Eating for energy – Ayurvedic tips for post viral recovery
Viral illness tends to create dullness, heaviness, slowness, sluggishness, and brain fog in our constitution as a consequence of mobilising immune defences to fight infection (Kapha dosha).
We can easily become depleted in the transformative, metabolic processes associated with fire, space and air that are required to fight infection and support recovery (Pitta & Vata dosha).
This can easily lead to feelings of inertia and a desire to eat foods that provide a quick or easily accessible energy boost to keep us going, or psychologically make us feel better.
Whilst this can work for a here and now ‘caffeine’ or ‘endorphin’ hit to see us through – the crash that comes after the immediate boost actually enhances the earth and water qualities that can hang around after viral illness and slow your recovery.
Favouring foods that are:
- Light
- Warm
- Dry
- Rough
- Bitter
- Pungent
- Astringent
Can help to balance the abundance of heavy, cool, oily and smooth qualities of excess Kapha. This relates to the weight of foods, but also their density and complexity of nutrients or textures per bite and serve.
Enhance digestion & metabolism by:
- Reducing the quantity per serve – particularly in the evenings.
- Eating warm over cold foods and drinks.
- Adding digestive and pungent spices like ginger, black pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli, paprika, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, garlic.
- Limiting oil, fats, dairy, carbohydrates, sugars and dense raw foods.
- Limiting grains, nuts and seeds until your energy levels start to recover.
- Choosing fresh, seasonal, cooked foods over processed foods, frozen foods or leftovers.
- Choosing energy & nutrient light foods.
- Choosing rough & astringent foods like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, dark leafy greens, beans and legumes, rice crackers, popcorn, lettuce, basil, parsley, fennel.
- Avoiding sour and salty foods until your energy levels start to recover.
Ayurveda helps us to understand more about our constitution and the relationships we have with the environment, food and activity we consume. If you’re curious about your dosha type read more here, or book in for an Ayurvedic assessment & lifestyle guidance session, or Ayurvedic treatment to experience the harmony of dosha balance in your body-mind.
