Ayurvedic immune boosting tips for winter

Regimen for Hemant (Early Winter)

Months - Margshirsh and Pausha (Mid November - Mid January) for Hemant

Do’s

• Unctuous, sweet, sour and salty taste food, meat, heavy nutritious diet and new grains.
• Milk and milk products
• Honey and luke warm water consumption
• Massage, fomentation
• Live in inner heated house, wear heavy and warm cloths

Dont’s

• Light food and drinks
• Starvation, fasting
• Exposure to cold wave 

Regimen for Shishir (Late Winter)

Months - Maagh and Phalgun (About Mid January to Mid March)

Do’s

• Unctuous, Sweet, sour taste diet
• Honey, milk, milk products, sugarcane products, ghee.
• Oil massage, Sudation
• Exercise
• Hot water bath

Dont’s

• Much Spicy, Bitter, Astringent taste diet
• Light and cold food and water, fasting
• Living in cold environment, much travelling

Immunity boosting tips

The following are some winter immune boosting tips that are simple to follow.

Food habits

1. Eat light, warm foods.
2. Avoid eating or drinking anything cold, because cold foods and drinks will reduce the digestive fire.
3. Avoid heavy, difficult to digest sweets and fried foods. Enjoy sweet root vegetables, broths and soups.
4. Include warming spices such as cardamom, ginger, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon in your foods.
5. Explore including in your diet, Ayurvedic Rejuvenative herbs taken as teas or tonics such as Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Triphala, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Tulsi (holy basil), Chyavanprash (an Ayurvedic formulation of rejuvenating herbs plus honey and ghee). 

Lifestyles

1. Daily self-massage in the morning with warm oils such as sesame or sunflower. It strengthens the skin and muscles and nourishes the tissues. This practice daily enhances a feeling of wellbeing.
2. Take warm baths in the evening with Epsom salts and warming essential oils such as ginger, cardamom, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, cedar, pine, juniper, basil.
3. Make sure to get enough sleep and avoid oversleeping.
4. Enjoy warming and energizing exercises such as active yoga, walking, hiking, and snowshoeing. These enhance circulation and build strength.
5. Allow yourself space and time for meditative reflection, inner contemplation, and pranayama practice.

Source : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India