Let’s all be real: being a teenager is not all that our elementary years seemed to believe. We’re juggling homework, sports, TikTok, texting, studying in ungodly hours, and having the occasional existential crisis about college—all while the body is still figuring itself out. Who knows if my skin tomorrow morning will be as smooth as silk or look like fresh magma from Mount Vesuvius. 

Enter Ayurveda, India’s ancient science of life balance through food, which feels surprisingly fresh and accessible, even in the midst of teenage life.

No, you don’t need to chant in Sanskrit. And no, you won’t have to give up pizza to try it. I could never! The first step to Ayurveda is just listening to how your body feels, eating with the seasons, and making small choices that keep your energy steady (instead of crashing after three cans of Monster).