A Connection to Nature

Ayurveda relies on the cycles of nature, from a daily routine, to seasonal food and practice choices, to the longevity of life. One of the greatest ways to practice ayurveda is to live in harmony with nature. Consider waking and sleeping with the sun. Eat foods that come from nature, and have processed only as far as what can be done in a kitchen. Use skincare that comes from food. Wear natural fibers. Use natural cleaners and soaps. Live sustainably.

Whole Foods

In ayurveda we only eat what can be prepared in a kitchen. This leaves out many processed foods and supplements. We insist on eating the whole food, not things that have been chemically altered or removed. This leaves about 1.5 aisles in your grocery store of things you might actually want to eat!

We love the produce aisle. And the farmers' markets. This is the crème de la crème. You really can't go wrong here, although try to be vigilant of what is the heavy pesticide list so you can buy organic.

Whole grains from either the bulk bins or worst case scenario from their own plastic bags. Rice, quinoa, barley, sorghum, couscous, wild rice, polenta, wheat flour, etc. These are all great choices and should make up 50% of one's diet! If you are avoiding carbohydrates just because, these are things you should still try to eat. Not eating any grains is quite unhealthy. If you like to have a little pasta, toast, whole-grain crackers, it's all good, but try to get the best quality possible.

Cultured butter to make ghee is a great buy. Also try to find quality milk, plain yogurt (not greek), cottage cheese and other soft cheeses, goat products are all great from the dairy aisle. Even a little quality ice cream from time to time is great! Just be sure to avoid yogurts with sugars and fruits, non-dairy substitutes (some quality milks are fine), single packaged and low quality cheeses and anything that is screaming with too much colorful advertising!

Most everything else has been processed or messed with and is not going to be easily digested. And if you are buying supplements, please don't self-diagnose. They are making a lot of money from your fears and the only thing you are accomplishing is trashing your liver.

Milk

Milk is the foundation for ayurveda's golden child...ghee! Ayurveda is about using products in their natural, whole state, so using ultra-pasteurized milk is a crime against food. Look for the least processed milk in your community, or avoid using it. Ultra-pasteurized milk can last over a month in your fridge, and if you think that is natural, OMG!

If you have the great luck of access to A2 raw milk, you must bring it to a boil it before using (remove from heat immediately after). Milk is rarely used cold in ayurveda as it can be sticky, heavy, hard to digest, and blocks channels. Boiling it of course kills the bacteria, but it also "cooks" the milk to aid better digestion. You might boil the entire container and then store it in the fridge, or you can boil it as you use it.

Milk is great for cooling hot pitta dosha, soothing an active mind to help sleep and rebuild a depleted mind or body. Spice your milk (perhaps turmeric or dry ginger or cinnamon and nutmeg), heat it up (or bring to a boil if needed) and then enjoy this most wholesome snack! Remember milk is considered a food and not a drink, so good food combining is important too...no fruit or eggs with it.

Skincare

I see a lot of beauty products claim to be natural, ayurvedic, herbal, but none of them are safe to eat. The question is, how can you put something on your skin and expect the body to process it, if it's not made from all-natural ingredients? The toxins will still circulate in your system, so it's best to avoid most products sold at groceries and drug stores. As with food, most ayurveda products are made. You can make lotions, make-ups, tones and many other great products using food-quality ingredients!

The other thing to consider is that if you're healthy, you shouldn't need most of these products. Dryness can come from excess vata dosha, too much dry food or lack of oils in the diet. It can come from staying up late, travel, or a dry environment. Rather than slopping on lotion, try relieving what is actually causing the dryness. We always look for the root cause in ayurveda.

Sustainability

In order to live in harmony with nature, we have to care for nature. Over-consumption adds to landfills, destroying our resources and pollution. All contribute to the decline of access to clean water, clean soil and clean air. Consider the following practices:

• garden and shop farmers' markets and locally for food
• thrifting and buying used
• compost your waste food - it will contribute to methane gas in the landfill
• buying less - buy quality instead of quantity
• have a fashion exchange in your community, where everyone brings their used clothing to trade
• stop using herbicides - allow the natural plants to grow, which in turns allows animals to maintain habitats
• use natural pesticides - try planting flowers and herbs that deter pests