Fall: into Health or into Illness?

Ayurveda teaches us that we are all made up of the same Five Great Elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air/Wind, and Space.  All of Creation is made up of infinitely variable combinations of these Elements, including Time, and each aspect of Creation interacts with other aspects to create even more combinations and effects.   Some of these effects are beneficial but others are not;  do we have the knowledge to adjust our diet, lifestyle, and exercise routines to balance these deleterious effects?

If you know you tend to gain weight over the winter months, Fall season is a good time prepare so you can avoid the sugar cravings and even the depression that can grow in the dark of Winter.  Focus on eating as much fresh produce as you can, cooking lightly and using flavorful spices like turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, black pepper, ginger, and any other herbs and spices you like (the more variety in your spices, the more subtle the flavors, so play with your food!).  Use a little ghee, sesame oil, or coconut oil to help bind the flavors together and to help give your body the ability to hold onto moisture. 

Remember that healthy fats are not your enemy and they won't make you fat, they make your food taste good and help you feel fuller sooner as well as provide LOTS of slow burning fuel that will keep your blood sugar from spiking and then falling (the way lots of sugar does).  If you do use some sugar in your food favor raw unprocessed sugars over highly refined (and nutrient depleted) white sugar, or add a little raw honey sparingly.  You can try using blackstrap molasses as a sweetener for your morning oatmeal for its trace minerals.

For more information about how Ayurveda can help you manage your weight go to this link:  http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/health-guides/weight-management-guide
If you feel you need individualized personal attention request an appointment and we will together design a program that will fit you like a well designed glove!