Kapha-season

 Spring is here, and the first flowers have come. This means that we have entered the part of the year dominated by the kapha dosha. Kapha is heavy, sluggish, stable and cold. To balance it, we need warmth, movement, activity and stimulation. Here are some tips for an Ayurvedic spring:

• This is the time when the body is at its strongest and has the easiest time rebuilding itself as everything in nature grows. Therefore, this is the time when we can exercise the hardest. Don't overdo it, but be regular. We need both aerobic exercise that gets the heart rate up and strength training that keeps the muscles in shape. In addition, dancing, ball games and other things that promote coordination between mind and body are good.

• Eat your main meal for lunch and a lighter meal in the evening. Eat warm and not too heavy food.

• Don't eat too much; don't eat if you're not hungry. But have regular meal times.

• Eat sitting down in peace and quiet without doing anything else in the meantime. Enjoy your food! Also, take it easy after eating.

• Drink warm water. Never drink cold or carbonated drinks.

• Eat vegetarian food and avoid red and processed meat in particular.

• Use lots of spices but not too much salt.

• Get up early and avoid sleeping during the day.

• Be active with things you find fun. Play, laugh, sing, dance and enjoy life.

Have a lovely spring!

Treating colds

 Last week, I wrote some tips on how to stay healthy during colds. But what if you do get a cold? What do you do? The advice I gave last week also applies then (except that you shouldn't exercise when you're sick), but you can also try the following:

• Eat only light food; always warm, and soups are good. Avoid meat, fish and eggs.

• Reduce salt, sweet and sour food.

• You can try chewing on clove, cardamom, or roasted cumin seeds.

• Boil a litre of water with 2-3 pinches of black pepper or a slice of fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon of whole cumin, 1-2 pinches of salt and 1 teaspoon of whole coriander. Let it boil for 3 minutes. Then strain and pour into a thermos and drink during the day.

• A mixture of half milk and half water boiled with ginger and turmeric is good.

• If you have a sore throat or cough, gargling 2-4 times a day with warm water, to which you add half a teaspoon of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and a pinch of turmeric can help.

• For a cough, it can also help to warm the upper back with a hot water bottle. But avoid heating the area around the heart.

• Mix a tablespoon of good-quality honey with a quarter teaspoon of liquorice root powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, turmeric or black pepper. Eat one or two teaspoons of the mixture a few times a day.

• Do not wash your hair as long as you are sick.

• Get plenty of rest so that you recover.