Boosting the immune system with Ayurveda Nutrition.

With its origins starting in India, the ancient medicine Ayurveda has for more than 5000 years has been helping people of all ages to overcome their illnesses. If you are looking to boost your immune system in a natural way, then Ayurveda is the right path for you. Usually winter is considered the most appropriate season for a therapy for strengthening the immunity, but we can work at improving it at any time of the year.

Ayurveda believes that the negative emotions also can be a reason for ojas (the immune system) decreasing. Some of these feelings are hatred, jealousy, anger, worry, guilt, envy, excessive fatigue or hunger.

And in fact, weakening of the immunity can be caused by various negative emotions, psychological tension, contamination of the environment, excessive use of antibiotics, metabolic disorders (overweight or underweight), unhealthy way of living (lack of physical activities and excessive consumption of unhealthy foods), also genetic factors. The good health is a sign that our immune system works as it should be.

The low level of resistant forces makes us vulnerable to various infections, allergies, tiredness, feeling of lethargy and fatigue, breathing problems, digestive problems, lack of appetite, chronic insomnia.

Any food that enhances tejas is good for the immunity, and the food that increases the Ama should be avoided.

Here are some ways to boost your immune system with the help of Ayurveda

Choose natural and easily digestible foods

We have heard many times that we have to increase our intake of raw fruits and vegetables. The natural plant food is absolutely included in the Ayurveda cuisine. But in fact, according to Ayurveda, the food should undergo a thermal processing in order to be absorbed by the organism easily and not to create a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

Ayurvedic foods to boost the immunity?

Ayurveda Nutritionadvises for a healthy immune system besides vegetables and fruits, to consume cereals, legumes, low-fat organic dairy products. It is recommended the meals to be with indoor temperature, and neither raw, nor overcooked, according to Maharishi Ayurveda.

Ayurveda recommends the dairy products such as homemade milk, paneer (type of Indian cheese), as well the popular Indian cow‘s butter – ghee, for boosting the ojas enegry. The organic fresh milk and ghee are valued by Ayurveda Nutritiondue to their ability to stimulate ojas.The milk can be warmed before drinking and a pinch of cardamom can be added to it, because then the digestion becomes even easier. But it should be consumed separately from the main dishes.

Green leafy vegetables are also recommended for a weak immune system – spinach, kale, curly-leaf cabbage. When stewed and spiced with immune stimulating spices, they become a powerful immune stimulant. They provide the organism with calcium, iron and other valuable nutrientsthat have a cleansing effect on the bowels. Broccoli, cabbage and thecauliflower contain a lot of antioxidants, flavonoids that also stimulate the immunity.

Wholegrain foods such as quinoa, amaranth, flax seedsalso have a positive effect on the weak immune system, because of the content of fiber and valuable nutrients, that clean the whole organism from the toxic substances.

Immune stimulating foods are also considered to be the apples, because they contain a rich amount of antioxidants, soluble and insoluble fiber,that have cleansing effect on the intestines. All sweet and juicy fruits such as pears, peaches, plums, pineapple, mangoes.They transform themselves quickly into ojas, if they have ripened on the branches of the tree. Pomegranate juice, as well the extract of pomegranate seeds, are a powerful immune stimulating agents. They facilitate the digestion process without causing irritation to the Pitta constitution, and they cleanse the organism from all harmful substances.

Legumes are highly appreciated in Ayurveda Nutrition, because they are a valuable source of proteinsand are light and healthy food for the organism, that gives us a sense of content and this foods could be consumed every day. When we avoid semi-manufactured foods (vacuumed, frozen, preserved foods), containing preservatives and enhancers, we increase in a natural way our vital energy ojas. Locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables are always recommended, because they dont contain harmful pesticides and contain a lot of minerals.

As for meat, Ayurveda Nutrition doesn’t recommend it, because it is not easy to digest and therefore itcreates Ama (negative) energy. Not saying you cant have it.

So, according to Ayurveda Nutrition not only the food that we eat is important, but also the way we eat. It is desirable to eat slowly, to chew the food well, so that we can maximize the process of digestion as well the absorption of the nutrients.

Avoid simple sugars in any form. The proper function of the stomach is one of the signs of a stable immune system. When our digestion system works properly, we are more immune to diseases.

Immune-stimulating spices to add to your dishes

Ayurveda Nutrition recommends cooking with a variety of spicesand especially with those that don’t disturb the energy of the food, but they add to it. The spices facilitate the digestion and help to fully absorption of the nutrients from the food by the body. If, for example, we add light spices to foods such as boiled vegetables, legumes, whole grain foods, this will increase the ojas energy.  

Besides giving a pleasant aroma to the dishes, spices have amazing healing properties on all cells and tissues of the body.

The different spices have their own specific immune stimulating properties:

• Turmeric, for example, has a strong immune stimulating effect that is due to its ability to remove toxins from the body and it stimulates „the intelligence” of the cells of the immune system.
• Cumin helps to reduce the Ama, the black pepper cleanses the body entirely so that it facilitates the ojas energy to reach the tissues in depth.
• Also recommended are the ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, healing herbs in the form of teas and tonics, such as aswaganda, triphala, amla, tulsi (holy basil).

Let‘s enjoy a daily massage

Massage like Ayurveda’s Abhyanga with warm herbal oils such as sesame oil, coconut oil, and mustard oil help not only the health of our skin but also the tone of our muscles, and it makes us healthier inside by promoting detoxification and lymphatic drainage.

As well as dry brushing your body every day to open up the skin pores to release toxins. A herbal dry body scrub is also a great addition to your daily or weekly routine.

Make time to relax

For good immunity, Ayurveda recommends that you be physically activeand to provide good recovery time for your body, in order to give it a chance to strengthen its resistant forces. The best way to do this is with yoga and meditation practices, walking, mountain hiking, and pranayama breathing techniques are all great.

Thankyou for taking the time to read I hope you have enjoyed and received some useful information.

Alicia

Blissful Body and Soul

Credit to Ayurvedabansko