After the holidays and during the winter months you can start to feel sluggish and heavy, a cleanse is a great way to boost your energy levels.
So how do you know if you need to do a Kitchari cleanse? Check in with how you are feeling physically, emotionally and spiritually. If you are feeling down, suffering from low moods or feeling heavy within your body or have symptoms of ama then maybe it is time to do a cleanse. or are just not feeling like yourself, a Kitchari cleanse will do you a world of good.
At Mauli Rituals, we believe that a cleanse is a great way to help you if you aren’t feeling quite like yourself, and need a little bit of help to feel revived and rebalanced. In this article we will not only show you how to make your own Kitchari cleanse and any side effects you may want to look out for.
What Is Kitchari?
Kitchari is a traditional Indian dish, with the base being mung dahl and rice, flavoured with digestive spices, and vegetables of your choice.
You may be wondering if Kitchari is for you based on your dosha, the good news is Kitchari is good for all doshas as it is easy to digest as well as being high in protein due to the mung dahl.
Mung dal has many natural properties to help wellbeing as it is a complete food. This makes it great for detoxing the body and nourishing your body, cell and tissues.
Kitchai works to clear the body and mind using herbs that aid in digestion and expel any food that is sitting within your body and intestines. As the gut is the second brain, cleaning it out helps to create balance and a peaceful mind.
This is why Kitchari is the go-to Ayurvedic method to help your mind, body and spirit when you need to heat pause and have a much needed reset.
Like any cleanse you choose to do, it will help to energise you and boost your overall wellbeing but you need to look out for possible kitchari cleanse side effects that may occur.
Kitchari Cleanse Recipe
The food and ingredients within Kitchari are ‘sattvic,’ which means ‘pure essence,’ these foods help to promote happiness, calm and balance. Therefore, it is thought that after a few days of eating these pure foods, it will help you to gain mental clarity, boosting overall wellbeing.
Here is a recipe you can follow to kickstart your Kitcahari cleanse.
Kitchari Cleanse Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mung dahl, split yellow lentils (not the whole green ones)
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 3 cups water (for moist/soupy, use 4 cups water)
- 3 tbsp. of ghee
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger (root), peeled, chopped up well
- 1 tsp. ajwain seeds
- 1 tsp. fennel seeds
- 1 tsp. cumin seeds
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- 1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)
- Optional add 1 cup of vegetable of your choice
Method For Your 3 Day Cleanse
- Start by washing your mung dahl and rice under water until the water runs clear.
- Then in a pan heat water and bring it to the boil.
- Once the water is boiling, place the mung dal and rice in the pan, make sure to cover it and turn the what down to a simmer.
- Whilst the mung dahl and rice is simmering, crush the ajwan, fennel and cumin seeds.
- Then in another pan, turn the heat to medium and place the ghee, crushed seeds, ginger, turmeric, hing and cinnamon sticks in the pan. If you have decided to add vegetables now is the time to pace them within the pan and get infused with all the spices.
- Check your mung dahl and rice, if the water has reduced and isn’t covering the contents, take the contents from the other pan and stir your vegetables and spices into mung dahl and rice.
- Then cover and continue to cook until all water is absorbed.
How To Do The 3 Day Kitchari Cleanse
Following the kitchari cleanse will work wonders for not just your body but your mind. After following the cleanse you may notice positive changes such as bloating, indigestion and constipation going away. As well as your mental wellbeing being elevated with gaining a clear mind that is full of clarity, expelling any brain fog, cloudiness, or confusion.
To kickstart your cleanse, in the morning on day one batch cook your kitchari. This is what you will be eating for every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the morning,
The key to the Kitchari cleanse is only eat when you are hungry, sip on warm water or herbal teas between meals. In between meals if you are finding yourself getting a little hungry then you can snack on a piece of fruit.