Ayurvedic Nutrition and Diet Recommendations
Questions on Ayurvedic Nutrition
Cooking Basics
What is the difference between Western and Ayurvedic Nutrition?
There is a huge emphasis of Nutrition in Ayurveda. Diet and food are regarded as medicine. Foods have certain energetic influences on the mind and body. For example, garlic, onion or caffeine can influence Pitta (water and fire) in the body making a person more assertive or even aggressive. Ice cream, frozen foods, and heavy sweets can increase Kapha (earth and water) by making a person lethargic, lazy and gain weight. Raw vegetables and dry fruits can increase Vata (air and ether) making a person gaseous, bloated or underweight and even spacey.
Also, there is the understanding that each person is different, with different habits, mental tendencies, preferences, and body types. I would not suggest the same diet for someone who has difficulty maintaining weight, as the person who has difficulty losing it. Though it is hard to believe, some people forget to eat! While others, can not seem to stop. These two people require two different approaches to diet and lifestyle.
Finally, it is believed that each person ultimately understands innately what their individual body needs. This understanding can be obstructed by stress, or a lifestyle of denial. To uncover this communication which each person innately has, we meditate daily or participate in some activity that quiets the mind and fosters calmness, and steadiness. By doing this, we can change unconscious patterns or habits that no longer serve. By going to the source of our self, we discover what it is that we truly need. This is why fad diets do not work! Fad diets do not work because they put emphasis on external means, control and suppression. In Ayurveda we believe that the truth emerges from within, and with it comes trust for ourselves and our bodies.
Do I have to become a vegetarian?
I am often asked this question by my clients. The short answer is, no. Ayurveda places emphasis on moderation, permanent change, self-compassion, and inner unfoldment. What this means is that, as you come to understand your bodily needs you will naturally favor a light and nutritious diet. Over time, as you practice your meditation and self-inquiry you will understand how foods affect your body on a deeper level, and you will naturally desire foods that support you. Suppression and stress is far more harmful for the body than moderately eating chicken breast. It may be over time, you begin to favor more vegetarian foods.
Do I have to give up alcohol or caffeine?
Both alcohol and caffeine affect the body and mind. Both have the ability to interfere with body/mind connection especially if used in excess. However, moderate use and not abuse, can be balanced by incorporating activities with opposite affect. For example, by adding cardamom to coffee we can help to nullify rajasic (agitating) influence on the mind. Again, most of us will find over time that habits that do not completely support us will fall away if we keep up with generating better mind/body connection through meditation, or other similar activities. This is the beauty of Ayurveda: Our body ultimately knows what is best for us, we only need to get out of our own way and trust the process of this beautiful unfoldment.
Do I have to follow my diet outline one hundred percent of the time?
Ayurvedic diet outlines are meant to serve as guidelines. They are used as tools for you to understand your unique body/mind constitution. They are not meant to suppress or cause stress to you, rather to aid you in your search for self-understanding. Generally speaking, Vatas have trouble with constipation, so a diet guideline for a Vata is built to help avoid that. It is good to follow the guideline most of the time and more diligently should an imbalance arise, however, if you go out with your friends one night you should enjoy yourself. Give blessing to your food and enjoy the celebration.