Principles of Ayurvedic Eating

You are what you eat! Eat to live or live to eat! There are literally many oldman sayings that revolve around food and eating. Ayurveda also insist a lot of wonderful elements about eating. In fact, food and eating forms major part of Ayurvedic medicine. It has laid down several principles of what to eat, how to eat, why to eat, when to eat, which to eat and many more.

Eat Foods with PRANA – Life Element 

The foundation of Ayurveda is Eating foods with Prana. Prana means life. Food is the major source of energy. So it is imperative to eat foods with prana for energy, health and vitality. It also prevents treats and destroys the health conditions from both physical and psychological context.

Principles of Ayurveda in Food and Eating

All medical systems insist on eating healthy foods. However, merely eating nutritious foods and making healthy choices won’t be sufficient for you. There is more to it. Ayurveda has set several principles to bring the nourishment. Here is the quick view on the 12 basic principles of Ayurvedic eating.

1. The six tastes – Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent and bitter

The primary element in Ayurvedic cooking is incorporation of all six tastes in every day meal. If not, you must include in your major meal of the day. Each flavor come its own health and healing power. 

• Eat according to your body constitution

Every individual is made of different combination of elements, fire, earth, air, water and sky. The combination of elements forms three different doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It decides the physical, emotional and psychological traits of an individual. To maintain the body balance, eat according to the constitution.

• Sattvic Foods

There are three food groups.

• Sattvic foods
• Rajasic foods
• Tamasic foods

The first is the best option, it is full of life, light, energetic, and easy to digest.

The second option does no good and does no harm to the body.

The third option is detrimental to health. Ayurveda always recommend eating Sattvic foods for vitality.

• Say NO to Tamasic foods

As stated above, tamasic foods aren’t good for your health and vitality. These foods impart negative qualities like laziness, arrogance, pessimism, laziness, criminal mind, etc. To name a few, carbonated beverages, high salty foods, added flavors through artificial additives, foods cooked with artificial preservatives and chemicals, alcohol, etc

• Eat balanced foods

Ayurveda do not prohibit foods from any food group. All you should follow is eating balanced foods – in terms of flavors and nutrient groups. You can eat fatty foods (ghee, cheese, and carbs).

• Eat seasonal

The most important principle of ayurvedic eating is eating seasonal food. Ayurveda tunes with nature, as so our body and mind. Seasonal routines called Ritucharya are essential to stay healthy. Seasonal foods are nothing but the choice of fresh produce, vegetables and fruits in abundance in particular season in and around your locality.

• Ensure variety

Six tastes, variety of nutrient groups, and choices of foods – Ayurveda incorporate various foods which gives you variety to relish.

• Aroma and flavors

Except Ayurvedic foods, no other diet regimen can provide you with choices of aromatic and flavorful foods. Tossing with herbs and spices can make bland food too delicious. Spices and herbs come in disguise as natural flavoring agents, which are indeed healers too. To name a few, ginger, garlic, cardamom, fennel, basil and many more.

• Always eat fresh

Eating fresh is yet another important principle of Ayurvedic eating. It is important that fresh foods carry prana!

1. How the food is cooked

The mood and psychological impact of a person who cook the food reflects in how it tastes. Always cook with care, affection and love!

Follow these simple regimens to attain the optimal health.