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 calms the weather, but also brings in what ayurveda calls tho "varsha ritu". In this season, the atmosphere is filled with molecules of water and the temperature falls to boarable levels. Along with this, the quality of ground water changes. You no longer relish the kind of fruit that you cat in summer, because it is now too watory. Similarly, this season calls for a different kind of taste in all foodstuff. Water: In this season, it is imperative to drink purified or boiled water because the ground water, particularly in cities, is affected by overflowing drains and sowage. If you find yourself less thirsty than, for instance, in summer, and therefore not so interested in water, drink water flavoured with chamomile, dalchini(cinnamon) or fonnel (saunt) to detoxify your system. People who suffer from arthritis should drink warm water with a little tu/siand dalchinifirst thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. This improves bowel movements and also decreases pain in the joints. Fruit: Cut down on watormelon and musk melon as those are too watery for this season. Instead, eat fruit like mangoes, apples, pomegranates, pears and mausambi(swoot lime). Fruit is the ideal food for this season, as balances energies. However, avoid fruit juice as its sugary tends to upset the insulin balance. Eat the fruit whole, because cut fruit is prone to infection and putrofaction. For best results, eat fruit on an empty stomach. Cereals: Eat 'oid' grain. That is, grain that was harvested months ago, because it is believed that 'old' grain is loss likely to cause gas and disturbances in the vata onorgies that predominate now. Vegetables: All bitter and swoot vegetables are good this season. But wash leafy vegetables carofully to avoid infection. Then steam them to stay safe. Avoid vegetable juices. This is the best season to do the panchakarma, or five-pronged ayurvedicdotoxification treatment. But more about that another time.