What Should I be Eating? An Ayurvedic Perspective.
Our minds are continually flooded with nutritional and lifestyle recommendations, recipes, and guidelines each time we log onto social media, read the newspaper, or simply walk down the street. Sometimes the messages are overwhelming, and we give up because it seems too hard and complicated to eat “healthy.”
Ayurveda provides an individual with a tailored approach to diet and lifestyle. An Ayurvedic practitioner will assess your physical and mental constitution to determine which specific foods you should and shouldn’t be eating. Think that apple you munch on each day is a key to achieving perfect health? Well, depending on your constitution, the raw quality of that apple may upset your digestive tract, creating stress on your digestion. In that case, you may benefit more by eating a papaya. The key point: Not all “healthy” foods are created equal. What the media may portray as healthy may do more damage on your body than good.
Each of our bodies are made up of the three doshas.
We all have elements of each of the three doshas, but at different percentages. For instance, someone with a Vata-Kapha constitution has stronger elements of air, ether, earth and water. The fire element remains part of the individuals constitution, but at a lower level.
The elements in our bodies react to the foods we ingest, either assisting or hindering our ability to digest food and remove toxins from our bodies. For example, foods that are light and dry may disturb elements of air and ether, which have light and dry qualities. So, an individual with a predominately Vata constitution of air and ether may be become out of balanced by eating foods of light and dry quality.
Some basic tips for healthy, Ayurvedic eating:
The best way to determine your constitution is by visiting an Ayurvedic practitioner. They will be able to properly assess your constitution, constitutional imbalance and provide personalized, seasonal diet recommendations. Feel free to email us at info@lakshmiayurveda.com.au or call 0406810547 if you are interested in a consultation.
The Lakshmi Ayurveda Team hopes to see you soon!
Ayurveda provides an individual with a tailored approach to diet and lifestyle. An Ayurvedic practitioner will assess your physical and mental constitution to determine which specific foods you should and shouldn’t be eating. Think that apple you munch on each day is a key to achieving perfect health? Well, depending on your constitution, the raw quality of that apple may upset your digestive tract, creating stress on your digestion. In that case, you may benefit more by eating a papaya. The key point: Not all “healthy” foods are created equal. What the media may portray as healthy may do more damage on your body than good.
Each of our bodies are made up of the three doshas.
- Vata Dosha: consists of air and ether
- Pitta Dosha: consists of fire and water
- Kapha Dosha: consists of earth and water
We all have elements of each of the three doshas, but at different percentages. For instance, someone with a Vata-Kapha constitution has stronger elements of air, ether, earth and water. The fire element remains part of the individuals constitution, but at a lower level.
The elements in our bodies react to the foods we ingest, either assisting or hindering our ability to digest food and remove toxins from our bodies. For example, foods that are light and dry may disturb elements of air and ether, which have light and dry qualities. So, an individual with a predominately Vata constitution of air and ether may be become out of balanced by eating foods of light and dry quality.
Some basic tips for healthy, Ayurvedic eating:
- Increase your intake of Sattvic foods. Sattvic foods cultivate a more steady, empathetic, and calm mind and include:
- Pure, fresh, and seasonal organic vegetable and fruits. Refrain from eating packaged and preservative-laden foods!
- Whole grains, legumes, and activated nuts
- Dairy products, such as milk and ghee
- Raw and unprocessed honey
- Herbs and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, basil, coriander
- Refraining from excess spice, onion or garli
The best way to determine your constitution is by visiting an Ayurvedic practitioner. They will be able to properly assess your constitution, constitutional imbalance and provide personalized, seasonal diet recommendations. Feel free to email us at info@lakshmiayurveda.com.au or call 0406810547 if you are interested in a consultation.
The Lakshmi Ayurveda Team hopes to see you soon!