The skies have finally opened up and its pouring in most parts of the country. And no matter how romantic the rains can get (yes, we are referring to Bollywood’s rim jhim geere sawan song, Hollywood’s Gene Kelly tap-dancing to the beats of pelting rain, and the song Raindrops keep falling on my head), the showers don’t come alone. They bring with them a set of health issues such as weak immunity, viral fever, cough, cold, stomach infections and weakness in general. This is because the damp and humid weather is a perfect environment for microbes to grow and thrive in. “Due to the transition from summer to monsoon, the bio-energies (vata, pitha and kapha) automatically get aggravated, resulting in improper digestive fire (agni). This leads to a week immunity and various diseases in the body,” says Sreeragh Nair, a trained Ayurveda specialist and general manager at Shatam Jeeva, a 100-acre luxury Ayurvedic wellness retreat in Jhansi. This season can affect metabolism as well and that’s the reason you are more prone to bloating and indigestion during monsoons, he adds.
Food as medicine in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, monsoon aggravates the vata component (one of these three energies; it is light and airy and manages body movement related functions) in our body which makes people prone to certain illnesses. The digestive fire remains considerably weak throughout the rains making it difficult to digest heavy meals. A light, nourishing diet of warm foods can come handy. “Food items like khichdi, rasam and rice gruel or kanji are highly recommended. Especially karkidaka kanji (a medicinal rice gruel prepared in Kerala) when taken for 15 days during monsoon really helps. This dish is not only a source of nourishment but helps in the rejuvenation of the body to fight disease and boost immunity,” says Nair. The kanji is also ideal for those grappling with diabetes and cholesterol issues. With little to no fat, it’s easy to digest making it available for nearly anyone to consume this dish. It’s seen that the kanji is good for people with arthritis. The method of preparation of karkidaka kanji varies in different households as people usually take the medicinal plants available in their garden to prepare the kanji. Panchakarma – which is a combination of massage, special foods and nutritional directives, mellow fasting and colon treatments — is highly recommended during this period to free the body from accumulated toxins.
Make sure you stock up on ginger. This hero herb is famed for its prowess to pacify aggravated vata in the body, which is common during monsoons. “On damp, rainy days you may feel heavy and sluggish. Ginger improves the body's digestion ability which in turn keep you energetic. It is particularly beneficial for clearing congestion in the upper respiratory tract, including the throat, nose and sinuses. A simple cup of fresh ginger tea, made by boiling an inch of the root in two cups of water, does the trick. The perkiness of ginger brings a sense of lightness back to a heavy, congested head,” says Sujith Baliga, a Mumbai-based Ayurveda practitioner. Fresh ginger is also considered to be one of the best digestives and for this reason is among the most revered roots in Ayurveda. It is suitable for all body types (tridoshic) to stimulate digestive strength. “A few pieces of ginger, some salt and lime works excellently to stimulate appetite before a meal, and gets digestive juices flowing,” he adds.
Another ingredient to bring into the spotlight during monsoon is garlic. “In Ayurveda, garlic is seen more as a medicine than a food. This little bulb is very potent and should be treated with caution and respect. Apart from adding distinct flavours to food garlic also has the incredible ability to heal gastric disturbances such as flatulence, boost metabolism and works as an antibiotic and antifungal food. The best way to consume garlic is to use it in everyday gravies, flavour soups and stir fries and to temper dals,” says Nair.
And while your heart and stomach might crave hot pakodas and chai experts caution against oily foods. “Anything which is heavy in nature such as oily food, curd, non-vegetarian food items, creamy and sweet dishes must be avoided. All these foods are difficult to digest and will certainly disturb metabolic activity leading to various diseases,” says Nair who suggests drinking warm water throughout the day. “Boil two litres of water with one inch dry ginger, half inch dry turmeric, six-eight black pepper corns and two tulsi leaves. Boil it all for 20 minutes and drink this water throughout the day. It helps to keep fever and flu away.” Shifting to steamed salads instead of raw vegetables also helps to avoid bacterial and viral infections.
In vegetables, bottle gourd is highly recommended in Ayurveda for its alkaline nature which helps to keep your digestive system active. And it doesn’t always have to be a boring subzi. You could add it to soups, stuff it in a paratha or turn it into delectable koftas.
Shatam Jeeva’s Karkidaka Kanji recipe
Ingredients
Navara rice - 1 cup
Coconut milk - 200ml
Crushed pepper - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 1 tbsp
Jaggery - to taste
Fenugreek seeds - 5 tbsp
Ginger- crushed or powdered - 5gm
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Dashamoola Choorna & Trikatu Choorna - 5 gm each, both are easily available in medical or general stores
Method
Keep the rice to boil and while it is on the stove grind all the dry ingredients (pepper, garlic, fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, dashamoola choorna and trikatu choorna). Leave out jaggery
Add the ground mix to the rice and let it boil
Add the jaggery to the boiling rice and let it thicken
When it starts to thicken add the coconut milk, mix it well and turn off the flame
Add ghee on top and serve.
Ayurveda-inspired eateries in Mumbai
The Yoga House, Bandra West
This peaceful retreat is known for its healthy and organic food options along with their eco-friendly packaging and furniture too.
What to order: Salads, quinoa burger, carrot and ginger soup, Burmese curry, mung lentils and brown rice khichdi and mozzarella sandwich. The restaurant only serves vegetarian food, no eggs or meat on the menu.
Address: Nargis Villa/Water Bungalow, Sherly Rajan Rd, D Block, Railway Colony, Shirley, Bandra (W), Mumbai. Tel: 086550 45001
Aharveda, Andheri West
The focus here is vegan, plant-based and sattvic dishes in a multi-cuisine format. All the dishes are sugar free, dairy free, oil free and gluten free.
What to order: Carrot and parsley soup, chaat salad, protein burst bowl, mini podi idli, millet khichdi, Aharveda special pizza.
Address: Viral Apartments, Swami Vivekananda Rd, Opp. Shoppers Stop, Andheri West, Mumbai. Tel: 022 4072 2211
The Bodhi Café, Vile Parle East
This vegan gem offers saatvic food with a modern twist.
What to order: Burrito bowl, cauliflower wings, avocado toast on multigrain bread, tofu bhurji with multigrain pav, garlic bread, buckwheat noodles, dark chocolate fudge.
Address: Ground Floor, Parvati Niwas, Paranjape B Scheme, Road 2, Besides Datta Mandir, Vile Parle East, Mumbai. Tel: 090225 43673
Yogisattva, Bandra
This rooftop café by certified plant based chef Raveena Taurani is best known for making healthy food tasty and accessible. Also works great as a co-working space as they offer free Wi-Fi and some great vegan coffee.
What to order: Smoothies, miso ramen curry, Buddha bowls, pizzas, gyozas and desserts.
Address: 7th Floor, Pinnacle House, 15th Road Bandra. Mumbai. Tel: 098674 55009
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
