Vata during Spring!

Vata diet in Spring

If you have Vata dominating your constitution probably you really enjoy this season and you feel more balanced! As the weather gets warm you can gradually change the heavier, grounding, comforting meals for more cleansing ones, which remain rich in nutrients and a bit oily to keep Vata under control. A trick is to follow a Kapha pacifying food adjusted to Vata during Spring; for example, cooked and warm fresh fruits and vegetables with ghee.

Make sure that grains like basmati rice, quinoa or amaranth are present in your daily meals. You can add in your plate cooked spinach, artichokes, asparagus, fresh corn, green beans, zucchini, beets, carrots, onions, peppers, avocado, with some mung beans or daal. Finally, few dry fruits and small raw snacks or salads will not bring you out of balance, so enjoy them! Since it is a Kapha season we should avoid dairy consumption even though you can enjoy very occasionally the fresh and soft version. Honey is a good sweetener.

What to avoid Vata during Spring

Foods that can bring out of balance to Vata and Kapha should be avoided: like watermelon, white sugar, spelt, soybeans, or tofu. Do not consume an excess of light and drying foods; corn flours, millet, oats, dry oats, rye, popcorn etc. Make sure that when you eat them they are balanced or antidote with spices, ghee or liquids. Avoid cold and carbonated drinks, drink ice and frozen ones like ice creams or cakes.

Lifestyle

Like in every season, Vata benefits from the daily routine and steady regular schedules, but in Spring they can be a little bit more flexible! Energy levels will be higher and you will experience the need for more activity, make sure you also rest enough. The ideal time to go to bed is 10 pm and please make sure you do not wake up before 6 a.m. Vata needs 8 to 9 hours of sleep.

Try to slow down your tempo by start your day serene. Practice Abhyanga in the morning, followed by a hot shower. From 6 pm to 10 am is the best time of the day to exercise. Vata should avoid running since they have already much movement going on due to the extra space and air element. In case of practicing asanas try to choose, standing ones, grounding ones, with slow movements since will help to restore and bring awareness. Make sure you are always warm during the process. Pranayama indicated for Vata is the simple and easy Nadi Shodhana, Alternate Nostril Breathing. Avoid swimming in cold water.

Read here: How to make the best out of your spring cleansing detox

You do not need a long list to be in balance, regularity and doing less is more for Vata types! Very important is that you carry with you enough clothes even if its sunny, to make sure that you are never cold!