first, write down why you are changing the habit, what it gives you, Nadya Andreeva recommends. In the second, outline what will happen if you leave everything as it is, to which of your dreams and plans you will thereby say “no”. Attach this sheet to the refrigerator or other prominent place to remember more often why you feel discomfort.

What else?

Opening up to change that will lead you to your goal of a lighter, stronger, healthier body isn’t just about food.

1. Do a general cleaning. Throw away or give away unwanted items, dry-clean warm clothes, and take out light scarves, shawls, and dresses.

2. Decorate your home with bright joyful flowers and pleasant smells: decorative pillows, flowers, scented candles with notes of cinnamon, lemon, orange, grapefruit.

3. Move more. Kapha encourages laziness. But once you force yourself to sign up for a workout or go for a run, you will be surprised to feel how much power is sleeping in your body. Try to go to bed and wake up early.

4. Stick your tongue out in front of the mirror in the morning. Most likely, there will be a raid on it. And the more strictly you adhere to the kapha menu, the more it will be: this is how the digestive system is cleared of toxins overnight. Clean up the plaque.

5. Avoid baked goods, sugar, sweets, and any foods that contain chemicals or are not suitable for kapha season. Make sure you have plenty of warming spices and quality honey at home. Find new recipes you want to try in the next few days and stock up on cooking supplies.