November Seasonal Guide

Welcome to November!
Here are some things to think about this month:

1. Combat the dryness.

Winter is a very dry time of the year. This is partially due to the fact that summer, which precedes winter, is also very dry in most locations. So, in transition from a very hot and dry summer to a cold and dry winter, it is the dryness that prevails.

If the dryness of winter is not mitigated by foods and activities that are warm, moist heavy and oily, the body will dry out. Dry skin may be just a minor inconvenience of winter, but when dryness infiltrates the intestinal and respiratory tracts, it can cause some real problems.

The foods we will be eating during winter are just one of nature’s strategies to protect the gut from the coldness and dryness of winter by soothing, warming and lubricating the intestinal walls. Make sure you are eating enough fiber  to boost digestive function and support immunity. You’ll want to be eating soluble fiber, which expands and becomes slimy in water, like oatmeal and psyllium.

2. Stoke your inner digestive heat.

The late fall harvest, which we eat throughout the winter, is rich in denser foods like root veggies, winter squashes, hearty greens, grains, nuts and seeds. All of these foods are much harder to digest compared to the foods of spring and summer, thus, a stronger digestion is essential. The stomach produces an acid called hydrochloric acid (HCL) that is responsible for breaking down many of the hard-to-digest proteins we consume. While excess stomach acid is seemingly becoming an increasingly prevalent issue these days, sometimes it is necessary to boost the production of the stomach fire (acid). To do so, please see my article, “Reset Digestive Fire (Agni)” for an easy protocol to reset your digestive furnace.

3. Get more rest.

As the days get shorter, the body’s rest and digest parasympathetic nervous system is activated in preparation for shorter days and longer nights. Circadian changes in the winter encourage the body to get more sleep. Align yourself with these circadian rhythms and allow yourself to get more rest. It’s best to get to sleep between 8-10pm if possible.

4. Increase stress-relieving practices.

To effectively combat stress, we need to activate the body’s natural relaxation response.  Three recommendations: daily warm oil self-massage (abhyanga), meditation, and sun salutations. Try my One Minute Meditation, and if you want to go deeper, check out my meditation eCourse, the Transformational Awareness Technique.

5. Increase intake of fats and proteins.

As the cold and dry weather chills our bones, nature offers much-needed insulation in the form of a high protein and high fat foods. Start incorporating 1 teaspoon of coconut oil each day into your diet, cook with both ghee and coconut oil, and add olive oil to your dishes post-cooking. Eat more nuts, seeds and animal protein. Your diet should be 90% plant-based, and 10% animal protein, nuts, seeds, and yogurts and cheeses. If you are vegetarian, it is very important during the winter to consume lots of beans and legumes, as they are loaded with fiber, and essential for detox and stable blood sugar.

6. Stay warm.

Keep your head warm especially. The body loses most of its heat through the head. The colder the body becomes, the more “fight or flight” immune-compromising stress is activated to cope with the winter chill.  Wear hats throughout the day and sometimes even at night, this will de-stress the nervous system and allow for better sleep.

7. Slow down and relax when you eat your food.

This activates the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system to help calm the mind and boost efficiency of digestion.

8. Keep your immune system strong.

Consider my Winter Immune-Boosting Kit, which consists of our Liquid Sun Vitamin D3 or Vegan D3, Turmeric Plus, Ashwagandha and Chyawanprash to keep you and your family health all winter.

• Vitamin D3 – 4000IU a day with the main meal (2000 daily for kids)
• Turmeric Plus – 2 caps with breakfast (1 for kids)
• Ashwagandha – 2 caps with breakfast (1 for kids)
• Chyawanprash – 1-2 teaspoons daily, or more if you have the sense that you are getting rundown. Only for children over 2 years old.