Kirit Sehmbi's Ayurvedic workshops- an inclusive and informative event to educate the community about the importance of health. 

In this season of the year when the temperatures gradually decrease, Kirit Sehmbi informs us on the topic of gut health- and how we can maintain a healthy lifestyle with food this autumn. 

 

What do you specialise in? 

“I am a nurse practitioner."

"My specialism is working in Inclusion Health, so I work with people who are often marginalised and have difficulty accessing healthcare.” 

“I am also an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner. I work with people to address their health and well being needs through looking at their diet, lifestyle, and using herbs where necessary.” 

 

What trends do you notice in people’s diet during the switch between summer and winter?  

“People tend to choose warmer meals and foods that are heavier or denser."

"So, for example, we see people eating more soups and vegetables that are in season at this time of year such as pumpkins or squash.” 

 

What types of foods would you recommend to a person struggling with mental health or skin issues during the winter?  

“Research shows that our gut health is linked to our mood and general well being."

"Ayurveda teaches us that when our digestion is healthy, this supports our mental health."

"Both conventional and Ayurvedic medicine encourage people to eat fresh and unprocessed foods."

"Highly processed foods can contain additives and considerable amounts of sugar which can be inflammatory both for our gut and brain."

"Meals with fresh food, vegetables, and fibre, will feed our good gut bacteria and support the body to eliminate waste daily."

"A last point to add from Ayurveda here is the importance of eating cooked food”  

 

Kirit continues to quote, “it’s not just what we eat that is important, but how we prepare the food and how well we digest it.”  

   

“People are most importantly looking to improve issues that are, ‘for the skin’, the advice is similar."

"Highly processed foods, sugary foods and oily foods will increase inflammation and are poorly absorbed."

"Alcohol and coffee can also exacerbate skin issues."

"It is best to stick to foods that are easy to digest, cooked and lightly spiced."

"In addition, we want to support the liver whose job it is to detox the body daily.”  

 

Kirit advises that, “To do this, we can try to include some green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, rocket, or cabbage.”  

 

How do food and nutritional diets impact and benefit a person?  

“When we are deficient in vitamins and lacking the correct nutritional diet- we can start to experience symptoms such as dizziness, feeling pins and needles, or in extreme cases, feeling breathless."

"When we eat a nutritionally balanced diet, our body gets the nutrients it needs."

"But, if we eat highly processed foods, they do not usually contain these vitamins or sometimes block the absorption of vitamins.”  

DOES EXCESS IN SUGAR OR ALCOHOL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE HUMAN DIET? 

 Kirit quotes, “sugar has been shown to block the absorption of vitamin C in the body, and alcohol blocks the absorption of thiamine (vitamin B1).” 

  

What does a lack of specific nutrients affect?  

“Certain deficiencies will lead to specific symptoms."

"For example, if a person has severe anaemia (iron deficiency), they can experience dizziness, palpitations, or breathlessness."

"If someone has a deficiency in vitamin K, they might bleed easily."

"If someone is deficient in thiamine, they might notice problems with their memory, amongst other symptoms.” 

 

How can a person have a more healthy, easy, and inclusive diet during the winter?  

“If we think about the kinds of foods that are abundant in winter-autumn time, we should try to include them in our diet."

"That includes root vegetables, soups, meat, chicken, nuts."

"Try to eat warm, cooked meals as much as possible to support your digestion."

"Lastly include some immune-supporting herbs and spices to help build the body’s defence against colds and viruses."

"This can include ginger, which puts our white blood cells on high alert for incoming danger, or spices high in antioxidants- such as turmeric, cloves, or cinnamon.” 

 

Being more inclusive in your diet, making good changes for the long-term is much more valuable than neglecting your gut health.