POOP

Ya know the phrase “garbage in garbage out?” It’s true in more ways than the obvious. When we eat junk food the end result is ill health – high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, I’m sure you can think of a few more…

When we eat healthy food this nourishes us on many levels, not just the physical ones. When you hear the phrase “food as medicine” you may think of herbal supplements, but food itself and the act of preparing it and serving it to your loved ones is also medicine for your soul (secret ingredient = love!).

Some foods may be healthier for one person and not be so good for another – what is good for a Kapha-dominant individual may dry out Vata and burn up Pitta. But some things are common in all Ayurvedic diets – food must be fresh and freshly prepared. It is not recommended to eat leftovers, processed foods are a big no no, and just say no to nuking (microwaving food usually overcooks it). Depending on your climate and culture, your traditional dishes may include lacto-fermented veggies, some high fat things (don’t be afraid of fat – you need it to lubricate your joints, keep your skin smooth, and to feel full! Just don’t eat processed fats…).

These traditional methods of cooking and preserving foods were developed specifically to provide nutrient dense meals in harsher times – in the cold white north, the frozen outdoors provided the fridge, while the dry desert was the perfect dehydrator…. And when the rains fell and the world became green, the abundance of quickly growing things allowed for all to “detox” their livers by eating lower fat higher fiber meals.

So this spring and summer, shift to a diet high in natural leafy greens, fruits, and whatever veggies are in season and be rewarded with a nice naturally clean colon, the primary therapeutic site for excess Vata, as you Push Out Organic Produce!

Snot

It’s that time of year again, snot season! Pollen everywhere, making our cars look dirty, making our eyes itchy and irritated, and clogging our sinuses with nasty goop. How to breathe without resorting to antihistamines which dry us out and make us feel awful?

Meet the neti pot, that little aladdin’s lamp filled with warm saline (demos on YouTube, including some funny spoofs). The best defense is a strong offense and with the neti pot you can start offending right away (apologies to Capt. Kirk) by simply rinsing away the pollen from your nasal passages. You will also be creating a mild vacuum as you pour the saline through your top nostril which pulls additional mucus from your sinuses. Spraying saline (or shooting it up your nose) won’t have the same effect (but it is better than suffering).

On really bad pollen days you can use your neti pot multiple times to keep your breathing passages clear. Over time you may find that your allergies become less severe. If you are prone to sinus infections you may be able to eliminate them without harsh medications which can compromise your immune system (leaving you prone to more infections).

And that’s snot a bad thing!