Stay cool, hydrated and healthy (mentally, emotionally & physically) by shifting your diet according to the season
Recent studies show people across the world have shifted their loyalty towards Ayurvedic products be it medicines, cosmetics or everyday basic essentials. Albeit the fact that Ayurveda has been helping people live a healthy life for more than 3000 years, its significance has been recognised only a few decades ago. After chasing chemical based propositions and fighting side effects, people today have come back home to our very own Ayurvedic products.
The New Age Mantra
Ayurveda is already on its comeback track to its place of origin for the advantages of following an Ayurvedic Lifestyle. Industry reports state that around 75 per cent of the plant-based therapeutic entities used worldwide were included from traditional or folk medicine.
According to Anurag Mathur, Partner & Leader, Consumer Goods & Retail, PwC India, “The Naturals phenomenon is not a short-lived trend and is here to stay in a nation rich with the wisdom of the ages and historical recipes from nature. Companies that build a coherent strategy around a set of different capabilities will emerge the winner.”
The mainstream brands have realised the importance of offering Ayurveda to the consumers and have already started offering varied products in personal hygiene care like toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, medicines and more.
“Currently, as many as 20 countries are conducting rigorous research on Ayurveda and the number is increasing rapidly. Research also shows that apart from being a popular medicinal technique in several Asian countries, many European and American countries have also switched their preference to Ayurvedic medicines, instead of the allopathic ones,” says Deeptanshu Bansal, CEO and Co-Founder of Alyuva.
Beauty Products and Ayurveda Works well in all weather conditions
Like other verticals, Ayurveda is today sought after in the beauty segment. With a climate like Gurgaon, Ayurveda based beauty products are undoubtedly better than the cosmetics loaded with chemicals that are abundantly available.
Ayurveda, being a proven medical science for thousands of years, has shown its prowess in healing people in different climatic conditions. “Gurgaon which is a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical and semi-arid, the use of ayurvedic based products can help people manifold in leading a healthy life-mind, body and soul,’’ says Bansal.
Ayurveda not only heals, but it also enlightens a person with the hidden facts of life as etymologically, Ayurveda means “Knowledge of Life.”
How do you adjust eating habits for the hot, humid weather of summer to avoid aggravating inflammatory tendencies and Pitta Dosha?
Since Kapha and Pitta share the element of water, but are opposites when it comes to hot and cold, this sets up a quandary for the diet. A few simple guidelines, however, can be sufficient to balance between these two types of biochemistry in most cases.
Missing lunch during summers is equal to upsetting your Pitta Dosha that further makes the person feel irritated and cranky.
Summer Diet
According to the book ‘The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies’ by Dr Vasant Lad, “Summer is hot, bright and sharp, the season of Pitta. Thus, it is recommended to keep cool and not allow Pitta Dosha to become aggravated.”
1. Cool liquids help pacify Pitta but ice-cold drink and carbonated beverages are a big NO as they disrupt digestion.
2. Sweet fruit juices (sweet grape or sweet pineapple are refreshing choices); boiled and cooled milk with a pinch of cardamom, sweet Lassi and coconut water is highly recommended during the season.
3. Cucumber, milk, butter and ghee are all cooling foods.
4. Minimize the consumption of spicy foods, though add onion to your diet.
5. Self-massage your body with coconut oil for a cooling effect.
6. Strenuous exercises must be avoided during peak season.
7. Fresh fruits are best eaten alone so fit them in as between meal snacks.
8. Best summer fruits are apricots, sweet berries, cherries, limes and peaches with moderate use of grapes, lemons, mangos and pineapples.
9. Sour fruits, such as kiwis, melons, plums, and tomatoes should be eaten the least frequently.
10. Use banana in moderation only.
This article was first published in the print version of SUBURB April 2019 issue.
