AYURVEDIC DIET

Ayurveda has its roots in India, dating back to about five thousand years. Essentially, it is a science that encompasses the health benefits of herbs, meditation, yoga, and massage. Ayurveda is based on the principle that every being on this earth, be it animate or inanimate, is the outcome of five basic elements of nature, or Pancha Mahabhootas – Water, Air, Fire or Energy, Earth and Ether (space) . Ayurveda embodies the methods that help to achieve a balance between the body, mind and soul, which is absolutely crucial to stay in unison with nature.

Ayurvedic Diet and Nutrition

According to Ayurveda, ‘We are what we eat’!. This ancient branch of science believes most of the common ailments are a result of poor nutrition. Ayurvedic nutrition is concerned importantly with the dietary requirements of individuals. Any anomaly in the body is thought to emanate in the digestive system, and therefore it become crucial not to cast aside even minor digestive complaints, as it could be indicative of a disease.

Ayurveda does not distinguish between food and medicine, the underlying belief that the absence of nutritive food or diet causes disease in the body. This can only be remedied with appropriate food, which becomes the medicine to heal the body of its ailment. All the same, Ayurveda holds sacrosanct, that each one of us are distinct, and our health is determined by our attitude and response to the conscious and unconscious inputs in life that one is subjected to.

Ayurvedic diet is centered on treating life’s experiences as ‘food’ (for the body and the mind), which is assimilated into the body and contributes to its nourishment. This transformation of ‘food’ into nutrition is termed as ‘Agni’ or fire, which forms the edifice upon which the Ayurvedic system is built.

Spices and herbs form an integral part of Ayurvedic healing, mainly because of its power to be easily absorbed in the body. On the one hand, this enhances the digestive capacity of the body and on the other, cleanses it of its toxins, ensuring the cells in the body are empowered with the nutrition available in the diet. Ayurveda recommends that spices be consumed only after they are cooked.

An Ayurvedic diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fibrous food, which contribute to keeping the body energetic, glowing and in good health. An Ayurvedic diet is miserly with salt to prevent potential fluid retention and also discourages the intake of coffee, sodas and alcohol.

Benefits of an Ayurvedic diet

• Ayurvedic diet is low in fat and helps to maintain an optimum body weight.
• Ayurvedic diet is endowed with minerals that charge the body with energy and radiance.
• Ayurvedic diet is rich in vegetable proteins that are quickly digested and assimilated into the body.
• Ayurvedic meals are easy to digest due to the inclusion of spices – garlic, ginger, cumin, red chilli and black pepper.
• Fresh organic foods that Ayurveda relies upon, are high on nutrition, and endow the body with strength and vitality.

Meditation to heal our life 1st Edition
Tips for adopting Ayurvedic Lifestyle

• The most important thing is to eat your main meal at noon, when the sun is strongest and the digestive fire reflects that strength. If you eat too much at night, or eat heavy foods such as meat or cheese then, the food will sit in your stomach and create AMA( uncooked or undigested food) Eat light at night and your food will be easily digested before you go to sleep.
• It’s also important to eat all three meals at the scheduled time every day. If your body gets used to a regular routine, the digestive juices will start to ready themselves before the meal, and will be more efficient in digesting. If you eat at all different times, your digestion will be thrown off.
• Don’t snack between meals unless you are actually hungry, and wait until the food is digested before eating a meal. If your digestion is already occupied with digesting and you add new food on top of that, the result is AMA, the sour, undigested waste product of undigested food.
• Exception for  diabetic paients as they can have small snacks every two hours to avoid acidity.
• Planning the other aspects of the ayurvedic routine are also important. Going to sleep before 10 pm. is essential, because then during the Pitta time of night (10 pm-2 am) your digestion has a chance to cleanse and rejuvenate itself. If you stay up, you’ll probably feel hungry about midnight and will want to eat, which will tax the digestion and create AMA.
• Waking up before 6 am. is recommended. Basic reason you will feel tired if you sleep late into the Kapha time of the morning (6-10 am.), the channels of your body will become clogged with AMA.
• Daily exercise that is suitable for your body type will stimulate digestion and help cleanse the body of toxins. It’s also important to manage your stress, and to have a job that your enjoy and is not too taxing for your body type. Everyone can benefit from spending time each day practicing yoga, meditation program to remove mental, emotional and physical stress.