Kapha Season
Supporting the body through the transition from Winter to Spring
As we begin to move out of winter and into early spring here in the UK, we enter Kapha season – a time in Ayurveda associated with heaviness, moisture and stagnation. The winter months encourage us to slow down, eat more nourishing and grounding foods and turn inwards, but as the days gradually lighten, that heaviness can start to create a feeling of ‘stuckness’.
You might notice this as sluggish digestion, lethargy, a sense of dullness, increased mucus, or catching colds more easily.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, this is completely natural. Spring is a time of change and growth, and our physiology senses the transition. As the weather warms and nature begins to come alive again, our body naturally begins its spring detoxification process, and some of the ‘sludge’ accumulated over winter can temporarily clog the system if we don’t support it properly.
This is where conscious food and lifestyle choices become powerful allies.
Understanding Kapha season
Kapha season marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s dominated by the Water and Earth elements, which bring the following qualities: Heavy, Dense, Cold, Moist, Slow, Dull, Static, Oily
When these qualities build up in excess, they can create feelings of heaviness in both body and mind. To bring balance, Ayurveda teaches us to introduce the opposite qualities through our diet, movement and daily rhythms.
Opposite qualities to invite in: Light, Warm, Dry, Stimulating, Mobile, Penetrating
By consciously leaning into these qualities, we help the body release stagnation and support its natural inclination to cleanse as spring arrives.
Eating for balance
Digestion (agni) often slows down during Kapha season, which means this is not the time for heavy, rich, or overly oily foods. Instead, we want meals that are warm, light, simple, and easy to digest, allowing the body to focus its energy on detoxification and repair.
Kapha is balanced by the Pungent, Bitter and Astringent tastes, which tend to bring warmth, dryness and stimulation – exactly what we need to counter excess Water and Earth.
On the plate this looks like…
Warm soups, dhals and stews cooked with penetrative spices like ginger, black pepper, mustard seeds, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, cloves, chillies
Lentils, legumes and lighter proteins
Drying grains like quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and barley
Plenty of leafy greens, herbs and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower (cooked well), which strongly support detoxification
Beetroot, a powerful liver cleanser
Stewed rhubarb, apples and pears for gentle sweetness without heaviness
Choose seeds than nuts, as they are lighter and easier to digest
And nature give us clues too… foods that start to appear in early spring are often exactly what our bodies need. Radishes, for example, are sharp and pungent – brilliant for reigniting digestive fire. Foraged greens like nettles and dandelion leaves are deeply detoxifying and supportive of the liver and lymph.
Top 5 tips for supporting yourself this Spring
1. Start your day with a ginger tea to stimulate digestion
2. Align with nature and seasonal foods – foraging for wild greens is a lovely way to connect with the energy of the season
3. Dry brushing the body (garshana) before your shower, which invigorates the body and moves the lymph
4. Move your body every day (brisk walks, yoga, dynamic movement) to release stagnation from the tissues, lymph and mind
5. Consider a gentle Ayurvedic cleanse to reset digestion and step into the new season feeling lighter and clearer.
If you’d like a little support with the seasonal transition, my 7-Day At-Home Reset is a great way to discover seasonal recipes and rituals, helping you to establish a nourishing lifestyle for spring and beyond.
