The Ayurveda Glow Podcast Katrina Heppler

Herbs are revered in Ayurveda, and have been used around the world for thousands of years. They have tremendous healing capacity—providing phytonutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
Immunity is top of mind for many of us at this time. You may be seeking to strengthen your immune system, protect yourself from virus or the flu or support your loved ones, especially those with a weaker immune system. In this two-part series, learn how you can boost your immunity and prevent or fight a virus, flu or cold through diet, lifestyle and powerful Ayurvedic herbs.
In Part One, I shared seven diet and lifestyle practices to strengthen immunity. If you missed that episode, please see the link to that episode below.
In this episode, Part Two, you'll learn about some go-to Ayurvedic herbs known for providing powerful immune support. By supporting the immune system, these Ayurvedic herbs can help you to prevent a virus, flu or common cold and help you stay healthy and well.
Tune in to this episode to learn:
Top Ayurvedic herbs to boost immunity Two powerful vitamins to take right away at the onset of feeling unwell 5 antimicrobial and antiviral herbs known to fight a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi and microbes and help you stay well The medicinal plant used by Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine”, for its healing abilities Soothing herbs that provide comfort and relief if you have a cough Lung-loving herbs that can support your respiratory system Links mentioned in this episode:
Immunity Boosting Recipes E-Book: https://katrinah.com/immunity/
Part One: How To Boost Your Immunity
Instagram: @katrinaheppler
Facebook: @katrinaheppler
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
References, Resources, Link & Transcript:
https://katrinah.com/ayurvedic-herbs-immune-support

Immunity is top of mind for many of us at this time. Most of us know that our immune system is designed to fight pathogens and infection. Many of us are seeking to strengthen our immune system and protect ourselves, as well as our loved ones from virus, a cold or a nasty flu. In this two-part episode, I'll share practical ways you can boost your immunity, according to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. In Part One, you'll learn seven everyday habits you can start implementing into your daily life right now to boost your immunity and stay healthy. In Part Two, I share proven herbs known to boost the immune system and support your body's powerful natural ability to fight pathogens and infections, according to Ayurveda. 
Tune in to this episode to learn:
The difference between bacteria and virus and why viruses are more difficult to treat 7 urgent steps you can take today to support your immune system in fighting a virus An easy way to tell if you are getting a variety of nutrients in your diet Why digestion plays a key role in enhancing your immune system How your thoughts can be wreaking havoc on your body's ability to fight dis-ease Why it's a smart idea to limit your media consumption if you want to stay healthy Links mentioned in this episode:
Immunity Boosting Recipes E-Book: https://katrinah.com/immunity
Instagram: @katrinaheppler
Facebook: @katrinaheppler
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
References, Resources, Link & Transcript:
https://katrinah.com/how-to-boost-your-immunity-according-to-ayurveda

What's the best morning beverage to jumpstart digestion, help lose weight and flush out toxins? What does Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest holistic health systems, recommend that you drink first thing in the morning when you wake up to boost energy and metabolism? How can you enhance the flavor – naturally – to make this beautiful drink tastier and infused with even more health benefits?
Tune in to this episode to learn:
Why starting your morning with a tall glass of this drink will support your body's optimal function Why not drinking this beverage will leave you feeling fatigued How this beverage can support your liver's natural detox process to eliminate toxins from your body How to lose unwanted weight by drinking more of this one beverage Links mentioned in this episode:
My Newsletter: katrinah.com/subscribe
Instagram: @katrinaheppler
Facebook: @katrinaheppler
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
References, Resources, Links & Transcript:
https://katrinah.com/better-than-coffee-ayurveda-morning-detox-energy-drink
 

What’s an easy, inexpensive – and natural – way to keep your gums healthy, prevent gum disease and cavities, and freshen your breath? Can this oral self-care practice also whiten your teeth? Tune in to this episode to learn more about the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling.
What you’ll learn from tuning in:
How oil pulling works What kind of oil to use The easy steps to put oil pulling into practice What modern science reveals about this ancient practice Links mentioned in this episode:
My Newsletter: katrinah.com/subscribe
Instagram: @katrinaheppler
Facebook: @katrinaheppler
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19336860
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21911944 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198813/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25838632
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408265

Welcome back to The Ayurveda Glow Podcast, a place to discuss how the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda can be applied to your modern, everyday life to help you feel vibrant in mind, body and spirit, enjoy optimal health, and glow from the inside out.
I’m your host, Katrina, an Ayurvedic Health Counselor & plant-based nutrition advocate based in Santa Monica, California. Through this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you what I’m learning in the areas of plant-based nutrition, sleep, yoga, meditation and a variety of holistic mind-body approaches to optimal health. I aim to explore each of these areas through the lens of Ayurveda.
In this episode, I want to share an Ayurvedic practice that has been a game changer for me. Specifically, the practice of aligning with the rhythms of nature. And, even more specifically, the daily practice of having an earlier, lighter dinner and making lunch the main meal of the day.
An earlier, lighter dinner can help you to sleep better at night, feel more energized and lighter when you wake up in the morning, and feel better overall throughout the day.
So in this episode, I want to go more in depth on these two areas. 
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Why staying in sync with the rhythms of nature is important when it comes to optimizing your health. Ayurveda was founded on this principle and an exciting new branch of science called Circadian Medicine now supports this as well. Also, you’ll learn why an earlier, lighter dinner can help you to align with nature’s rhythms and support your overall energy, quality of sleep and ideal weight. Finally, I’ll share a few quick and easy dinner ideas to help you shift to an earlier, lighter dinner. Let’s dive in!
#1: Align with the rhythms of nature to optimize your health and longevity
Okay – so as mentioned, one of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is that we can support our optimal health and longevity by aligning with the rhythms of nature.
This is something that Ayurveda has been teaching for thousands of years and the good news is that an exciting new branch of science called Circadian Medicine has emerged that supports Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom. 
In fact, in 2017 the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to two scientists “for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythms", otherwise known as our biological clock.
Circadian Medicine reveals how the light and dark cycles of the day affect our digestion, sleep, hormone production, cardiac function, innate immunity, neurophysiology, body temp, activity and rest.
All living organisms on Earth have an internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. In humans, this is why we are awake during the day and sleep at night. Our biological clock also helps regulate eating habits, hormone release, blood pressure and body temperature.
The biological clock responds to darkness by triggering the brain’s production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. When the sun goes down, our brain begins to produce melatonin. 
In our modern world, we’re no longer limited by the setting of the sun for light. We can simply turn on lights when the sun goes down. Many of us spend time after sunset watching movies, reading books, working or Facetiming via a variety of screens whether it’s a laptop, tablet or phone. 
It’s important to be aware that the bright light we’re exposing ourselves to suppresses melatonin production and this can disrupt our ability to experience quality sleep.
Circadian Medicine also explains that an imbalance between lifestyle and rhythm can lead to increased risk for a number of diseases including metabolic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Ayurveda and the 6 Periods of the day
As mentioned, Ayurveda has long recognized the importance of aligning with daily, monthly and seasonal cycles to create ease and flow in our lives – as well as a

Welcome back to The Ayurveda Glow Podcast, a place to discuss how the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda can be applied to your modern, everyday life to help you feel vibrant in mind, body and spirit, enjoy optimal health, and glow from the inside out.
I’m your host, Katrina, an Ayurvedic Health Counselor & plant-based nutrition advocate based in Santa Monica, California. Through this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you what I’m learning in the areas of plant-based nutrition, sleep, yoga, meditation and a variety of holistic mind-body approaches to optimal health. I aim to explore each of these areas through the lens of Ayurveda.
In this episode, you’ll learn how the 6 tastes of Ayurveda can balance your nutrition and help you to curb food cravings. Specifically, you’ll learn how each of these 6 tastes impacts your mind and body. And, I’ll also share with you two genius food hacks to ensure you’re getting all 6 tastes in every meal.
Let’s dive in!
First up, let’s start with the basics.
Did you know? 
A well-balanced meal includes all 6 tastes – sweet, sour, salty, astringent, bitter, and pungent. The reason for this is because taste is more than just a sensation of flavor that you experience when you eat or drink something. Different tastes activate chemicals in the mouth, triggering a series of messages to nerve cells and stimulating organs. Everything you eat has a specific taste and that taste has specific actions on the mind and body.
In addition, if you don’t have all 6 tastes represented in a meal, your body responds to this lack with cravings, usually for the most satisfying taste – the sweet taste.
So, to stay healthy, a well-balanced meal which includes the full spectrum of the 6 tastes is essential.
And, if you’re trying to curb your cravings, especially cravings for sweet or salty foods, it’s even more important to make sure that the 6 tastes are represented in your everyday meals so that you feel nourished and fully satisfied.
Let’s take a look at how each taste impacts your mind and body.
Sweet:
First up is the Sweet taste, which Ayurveda teaches is made up of the earth and water elements. For many of us, the sweet taste is considered to be the most pleasant taste.
In our modern culture, we love our sweets, whether they come in the form of a juicy watermelon, a breakfast scone, an artisan gelato, dark chocolate, baked goods or just about any other sweet variation under the sun. There’s absolutely no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to enjoying something sweet.
Many of us associate the sweet taste with sugar. However, it’s important to note that the sweet taste of sugar has an unusual intensity of sweet flavor that is not usually found in nature.
So, I want to be clear that when I share this foundational principle that Ayurveda teaches – which is that a well-balanced diet includes all 6 tastes, I’m not suggesting to go out and load up on foods that have a sweet taste resulting from refined sugars. Sorry friends, Ayurveda does not give a green light to devour a pint of gelato or a bag of Girl Scout Cookies to satisfy the need for including the sweet taste in your diet!
On the contrary – the sweet taste that makes up a well-balanced meal needs to be from real food or herbs provided directly from Mother Nature – not from refined, processed sugar.
Specifically, Ayurveda advocates a diet made up of whole foods that are abundant in prana or life force energy. In Ayurveda, we call food that’s abundant in life force energy Sattvic Food.
Processed food in packages, boxes, cans or jars, often has sugar and a bunch of other additives and the prana or life force of the food has been lost. Modern science is now revealing that these processed foods, especially processed foods with refined sugar added, are contributing big time to our global epidemic of chronic illness. 
We now know that sugar is at the root of many chronic illnesses and I’ll go into thi