Seaver21
05-05-2008, 05:54 AM
Ayurvedic Treatment (http://www.ayuryogashram.com/) teaches that each individual has the power to heal himself. Thus, this science of life offers everyone the freedom to recover health by understanding the body and its needs. Fundamental to the individual’s ability to remain healthy, according to Ayurveda, are the maintenance of a sound diet and a stable, healthy routine. Also important are the pursuit of traditional practices such as yoga and breathing exercises; and an understanding of the spiritual practices that can create harmony and happiness. Diet should be chosen to suit the individual constitution. If one understands the constitution and its relationship to the qualities of various foods, then it is possible to select a proper diet. One needs to take into account the taste of the food (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter or astringent) and also whether it is heavy or light, hot- or cold producing, oily or dry, liquid or solid. The seasons of the year must also be considered in choosing diet.
The accompanying table provides a list of the foods that are helpful or harmful for each constitution. The up pointing arrows next to each food category on the chart indicate that these substances aggravate the corresponding factor. The down-pointing arrows indicate foods that decrease the humor such foods being good for the individual of that particular constitution. For instance, dry fruits, apples, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, ice cream, beef, peas and green salad aggravate vata. Thus, they should not be taken in excess by a person of vata constitution. Conversely, sweet fruits, avocados, coconut, brown rice, red cabbage, bananas, grapes, cherries and oranges are beneficial for people of vata constitution.
Increase of the pitta dosha will be caused by spicy foods, peanut butter, sour fruits, bananas, papayas, tomatoes and garlic. Foods that inhibit pitta are: mangoes, oranges, pears, plums, sprouts, green salad, sunflower seeds, asparagus and mushrooms. Bananas, melons, coconut, dates, papayas, pineapples and dairy products increase kapha. However, dry fruits, pomegranates, cranberries, basmati rice, sprouts and chicken are beneficial for people of kapha constitution.
During summer, when the temperature is high, people tend to perspire excessively. Pitta predominates at that time of year. It is not good to eat hot, spicy or pungent foods then because they will aggravate pitta. During autumn, when the wind is high and dry, more vata is present in the atmosphere. At this time, one should avoid dry fruits, high protein foods and other foods that increase vata. Winter is the season of kapha; it brings cold an snow. During this period one should avoid cold drinks, ice cream, cheese and yogurt. Such foods will increase kapha. When considering diet, the quality and freshness of food are important factors. There also are certain foods that are incompatible when eaten together, such as fish and milk, meat and milk, yogurt and beef, and sour fruit and milk. In addition, most melons should be eaten alone. In combination with other foods, they create clogging and may prevent absorption by the intestines. These effects could cause an imbalance in the tridosha. Toxins result when these incompatible foods are ingested together.
The intake of food should be regulated by the condition of the agni, the digestive fire in the body. Do not eat unless you feel I hungry and do not drink unless you are thirsty. Do not eat when you feel thirsty and do not drink when you feel hungry. If you feel hungry, it means your digestive fire is enkindled. If you drink at this time, the liquid will dissolve the digestive enzymes and the Agni will be reduced.
The accompanying table provides a list of the foods that are helpful or harmful for each constitution. The up pointing arrows next to each food category on the chart indicate that these substances aggravate the corresponding factor. The down-pointing arrows indicate foods that decrease the humor such foods being good for the individual of that particular constitution. For instance, dry fruits, apples, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, ice cream, beef, peas and green salad aggravate vata. Thus, they should not be taken in excess by a person of vata constitution. Conversely, sweet fruits, avocados, coconut, brown rice, red cabbage, bananas, grapes, cherries and oranges are beneficial for people of vata constitution.
Increase of the pitta dosha will be caused by spicy foods, peanut butter, sour fruits, bananas, papayas, tomatoes and garlic. Foods that inhibit pitta are: mangoes, oranges, pears, plums, sprouts, green salad, sunflower seeds, asparagus and mushrooms. Bananas, melons, coconut, dates, papayas, pineapples and dairy products increase kapha. However, dry fruits, pomegranates, cranberries, basmati rice, sprouts and chicken are beneficial for people of kapha constitution.
During summer, when the temperature is high, people tend to perspire excessively. Pitta predominates at that time of year. It is not good to eat hot, spicy or pungent foods then because they will aggravate pitta. During autumn, when the wind is high and dry, more vata is present in the atmosphere. At this time, one should avoid dry fruits, high protein foods and other foods that increase vata. Winter is the season of kapha; it brings cold an snow. During this period one should avoid cold drinks, ice cream, cheese and yogurt. Such foods will increase kapha. When considering diet, the quality and freshness of food are important factors. There also are certain foods that are incompatible when eaten together, such as fish and milk, meat and milk, yogurt and beef, and sour fruit and milk. In addition, most melons should be eaten alone. In combination with other foods, they create clogging and may prevent absorption by the intestines. These effects could cause an imbalance in the tridosha. Toxins result when these incompatible foods are ingested together.
The intake of food should be regulated by the condition of the agni, the digestive fire in the body. Do not eat unless you feel I hungry and do not drink unless you are thirsty. Do not eat when you feel thirsty and do not drink when you feel hungry. If you feel hungry, it means your digestive fire is enkindled. If you drink at this time, the liquid will dissolve the digestive enzymes and the Agni will be reduced.