7 Ayurvedic Mistakes

to Avoid This Winter

Over-Detoxing or Doing Juice Cleanses

Although it sounds very healthy, Ayurveda recommends against any type of “detox” using fasting methods or juice fasts during the winter months because during this time the body naturally expends greater amounts of energy to maintain warmth; any method of drastically reducing food intake will weaken an already weakened immune system. The best way to detoxify is to consume gentle, warm, fully cooked foods with mild spices.

Bathing With Hot Water but Skipping Oil Application

Indulging in a hot shower is a wonderful experience; however, spending too much time in hot water can dry out the skin and nervous system. In contrast, applying warm sesame oil to the skin prior to bathing helps to alleviate the symptoms associated with the Vata dosha, such as excessive stiffness and dryness, anxiety-related fluctuations in energy levels, and restlessness at night.

Staying Up Late and Ignoring the Early-Night Rhythm

Winter evenings are usually still and quiet; however, when you are scrolling through Instagram from under your blanket at 2 AM, you are disrupting your body’s natural repair process. Ayurvedic medicine indicates that staying up late during cold weather contributes to an increase in Vata-related issues (i.e., dry skin, worry while sleeping) as well as shallow sleep. Otherwise known as "grandma behaviour," going to bed earlier during the winter months has a very strategic purpose — simply moving your bedtime back by 30 minutes will improve your energy level.

Drinking Less Water Because You “Don’t Feel Thirsty”

It is common to experience a decrease in thirst during the cold winter months, which means that dehydration may sneak up on many of us. While people tend to only drink water when they are thirsty, Ayurvedic medicine recommends drinking warm (not cold) water regularly throughout the day rather than just when you are thirsty. Drinking warm water helps to keep your metabolism functioning well, keeps you from feeling sluggish, and allows your body to digest heavier winter meals more easily.

Eating Salad-Based Meals Thinking They’re Healthy

Raw foods are the opposites of what we refer to as food in winter. These foods are hard to digest due to their cooling and rough characteristics, as well as the body's inability to absorb them properly. Although Eating salad can seem like an easy-to-digest meal option in the summertime, Ayurveda classifies them as being hard on digestion and not the best option. Eating lightly sautéed vegetables, soup, stews, khichdi, or warm dals gives us the necessary fibre without the shock from cold, raw food.