Nutrition and diet
Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and preventing and treating diseases. According to Ayurveda, balanced nutrition is essential for promoting overall well-being. Ayurvedic principles emphasize that a person's health is influenced by what, when, where, how, and why they eat. It teaches that food should be consumed mindfully and with appreciation, focusing on freshness, quality, digestibility, taste, loving preparation, and sensory satisfaction. Ayurveda advocates a holistic approach to food preparation, consumption, and digestion, taking into account individual body types (Prakriti), as well as factors like the time of day, season and life stage.
Food (Ahara) is one of the three pillars that sustain life. It encompasses everything we consume, including eatables, liquids, and chewable substances. According to Ayurveda, food plays a crucial role in determining our health and susceptibility to diseases. Ayurvedic scholars emphasize that consuming wholesome food (pathya) is vital for developing body tissues, while unhealthy dietary habits are often the root cause of lifestyle diseases. Optimal nutrition enhances vitality, strength, energy levels, enthusiasm, memory, digestive fire (agni), and overall radiance.
Ideal time for food intake
After evacuation of bowels, when the senses are clear, the body feels light, there are no issues like belching or discomfort in the heart, the breath is normal, and there is a natural desire for food due to hunger and thirst, that is the ideal time to eat.
Importance of Agni (Digestive fire)
The collective term for the digestive fires in the body is Agni, which facilitates the digestion and absorption of nutrients to ensure optimal utilization. A strong Agni allows the body to efficiently assimilate nutrients and eliminate waste. This process supports the production of biochemicals that nourish both the mind and body, maintaining balance across all bodily systems and imbuing the individual with vibrant energy. Agni operates on multiple levels, from the gastrointestinal tract to the cellular level, and is categorized as Jatharagni (digestive fire), Dhatvagni (tissue fire), and Bhutagni (elemental fire). Imbalances in these fires can lead to various diseases in the body.
Rules regarding food preparation and intake
Eating a diverse range of foods is essential for balanced nutrition. This includes whole grains, lentils, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, nuts, healthy oils or ghee, spices, and pure water, each playing a role in maintaining balance in the body. Before, during, and after eating, it's crucial to consider and adhere to the "Ashta Ahara Vidhi Visheshayatana," which outlines eight important factors from the perspectives of causing, preventing, and treating diseases. These factors must be evaluated before consuming food. They include:
1. Prakriti: Natural qualities of the food.
2. Karana: Processing methods that alter the inherent characteristics of food through actions like washing, cooking, heating, etc.
3. Samyoga: Food combinations.
4. Rashi: Quantity of food.
5. Desha: Qualities of food based on geographical region.
6. Kala: Timing of food consumption.
7. Upayoga Samstha: Rules for consuming food.
8. Upayokta: The individual consuming the food.
Each of these factors holds equal importance in the dietary regimen, influencing the nutritional balance and overall health outcomes.
What are the dietetic rules
· Eat warm foods
· Eat unctuous food
· Eat according to quantity
· Eat after feeling of hunger
· Eat food which is not contradictory
· Eat in desired place with desired ones
· Do not eat hurry
· Do not eat very slowly
· Eat with concentration without laughing and talking
· Eat after considering oneselves.
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of incorporating all six major tastes—sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent—into daily meals. Each taste provides specific health benefits, and a balanced intake of all six ensures comprehensive nourishment and satisfaction. Consistently consuming only a few tastes can lead to health issues and cravings for unhealthy foods.
Ayurveda promotes preparing and consuming food in a serene, affectionate, and pleasant atmosphere while showing gratitude and respect for its source. By establishing a disciplined routine of eating nutritious foods, Ayurveda aims to achieve a balanced lifestyle that enhances mental, emotional, and physical well-being.