COVID - Special COVID Kichari Recipe for IMMUNITY boost
COVID support
I want to support you during this health crisis and time of uncertainty.
Contact me for your FREE 20 minute phone Ayurvedic health consultation
These are surreal times.
It is a time of fear and uncertainty. Globally.
It is a time of suffering. Globally.
The one thing I am practicing is keeping it in TODAY.
Trying not to protect and look ahead at the chaos that could happen.
And also could not.
JUST a thought…
Observe where the dis-ease (anxiety, stress of what might come) is coming from. Is it from watch =ing the news first thing int he morning or last thing at night. Is it form talking endlessly about it to everyone you meet today?
Are you being encouraged to panic buy because everyone else is?
These are all symptoms being CAUGHT in the FEAR mode. Which will ultimately bring about dis-ease body and mind if you let it.
BE WISE:
Feeling stressed, not sleeping so well… concerned about all?
Whilst it is sensible to keep current to updates, one suggestion is try not to watch news first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It will increase the stress and fear and impact how you choose to in to the on coming day.
REMEMBER
“Every disease begins in the gut”
(Hippocrates)
Special COVID Kichari Recipe - the one-pot-immunity-wonder!
What is Kichari?
Answer: Digestive support and immunity for the body and mind
Kichari (pronounced: kitch- are- ree; and sometimes known as kichadi) is one of the traditional meals used in ayurveda to help strengthen and revive impaired digestion (known as agni meaning digestive fire).
Ayurveda places prime importance on the health of digestive fire/gut as the foundational support for immunity and good health.
Traditionally plain white basmati rice and split yellow moong dal or whole green mung beans are used with 3-5 spices to help kindle the agni.
Why white rice?
Healthy Immunity requires a healthy digestive process.
White rice is one of the assist things to digest. When we can digest foods easily they can pass through the entire digestive process in hours rather then days. The longer something takes to digest- the more prone to fermentation and build up of unhealthy bacteria we are. There is also more of an invitation to nasties etc. The weaker the digestion becomes the weaker the immunity. Therefore when a virus enters the system… there is little defence or ability to flush it out.
A full complete meal:
The combination of kichari with the lentil/legume creates a nutritious combination of protein and carbohydrate which offers satiation, nourishment and sustains energy and sugar levels.
WHY eat COVID Kichari?
Today an increasing number of people suffer from digestive issues and many other symptoms related to weak digestion. This sets them up for being targets to dis-ease be that physically- infections, repeated colds etc or mentally- brain fog, anxiety, mild forms of depressive states etc.
Western medicine has not yet joined all the dots and made the connection that healthy digestion is KEY to overall health. Ideally one day a week we would eat kichari for 2-3 meals. When eaten regularly as a complete meal it helps clear the system and offers support to the digestive process due to the heightened stimulation of modern day diets (not just food but environmental etc). Traditionally a kichari fast was encouraged during the seasonal shifts. This is a time when the elements are readjusting in the natural environment and in our internal environment. We are also in the time of Spring shift.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
(Hippocrates)
START your COVID kichari quest today!
Here’s how:
For COVID recipe you can select ONE grain per meal:
Organic White basmati rice (light on digestion, more easy to digest then brown rice which is heavier and takes longer to break down), OR
Organic Buckwheat (light, slightly more warming and easy on digestion), OR
Organic Millet (light, warming, more drying (caution if you have very dry skin or constipation), very effective at removing AMA (toxin))
For the pulses (you can mix the pulses 1/8 cup yellow moong dal or 1/8 cup green mung beans) use:
Green Mung Beans (incredibly nutritious and a good form of protein when combined with the grains). They help scrape the AMA (toxin from the system). SOAK for 4-12 hours before cooking to ensure
Yellow Moong Dal- these are the same as the green ones (above) minus their skin (which can be tough on the digestion if agni is weaker). Yellow moong dal are lighter, easier to cook and digest.
To rehabilitate and/or strengthen immunity:
Use kichari for your evening and/or morning breakfast meal for 1-7 days depending on how well you are eliminating and sleeping. If the sleep is disturbed and the bowels are not eliminating properly then stay with kichari for 5-7 days for breakfast and or dinner.
The best kichari/immune system boost would be to take kichari for EVERY meal (3 meals per day) for 3-5 days. You will be amazed at what happens to the system during that time. Try to minimise (even better to cut altogether) caffeine and alcohol during this time. If you are someone who is a heavy drinker of both coffee and alcohol, my suggestion is to wean your self off gently with the coffee substituting back tea max (1 cup per day) and alcohol… try to cut it altogether.
For a cleanse: the kichari quest fundamentals
Ideally 2-3 meals of Kichari a day for 1 up to 5 days.
Breakfast meal can be plain grains (more augmenting in the morning to help kindle the digestive fire).
Kichari dish with one cooked, augmenting seasonal spring veg and one extractive seasonal spring veg can be taken with lunch and dinner.
Keep a minimum of 4 hours between each meal. Best to have 5 hours. Try to avoid the snacking in between meals.
You may initially not like the kichari. It may taste bland etc. But TRUST! As the toxin (Ama) clears in the gut and on the tongue and the digestion gets stronger - you will experience healthy appetite and enjoy the taste!
KICHARI servings:
This recipe is for 2 servings (you can always save the second serving for your dinner).
MAKE IT FRESH!
Kichari for your cleanse needs to be made fresh EVERYDAY.
Ayurveda is very specific about eating food which is prepared fresh. In busy lifestyles aim for 24 hours MAXIMUM keeping food. discard after that time as the food losses it’s vitality and becomes dulling substance that will fill you but will not nourish your body or mind or help you feel “vital”.
COVID IMMUNE BOOSTER kichari (2 servings)
Ingredients
½ cup grain (white basmati rice or grain of choice)
¼ cup whole mung beans (soaked overnight) or split yellow moong dal (no need to soak)
½ teas cumin seeds
½ teas coriander seeds
½ teas turmeric
1/4 teas ajwain seeds (good for clearing bloating form stress, mildly heating and good for respiratory passages)
½ teas cardamom (excellent for respiratory area and helps break down of carbs, sugars and heavier food substances)
½ teas mustard seeds
1/4 teas cinnamon powder
1 inch of grated root ginger (excellent for clearing toxin and supporting digestion) OR dry ginger powder if there is mucus in the system (NB- dry ginger is more heating and drying for the skin, system).
3/4 teas rock salt
1/4 teas hing (otherwise known as asafoetida- excellent for breaking down the lentils, reducing gas and clearing out undigested food matter)
1/4 teas fenugreek powder
1 bay leaf (kindles the digestive fires)
Ghee or organic sunflower oil (vegan)
A small handful of fresh chopped parsley, coriander and/or dill to garnish.
If serving for a lunch or evening meal add some seasonal augmenting and extractive veggies (one handful per person). Best to see what is local in your farmers markets and for your country/hemisphere this time of year.
Augmenting spring veg 60%: Turnips, carrots, any squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, beets, kohlrabi
Extractive spring veg 40%: chard, kale, spinach, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli (if in season), cabbage
Cook the veggies separately, using a little oil (ghee ideally), a pinch of salt. Sautee in a pan and add a little water so the veg stay fresh and succulent.