Ayurvedic tips to strengthen your immunity this winter

Winter is when people are most prone to infections and illnesses. It is when it becomes extremely necessary to build and boost one's immunity. A healthy immune system helps protect against deadly pathogens that can put you at risk of infectious diseases. So how do you enhance your immunity?

Ayurveda has all the answers to it....

Also read: Himalayan Gold: What is it, why is it called 'Himalayan Gold' and does it have any health benefits?

In order to maintain overall health, Ayurveda believes we must maintain a strong digestive fire. This is so that the food we eat is easily transformed into easily-absorbed nutrients and easily-eliminated waste. The digestive fire is also known as 'agni'. As per Ayurveda, eating unhealthy, too much or too less, or the wrong combinations of foods can diminish our agni, leading to poor digestion. That said, a weak digestive fire accumulates toxins, known as ama, which can block the bodily channels and hinder nutritional absorption.

Building a strong immunity and keeping the digestive fire going can be a task. That said, it is important to adopt healthy eating habits and have foods that are good for your overall wellness. According to Ayurveda, some of the superfoods include:

- Gooseberry or Amla

- Dates or Khajoor

- Clarified butter or Ghee

- Jaggery

- Tulsi leaves

- Turmeric or Haldi

- Ginger

A kadha or herbal tea made from mulethi, tulsi, cinnamon, ginger, clove, turmeric, giloy, and black pepper are said to have immunity-boosting properties. Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, kadha or herbal decoctions not only boost immunity, but also detoxifies the body, aids digestive health and also fights respiratory viruses. It reduces inflammation, slows down aging and also helps in weight loss.

Nasya therapy is an Ayurvedic treatment that involves applying a few drops of ghee, sesame oil, or coconut oil in the nasal passage. According to Ayurveda, Nasya is one among the five Panchakarma therapies. It can be applied on an empty stomach an hour before taking a bath. One must lie down with the head pulled back and 4-5 drops of oil should be put into each nostrils. Not only does it keep the nasal passages and sinuses clear, it also maintains the immunity.

Your mouth is a host to over hundreds and hundreds of bacteria. While some bacteria in your mouth are beneficial, there are some that can put your health at risk. According to Ayurveda, oil pulling therapy can help you get rid of these bacteria. Oil pulling is an ancient practice performed by swishing oil in your mouth to remove bacteria. This promotes oral hygiene and keeps illnesses and infections at bay. You can practice oil pulling with coconut oil, sesame oil or Arimedadi Thailam.