The ayurvedic diet is widely used in India, where an estimated 80 percent of people follow it or have at one time. It is considered a holistic form of medicine, based upon eating foods that are appropriate to your prakriti (constitution).
Balance Mind, Body and Soul
Ayurveda may be the oldest system of traditional healing still practiced today. It originated in India 5000 years ago and grown popular throughout the world. Ayurveda promotes balance in the mind, body and soul through a lifestyle incorporating appropriate diet, exercise and spiritual practices such as meditation and mantras. The goal to have harmony in life.
According to ayurveda, the body is made up of three specific doshas, each requiring a different approach to health and wellness. These doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are dynamic forces with distinct characteristics that shape all things in the universe. Each person is born with a unique constitution called prakriti. Everyprakrit has Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in varying amounts, with one dosha being the dominant force.
In the Ayurvedic view, an imbalance between the doshas produces a condition called vikriti, a Sanskrit word that means “deviated from nature.” Therefore, each individual’s diet should be suited to his or her prakriti.
During times of vikriti, or imbalance, the ayurvedic diet can be used to either decrease or increase the three doshas until balance is restored. The dosha balancing effect of a food is determined by its taste: salty, sour, sweet, bitter, astringent, or pungent and its other qualities: heavy, oily, cold, hot, light, or dry.
As noted, ayurveda is one of the most ancient systems of medicine in the world. Its roots reach back to the ninth century BC. Hindu legend holds that Lord Brahma, the god of creation, upon recognizing the intense suffering of human civilization, shared this practice with spiritual leaders to ease this suffering.
For thousands of years, these teachings were transmitted orally, eventually recorded Sanskrit poetry during the Vedic period of ancient India, then compiled into classic books known as the Four Vedas.
One of these texts, named the Rik Veda contains verses which discuss the nature of health, and the concept of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). Another text, called the Atharva Veda, lists the eight divisions of Ayurveda: Internal Medicine, Surgery of Head and Neck, Opthamology and Otorinolaryngology, Surgery, Toxicology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Gerontology or Science of Rejuvenation, and the Science of Fertility.
Later writers, including Sushruta and Charaka, took passages from the Vedic Scriptures and compiled them into separate medical textbooks, called Samhitas. One of the most widely accepted ayurvedic texts, the Sushruta Samhita, outlines surgical techniques. The Charaka Samhita is a major text on internal medicine.
Due to its long history and influence on the development of Chinese, Arabic, Greek, and Roman medical thought, ayurveda is often referred to as the “mother of medicine.”
Toxins Lead to Imbalance
Ayurveda works on the principle that toxins accumulate in the body, causing an imbalance of doshas. The three toxins in Ayurveda are:
Ama: This is sticky sludge which forms during the digestion of food. It is a waste product and must be eliminated to keep the digestive system efficient.
Amavisha: If not eliminated, turns into its more toxic form, Amavisha which makes the excretory system sluggish and further aggravates imbalances in the body.
Garavisha: These are external toxins in the form of harmful microorganisms, trace metals and impure air which cause harm to the body.
Understanding Doshas in Treatment
Ayurveda contents that there are five elements in nature: Akash (space), Prithvi (earth), Vayu (air), Jal (water) and Agni (fire). The five elements combine in the human body in various proportions to reflect as three doshas: Pitta, Vata and Kapha. The predominant dosha is the deciding factor in choosing the line of treatment to bring your doshas into balance.
The Vata dosha controls the joints and muscles, heart, respiratory system and those parts of central nervous system controlling fear, pain and anxiety.
The Kapha dosha affects the physiognomy, immunity levels and the emotional tendencies of greed, forgiveness, love and calm.
The Pitta dosha controls the digestive system, rate of metabolism, intelligence and the emotional tendencies of jealousy, anger, intelligence and understanding.
Implementing the Ayurvedic Diet
Water at room temperature is at the core of a balanced Ayurvedic diet. Drink plenty of water and infuse it with herbs for your dosha type. This is designed to aid the digestive system as well as keeping the body hydrated.
When you decide to eat out, always keep the tastes and qualities of food in mind. A simple understanding of which tastes and qualities are balancing for your Ayurveda body type will help you to make the right decisions.
For vata, for example, warm soup is a better choice than an ice-cold salad (Vata gets balanced with warm quality and aggravated with cold). If you are a vata body type, it is recommended that you stay away from raw, cold foods and focus on well-cooked, warm dishes.
Conversely, if you have a predominant Pitta dosha, you will do much better with raw food and salad bars, as well as vegetarian dishes. Stay away from deep fried, garlicky and tomato dishes (anything hot/spicy aggravates Pitta).
If Kapha is your dominant dosha, your best options are light choices, lightly steamed/cooked veggies, as well as light vegetarian dishes. Stay away from heavy, fried or oily dishes with lots of cheese or sour cream.
Variety of Natural Foods
Following ayurvedic diet principles does not limit the quantity or variety of your diet. It encourages you to eat all natural foods, eliminating the toxins found in preservatives, additives and flavorings. As a result, the diet suggests you take time preparing your food and continue enjoying your meals, while consuming the foods that fit your body type.
Ayurveda is a holistic health system that aims to bring about harmony in the body, and between human beings in natural world. It looks at the body, as well as the health of mind and soul as well.
Because tension is a major part of our daily lives, Ayurvedic therapy helps people relax. With an internal calm, individuals can more easily face the challenges of life. An effective system of alternative medicine for centuries, its practitioners find it to be preventive, protective and curative.
Use Non-toxic Herbs and Don’t Overdo It
Although there is much anecdotal evidence supporting the Ayurvedic diet and herbs, and it is estimated that up to 80 percent of people in India use it or another form of traditional medicine, many scientific studies have been inconclusive or found that the herbs worked no better than placebos.
Like any medicine, certain ayurvedic herbs can have side effects. For example, too much aloe juice can cause diarrhea and dehydration. Taking high doses of licorice root could cause swelling of the hands and feet. It is best if you consult your doctor before proceeding with any ayurvedic herbal option.
The ayurvedic diet uses warm water prepared with herbs as part of its daily cleansing rituals. The practice of rasa shastra which adds metals and other substances, including mercury to the herbs in preparation, is a part of ayurvedic medicine. Ayruvedic proponents believe that the toxicity of these materials is reduced through purification processes, which often involve both prayers and pharmaceutical techniques. A 2008 study of more than 230 products found that approximately 20% of remedies (and 40% of rasa shastra medicines) purchased over the Internet from US and Indian suppliers contained lead, mercury or arsenic. If you use ayurvedic herbs in your diet, read the labels to ensure that they do not include any traces of toxins or metals.
The ayurvedic diet, also called ayurveda, is a holistic medical system which integrates and balances the body, mind, and spirit. The ayurvedic diet is based on consuming food to bring your doshas into balance. The type and quantity of food will depend on whether you are kapha, pitta or vata type person. The ayuvedic diet is widely used in India, with an estimated 80 percent of people subscribing to its benefits. However, to date, there is insufficient scientific evidence that it helps any specific medical condition. More research is needed.
