Eleven Tips To Ward Off Your Seasonal Colds

With Ayurveda we can learn to be more savvy on how to avoid additional “hetu” factors (root causes) that can bring about seasonal coughs and colds. Here are 11 pointers for you to consider warding off that seasonal congestion.

1)   When we expose our bodies to extreme fluctuations in temperature (too hot & too cold) on the same or even alternate days, it places great strain on the body to cope up with extreme conditions in very little time.  Ease your body into temperatures by exposing it to moderate heat and cold or doing so gradually, and/or at least protecting it properly when entering and exiting.

2)   Not maintaining our body temperature warm in colder/cooler climates – not dressing warmly enough for the environment, and exposing the body to cold temperatures, or getting damp by walking in the rain without adequate protection – all these create a good condition for a cold. When the early Spring rays of sunshine start coming in, we tend to get a little adventurous and impatient about shedding our extra layers. It is best to maintain the same amount of caution in the Spring, until the end of May when things do finally start to warm up inside out.

3)   Consuming processed protein (“dumb” or “dead” food) – as in processed cheese in pizza, pasta, or eating other highly processed foods such as cold cuts, etc. “Dumb” or “dead” foods  put greater strain on the digestive system, as they are harder to process and metabolize, and result in greater toxic bi-products when they pass through the different stages of the digestive system. This lowers the body’s immunity, and can cause inflammation, and results in chronic colds and infections.

4)   Eating very heavy, cold, fatty, or fried foods. Specially in cold weather. Heavy foods result in the production of toxic build-up, ama. Ama mixes with one of the bodily humors, shleshaka kapha, clogging the channels and putting out the digestive fires. In such an environment, bacterial infections thrive, causing body aches, fever, and the common cold and cough conditions.

5)   Not following a healthy daily and seasonal routines – going to bed by 10 pm, and not skipping or delaying your meals are key to great health. Following an erratic rest and nourishment routine puts undue stress on the physiology, impacts immunity, making it more prone to generate ama, toxic build-up even out of healthy food, and thus making the body prone to catch seasonal colds.

6)   Frequently eating nightshades: tomatoes, potatoes, egg plants, large peppers – these vegetables are inflammatory by nature, that’s how they are chemically made-up, and they clog the circulatory channels, muting the digestive fire, and making it easier for the body to catch a cold, especially in the winter time.

7)   Consuming cold food (salads, sandwiches, etc) with cold/frozen drinks – pop drinks, malts, shakes, fruit and vegetables smoothies, specially in the Winter or the Fall. It’s all about maintaining the digestive and metabolic fire in top shape, and cold foods and drinks put it out, creating an environment prone to viral or bacterial infections. Alternately, if you consume too pungent foods (with red chili powder, vinegar, garlic, onion, etc) making you crave cold icy drinks to put off the fire, you make your body prone to the same kind of extreme conditions that reduce its immunity and make it prone to catching a cold;

8)   Cold milk: milk should never be consumed cold. Always boil/warm first, and ideally add warming spices such as ginger, or cinnamon, or cardamom. Never drink milk with your salty meals.

9)   In the winter time especially, do not eat yogurt at night, or early in the morning. Ideally, at lunch time, make a thin yogurt drink (80% water 20% yogurt). Add a pinch of Mum’s Masala, Soma salt, mix and enjoy. Having yogurt daily is necessary to maintain our gut’s friendly bacteria. The yogurt drink (water, yogurt and spices) will not clog channels, is easy to digest, and a healthy daily habit.

10)   Excessive daily exposure to EMF from computers, TV or smartphone screens brings down the body’s immunity making it prone to infections and inflammation.

11)   Stress, in the big picture, is the constant immunity-lowering factor. You can lead the ideal ayurvedic lifestyle, but if your days run high on stress, nothing will help! It is key to make time to de-stress through yoga, or meditation, or a walk in nature. You will increase your productivity and joy at work!

Disclaimer: This product and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only, and may not be used to replace, or compliment medical advice.