Many people often end up gaining more weights during winters. However, you would be surprised to know that it is easier to burn calories in winter than in summer. Winter is the perfect time to lose weight, because fortunately we have a healthy metabolism in the winter, which allows us to burn more calories with less effort. However, we prefer to stay cozy in our warm blankets or sit still while binge watching our favorite shows or reading a book. In addition, with winters craving for sweet and healthy food increases. Thus, we wind up gaining more weight, so we need to eat mindfully.

 

According to Ayurveda in winters Kapha dosha leads to heaviness and slows our pace of life. The imbalance of the digestive fire (Agni) and poisons (Ama) disrupts the metabolism of fat tissue (Medo Dhatu). Ama obstructs bodily tissue pathways and weakens Vata Dosha, the energy principle that governs the space and air elements. This out-of-balance Vata interferes with digestion and causes you to feel hungry. Obesity (Sthoulyam) is brought on by this along with poor fat metabolism. The energy principle of water and earth components, the Kapha Dosha, is impaired by an excessive intake of sweet, fatty, and cold foods, which also promotes the deposition of fat. Cold weather also aggravated joint pain and stiffness in body. This happens due to aggravated Vata Dosha. Ayurveda says we need to keep kapha and Vata dosha in in balance in order to lead a healthy life during cold weather.

 

What are the Ayurvedic approach to weight loss?

The following are some Ayurvedic methods/tips for managing your weight at home.

1. Prioritize diet to reach an ideal weight: Make your diet a top priority as the first step in losing weight. Consistent, sustainable weight loss is possible only when you are focusing on your health through food and lifestyle adjustments.

2. Cultivate new rituals for eating: stick to your daily and seasonal schedule. Maintain regular mealtimes and refrain from snacking. Moderate your eating habits. Eat your meal in a quiet place by munching your food properly and after your dinner, go for a quick stroll. Ayurveda’s eating rules state that you should generally eat breakfast at 8 am, lunch at noon, and dinner at 5 pm. Try to eat within an hour of these times.

3. Avoid eating cold foods: Cold foods can aggravate Vata and increase Kapha. Kapha dosha is a mix of water and earth, and when you cool these elements, they solidify, causing stagnancy that results in weight gain. This means that you will want to avoid raw foods and salads.

4. Other Tips: Add Hing and desi ghee to avoid flatulence during saag preparation. Eating Gud(jaggery) with saag will ease digestion. 

What to eat during winters?  

During the winter/Vata season, it is important to eat wet natured, warm, and hearty foods. Even when you have excess Kapha, you can eat seasonal Vata balancing foods that will keep you nourished without contributing to excess weight gain. Eat sweet, sour, salty foods instead of bitter, astringent and pungent. Anytime, for eating, moderation is key!

VATA SEASON FOODS:
Cooked Vegetables	Beets, carrots, garlic, green beans, onions, sweet potatoes, radishes,  turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, leafy green vegetables such as Sarson ka saag, Methi and Palak, Amaranth leaves bhaji, Bathua Raita, mushrooms, peas, peppers, potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, zucchini.
Fruit	Bananas, apricots,  berries, cherries, grapefruit, lemons, grapes, peaches, plums, stewed fruits, cranberries, pears, pomegranates.
Cooked Grains	Oats, barley, millet, Bajra /Makkai/Multigrain roti, Bajra-Palak roti, Methi Thepale, Ragi pancakes, oats and moong daal cheela, Uttapam & Idli
Meats( in moderation)	Chicken, seafood, turkey
Beans and Legumes	Chickpeas, mung Dhal, lentils
Oils	Sesame oil, ghee, olive oil
Spices	Unless you have excess Pitta dosha, you can add herbs and spices that are more pungent in nature to your foods. The warming nature will balance Kapha, just be mindful not to add too much as this may aggravate Vata.

  What are the weight loss winter drinks?     

·         Fresh Juice - made of carrots, beetroot, orange , Amla not only helps in weight loss but builds immunity as it is packed with vitamin c, iron and antioxidants.    

·         Cinnamon – adding a pinch of this spice in food burns your excess fat  

·         Cumin Water (Jal Jeera) -soak overnight a tsp of cumin in a glass of water and boil to half next morning. Drink this first thing in the morning.

·         Golden Tea – Tulsi, ginger and turmeric (Kachi Haldi) tea will burn your fat and save you from cold and cough. 

·         Vegetable soup - fresh coriander, spinach, beetroot, carrot, and pumpkin can be added to soup along with raw turmeric, black pepper & hing. This soup increases your digestive fire and boosts metabolism.

What are the winter Snacking?

·         Sesame seeds keep you warm and are calcium rich so very good in joint pains.

·         Chaulai jaggery laddoo– Light to eat and will fulfill your sweet cravings

·         Dates, Walnut, and Almonds raise heat in the body thus boosting your metabolism. Roasted Makhanas can serve you as winter snacks.

·         Enjoy winters but with a healthy diet . Stay active . Exercise at least 30 - 40 minutes a day.

What are the specialized Ayurvedic therapies for winter?

·         Panchakarma involves deep, customised, and comprehensive therapeutic detoxification and regeneration. It can treat long-term, ingrained problems like obesity.

·         Udwarthanam (therapeutic herbal powder massages)

·         Mardanam (deep dry massage)

·         Abhyanga (full body massage followed by a steam bath)

·         Kashaya Vasti (therapeutic enema)

·         Virechana (therapeutic purgation)

·         Swedana, are very effective in addressing excess adipose (herbal steam bath).