Basic Ayurvedic advice for general health

THREE PILLARS OF HEALTHY LIFE.

In this article we are going to know about the three pillars of healthy life told in ayurveda.

if we follow these codes on life we could head up a healthy life.

the three pillairs of life are...

1-Aaharam(food & Food habits).

2-Nidra(Sleep).

3-Brahmacharya(celibacy).

these are foremost things to follow in order to achieve a healthy life.

in this article we first know about the first one aaharam.

#1-AAHAARAM (FOOD & FOOD HABITS).

The food is the first need of every living beings in this world everything in this world is made up of panchamahabhuta's (i.e five elements) the composition of these five elements and the soul makes a life and it is sustained by the consumption of the five elements itself.
these five elements has different properties and by the combination of them.

And also the body has three main types vatic constitution,paitik constitution,kapha constitution. and combination of these two and lastly all the three combination it is said as the best constitution of body.

in this session it is focused to give a general idea about diet in ayurveda and gone through overall view. still much more criteria are there to consider those can be discussed in following articles.

#Things which should be considered for food habits.

* Body constitution.

* Place.

* Climate.

* Time.

* Age.

* Digestive fire.

* Quantity.

* Quality.

Body constitution
each person have different type of body structure shape size weight constitution their liking towards food their eating habits. everything will change according to the person.
first thing to consider for planing a healthy diet is to asses ones own body type and constitution

if you have vata predominency...

the charactersistics are Thin, light frame, and excellent adaptability. Their energy comes in bursts, and they are likely to experience sudden bouts of fatigue.
 Vatas typically have drink skin and cold hands and feet. They sleep lightly and their digestion can be sensitive. When imbalanced, Vatas tend to experience weight loss, constipation,weakness, restlessness, aches, and pains.

FOODS TO REDUCE:

Cold foods such as salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables and greens are not good for those with Vata imbalance (i.e. where Vata is dominant). Avoid drinks with too much caffeine and candies as they disturb Vata. Avoid unripe fruits, as they are too astringent.

                                      FOODS TO TAKE:

BEST VEGETABLES (cooked):

Asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, garlic, green beans, onions, sweet potatoes, radishes, and turnips.

VEGETABLES IN MODERATION (cooked)

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas, peppers, potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, zucchini

Avoid raw vegetables, in general.

BEST FRUITS (well-ripened):

Bananas, apricots, avocados, berries, cherries, coconut, fresh figs, grapefruit, lemons, grapes, mangoes, sweet melons, sour oranges, papaya, pineapple, peaches, plums, stewed fruits.

FRUITS IN MODERATION:

Cranberries, pears, pomegranates.

Avoid dried fruits, in general and all unripe fruit.

BEST GRAINS:

Oats (as cooked oatmeal cereal, not dry), cooked rice.

GRAINS IN MODERATION:

Wheat, barley, buckwheat, corn, dry oat, millet.

DAIRY:

All Dairy is acceptable.

if you have Pitta predominency...

Pittas literally have more fire in them than other types. They have better appetites and better digestion. They can withstand the cold better, as they are hotter-headed. They are naturally aggressive and impatient, intelligent, and sharp. Since Pittas have strong and efficient digestion, they can generally eat just about everything. Most Pittas get into trouble by continued use of too much salt, overuse of sour and spicy food, and overeating.
                                                             
                                                          FOOD TO REDUCE
Pittas should use less butter and added fat, and they should avoid pickles, sour cream, and cheese. They should also avoid vinegar in salad dressing and use lemon juice instead. Alcoholic and fermented foods should be avoided. Reduce coffee. Avoid oily, hot, salty, and heavy foods such as anything fried. Pittas should also skip egg yolks, nuts, hot spices, honey, and hot drinks.
                                      FOOD TO TAKE

BEST VEGETABLES:

Sweet and bitter vegetables, like asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, radishes, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, green beans, green (sweet) peppers, leafy green vegetables, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, parsley, peas, potatoes, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrot, and spinach.

VEGETABLES IN MODERATION:

Eggplant, onion, tomatoes, hot peppers, chilies, and beets.

BEST FRUITS:

Bananas, avocados, cherries, coconuts, figs, mangoes, melons, oranges, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, and raisins.

FRUITS IN MODERATION:

Apricot, apples, berries, sour cherries, grapefruit, raw papaya, dark grapes, peaches, persimmon, and pineapples.

Note: Fruits should be sweet and ripe; avoid fruits that come to market sour or unripe. Also avoid green grapes, oranges, pineapple, and plum unless they are sweet and ripe.

FAVORABLE GRAINS:

Barley, oats, wheat, and white rice (preferably basmati).

GRAINS IN MODERATION:

Brown rice, corn, millet, and rye.

BEST DAIRY:

Butter, egg whites, ghee (clarified butter), milk, and fruit sorbets (not sour).

If you have kapha predominency

Kaphas tend to have heavier, earthier bodies than other types, and tend to store watery substances like fluids and fat more readily. They are naturally calm and attached; A Kapha speaks slowly and melodically. They sometimes have watery dreams, and tend to have elimination that is thick and heavy.

FOODS TO REDUCE:

Kaphas need to watch the consumption of too many sweet and fatty foods, and need to watch their salt consumption as well, as it can lead to fluid retention. They should avoid deep-fried foods. A typical Kapha tendency is to overeat: The main meal should be at the middle of the day, and only a light, dry meal in the evening. In general, Kaphas should avoid sugar, fats, and dairy products, skip chilled foods and drinks, and use ghee and oils in small amounts only.

FOODS TO TAKE :

BEST VEGETABLES:

Asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, garlic, leafy green vegetables, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, peas peppers, potatoes, radishes, spinach, and sprouts.

VEGETABLES IN MODERATION:

Cucumbers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini.

BEST FRUITS:

Apples, apricots, berries, cherries, cranberries, papaya, pears, prunes, pomegranates, and grapefruit. Dried fruits in general are good for Kaphas, specifically apricots, figs, prunes, and raisins.

FRUITS IN MODERATION:

Dates, fresh figs, bananas, coconuts, and mangoes.

BEST GRAINS:

Barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, rye, and basmati rice.

GRAINS IN MODERATION:

Rice and wheat.

Avoid hot cereals and steamed grains, in general, as they are too moist and heavy for Kaphas.

BEST DAIRY:

Warm skim milk, small amounts of whole milk, and eggs (not fried or cooked with butter), goat’s milk, soy milk, and camel milk.

CONCLUSION:

In this article we discussed about foods according to the constitution of body. there are still more things to discuss on the topic under aaharam. we may see them in the following posts.

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by- Dr.V.S.Valareeswaran BAMS.