Ayurveda : Guidelines for healthy Diet

Ayurveda Diet

It is a known fact that the diet is vital for health. Ayurveda also give the strong description of diet and food. Once you know what your Ayurvedic dosha is, you can balance it by learning what foods support you and what foods can further aggravate your dosha.  It is important to know, not only what to eat, but also when to eat and qualities of what is consumed. Ayurveda emphasizes on consuming right kind of diet which is healthy and nutritious.  Only then we can enjoy al the benefits that food has to offer us. Ayurveda clearly mention that Food is the major cause of any disease. So change in the food habits can prevent major diseases.  Some important facts about food are given below.

• Unctuous (smooth/oily food)

It is well explained in Ayurveda text that, our diet must contain adequate amount of ghee and oil. According to the disease condition like heart disease, obesity oil and ghee should be avoided. It is said ghee and oil soften food and hasten digestion, strengthen the body. They lubricate the joints reducing wears and tear due to friction. So the pure Cow ghee’ s is described as the best ghee.

•  Fresh and warm food.

Food should always be warm and fresh. It should be fresly prepared and eaten warm as it is nourishing, tasty  easy to digest, and regulates the Vata Metabolism. Cold and stale food is said to be Tamasik and has no nutrition at all. Cold food even cause food poisoning and infections.

• Appearance

The appearance of the food should be very good to increase desire to eat the food. It should be good colour , aroma and tasty to increase appetite and desire to have food. This stimulates the digestive juice and appetite. Certain food are restricted to the patients in some cases as it does not help the patient at all.

• Place of eating

Ayurveda explains the place of food taking is very important. It is said that food to be taken in clean, pleasant and peaceful places. Dirt, noise and disturbed mind affect not only appetite also entire digestive system of the individual. It is not good taking food while walking and talking. Its not good habit to see television and do something else while eating food. Concentrate on the food only during eating.

• Mental state

Mental calmness is necessary while eating something. Anger, jealous, nervous, scared should be prevented while eating something. It is hindu customs to be silent while taking food. Even Brahmins follow this customs , it is very scientific for good digestion and metabolism it is very beneficial.

• Timing

Timing of food taken is the major things to consider for good digestion and appetite. Irregular food habit is not taken best as Ayurveda has also explained on this. Food should be taken when previous food digested and appropriate appetite. Proper digestion of previous food should be completed before taking next diet. Fasting is good for some individuals. But regular food timing should be good taking food in interval of time.

• Quantity

Food is for energy and nourishment. Food should be taken in appropriate quantity. According the age, season, body build up the quantity of food may be differ. It is said one third of stomach should be remain empty to let the proper mixing of digestive enzymes properly in food. It not leaved it cause improper digestion and absorption. Other indicators of consumption of food in the right quantity are complete digestion of food before the next meal, expulsion of wind and absence of any kind of deformation in the doshas, dhatus and malas.

Large quantity of light foods like rice and green gram can be digested  but heavier diets eaten in large proportions can lead to indigestions. Thus food should be taken only when hunger keeping in mind the digestive capacity and nature of food.

• Chewing importance

Chewing is the first process of digestion. So proper chewing is nessary, as in this stage the salive is well mixed with the food. More chewed the food is easy to digest and become liquid. Weak chewing may cause weak in digestion and cause acidity and constipation.

• Suitability of diet

Selection of diet as per individual is very important. Same diet can be harmful for the other people. So selection of suitable diet should be done. As Ayurveda has described the diet should be selected as per the Body, Region, Season, Ailments.  All dhatus and Doshas should be remain healthy and Mala should be eliminated timely. So the combination of the right medication and right diet is a must for overcoming ailments and regaining complete health.