Tips For Staying Healthy This Winter
| Even though one can catch a cold or flu at anytime of the year, we're more prone during the winter months
(kapha season in ayurveda). Here are some tips for boosting immunity and staying well during kapha season:
· I know I sound like a broken record (OMG, I just realized that some people reading this may not understand the reference. Oh, I feel old.) but you likely aren't getting enough vitamin D in your diet. The only way to know for
sure is to have your doctor do a blood test but, in the meantime, you can take 2,000 iu's of vitamin D daily. (Personally, I take 8000 iu's a day because I've been vitamin D deficient for years. You won't know this unless you get tested.) This is the one i like best: Carlson Ddrops. There's also a Baby Ddrops version if the regular dose is too high for you.
· Use KK Ayurveda Nasya (ayurvedic nose drops) twice a day. In addition to clearing and lubricating your nasal
passages, Nasya acts as a barrier to environmental toxins and viruses. It contains eucalyptus which is a natural
antibacterial as well. It's great stuff, it's my best-selling product.
· Drink ginger or CCF (equal parts coriander, cumin and fennel seeds steeped in hot water) tea daily to keep
digestive fire (agni) strong. Strong agni means strong immunity. Adding heating spices such as ginger,
cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, oregano, cumin and garlic to your food will also help ward off
illness.
· Take a spoonful of Chyavanprash every day. Chyavanprash (pronounced SHA-van-prash) is a nourishing, ayurvedic jam made with ghee (clarified butter), honey and a bunch of terrific, health-boosting herbs. It's delicious and suitable for all family members.
· Drink much water. It's very easy to be dehydrated during the winter and not realize it. We forget how drying the combination of cold weather and indoor heat can be.
· Avoid refined sugar. There have been studies that show consumption of refined sugar lowers
immunity for hours after ingestion. Ayurvedically, this makes perfect sense: kapha is increased by sweet tasting foods and increased kapha is something we all want to avoid during winter months.
· Stress-relieving activities like yoga, massage, marma treatments, meditation and Conscious Relaxation bolster
immunity. Do one or more of these frequently!
|
Recipe: South Indian Cabbage
| I saw this recipe the other day in the NY Times and thought it sounded delicious! Full disclosure: I haven't
cooked it yet. I bought almost everything but forgot to pick up the yogurt. i'm planning to make it tomorrow.
While yogurt and coconut can increase kapha dosha, the heating spices in the recipe will counteract this effect.
Using non-fat yogurt will help too. (I love Fage non-fat. You'd never know it's non-fat. It's divine.)
Here's the recipe: South Indian Cabbage
|
Frankincense-Neroli Cream for Face and Eyes
| Using indoor heat immediately sucks the moisture and glow right out of my skin. In addition to making sure I'm
drinking enough water throughout the day--filtered and drunk out of a non-plastic bottle, of course--I add an extra layer of moisture to my skin at night.
After cleansing (please tell me you're all using creamy cleansers and not those hideous, foaming things that are
only suitable, if at all, for teenagers with seriously oily skin), I apply my Anti-Aging Serum, wait a few minutes and then use the Frankincense-Neroli Cream on top. You may not need both steps as I do in the winter months so
you can use either product on its own. Even though the Anti-Aging Serum is oil-based, I find the Frankincense-Neroli Cream to be the more moisturizing of the two.
|
My New Favorite Thing
| A client of mine had these gloves last winter and they're now available at Zappos in a bunch of different colors
(and sizes! my hands are seriously small). They're wool gloves with a little bit of nylon placed just on the tips of
the thumbs and index fingers so you can use your iPhone or other touch-sensitive device without removing your
gloves. Brilliant!!!
There are several styles including some for men. Here are the ones I bought: Echo Touch Gloves.
If you haven't ever ordered from Zappos, look out! It's addicitve. They have everything and it all arrives in the
blink of an eye. It's as close to instant gratification you can have shopping online. I don't know how they do it.
Seriously, I sometimes think they know what I want before I even order it.
|
| Conscious Relaxation | Just a reminder that the holiday season can be very stressful for some people. If you're one of them, please
come for an hour of guided meditation!
I'll be leading Conscious Relaxation (yoga nidra) sessions this month and next at YogaHouse, Yoga Now,
Tejas Yoga and Gilda's Club. Please take a look at my Events page or click on the links above for details.
|
 Love,
Karen Klutznick
312.445.8532
KK AYURVEDA
KK@KKAyurveda.com
|
|
|
