Keep Vata at a bay to stay young

Our skin tends to become rough, dry, and irritated during certain seasons especially during winter and with age. According to Ayurveda, it happens due to the accumulation of Vata in the body. Vata predominates in early Winter, and in people over the age of 50. When there is excess Vata, we are prone to dry skin, cracking joints, thinning dry hair, and brittle nails. Vata can also show up in the body earlier if you're really stressed, have a Vata disturbing diet or live in a Vata inducing climate (cold and dry). The secret to staying young is keeping Vata at bay.  Let’s see how we can slow down Vata accumulation and ways to help you stay young and keep your skin beautiful throughout Winter.
  
1. Stick to high-water content vegetables that are easier to digest, such as lettuce, carrot, cucumber, radish, fennel, and tender asparagus tips. These vegetables are good for all types of skin.

2. Adding seeds and nuts into your diet will improve the condition of your skin. Both traditional and Ayurveda medicine agree that Vata is drying by nature so all foods that have natural healthy fats in them will prevent this imbalance. Nuts and seeds are a perfect food they contain Omega-3s, healthy fats, and fiber to help digestion

3.Stay hydrated throughout the day and give preference to warm liquids, such as herbal tea. Making some spicy tea with fresh ginger and lemon will wake you up in the afternoon and keep your digestion healthy, which is important for glowing skin.

4. Exercising is necessary in preventing cold Vata from accumulating. Ayurveda advises exercising to keep your muscles and joints healthy and toned, while helping you sweat out toxins. Exercise will also improve blood circulation, digestion, and give you a healthy blush! Choose the type of exercise that makes you feel good and gives you energy without exhausting you. Whether it is walking, jogging, dancing, yoga, or boxing you should enjoy it and have fun moving your body. 

5. Meditation and breathing can be very effective stress busters that you might want to consider. High levels of emotional and mental stress are one of the major reasons why Vata gets aggravated. It literally sucks out all the vital juices from your skin making it dehydrated.

6. Adequate sleep is a must for healthy skin. Aggravated Vata often causes restlessness which can lead to insomnia. Any skin care professional or Ayurveda doctor will agree on the fact that getting at least seven hours of sleep is a good thing when it comes to having a healthy and glowing complexion. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a full yogic breathing described above or use this one before going to bed.

7. Taking care of your skin from the outside, Staying hydrated on the inside is important but you shouldn't forget about taking care of your skin from the outside as well. Cleansing and moisturizing are the most crucial to keeping your skin healthy and young. An oil massage is the best remedy for dry skin. Abhyanga, a full body oil massage, calms the mind, leaving you feeling grounded yet focused and alert, and balances emotions. For the best absorption, Elaadi oil applied 2-3 times a week before bath makes skin feel very smooth and healthy. According to Dr. Pathrose Parathuvayalil, Chief physician, Parathuvayalil Hospital & Orthopedic center , Abhyanga stimulates healthy blood circulation, lymph drainage,& reduces water retention in the body thereby prevents vata accumulation and help us to stay young forever.