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Ayurveda and nutrition
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Ayurveda is ancient Indian medicine. It is based on the belief that health and well-being depend on the delicate balance between mind, body and environment. The main goal of Ayurveda is to promote good health and prevent disease, not control it. Treatments can target specific health problems.
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What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is based on the theory that everything in the universe – living or dead – is connected to each other. When your mind, body and spirit are in harmony with the universe, you are healthy. If something disrupts this balance, you will get sick. Things that can disrupt this balance include seasonal changes, age, or your emotions.
Ayurvedic medicine seeks to create a healthy, strong body through a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle methods, including sleep, intuitive eating, and mindful living. When you follow an Ayurvedic diet, you eat mostly whole or minimally processed foods and practice mindful eating rituals, which can make you healthier and slimmer.
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Types or “doshas” in Ayurveda
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that every human being is composed of five basic elements found in the universe: space, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements are combined in the human body into three life forces or energies called doshas. They determine how your body works.
- Vata Dosha (Space and Air): Vata types are often creative, intense, or expressive.
- Pitta Dosha (Fire and Water): Pitta is likely to be intelligent, cheerful, and impulsive.
- Kapha dosha (water and earth). Kavas are basically loyal, calm, loving or lukewarm.
Each person has a unique combination of the three doshas, and one is usually stronger than the other. Each dosha regulates a different function in the body. It is believed that your chances of getting sick – and the health problems you develop – are related to the balance of your doshas.
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Ayurveda for Beginners: Nutrition
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Followers of Ayurveda believe that your major dosha determines what you eat. In addition, there are some basic principles of Ayurveda:
- Incorporate six rasas or flavors into your diet. Include sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent foods in every meal.
- Start your meal with sweet-tasting foods (such as fruit).
- Then eat salty foods (such as seafood) and acidic foods (such as citrus fruits).
- Eliminate sharp foods (such as onions or peppers), astringent foods (green apples or green tea), and bitter foods (celery, kale, or green leafy vegetables).
- Eat carefully and with focus. Avoid talking, laughing, and other distractions to fully enjoy your meal and its beneficial effects.
- Eat slowly enough to enjoy the taste of the food.
- Eat the right amount. Be aware of your hunger cues and signs of fullness to avoid overeating.
- Eat only after your previous meal has been digested: You should not eat within three hours of your previous meal or snack, but you should also not go without food for more than six hours.
- Focus on breakfast and lunch. Many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend eating a modest breakfast and a larger, satisfying lunch. You can eat dinner or not, depending on your hunger.
- Eat fresh, homemade foods instead of processed products.
- Focus on foods that balance all doshas, including fruits, vegetables, rice, nuts, and honey as a sweetener.
- Ayurveda is also known to use herbs such as ashwagandha, turmeric, ginger, cumin and black pepper.
Read also: Ashwagandha: its effect, advantages and disadvantages
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