You’ve probably never considered this, but postpartum nutrition and fall-season nutrition in Ayurveda are basically the same. They draw from the same principles: Vata, the dosha that governs movement, air, and space.
What Ayurveda Is (In the Simplest Terms)
Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of holistic medicine from India that focuses on balance. It teaches that your health is influenced by three main energies, or “doshas:” Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each one is made up of the different elements (air, space, fire, water, and earth). When any of them gets too high or too low, you feel it in your digestion, mood, energy, sleep, etc. Read more about Ayurveda here.
What the Vata Dosha Represents
The Vata dosha is made up of air and space. Its qualities are:
- Cold
- Dry
- Light
- Airy
- Fast-moving
- Unpredictable
When Vata is balanced, you feel creative, energetic, clear, and inspired. When it’s imbalanced, you may experience:
- Anxiety or overwhelm
- Forgetfulness or scattered thoughts
- Constipation or bloating
- Trouble sleeping
- Dry skin and hair
- Feeling cold
-
Cravings for sugar or quick carbs
Ayurveda says that when you’re feeling dry, cold, depleted, or all over the place… Vata is involved.
Why Postpartum Is Considered a Vata Imbalance
Postpartum is the most Vata-aggravating time in a woman’s life.
- The body is “empty” after birth… quite literally an empty womb
- Hormones shift quickly (Vata loves change)
- Digestion is delicate
- Sleep is disrupted
-
The nervous system is heightened and vulnerable
In Ayurveda, postpartum is a cold, dry, airy, vulnerable season inside the body. To pacify Vata, the types of foods recommended are…
- Warm
- Soft
- Moist
- Easy to digest
- Oily or fatty
- Spiced
-
Simple and grounding
These foods bring the opposite qualities of Vata, which is what brings Vata back into balance. It’s actually quite intuitive if you think about it.
Fall Is Also a Vata Season
Fall’s qualities tend to be:
- Windy
- Dry air
- Cold mornings and evenings
- Leaves falling
-
A sense of movement and transition
Energetically, fall and postpartum are very similar. They are both “seasons” of:
- Depletion
- Transition
- Coldness
- Dryness
- Emotional sensitivity
-
Need for grounding
This is why the foods that rebuild a postpartum woman also help every woman feel more grounded, warm, and nourished as the weather cools.
This isn’t only about eating soups and stews… but it means focusing on warming, cooked foods… grounding foods with healthy fats. Things that are easier to digest… because this will balance the characteristics of the season.
Warm, Vata-Balancing, Postpartum-Style Foods to Eat in Fall
Warm, Soft, Cooked Meals
- Soups and stews
- Braised meats
- Lentil or bone broth–based dishes
-
Congee, oatmeal, cream of rice, or stewed apples
Healthy, Grounding Fats
These soothe dryness and support hormones, digestion, and mood.
- Ghee
- Butter
- Coconut milk
- Cream
-
Olive oil
Cooked Root Vegetables
Warm, grounding, and blood-sugar balancing.
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Winter squash
- Beets
-
Parsnips
Warm Spices
Gently warm and strengthen digestive fire.
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Turmeric
-
Cumin
Warm Drinks Instead of Cold Ones
- Warm milk with spices
- Herbal teas
- Golden milk
- Bone broth
- Caffeine-free chai
-
Nourishing cocoa
Foods to Limit
These increase the cold, dry, airy qualities you’re trying to balance.
- Cold smoothies
- Raw salads
- Iced drinks
- Dry crackers or popcorn
- Cold yogurt straight from the fridge
-
Fasting or skipping meals
Why This Matters Even If You’re Not Postpartum
Eating this way helps:
- Improve digestion
- Steady your energy
- Calm your nervous system
- Support hormones
- Reduce dryness
- Improve sleep
-
Prevent overwhelm and burnout
Fall and postpartum are naturally draining seasons, each asking for warmth and deep nourishment. Eating like you’re postpartum honors your body through change, with comfort, slowness, and meals that truly support you. Explore our menu + order here.
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