The fundamental of Ayurveda has evolved over thousands of years on the basis of various experiences and experiments. It consider food and our eating habits as one of the main pillar of healthy living
According to principles of Ayurveda, food patterns are based upon three core component, external environment or seasons, Daily clock and metabolic body type or prakriti.
Unlike many other diets, the Ayurvedic diet provides personalized recommendations about which foods to eat and avoid based on your body type.
According to Ayurveda correct diet not only promote better health for your body but also your mind. Food plays a big role in elevating mood and help in balancing our mind thoughts.
What is the Ayurvedic diet?
Just like atoms and molecule, Ayurveda believe on five elements approach. Everything in this universe is made up of these basic elements — vayu (air), jala (water), akash (space), teja (fire), and prithvi (earth).
These elements are believed to form three different doshas or types of energy that build our body and responsible for all the activities within your body. Each dosha is responsible for specific physiological functions. Vata dosha maintains movements of various components and maintain chemical balance (enzymes, hormones), the pitta dosha controls digestion, thirst, and body temperature. Meanwhile, kapha dosha promotes soft tissues (joint) function, body fats.
These dosha identify body type when in balance. Ayurvedic diet promotes eating specific foods to promote balance. Not to forget to plan these diet in line with what is provided by Mother Nature during specific seasons.
How does it work?
The Ayurvedic diet is a type of eating plan that sets guidelines for when, how, and what you should eat based on your metabolic body type. Here is main characteristics of each dosha. To get a detail assessment of your body type and imbalance please click here
| Dosha | characteristics | Looks | Prone to Diseases |
| Vata (air + space) | Creative, energetic | thin with a light frame | Nerves system, Pain, fatigue, anxiety |
| Pitta (fire + water) | Intelligent, hard-working, short tempered | medium physical build, | Digestive system, heart disease, or high blood pressure. |
| Kapha (earth + water) | calm, grounded, and loyal | Sturdier, broad frame | Respiratory system, Weight gain, depression |
According to this diet, your body type determines which foods you should eat to promote inner balance. For example, the pitta body type focuses on cooling, light foods and limits spices, nuts, and seeds. Vata body type should consume warm, moist, and sweet foods while restricting bitter herbs, and raw veggies. Kapha body type should consider heavy foods like nuts, seeds, and oils in favor of fruits, veggies, and legumes.
Red meat, frozen food, sweeteners and processed food are supposed very low in energy and throws dosha out of balance. Instead, the Ayurvedic diet encourages eating fresh and healthy whole foods. Reheating food is not encouraged.
Benefits
Here are a few of the potential benefits of the Ayurvedic Diet.
Promotes Healthy Body
Ayurvedic diet has specific guidelines for each body type, but as a whole, it encourages eating whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. This can provide non-stop energy but also boost or immunity, as these foods are rich in many essential nutrients.
The diet also suggest not to eat processed food, which often lack fibers, important vitamins and minerals.
The diet also recommends plant based products while using animal based product in moderation. The reason being plant based products are easy on our guts and are rich in fibers.
Promotes mindfulness
Mindfulness is a practice that involves paying close attention to how you feel in the present.
Ayurvedic diet recognizes food can impact our mind in many ways. While cooking you food, we transfer subtle energy into the food and that in turn nourishes the seeker. Cooking food with all the positive vibration is very important to get complete strength. That’s why we never forget the food cooked by our mom.
While having meals, there should be minimal distractions and the focus should be on the taste, texture, and smell of your food. That also help us in chewing more thus easy to digest. Practicing mindful eating reduces body weight, depression, stress, and binge eating.
Could promote weight loss
Ayurveda emphasize on timings of meals in a day. Morning time is best to eat rich food while minimum eating after sunset. It gives more time for proper absorption. It boost weight loss.
People with higher Kapha dosha are prone towards weight gain. Minimizing the food that increase kapha eg. Sweet, oily, fat rich, grains.
There are Ayurveda-based lifestyle modification program, which included dietary changes and yoga classes that can result in reducing weight. For further information please contact us
Summery
The Ayurveda suggest a very comprehensive diet system. It emphasize on personalizing the diet as each one of us has different metabolic body type. As a whole it emphasize on eating natural and seasonal vegetable and fruits. Whole food are considered as key component of such diet. The diet also encourages mindful eating, a practice that may promote a healthy relationship with food. One can achieve improved health and can maintain weight.
