Meals For The Monsoon

The reason we all look forward to the rainy season every year is that it washes away the blistering heat of summer. The rain not only clams the weather, but also brings in what ayurveda calls the “Varsha ritu”.
In this season, the atmosphere is filled with molecules of water and the temperature falls to bearable levels. Along with this, the quality of ground water changes. You no longer relish the kind of fruit that you eat in summer, because it is now too watery. Similarly, this season calls for a different kind of taste in all foodstuffs.

Water: in this season, it is imperative to drink purified of boiled water because the ground water, particularly in cities, is affected by overflowing drains and sewage. If you find yourself less thirsty than, for instance, in summer, and therefore not so interested in water, drinking water flavoured with chamomile, dalchini (cinnamon) or fennel (saunf) to detoxify your system. People who suffer from arthritis should drink warm water with a little tulsi and dalchini first in the morning, on an empty stomach. This improves bowel movement and also decreases pain in the joints.

Fruits: cut down on watermelon and musk melon as these are too watery for this season. Instead, eat fruits like mangoes, apples, pomegranates, pears and mausambi (sweet lime). A fruit is the ideal food for this season, as it has the ability to balance energies. However, avoid fruit juice because it is too sugary and tends to upset the insulin balance. Eat the fruit whole, because cut fruit is prone to infection and putrefaction. For best results, eat fruit on an empty stomach.


Cereals: in this season, eat ‘old’ grain. That is, grain that was harvested months ago, because it is believed that ‘old’ grain is less likely to cause gas and disturbances in the vata energies that predominate now.


Vegetables: all bitter and sweet vegetables are good this season. But wash leafy vegetables carefully to avoid infection. Then steam them to stay safe. Avoid vegetable juices. This is the best season to do the panchakarma, or five-pronged ayurvedic detoxification treatment. But more about that another time.