It’s April, and already the heat is getting to people. Though some parts of India recently saw April showers, it’s not helped reduce the heat much. And we still have to live through May before the Monsoons can hit across the country. One of the crucial things to do to survive the heat is to avoid unnecessary outings during the day and stay hydrated. Drink lots of fluids like water, tender coconut water, sugarcane juice (ghanne ka ras), lime and lemon juice, fresh fruit juices, etc. Traditional drinks like aam panna, jal jeera, sattu ka sherbet, ragi ambali, thandai, kokum sherbet, buttermilk, etc., can be consumed to stay hydrated.
Our ancestors who came up with the wellness system of Ayurveda understood that our body needs seasonal foods. Hence, our Indian eating habits are highly influenced by it. Ritucharya is a system of following guidelines for a season that includes eating seasonal foods. According to the Indian seasons, we are now in Vasantha or spring. Let’s see what foods we can eat during this time. Even allopathy or modern medicine suggests eating seasonal foods. Nature gives us certain foods during specific periods for a reason. There is a science and not just ancient wisdom behind it.
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Foods to eat in April and May
Here are the foods that you can have in these months.
As mentioned above, stay hydrated by taking healthy natural and home-made fluids through the season. It is also essential to reduce caffeine and alcohol intake during this period, as both can cause dehydration. The rule is to eat easily digestible foods. One must eat bitter, astringent and pungent foods to balance the bodily issues.
- Include probiotic foods like curds, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc., in your daily diet. Add cumin powder and coriander leaves to the buttermilk, which can be helpful.
- Consume wheat, rice, barley, ragi, oats, pulses, lentils, etc. Green gram will be very healthy during this season.
- Avoid sweets. But you can include honey. A glass of warm water with a spoon of honey and black pepper powder can help remove kapha accumulation.
- Eat bitter gourd (Karela), methi, spinach etc. Eating a few fresh neem leaves in a day is also good.
- Include spices like turmeric, garlic, ginger, etc.
- Include vegetables like cucumber, carrot, radish, onion, tomato, cauliflower, etc.
- Make various sprouts and include them in your diet.
- Do not eat heavy, oily and spicy foods.
- Avoid eating dairy products.
- Limit your intake of dry fruits.
- Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods.
- Include all seasonal fruits, like watermelon, musk melon, strawberry, papaya, oranges, mango, jackfruit, etc., locally available in your place.
Benefits of eating seasonal foods
So, why should one eat the seasonal foods?
For gaining nutrition: The seasonal fruits and veggies contain specific nutrients that are helpful for the season. You get it only during that season. If you don’t eat it, your body might develop a deficiency.
For variety: Imagine if you got all the fruits and veggies all through the year. There is a joy in having to wait to eat the mangoes in summer. It adds variety to your diet.
For supporting local produce and farmers: By including seasonal foods, you support farmers who grow these foods. They can only harvest and sell at this time.
For sustainability: If no one ate the mangoes, it would go to waste during this time. Supporting local and seasonal foods helps our sustainability cycle. If you want to eat mangoes in another season, it has to be processed, which is not beneficial for us or the environment. It is best to eat them fresh. Also, if you go looking for mangoes in the off-season, they will be more expensive. Also, when these fruits and vegetables are grown in the off-season, it is probably by modifying the seeds to grow in different conditions. It may also be fortified to sustain in the changed conditions and resist the insects of the other seasons, which is harmful. These can change the flavour and even affect the nutrients of the produce.
There is, thus, a strong case for eating seasonal foods when they are available.
