An Ayurvedic proverb says: “When diet is wrong, medicine is useless. When the diet is correct, the medicine is not necessary. What are the origins of this ancient practice?
Ayurveda is one of the oldest traditional medical practices on the Indian subcontinent. Today it is recognized as one of the country’s formal health systems and the Ayurvedic diet is one of its mainstays.
The word “Ayurveda” in Sanskrit means science or knowledge of life. It emphasizes the good prevention of health and disease through lifestyle, massages, meditation and some remedies based on medicinal plants. Let’s look at the principles of his food model.
What is the Ayurvedic diet?
The Ayurvedic diet is more than a simple food regime for which certain foods are allowed or prohibited, but it is a model of healthy energy. The main objective is to maintain balance in the person, because it depends on good health, and food helps balance it.
This style of food recognizes 3 different DOSHA, or attributes of each person. They are based on aspects such as body composition, character or the predominant element. Knowing and taking into account these characteristics allows the ideal development. The DOSHA are the following:
- vata: Quick, flexible and creative mind. In general, they are skinny and cold people who tend to suffer from digestive problems and concentration difficulties.
- Pitta: Intelligent, industrious and decisive. The average constitution often suffers from inflammation. They are individuals with a good appetite and without digestive problems.
- kapha: calm and affectionate, strong and robust. They have difficulty losing weight and are often constipated.
Guidelines
In addition to following the appropriate diet based on your DOSHA, or dominant personality, the Ayurvedic diet is based on a series of guidelines and schemes that must be followed. The most important things for everyone are:
- Eat 3 meals a day to take time to complete the entire digestion cycle without interruption. It is also essential to allow 3 hours pass from the last meal before going to bed.
- Eating even not hungry, but without fully setting.
- Prioritize fresh, whole foods.
- includes 6 basic flavors in each meal.
- eating consciously and in a relaxed environment.
Permission and unconventional food
The Ayurvedic diet proposes the established guidelines on what, how and when to eat, depending on your predominant body or DOSHA. It offers special and detailed recommendations on which foods can be included in the daily diet, depending on whether the type of Vata, Pitta or Kapha prevails.
vata
For these people, the diet should be nutritious, with dishes cooked at moderate temperatures and clear seasonings. It is important to maintain a regular schedule. Food prayers should be as follows:
- oats and rice.
- eggs, chicken and fish.
- Fermented milk products.
- Vegetables in limited quantities.
- sweet, ripe and succulent fruits
- almonds, nuts and seeds in general. It is advisable to dive them into the water.
- Sesame oil.
- saffron, cumin, coriander or ginger for seasoning.
Other foods should be avoided instead:
- Red meat.
- seasoned cheeses.
- astringents and dried fruits, such as cranberries, apples or pomegranates.
- raw vegetables and mushrooms.
pitta
For these people, cold dishes and meals with evil experience are recommended. Refreshing foods and sweet and sour flavors should predominate. In these cases, it is a good option to follow a vegetarian diet. The foods that should not be missing are:
- barley, rice, oats and wheat.
- chicken and turkey as sources of animal protein
- milk, ghee, butter and unsalted cheese.
- legumes in small quantities. The best are black lentils, boquilla beans, and mung beans.
- sweet fruits like apples, cranberries and dates.
- raw salads and vegetables.
- sunflower and pumpkin seeds from time to time.
- cardamom, cinnamon, fennel and saffron.
- animal products, particularly shellfish and eggs.
- acid fruits.
- Tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers, raw onion and garlic.
- most seeds and nuts because they are very greasy.
- spices spices.
- wheat wheat and millet.
- chicken, rabbit and seafood cooked or grilled.
- and goat’s milk.
- mango, fish, apricot and pear.
- Vegetables Out Land, especially green vegetables of vegetables, chard or cabbage)
- pumpkin and sunflower seeds in small amounts.
- all spices, especially garlic and ginger.
- Any type of dairy and fat, especially fried foods.
- very sweet or sour fruit.
- root vegetables such as turnips, beets, or radishes.
- seeds and dried fruits in general.
- All sweeteners and salt.
- promotes a healthy diet because it is based on fresh food cooked in a simple way.
- those that prevail those of plant origin, which help prevent different diseases.
- encourages a mindful diet.
- is accompanied by a healthy lifestyle.
- Helps to gain weight, promotes digestion, improves the lipid profile and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
- You’re not just eating and avoiding a number of foods; All the schemes that accompany and follow them in mind.
- It can be hard to find some products and fit your taste.
- Sometimes it can require more dedication because it is also of great importance for the kitchen and the way of preparing food.
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The foods that are not supported in the Pitta personality can be summarized in this list:
kapha
For this last DOSHA, the most recommended diet is the one dominated by hot, light and dry foods. Bitter, sour and spicy flavors are also preferred. This is the most suitable food list:
It is necessary to avoid the following foods:
- Sweet potatoes, oats and wheat.
Pros and cons of the Ayurvedic diet
Guidelines and foods that are part of the concentrate of the Ayurvedic regimen, essentially enzance, to improve the state of health. This food plan offers different benefits:
However, it is necessary to mention some weaknesses that must be taken into account if you want to adopt this diet:
Recommendations Before starting the Ayurvedic diet
Before starting the Ayurvedic diet, it is important to consult a specialist. These will determine our DOSHA and assess any problems or imbalances that are treated with the diet.
It is necessary to establish a good organization in the execution of the guidelines, as fundamental. Those who follow the Ayurvedic diet should consider the need for a period of adaptation to new habits and some unusual foods in Western power.
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