The What, When, Why, and – According to Ayurvedic Principles

As we have learned from our previous conversations, Ayurveda or Ayurvedic is the ancient and revered Hindu practice of health and wellness.

There are three mind-body types (called “Doshas”) in Ayurvedic Tradition

Vata, Pitta, and Kasha, that are unique to each person and are a balance of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics.

In an attempt to create (and maintain) harmony and balance between the doshas, many foods are prescribed in various combinations, while others are avoided altogether. While everyone possesses the three doshas within them, most people have a tendency to be stronger in one than in the other two.

You may be interested in this – you can go online to a variety of sources and take a quiz to help you determine your dominant dosha. For many reasons, we do recommend consulting a health care practitioner who specializes in Ayurvedic medicine to confirm your results, but an online study can still be used to provide some introductory information.

In addition to describing the qualities of the foods and herbs that we eat (WHAT), and ascribing many useful remedies for a long list of ailments (WHY), Ayurvedic principles have much to teach us about WHEN and WHY we eat as well:

Here are just a few examples of Ayurvedic Principles:

1. Sit down when drinking liquids – water included. This is believed to be because a disruption in the body’s fluids can lead to swelling in the joints and ultimately aggravate arthritis. It can also lead to kidney dysfunction.

2. Eat slowly. Taking time to chew each bite, and to relish the tastes and flavours of the food you are eating, will assist in the digestive process. It is also very important to feel grateful for the food – after all, without it, we would not have the sustenance required to survive.

3. Do not overeat, or eat too soon after a full meal. Try to eat only when hungry, and allow your previously consumed foods to digest first. Not only can this be seen as greedy, but it can also cause fatigue and stomach pain.

Want a few more principles?

4. Start your day with a glass of warm lemon water. This process gives your metabolism a jumpstart on the day, and can even help with weight loss. Warm water is also believed to provide improved mental clarity.

5. Don’t eat distractedly. Avoid your phone, TV, and reading while eating. Distracted eating can disrupt your digestion, and is also seen as a sign of disrespect.

6. Sit down while you eat. Doing so allows you to leave stress and commitments away from the table. It is less distracting, relaxing, and can also aid in digestion (apparently the posture we maintain when sitting is ideal for digestion).

7. Kickstart your metabolism. In addition to taking a glass of warm lemon water in the morning, this home remedy (can be taken before meal time) will stimulate the necessary digestive enzymes and will also aid in the absorption of nutrients – 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger, a few drops of fresh lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Mix this remedy together and take it approx. 30 min. before a meal to increase the appetite.

8. Finally, it is important to proactively combine some foods with one another, and equally important to avoid pairing others. Improper pairings can lead to an imbalance of the doshas; resulting in indigestion, gas, and bloating.

  For example, these foods are compatible:

• Eggs with grains or non-starchy vegetables
• Vegetables with grains, cheese, nuts, beans, and fish
• Beans with grains, vegetables, other beans, nuts, and seeds
• Raw foods with other raw foods

And foods that are not compatible:

• Milk with bananas
• Yogurt with sour fruit
• Eggs with milk
• Honey with ghee
• Fruit with other fruit

While most of the foods listed in the “not compatible” section above are still good for you on their own, it is the combinations that can affect your digestion and overall sense of wellbeing that matters.

As a side note, at Ki’s Kitchen, we don’t recommend the consumption of dairy products at all.

And that is because they are known to cause inflammation in the body, and therefore, adversely impact our goal of successfully combating the symptoms of many inflammatory diseases. With that said, the practice of Ayurveda believes that dairy can be tolerated by some people, as long as it is consumed with the recommended options.

It is strongly believed that following the Ayurvedic principles outlined above will result in healthy and effective digestion. In addition, following these “rules” will also promote health and wellness in other parts of your life – for example:

• A calm and quiet mind
• More energy that lasts throughout the day
• A general sense of peace
• Gratefulness and respect for the opportunity to have healthy food to eat

Aren’t these principles great? We love them, and believe that their implementation can only serve to benefit our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Lastly, thank you so much for visiting! I hope you have found some valuable information, if so, I’d love to hear about it!

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit, and comments are always welcome!

I look forward to connecting with you next time!

And be sure to check out why you should order your family’s next meal courtesy of Ki’s Kitchen  

From our kitchen to yours,

Love + Peace

Kiran