Why Eat Seasonally?

When we adjust our diet and lifestyle to match the season, health promoting digestive microbes dramatically change. Winter microbes support balanced immunity, digestion, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, sleep – and much more. Winter is associated with the qualities of ‘Vata,’ which are cold, air, dry and light. To stay balanced, focus on food and activities that are warm, moist, heavy and oily.

Our Ayurvedic seasonal lists classify foods from around the world, as well as locally, according to the qualities needed to balance the extremes of that season.  Some of the foods on the Ayurvedic lists represent their original harvest times in their indigenous regions. Foods harvested today do not always represent the season that they were originally harvested.

Even if a food on the list is not harvested in one’s region during that season (November to February) – or never grow in one’s region – their qualities are still balancing.  One can take it to the next level by eating locally, but this is not necessary to stay balanced. Many people appreciate the variety that the lists offer as eating locally in many climates would be too limiting for most modern palates.

To Support Optimal Health

• Start your day with 1-2 capsules of Ashwagandha and Turmeric Plus. Children over 4 take 1 of each. Watch the video: lifespa.com/herbs.
• Follow a regular rhythm of sleep, exercise, mealtimes and rest.
• Take 3-5000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Use our home test kit to test levels before use.
• 80% of the body’s immunity is in the digestion. Take our Digestive Health Quiz to boost immunity: lifespa.com/digestivequiz.
• Sleep with a humidifier to keep your sinuses clear.

Daily Routines (Dinacharya)

• Self-massage with  warm Tri-Doshic Massage Oil or Lymphatic Massage Oil. 
  >>>Learn how to do daily self-massage to balance your nervous system and detox your lymphatic system.
• Practice my One Minute Meditation up to ten times per day to help cope with stress, anxiety and depression.
• Lubricate and protect dry sinuses by performing Neti (gentle saline irrigation), followed by Nasya (oil): lifespa.com/neti
• Massage ears with Lymphatic Massage Oil.
• At the end of winter, follow one of our at-home cleanses to ensure a healthy spring: lifespa.com/cleansing.

Signs of Excess Vata During Winter

• Sleep or mood imbalances, occasional constipation, mild achiness.
• If you experience some of these signs, schedule an Ayurvedic consult and follow the above tips for a balanced winter!
• Are you a Vata?
  
  Take the dosha, or body type, quiz.

Winter Grocery List

Join Dr. John Douillard and thousands of others for The 3-Season Diet. It’s free!

This challenge takes you through a year of eating seasonally with month-to-month support and guidance. Nature provides the ideal harvest for each season to keep you strong, healthy, energized and focused. New research suggests that our gut microbes are meant to change seasonally by the foods we eat. Seasonal microbes optimize digestion, mood and immunity – the way nature intended!