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The pandemic and covid brought about new issues that many people simply did not have the time and energy to think about. All of a sudden, lakhs of people became aware of how unhealthy their diets and lifestyles are. What does one do at such a time? There is no need to look any further than the ancient health tips, promoted by our elders, namely, Ayurveda.
For the uninitiated, it can be easy to get confused with thousands of Ayurvedic tips available online. Students learning at institutes like the MAMC have an easier time learning such tips during the duration of their courses. For others, stated below are some quick tips to adopt a lifestyle that is Ayurveda approved.
Ayurveda groups people into three categories called doshas. These doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, determine what the individual’s mental state is like and how they are physically. Furthermore, these doshas are a combination of five earthly elements, earth, air, space, water and fire. Ayurvedic professionals treat ailments according to the patient’s dosha. Diet recommendations and which foods to eat are also done as per the dosha. This is the basis of eating as per Ayurveda guidelines.
Also Read: What are the top 5 ayurvedic superfoods?
Before answering ‘what should we eat daily according to Ayurveda’, one must know of the benefits. Ayurvedic diet is much more than weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. Some other benefits are as below.
Ayurveda advocates eating three square meals each day. Skipping meals is a sure way to poor health and soon there is a dip in performance at work. Moreover, regular dieting and fasting can make the digestion process hard. Many people find it hard to eat three full meals each day and in such a case one must build-up to it. Make the meals small with snack time in between to eat fruits or nuts. The timing of these meals also matters. One must eat breakfast an hour after waking up while the last meal should be two hours before bedtime. Like sleep cycles, Ayurveda also recommends eating meals at the same time each day. The body gets used to it eventually and over time the digestive fire is the highest at those meal times leading to better processing of the food eaten.
Ayurvedic meals are a combination of six tastes. These are sweet, salt, sour, pungent, astringent and bitter. When combined with different ingredients and in meals, the Indian food health benefits or nutritional benefits are unlocked. Also, these tastes will keep the digestive fire of our systems burning. The sweet and sour work best for pitta and kapha doshas. The former will nourish and the latter will increase appetite. Salty and spicy flavours will aid in digestion and improve circulation. Bitter is detoxifying and has a cooling effect on the body, purifying it on the way. Lastly, the astringent taste must be eaten in small quantities as it has a drying effect on the body.
There is no concept of limited foods or only 4 types of food in Ayurveda. There are many vegetables, fruits, nuts and more that can be included in daily diets as per one’s dosha. Another important tip, Ayurveda recommends here is to eat food as per the seasons. For instance, items like jaggery which can keep the body warm are best eaten during the winters. On the other hand, curd or yogurt cools the body down and is recommended for the summer months. Moreover, vegetables and fruits are at their nutritional best when consumed during the seasonal months. Over time, our gut health is flourishing and our blood sugar levels are in balance as well.
One of the easiest tips Ayurveda has for people wondering how can I be healthy according to Ayurveda, is to eat slow. Take time to appreciate the plate of food on the table, and chew it down slowly while savoring each bite. Not only will the food break down easily in the stomach but the time taken to chew will allow for the digestive enzymes to flow. Food that is not chewed properly has a harder time being digested. Keep distractions like television and the smartphone out of the dinner table. Eating only when hungry and be careful to not overeat. One way to inculcate these tips in our daily lives is to listen to our bodies and honor them.
Spices, especially the ones used in Indian cuisine, do much more than flavor the dishes. As a part of the Ayurvedic diet, professionals recommend which foods to eat along with spices. The goal of all doshas and diets is to ensure the digestive fire in our stomach is not affected and continues burning bright. Spices like the cumin help with bloating while methi is packed with antioxidants. Cardamom and ginger on the other hand better stomach issues like gas. Ginger is also a wonderful spice for winter allergies and other sicknesses. Turmeric, the mainstay of all Indian dishes, is extremely helpful and anti-inflammatory. Put in a little bit of cinnamon to help the food absorb better in the body and eat clove occupationally for its antiseptic and astringent properties.
With the pointers to keep in mind and do in Ayurveda, the next step is to understand what not to do. Ayurveda strongly discourages the mixing of ingredients and foods at random without a thought. Each ingredient brings about a different nutritional value to the body and can also react differently to us. When they are mixed up with another ingredient that is not supposed to be mixed, the digestion can die down and upset the balance of the dosha. Soon the individual is suffering from gas and other stomach issues. Some such food combinations to avoid are eggs and milk, yogurt and sour fruits, milk, banana, etc.
Ayurveda is slowly but surely gathering its own following across the world. This ancient health system has a host of benefits in the long term. It is, however, recommended to consult an expert before any substantial change is brought about.
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