Staying Healthy Through Natural Prevention

Photo by willy_ochayaus

Most of us realize more and more that the way to stay healthy is through prevention. According to Ayurveda (from Sanskrit, “the wisdom of life”), a 5,000 year-old healing system, being mindful of your health is even more important during the time when seasons change (especially, summer to the fall/winter season). There are a lot of conventional medicine methods that may be helpful (taking extra vitamin C, flu shots, etc.), but there are additional simple, wise, and natural ways of staying healthy that Ayurveda and other traditional medicines offer. Most of the suggestions below may come to us intuitively, especially, if we are in touch with our body and mind:

• The fall season is often cold and dry (look at the leaves; they are drying out). The best way to nourish ourselves is by eating warm foods: soups, stews, roasted root vegetables (beets, sweet potatoes, turnips, pumpkins) and fewer cold foods (raw salads, cold sandwiches).


• Avoid cold drinks. I know it sounds unheard of when every single restaurant serves us drinks with lots of ice. Ice cold drinks shock our system and slow down our metabolism, because the energy is wasted on heating the liquid up to the body temperature that is most suitable for effective digestion. Instead, sip on a warm herbal tea or even warm or room temperature water throughout the day.


• Stay warm by dressing appropriately. It is so important to dress yourself and kids in warm clothes. There is an old saying, “There is no bad weather, but there is bad and inappropriate clothes.”


• Consider performing a quick (5-10 minutes) daily self-massage right before the shower or after the shower (depending on how dry you feel). You can use a sesame oil (regular, not toasted) if you tend to be cold, or coconut oil if you tend to be warm. Most health food stores carry these. The basic thing to remember is to massage vigorously on long bones (e.g., leg, arms) and to go in circular clockwise motions on connections and joins (e.g., knees, elbows, shoulders). Research shows that we have endorphins and many other naturally occurring chemicals in our skin (the largest organ of our body). By activating this natural pharmacy, we are strengthening our immune system and are more likely to be in a good mood. If you don’t have a lot of time, just do a quick head and foot massage. Another alternative is to do it before you go to bed, which may help you fall asleep.


• Are you suffering from a stuffy nose or allergies, especially in the morning? Consider using a Neti pot, which was even featured on the Oprah Show. The Neti pot with a little bit of salt water will clear up your passages. It is very important to lubricate your nostrils with a few drops of oil (e.g., sesame) after you use a neti pot to create a thin layer that will prevent bacteria from entering your nasal passage. This is also a great method to avoid over-drying on airplanes. To make this process easier and less messy, consider using the Neti pot during your shower.


• Don’t let the cold stop you from exercising. Bundle up and take your family for a walk! During the day (on the weekend, for instance) you can enjoy the beautiful foliage and clear sky. At night (if you go for a walk after dinner), you can see the beautiful night sky, which is especially clear in the fall and winter, smell fireplaces in the air and hear the pleasant crumble of the leaves or snow under you feet. Then, you can come back to your warm cozy home and enjoy a cup of tea with a cookie (if you wish).


• Enjoy the sun when it is out. As a nation, we are very vitamin D deficient and of course, the deficiency increases in the winter months. Although there are some good supplements (D3), they cannot completely substitute the sunshine. Come outside for 10 minutes of unprotected sunshine (short periods of time should be safe from the skin care perspective).


• Laugh often. This is good for any season. Laughter is one of the best medicines that helps support our immune system. Instead of watching a horror movie, choose a comedy. Or find humor in everyday situations even if your first reaction is a stress response.