Eating

 Eating in peace is one of the most important things we can do for our health. When stressed, our autonomic nervous system interprets it as a threat. Digestion is then shut down; it is not needed when we are faced with an acute physical threat. Instead, the blood flow goes to the muscles so that we can run away or fight against what threatens us. If we then eat, the food will not benefit our body, even if it is nutritious in itself. Instead, it can create problems of various kinds, such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and leaky gut syndrome.

The intestine should only let the simplest molecules through - simple glucose molecules, amino acids and lipids. But if stressed, the gut can leak, and large, complex molecules can enter the bloodstream. To deal with them, the body creates chronic inflammation or tries to encapsulate them in fat. Then, they settle and block capillaries and other channels. It contributes to atherosclerosis, which is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, we should sit down and eat in peace and quiet, completely focused on the food, without dividing ourselves with mobile phones, computers, TV, newspapers, or anything else, alone or in good company. We should take the time to really enjoy the food. Then, the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system is activated, which means that the food is optimally digested, and the nutrients get to where they need to go, giving us energy, strength, and health.

Autumn

Autumn is here; the leaves are turning yellow, and the nights are getting chilly. Here in Gothenburg, we have had some really lovely autumn days with sun and clear air. According to Ayurveda, we are entering the time of year dominated by vata dosha. Vata is related to the elements space and air and is thus mobile, cold, light, dry and changeable. To keep vata in balance, heat, rest and regularity are needed. In balance, vata gives us creativity, charm, lightness and an active, healthy and energetic body. To stay healthy now during the fall and winter, you can consider the following vata tips:

• Eat warm, nourishing, well-cooked food with plenty of mild spices.

• Avoid cold or carbonated drinks, red meat and raw vegetables.

• Eat properly, especially if you are underweight, and include olive oil, nuts and seeds in your diet.

• Eat at regular times, with the main meal in the middle of the day. Don't skip meals.

• Go to bed early.

• Exercise regularly, but especially during the vata period, it can be good to take it a little easier and not overexert yourself.

• Do yoga and meditate regularly.

• Keep warm, primarily the ears, throat and abdomen.

• Loving body contact is perfect for vata, as is gentle massage and especially marma treatment.

• Avoid stress, noise and negative people.

• Enjoy life - listen to beautiful music, eat good food and spend time with people you like.

Have a nice autumn

Smell

 The sense of smell is essential, not only for identifying different smells. It is also closely connected to the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions, memory and behaviour. Olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity detect airborne molecules and send signals directly to the brain's olfactory lobe. Unlike the other senses (such as sight and hearing), olfactory information does not pass through the thalamus. Instead, the signals go directly to the limbic system, specifically the amygdala and hippocampus. Therefore, smells can evoke robust emotional responses and rekindle old memories, as the amygdala processes emotions while the hippocampus is involved in memory formation.

The intimate connection between smell and the limbic system also means that scents have a powerful impact on our psychological and physiological states, influencing mood, behaviour and social interactions. Odors, therefore, clearly impact our health - positively or negatively. We take advantage of this in Ayurveda, where we use herbs and essential oils to balance health via the sense of smell. The essential oils, in particular, are indeed the soul of the plants where their life-giving power is found in highly concentrated form. We use essential oils for aromatherapy and marma therapy, where specially selected oils are applied to the unique energy connection points called marma. Both therapies have very profound effects. The sense of smell is related to the earth element and thus to kapha-dosha. If you, therefore, have a lot of kapha in your constitution or an imbalance in kapha, it can be extra beneficial with aromatherapy, etc. But for all of us, olfactory impressions are essential for health and can also be delightful. So make sure you take the time to smell the roses.

Summer

 Although the real heat has been conspicuous by its absence so far, it is after all summer and thus pitta time. Pitta is hot, sharp and intense. It controls all chemical transformations in our body, for example, in the muscles and digestive organs. In balance, pitta gives us energy, efficiency and success. An imbalance can instead make us irritated and short-tempered and give rise to various ailments.

To keep pitta in balance this summer:

• Eat at regular times, with lunch as the main meal. Never skip meals.

• Avoid red meat, alcohol, sweeteners, chemical additives in food and pungent spices. Mild spices such as cardamom, coriander and all herbs, on the other hand, are excellent.

• Drink plenty of water; room temperature is fine but never ice cold.

• Eat sweet, juicy fruits such as melons, pears, apples and grapes. Cooked apples and pears are especially good.

• Coconut is good for balancing pitta, so feel free to include coconut oil, coconut flakes, coconut water, etc., in your diet. Coconut oil is also suitable for sunburned skin. Freshly squeezed squash is also good for pitta skin and stomach, as are aloe vera juice and rose water.

• Now that the weather permits, take the opportunity to exercise outdoors in beautiful surroundings. Beautiful visual impressions are balancing for pitta.

• Meditate and do yoga to find your peace - preferably outdoors.

• Enjoy the bright summer evenings - but not for too long - it's good to get to bed early. Summer mornings can also be lovely.

• Try to drop all performance requirements. Laugh, play, relax and enjoy all the little joys in life.

Have a lovely summer.

Taste

 Taste is a sense that we often don't consider important to health. We just think it's nice if the food tastes good. And that's it. And it is good for health to enjoy life, so it is also good for health that we enjoy food. But it is also essential in a more concrete way. When we feel the taste of the food, the body receives information about what the food contains and then prepares precisely the enzymes, etc., that are needed to take care of what is on its way. Therefore, it is vital that we always eat in peace and quiet with a complete focus on the food so that we really experience the taste. Put away mobile phones, computers, newspapers, television and anything else that might disturb you and instead fully enjoy what you eat.

Kapha

 Now, the days are starting to get bright, and we have entered the part of the year which, according to Ayurveda, is dominated by kapha. Kapha is created by the elements of earth and water. It is, therefore, heavy, stable, cold and sluggish. It controls growth and expansion. So now, during the kapha period, nature wakes up from its winter rest, and everything grows. It is also a time for us to strengthen our bodies and minds. It is the time of year when we are at our strongest and, therefore, when it is easiest to train and strengthen our muscles. If we don't exercise, the growth can come in excess fat, waste products and mucus formation. To take advantage of the kapha period to become stronger and healthier, consider the following:

• Exercise. This is the time of year when we can exercise the hardest. Don't overdo it, but it doesn't hurt to press on a little bit sometimes, and it can also be fun and pleasant. We need training that strengthens the muscles (strength training), strengthens the circulatory system (running, cycling, etc.), and improves coordination and the connection between the body and mind (e.g., ball sports or dancing). Especially when we start getting older, it is essential to exercise, as the bone structure and muscles otherwise break down.

• Doing yoga is also very good for keeping muscles and joints flexible, cleansing the internal organs, managing stress and getting into balance. Maharishi Yoga Asanas, in particular, are ideal.

• Eat warm, cooked and not too heavy food. Don't overeat.

• Use lots of spices. All spices except salt are good for kapha.

• Never drink cold drinks, and certainly not with food. Drink warm instead.

• Avoid getting cold. Damp cold, in particular, is harmful to kapha.

• Get up early in the morning and enjoy the morning sun.

• Be active. Do what you think is fun and enjoy life. Dance, sing and play and don't take yourself too seriously.

Have a lovely spring!

 Samana vata is the third sub-dosha of vata. It has its seat in the intestines and is responsible for peristalsis, i.e. the movement of food through the intestinal system. As such, it is essential because digestion is one of the most crucial parts of our health. Imbalances in samana vata can cause constipation, diarrhoea, gas formation, bloated stomach and poor absorption of nutrients. In balance, it instead provides a smooth and fine movement through the intestines and well-functioning digestion. So how do you keep samana vata in balance? Here are some of the key points:

• Eat at regular times. The heaviest meal should be lunch in the middle of the day. Breakfast and evening meals should be lighter. One snack may be needed if you are hungry, but otherwise, never snack between meals!

• Do not overeat. Eat only until you are comfortably full, never until you are overfull.

• Always eat sitting calmly with complete focus on the food without doing anything else in the meantime - enjoy the food!

• Eat warm, well-cooked, mainly vegetarian food. Preferably avoid meat and reduce other hard-to-digest foods.

• Chew properly.

• Never drink cold drinks with food (and preferably not otherwise, either). Feel free to drink warm water with meals instead.

• Avoid stress before, during and after meals (preferably otherwise as well).

• Do not exercise or do anything else strenuous less than half an hour before meals and 2-4 hours after meals.

• On the other hand, feel free to go for a light walk after eating.

• Good luck 😊