Top 10 Health Habits for Autumn
Lynne Ann Paterson,
Prakasa Yoga & Wellness
AVOID:
1. Avoid frozen foods, frozen desserts and iced drinks.
Leave the ice cream and frozen yogurt at the
store. Cold foods cool the body. A cold body is less resistant to outside
influences.
2. Avoid dairy and wheat.
Stop eating all dairy and wheat for 1-3 weeks to
give your lungs and large intestine a rest. Dairy and flour products (cookies,
cakes, muffins, bagels, etc.) are very congesting - especially when eaten
together daily day. Any grain ground into flour (wheat, coconut, barley, rice,
etc.) when mixed with liquid acts like glue in your intestines and creates
congestion in the lungs.
PROTECT:
3. Oil your skin, nostril and ears.
I love to use Ayurveda Nasaya Oil, but any organic unprocessed oil will do (olive, almond, ghee, sesame). In the shower, after washing, rub oil over your entire body and rinse off excess. Put a little oil in your ears, nostril and mouth. Cold and wind can enter your body through all these areas. The best line of defense is proactive self-care.
I love to use Ayurveda Nasaya Oil, but any organic unprocessed oil will do (olive, almond, ghee, sesame). In the shower, after washing, rub oil over your entire body and rinse off excess. Put a little oil in your ears, nostril and mouth. Cold and wind can enter your body through all these areas. The best line of defense is proactive self-care.
4. Essential Oils
Rub eucalyptus essential oil on your chest (after oiling your skin). That will help to clear congestion in the lungs, and ward off germs should someone cough or sneeze your way.
Rub eucalyptus essential oil on your chest (after oiling your skin). That will help to clear congestion in the lungs, and ward off germs should someone cough or sneeze your way.
5. Breathe more fully and deeply.
When I feel my energy dip, I stop, sit down for a few minutes, close my eyes and breathe this way: inhale 4 seconds, hold breath for 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, hold breath 4 seconds. This allows your lungs to absorb more oxygen!!
6. Scarf season is officially open.
Wear a beautiful scarf to keep Autumn’s cool, dry air off your neck and skin.
Wear a beautiful scarf to keep Autumn’s cool, dry air off your neck and skin.
7. Slow Down & Sleep More.
Nature is slowing down, so should you. Overextending
yourself depletes your energy reserves and weakens your immune system. It’s
better to get regular sleep, then risk an illness.
NOURISH:
8. Hydrate Daily with
Warm or Hot Water
The optimal amount is half your body weight in ounces. Ex.
100 lb person = drinks 50 oz. water
Why? The cool dry winds of Autumn dehydrate your body as
much as the Summer sun.
9. Eat Soft Warming Food.
Eat yummy warming foods to counteract the
dryness of cold air and the dehydrating effect it has on your lungs and skin.
Meals that feature soup, congee, or stew seasoned with warming spices like
ginger, mustard, pepper, garlic, anise, coriander, oregano, thyme, sage,
rosemary. Warming spices and foods stimulate digestion and add moisture to your
tissues to combat.
Add plenty of organic food grade oils like ghee, sesame,
almond and olive oil (use olive oil raw and drizzle on your meal in the bowl).
10. Eat Orange & White Vegetables.
There's a good reason why orange is associated with Halloween. It's the color of Fall harvest veggies like carrots, beets and Winter squash. They offer natural sweetness and condensed energy to warm the body. White vegetables like turnips, daikon and radish help to break up phlegm and mucus because they are pungent.
10. Eat Orange & White Vegetables.
There's a good reason why orange is associated with Halloween. It's the color of Fall harvest veggies like carrots, beets and Winter squash. They offer natural sweetness and condensed energy to warm the body. White vegetables like turnips, daikon and radish help to break up phlegm and mucus because they are pungent.
