According to Ayurveda science, the root cause of any disease (Roga) is the accumulation of toxic substances (Ama) in the body. Improperly digested food particles known as Ama (toxic). The Ama (toxic) accumulation depletes the cells of its oxygen and energy and promotes ill health.
The Ayurvedic diet provides personalized recommendations about which foods to eat and avoid based on your body type.
The Ayurvedic diet is based on determining your dominant dosha and eating specific foods to promote balance between all three doshas.
TRAYA-UPASTAMBA
According to Ayurveda, there are 3 pillars of healthy life –
1.“Aahar” (diet),
2.“Nindra” (sleep)
3.“Brahmacharya” (healthy conduct)
When all the 3 factors are in well in proportion then the result is sound health.
AYURVEDIC DIET PRINCIPLES
1.Eat whenever you feel appetite
2.Eat to times a day
3.Don’t suppress appetite
4.Eat the proper quantity of food
5.Eat food cooked at home
6.Eat food in their natural form
7.Eat food with a calm mind
8.Eat food within 48 minutes of cooking
ORDER OF EATING IN AYURVEDA- includes All Six Tastes at Every Meal.
1.Madura rasa (sweet taste)- Grounding, strengthening, nourishing
2.Amla rasa (sour taste)- Cleansing, purifying
3.Lavana rasa (salty taste) – Balancing, regulating
4.Katu rasa (pungent) -Warming, stimulating
5.Tikta/ kashaya (bitter /astringeng)- Detoxifying, mineralizing Anti-inflammatory, cooling
6.Madura rasa (sweet taste)
SELECT DOSHA BALANCING FOODS
1.Doshas within any person keep changing contantly due to life style, foods and environment.
2.The following ayurvedic principles can be applied to selecting and preparing foods for the three doshas:
1.VATA DOSHAS-
1.The Vata dosha (air and space elements) is by nature cold, dry, light, and rough.
2.Eating foods that counteract those characteristics creates balance.
3.Vata pacifying rasa-Sweet, sour, and salty taste.
WHAT TO EAT
1.Warm, nourishing foods with moderately heavy texture
2.Plus added butter and fat are good for stabilizing vata
3.Choose salty, sour, and sweet tastes as well as soothing and satisfying foods.
4.Warm milk, cream, butter, warm soups, stews, hot cereals, fresh baked bread, raw nuts, and nut butters are good for vata dosha.
5.Take a hot or herbal tea with snacks in the late afternoon.
6.All sweet fruits are good for vata dosha.
7.Warm drinks or hot water are best for vatas.
8.Spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, ginger and garlic are vata pacifying.
WHAT NOT TO EAT
1.Cold foods: salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables and greens are not good for Vata dominant peoples.
2.Avoid too much caffeine and candies
3.Avoid unripe fruits, as they are too astringent.
2.PITTA DOSHA-
1.The Pitta dosha (fire and water elements) tends toward hot, oily, light, and sharp qualities.
2.Therefore, eating foods that are cool, astringent, substantial and mild will pacify the Pitta dosha.
3.Pitta pacifieng rasa- Sweet, pungent, and bitter taste.
WHAT TO EAT
1.The best foods for Pittas are cool or warm-not steaming hot foods.
2.Ideal tastes are bitter, sweet, and astringent etc.
3.Take cool, refreshing food in summer or hot weather, like salads, milk, and ice cream.
4.Take pitta pacifying herbal tea such as mint or licorice root tea.
5.Cold cereal, cinnamon toast, and apple tea is a good breakfast for a Pitta.
6.Vegetarian foods, in general, are the best for Pittas.
7.Abundant amounts of milk, grains, and vegetables should be consumed.
WHAT NOT TO EAT
1.Pittas should use less butter and added fat.
2.Avoid pickles, sour cream, and cheese etc.
3.Avoid vinegar in salad dressing (use lemon juice instead).
4.Alcoholic and fermented foods should be avoided.
5.Avoid oily, hot, salty, and heavy foods such as anything fried.
6.Reduce too much intake of coffee.
7.Pittas should also skip egg yolks, nuts, hot spices, honey, and hot drinks.
3.KAPHA DOSHA-
1.The Kapha dosha (earth and water elements) expresses as heavy, cool, oily, and smooth qualities.
2.Eating foods that are light, warm, dry and rough will minimize the Kapha dosha.
3.Kapha pacifieng rasa- Pungent, bitter, and astringent taste.
WHAT TO EAT
1.Cooked light meals
2.Warm, light, and dry food.
3.Lightly cooked foods or raw fruits and vegetables.
4.Any food that is spicy is very good for Kaphas.
5.Select dry cooking methods: baking, broiling, grilling, sautéing are preferable for Kaphas.
6.Spices: cumin, fenugreek, sesame seed, and turmeric.
WHAT NOT TO EAT
1.Reduce the consumption of too many sweet and fatty foods.
2.Control too much salt consumption; it can lead to fluid retention.
3.Deep-fried foods should be avoided.
4.Skips chilled drinks and food items.
5.Don’t overeat
6.The main meal should be at the middle of the day.
7.Take only a light and dry meal in the evening.
8.Avoid sugar, fats, and dairy products.
9.Use ghee and oils in small amounts only.
KIND OF FOOD EATEN
As per Ayurveda following foods are beneficial for all types of prakritis, Including-
1.Green gram and moong dal among pulses
2.Red shali rice (rice with red colored bran) among grains
3.Cow milk among milks
4.Sesame oil among oils
5.Ghee from cow milka among ghee
6.Grapes (munnka) among fruits
7.Rock salt among salts
8.Ginger among bulbs
9.Barley, wheat, honey, amla, amaranth, pomegranate and snake goured among other foods.
