Diet
For thousands of years, Ayurveda has thought us that what
we eat plays a big role in determining our health. All matter consists
of all five elements which are manifestations of consciousness. As we eat we
take into ourselves the subtle influence attached to the food, Prana as well as
the physical form of the food.
Sushrut Says:
|| Ahara Bhivrudhihi
Balam Arogyam
Varnodriya Varnodriya
Prasadascha ||
Food builds and
supports the body, improves complexion and general appearance.
||
Vyadhimindriyadorbalyam Maranam Chadigachati
Viruddha Rasa Viryani
Bhunjano Natmavannaraha ||
Harmful combination of food may cause problems on
consumption, it may even cause disease, create heaviness in body, and at times
may even cause death.
Therefore Taittareya Upanishad says:
|| Annam Brahameti
Vyajanath
Annadhyaiiva Khalvimani
Bhutani Jayante
Annat Jatani Jeevanti
Annam
Prayantyabhisamvishanti
||
Food is the cause of
creation, preservation and destruction. Hence food is al I all Anna Bramha It
is life itself. It is god.
Here all food articles
are addressed as Anna
Wholesome Diet
A wholesome
diet can be described as one that nourishes Dhatus of the body, helps restore
balance between them when it is disrupted, does not clog the body channels and
leads to satisfaction.
Wholesome
and unwholesome diet varies from person to person and is governed by age, body
construction, nature of work and season.
Food builds
the body, hence it must be consumed and sensibly. Greed and ignorance must be
set aside and choose what is good, the wholesome diet consists of:-
1.
Cereals, grains and hard seed coat like red, shali rice, old wheat.
2.
Pulses: like green gram.
3.
Water: boiled purified, strained, filtered.
4.
Salt: Rock salt.
5.
Leafy vegetables: all except mustard leaf.
6.
Milk: Cow Milk.
7.
Ghee: Out of cow milk of Indian origin.
8.
Tubers: ginger.
9.
Fruits: seasonal fruits are good.
10. Oil: Sesame Oil.
11. Dry fruits: Dates, almonds dry
grapes etc.
The food that pleases our taste is good for us,
but it has to be simple and clean. One should always eat moderately according
to seasons. Seasons and environment affect our health as much as food. The
state of Doshas in the body changes with seasons. India experiences three
seasonal changes during the year. They are summer, Rainy and winter.
Summer diet: the intense heat during the season absorbs
all moisture and oil. Temperature shoots up increasing dryness and dullness in
the body
The diet should contain light, oily, easily
digestible, cold and liquid foods. Milk, buttermilk, coconut water, vegetables
like cucumber, tomatoes, onions, drum stick, banana, white pumpkin, mint,
lemon, pulses like masoor, green gram, fruits like mango, orange, grapes, is an
ideal diet.
Prolonged refrigeration and reheating has to be
avoided
Rainy season diet: There is rain and so is increased humidity.
This aggravates Vatta. Diet during the rains must be light, fresh, hot, easily
absorbed and one that strengthens digestion. Diet should include old grains
like wheat, rice, corn, cucumber, green gram, vegetables like ladies finger,
green guard, and fruits like apple, banana, pomegranates, mangoes etc. Milk is
particularly beneficial.
Winter Diet: This is the best period as health is concerned. Hunger is increased and
body gets more nourishment. A diet is greasy, sweet, salty, sour and nutritious
is the best during winter. The food items good for this seasons are Ghee,
Butter, Oil, Milk, Pudding, Black gram, honey, sugarcane juice, sweet made of
flour, gooseberry amla, and dry fruits sprouted pulses, bread of wheat,
oranges, cauliflower, peas, cabbage, tomatoes, carrot, spinach and fenugreek leaves
etc.
Dry ginger, warm water and hot foods are good
for this season. Special note on diet- it is important to know what to eat and the
qualities of what is consumed. Only then one can enjoy all the benefits that
food has to offer.
Smooth and oily foods: Diet must contain
adequate amounts of ghee and oil. Fearing heart disease, blood pressure and
obesity, people avoid ghee and other oils which does more harm than good. Ghee
is clarified butter, ghee and oil not only enrich the taste but also softens the
food and hasten digestion, strengthens the body, sharpen the senses, improve
complexion, transport Vayu and aid in smooth elimination of wastes. They
lubricate the joints reducing wear and tear due to friction.
Now a days due to the popularity of refined oil,
the susceptibility of joint pains and disorders has also increased. Hence it is
essential to have ghee and oil in their natural state.
Appearance: the colour, aroma and taste of food
created a desire to eat and stimulates the digestive juices. Hence attention
must be paid to its appearance and presentation.
Place of eating: the place where food taken
should be clean, pleasant and peaceful. Eating should be treated as a sacred
activity and hence must be performed with the same kind of earnestness and concentration.
Eating while watching television or talking should be avoided. Dirty, noisy or
disorganised surroundings may disturb the peace of mind which adversely affects
not only the appetite, but also the entire digestive process.
Mental state: Eating when angry, jealous,
tense, nervous, scared, etc. prevents one form enjoying food. The secretion of
digestive juices is also hampered. Hence discussing, watching reading or
thinking about disturbing things while eating should be avoided.
Timing: For smooth and complete digestion, it
is of vital importance that food be eaten only at the appropriation and regular
hour. A few things must be kept in mind to have good digestion.
Food should not be taken in
·
Absence of
hunger.
·
Before the
complete digestion of the last meal.
·
Any food
takes 3 hours to digest fully.
·
Feeling of
heaviness in the heart or stomach.
·
Before
waste elimination- expulsion of gas, urine and stool.
·
Food to be
eaten between 11 am to 2 pm as it is the period of Pitta Increase. So the
digestion takes place quickly.
·
Not to
consume too hot, too cold or dry food, stale food disturbs digestion.
·
Neither
less nor more food to be consumes. If less is consumed, the enzymes attack the
nearby Rasa. If more is consumed there may not be space for movement. The food
remains undigested and the body becomes lethargic and gurgling may start.
·
Quantity
of food to be
|| Ardha Savyanjan Manasya Trutiyam Udakasyacha
Vayoho Sancharnartha
Chaturtha Mivasheshayet ||
Vagabahatacharya:
Ashtanga Hridayam.
“To obtain maximum nutrition, food should be
taken in appropriate quantity. Half of the stomach capacity to be filled with food,
one quarter for liquids and other quarter for of empty space for Vayu, for
mixing of digestive juices with the food. If the stomach is packed to the
capacity, digestion is hindered disrupting the etire process of food absorption
and assimilation.
|| Swasthya Paripalanhetushu Matravadannam
Pradhanam ||
’To maintain
good health, appropriate quantity of food assumes a great importance.
·
If after a
meal, hunger is satisfied, heaviness in the chest region and stomach is absent
and no difficulty in standing, siting, sleeping, walking, laughing, berating,
talking etc.
·
When
deciding the quantity of food to be taken, the nature of one’s digestive
capacity and the digestive nature of food is to be kept in mind. Over eating
may be harmful. So eating anything in excess including light foods to be
avoided.
·
Inadequate
quantity of food leads to weakness and dissatisfaction while eating will lead
to aversion of food, heaviness in stomach and chest region, obesity and
indigestion etc.
·
Hence food
is to be taken only while hunger is felt keeping in mind the digestive capacity
and nature of food.
·
Masticate
the food properly, biting it for 32 times so that the saliva glands can
get activated and more saliva is extracted out and it gets mixed with the
chewed food and the digestion process starts in your mouth itself. Saliva
digests food into Rasa and this Rasa protects the seven tissues, mainly Ojas.
·
Vegaan Na
Thasyet: Suppression of natural urges is harmful.
·
Natidhrut
Bilambitam: eat neither hastily or slowly. Haste makes waste. The saliva cannot
join the process of digestion and indigestion occurs, resulting in constipation
and acidity.
·
When
hungry one cannot drink water. One has to have food. But if one drinks water
one would suffer from Jalodar water retention in the stomach. Likewise one cant
have food when one feels thirsty. If one eats food, one would suffer from Gulma
a disease ofclots.
·
While having
food one must drink water but in very small quantity. According to
Vagabhatacharya:-
||Samasthoola Krushabhukta Madhyanta Prathamanbupaha ||
Drinking water before eating, weakens the
digestion and leads to loss of weight. Drinking water during a meal boosts
digestion and increased life span, but please take not that the water should
not be consumed in glasses but very small quantity as in a sip of water will
only be suffice. Water intake after meals in very harmful and it increases
Kapha and one becomes obese.
·
Sushrut
also support saying
|| Tadadao Karshayetpitam Sthapayenmadhya Sevitam
Paschatpitam Bruhyati
Tasmadikshaya Prayojayet ||
Water intake before meals weakens the body,
water intake during meals keeps the body balanced, and water intake after meals
increase fat in body.
·
Therefore
to maintain good digestion during meals taking one to three sips of water is
considered best for digestion of food.
·
The six
tastes- sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent should be included
in the meals moderately. If one has more
of sweets he may suffer from fever, cough, obesity, diabetes and worm problems.
If one has Sour food he may suffer from skin problems, jaundice, swelling
leprosy etc. If one has excessive salt in his meals then he will suffer from
eye problems, bleeding gums, dysentery, greying of hair, hair fall etc. With
more pungent food he is likely to suffer from drying of mouth, lose
consciousness, thirst and acidity. With bitter foods may suffer from gas
problems and joint pains.
·
After
meals one must clean the teeth with brush.
·
All health
people must have food in between 11.00 Am and 2.00 Pm. And evening in between
7.00 Pm to 8.00 Pm. One who does physical activity can have light breakfast and
other can have fruits or salad.
·
The dinner
must be light because digestion power is slowed during the night.
·
Two hour
gap between dinner and sleep is a must.
·
Ayurveda
says-
|| Ratro Kshiranna Bhujyante Aayuhu Vruddhi Dinne Dinne
Ratro Dadhyanna Bhujyante Aayuhu Kshinam Dinne Dinne ||
In the night one who eats rice and milk is blessed with long lifespan,
but one eats rice and curd at night will have a reduced lifespan.
·
Despite
being beneficial, normally curds have a tendency to block channels. Hence
eating curds at night have to be avoided as one has to sleep after dinner. The
digestive process continues at a very slow pace during sleep. Even the healthy
should avoid eating curd at night. Patients of Asthma, cough, col, arthritis
and fever must not eat curds even during day as this disorders are caused by
blocking of srotas- channels.
·
After
dinner one has to walk for a while as it promotes digestion. After lunch one
cannot sleep but can rest for a while.
|| Mitam Bhuktwa Shatam Japwa Padashatamtata
Vaamabhage Shayanasya
Bhisagbhihi Kim Prayojanam ||
One has to eat in moderation. Do a japa of God’s name for hundred times
and walk hundred steps. Then sleep by left side. One who follow this regime
does he need a doctor?
One can retire to sleep 2 hours after dinner by sleeping on his left side
because the digestive fire is just above the navel at the left side of the
stomach.
·
At the end
of dinner one can have buttermilk with rock salt and cumin seed powder.
·
One has to
follow a schedule for eating
||Yam Madhyena Bhoktavya Yam Yugmam Na Langhayet
||
(Yama=3 hours)
·
Once a
meal is done you should not eat anything for the next 3 hours or for a Yama as
the hours of digestion is taking place, also one should not remain hungry after
2 yamas i.e. 6 hours.
·
||Yam
Madhye Rasotpatrihi Yam Yugmat Bala Kshaya ||
During the period of Yama, Rasa is produced but if one keeps hungry even
after Yam Yugma- he will lose strength.
Unfavourable combination of
food items
may lead to disease like leprosy, leucoderma, blindness, acidity, fever,
thyroid problem, epilepsy, boils etc.
1.
Milk with
curds, salt, radish, garlic, lemon, bananas, pomegranate, gooseberry (amla)
black gram fish.
2.
Curds with
milk or hot foods.
3.
Honey with
ghee, radish, warm milk, warm meals, cucumber and groundnut.
4.
Cold water with ghee oil, warm milk, water melon cucumber and groundnut.
5.
Rice with
vinegar.
6.
Banana with
buttermilk.
7.
Do not reheat the food before it gets cold, this leads to disease.
Fasting:
|| Upavrutastu Papojyaha Yastu
Vaso Gunoho Saha
Upavaso Soovigyeyaha Na Shareerasya Shoshanam ||
The real meaning of upavasa is
to remain near God, bit commonly it is termed as Fasting.
Being
away from sins, and always remembering God is real Upavasa, not making the body
suffer without food.
To maintain good health and to
maintain a good digestive system in proper condition, upavase is recommended by
Vashista Smriti:
|| Akadashyam Upavaso Yam
Nirmitam paramoushadam ||
Upavasa or fasting once in the eleventh day of
lunar cycle is like a ultimate medicine to keep the system pure.
Golden rules for Maintaining
Health
1. Sleeping
on time and rising before sunrise.
2. Remembering
good health is not restricted to physical health, emotional and psychological
well being are crucial.
3. Five to
ten minutes of meditation after rising has a calming effect on your mind and
body.
4. The
wholesome diet is the key to health. Take medication becomes redundant without
it.
5.
Meal time
should be quite time with oneself.
6. Meals
should be taken on time after previous meal has been digested. Eating between
meals is bad and harmful.
7.
Consumption
of curds at night is harmful.
8.
Exercising
for 15 minutes keeps one fit and healthy.
9. Eat well,
eat moderately, eat when hungry, and eat what you earned sincerely. Never will
you be diseased says Ayurveda.
One must guard against Obesity
Simple message of Ayurveda is-
|| Aayuhu
Kaamaya Manena Dharmartha Sukha Sadhanam
Ayurvedopdeshu Veedheya Paramadaraha
Nitya Hitahara Vhara Sevi Samikshyakaari
Vishayeshta Sakataha
Datasama Satyaparaha Kahamavan Aaptopasevi
cha Bahvatyarog ||
“He who indulges daily in healthy foods and
activities, who discriminated good and bad of everything and acts wisely, who
is attached too much to objects of the senses, who develops the habit of
charity, of considering all equal with kindness and truthfulness, pardoning and
keeping company of good persons only, becomes free from all diseases – This is
the essence of life to be healthy wealthy and wise”- says Ayurveda.
