Ayurveda, the ancient holistic healing system of India, has been treasured for thousands of years for its profound understanding of human health and well-being. In recent times, parents around the world have increasingly turned to Ayurvedic principles to ensure the optimal health and well-being of their children. This blog post delves into the essence of Ayurveda and presents natural tips on how to keep kids from 6 months to teenage years healthy through a balanced approach to nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional well-being. I have a 2 year old daughter, and I implement the ayurvedic principles of life as much as I can. I am so happy to have a healthy daughter.
Understanding Ayurveda
Ayurveda, which translates to “the science of life,” is founded on the concept that health is the result of a harmonious balance between the mind, body, and spirit. It makes sense doesn’t it? According to Ayurveda, every individual is unique and is characterized by specific energy patterns known as doshas – Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water). The combination of these doshas varies from person to person and forms their Prakriti, or inherent constitution.
Know Your Children's Prakriti and Doshas to keep them Healthy
From an Ayurvedic perspective, everybody is unique. We call this Prakriti, or individual constitution. In general, all children are governed by the Kapha dosha, which represents earth and water elements. Kapha is responsible for growth and provides the stability and nourishment that children need to develop their body tissues, from muscles to teeth and organs. This Kapha dominance also gives them qualities like softness, sweetness, and an inherent ability to learn and adapt.
However, Kapha dosha residing in the upper regions of the body also means children are more susceptible to colds, congestion, and respiratory issues. Kapha energy is cold, heavy, unctuous, stable, dense and dull. If you ever wondered why children are more subject to phlegm, cold and runny nose, it is because Kapha dosa is dominant in early age, and increases the cold, heavy and phlegm in children.
As children grow, the other doshas start to play more prominent roles, leading to the unique combination that makes each child an individual.
Understanding this aspect can guide us parents in taking preventive measures during seasonal changes and fostering a nurturing environment.
Ayurvedic Tips for Children's Health
Give your Child a Nourishing Diet
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of a wholesome diet in maintaining balance and promoting health for children. This means:
– Emphasizing fresh, organic, and seasonal fruits and vegetables, which provide essential nutrients and antioxidants.
– Incorporating whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats like ghee and coconut oil, which support growth and brain development.
– Avoiding processed foods, excessive sugars, and artificial additives.
These things sound logical, but here is where I add some important information. Do not mix dairy with meat, fish and dairy, fruits with anything else. It is very easy to offer a glass of milk at lunchtime, right? What if you put some parmesan on top of spaghetti with meatballs. Ayurveda recommends not to do that. One of the most essential and misunderstood concept on ayurveda is viruddha ahara, or wrong food combinations. Certain foods have different and opposing qualities which create imbalances when consumed together. For example, fish is slimy and heating by nature, while milk is cooling and heavy to digest. If you combine the two, it will create indigestion and toxins in the body.
Another simple thing to do is to offer fruits at snack time. According to Ayurveda, fruits require different enzymes to be digested. They also take less time to be digested. My simple tip here is this: offer fruits at snacktime with water or a fruit juice. Or at least 30 minutes before the main meal.
Furthermore, encourage eating in a calm and relaxed environment. Turn off the TV, sit at the table, and have a wonderful moment with your chil
Check your child's Digestion
A strong digestive fire (Agni) is crucial for overall health and immunity. Indeed, think about it? What is the point to give all the best food to your loved ones, if they don’t have the power to digest and process thy food. We often take our digestive power for granted. Yet, in order to metabolize the food, we need to make sure our digestive power is strong. There is a whole science around how to maintain good digestion according to Ayurveda.
How to make sure your child has good digestion? Check his/her stool, and her/his appetite. The stools need to:
- Have no food particles in it. The occasional corn is normal, but if most of certain foods stay undigested, you can either remove them from your child’s diet or cooked them more so they get digested. For example, my daughter always has some raisins in her stools. Since I cooked them longer, she is able to digest them.
- Have very little smell
- Be passed easily: if the stools are hard or too runny, it means that your child’s digestive power is impaired. You can provide a more light to digest diet for a while until it gets better. Things like soup, or porridge might be more suitable for while.
To support healthy digestion in children:
- Serve meals at regular intervals, allowing the digestive system to function optimally.
- Encourage mindful eating, avoiding overeating or heavy snacking between meals.
- After meals, encourage gentle physical activity, like a short walk, to aid digestion.
- Ensure that there is a gap of at least one hour between mealtime and naptime to prevent heaviness and Kapha imbalance.
Make sure Your child drinks Enough
Hydration is essential for maintaining proper bodily functions and promoting detoxification. Make sure your child drink enough between meals. During meals, it is better to wait for about 10 to 15 minutes before offering a whole glass of something. You do not want to dampen the digestive juice. And children love to scull the whole glass in one go!
Also, encourage warm or room temperature water throughout the day to support digestion. Avoid excessive consumption of cold or iced beverages, which can dampen digestion or aggravate a cold.
Promote good Quality Sleep
Adequate and restful sleep is vital for children’s growth and overall well-being. To ensure quality sleep:
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, allowing children to get sufficient restorative sleep.
- Create a soothing bedtime routine, such as reading a calming story or practicing deep breathing exercises, or foot massage with coconut oil to promote relaxation. My daughter loves it.
Plenty of movement for kids' joy
Physical activity is crucial for children’s energy release, growth, and overall development. Encourage:
- Age-appropriate physical activities that keep children active and engaged.
- Plenty of outdoor play and exploration to connect with nature and boost vitality. If our children could spend at least 2 hours outside every day, it would be awesome.
- Participation in activities that promote flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular health.
Hide the screens!
In today’s digital age, screen time is prevalent among children. To maintain balance:
- Limit screen time and encourage imaginative play to foster creativity and emotional well-being. Screens axcites Vata and makes our little ones restless. For my daughter who is 2 years old, I refuse to let her watch TV. We actually chose not to have TV in the house. She always finds her way to a phone for some reason! It is frustrating but nowadays, it is nearly impossible to not have a phone in her vicinity. I would leave it on a table without thinking, and she would have laser eyes and find it instantly. But hey, we can only do our best.
- You can also engage in interactive activities that involve family members, promoting emotional connections and bonding.
Create a calm space for your children's health
Emotional health is as crucial as physical health for children’s overall well-being. Children are sponges of emotions. They can soak up our stress in no time. We had a little argument with my husband, and my daughter was just screaming in the background asking us to stop talking this way. That was a lesson I will never forget. That is why it is important to teach our children mindfulness and meditation techniques to manage stress and emotions. It can be as simple as blowing bubbles or a holding breath challenge.
To nurture emotional well-being:
- Teach children mindfulness and meditation techniques to manage stress and emotions effectively.
- Offer a nurturing and supportive environment that encourages open communication and expression of feelings.
Some Herbs and Spices can Boost Your kid's Health
Ayurveda offers a range of herbs that can support children’s health and immunity. Check with an ayurvedic practitioner about what you can offer safely. Some common herbs include:
- Turmeric: A potent anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting herb.
- Ginger: Supports digestion and helps alleviate cold and respiratory issues.
- Holy Basil (Tulsi): Known for its adaptogenic properties, it helps reduce stress and anxiety.
For my daughter, these are the simple herbs I use when she has:
- A cold: I had a sprinkle of dried ginger powder in her water, if she is adamant for milk, I mix her milk with hot water to remove the heaviness and cloaging properties of milk. I also give her a bath more often, avoiding wetting her head.
- A blocked or runny nose: I add a pinch of black pepper and dried ginger in some honey, and give her a lick regularly throughout the day.
- A low immune system: I give lemon and honey water.
Ayurveda provides a holistic and time-tested approach to maintaining the health of children. By understanding their unique constitution and doshic balance, parents can tailor their approach to nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional well-being. Nurturing the health of children with Ayurveda not only promotes physical wellness but also fosters emotional resilience, creativity, and a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them.
As caregivers, let us embrace these ancient principles to raise happy, healthy, and vibrant children who will grow into balanced and harmonious adults. Remember, Ayurveda’s wisdom offers an enduring gift to the well-being of the youngest generation. By incorporating Ayurvedic principles into our children’s lives, we can create a solid foundation for their health and happiness throughout their lives.