Once again, autumn is here.
And according to Ayurveda, we are entering vata season.
What’s vata season, you ask?
Let me explain what it means in Ayurvedic teachings.
Basically, vata energy is comprised of the space and air elements. It is light, cold and dry. As temperatures dip gradually over the season as a precursor to winter, cold, blustery and windy days become common each day. And it’s why we begin to bundle up with sweaters and coats to feel warm and cozy.
Essentially, autumn is a time of the year when we need to pay more attention to grounding.
During vata season, it’s also common for our own vata constituency to become imbalanced.
Have you noticed how when the weather gets cooler, you might get sick more often?
For example, we might have more headaches, or we might feel more anxious or forgetful. Also, we might notice we have dry skin.
And vata season also impacts our eating habits too.
That is, you know that tendency to eat more comfort foods in autumn?
Most definitely, vata season is a time of the year when we naturally tend to favor more hearty meals like soups, stews, chili, noodle bowls and chowder.
Above all, there’s one category of foods that we also tend to eat more in vata season.
It’s root vegetables.
Of course, these nutrient-packed veggies are found in abundance at the supermarket at this time of the year.
You know, pumpkins (of course), squashes, turnips, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, radishes, carrots, garlic, onions and potatoes.
Did you know there are many other root vegetables out there?
They include cassava, yams, eddoes, jicama and Jerusalem artichokes are interesting ones to try if you’re looking to add some diversity to your diet.
However, because root veggies come directly from the earth, they’re excellent for not only nutritional reasons but for grounding our own energy too.
To illustrate this, let’s examine the nutritional qualities of root veggies.
They are low in calories, high in fibre, high in antioxidants and rich in vitamins and minerals. And they are filling and soul-satisfying. As a result, they help alleviate anxiety, stress and scattered thoughts and emotions which are typical symptoms experienced when your vata energy is out of balance.
Curious about learning more about the incredible healing benefits of eating root veggies during autumn? Well, just check out the 13 healthiest root vegetables here.
So, this autumn, you can keep your anxiety in check. Moreover, you can build your immunity naturally to keep colds and flu away.
Simply eat a wide variety of root vegetables each day to feel grounded, balanced, healthier and strong. .
I’d like to share some inspiring ways to eat these autumn vegetables, and some of them might be new to you:
- Pumpkin pie
- Curried pumpkin soup
- Sweet potato and black bean patties
- Cream of carrot soup
- Assorted roasted root veggies (turnips, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, beets)
- Butternut squash soup
- Real mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Baked jicama fries
- Baked sweet potato fries
- Jicama salad
- Cassava bread
- Pan-fried eddoes
- Jerusalem artichoke chips.
In closing, here’s “rooting” you have amazing health this autumn!
Quite simply, I believe when you change your diet in autumn, you’re setting yourself up for staying healthy and grounded during the coldest months of the year.
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