5 Ayurvedic Nutrition & Lifestyle Tips that have Actually Worked

For those of you who have been following me for awhile, you’d know that after moving to India I had the privilege of exploring Ayurveda. Although my knowledge is very basic, I managed to incorporate certain practices into my daily diet and lifestyle, and I have no complaints. As a Desi, it makes me so proud that this old science has literally stood the test of time and is being revived and appreciated today. So check out a few of the practices I’ve incorporated into my own routine and see if they work for you.

Warm Water in the Morning-The first thing I consume after waking up is a glass of water. Sometimes it’s room temperature and sometimes it’s warm water. However, I have found a difference. Ayurveda states that starting the day with water boosts metabolism-which is perfect for those of us who love a morning workout.

Seasonal Foods-Ayurveda also explains the logic of eating seasonal food items. When I moved to India, I kept hearing how certain fruits and vegetables are seasonal. Honestly, I originally saw this as an inconvenience because in America we never really thought about seasons. However, as I started exploring Ayurveda, I began to realize that there is a certain logic Mother Nature has provided with the seasonal foods. In India, where the summers are long and hot, the summer food items are designed to be cooling for the body to create a balance. Same thing goes for the cold winter months, the seasonal food items are often warming for the body. So therefore, unless I’m really craving an “off season” food item-such as berries in the monsoon months-I try my best to eat seasonal. Not to mention: seasonal foods are the most fresh, they are cheaper, and they are the tastiest when it’s their time.

Sitting down while Drinking Water-I started doing this when grandmothers started telling me to do so. I never understood it, but Ayurveda says that standing and drinking disrupts the fluids in the body and can hamper the kidneys. So honestly, I don’t feel that much of a difference in this right now, but it is such a small and easy practice to incorporate that I figured might as well try.

No Fad Diets-There are so many fad diets out there that it’s overwhelming. I honestly find a lot of them quite silly, and many Ayurvedic practitioners state that nature has created a delicate balance with the foods available in differing climates around the world. Therefore, any diet that encourages you to leave a certain natural food item-is completely false. Of course, I understand that every food time has a time and place, but nature has given it to us, so we don’t need to avoid it or eliminate it altogether.

Following the Circadian rhythm-This change is one I’m most proud of. Ayurveda encourages waking up before sunrise and sleeping a few hours after sunset, while eating your last meal at or shortly after sunset. I actually wake up at 6 a.m., and I’m sleeping my 9:30-10 p.m. Those quiet morning hours are literally my favorite, and it is such a positive start to the day. I even choose to eat dinner by 7:00 p.m., and it gives a chance for the food to digest before sleeping.

So there you have it, a few Ayurvedic practices I’ve incorporated my lifestyle. These changes are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much knowledge one can accumulate and apply that it is actually endless. I’m so grateful I am able to explore Ayurveda and I’ll keep you updated on anything else I manage to incorporate in my lifestyle!!