The diet in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is not only a holistic system of medicine, but also a comprehensive philosophy of life.

Within the framework of this philosophy, nutrition in particular occupies a prominent position: for the preservation of health and as healing food for the sick person.

A still further, from our view however very important aspect of the ayurvedischen nutrition: Everyone – all the same whether healthy or ill, whether rather health-consciously ascetic or rather nevertheless epicurean indulging – everyone, which takes food, can profit from the ayurvedischen point of view.

It is all about feeling good – individually.

Nutrition according to Ayurvedic points of view in comparison to western nutritional teachings

In Ayurveda, the subjective experience, the subjective feeling of everyone has more importance than the objective ingredients of the food.

This means that food should not be broken down into its basic components fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc & Minerals are decomposed. Calories are also not counted.

The food in Ayurveda should be individually compatible and it adapts to the different needs of the person, his age and profession, as well as his physical and mental condition.

Ayurvedic nutritional teaching does not consist of strict rules and prohibitions, but appeals to the ability of each person to recognize the individual needs of the body.

But how does it work? How exactly do I recognize my individual needs, when on the one hand it is often only about „fast“ and „in between“ or on the other hand about „socially acceptable“ and „feasible“?

The basics

In order to understand and recognize one’s own needs especially regarding food, it is helpful to know one’s own constitution – Vata, Pitta, Kapha (please have these determined by an experienced Ayurvedic doctor, one’s own or tabular assessments often only give a vague indication).

Each person has his own individual relationship of these different so-called „Dohas“.

These can be assigned certain properties – bspw. Vata has the properties light, dry, … .

Every food we eat influences these characteristics.

The scholars of Ayurveda have observed the different effects and properties of each food in different parts of the body: first the effect in the mouth (rasa), then during digestion (vipaka) and finally after digestion.

The effect on the psychological condition was also considered. Thus, all foods were and still can be classified according to their effects on body and mind.

Sweet foods, for example, are cool, moist and heavy, thus have a balancing/lowering effect on Vata (dry, light) and on Pitta (hot, light) and a strengthening/increasing effect on Kapha (heavy, cool, moist).

Important here is the knowledge of the procedure, the principle.

Because this way you can assign properties to everything you eat and observe how it affects you depending on your own condition.

Eating according to Ayurvedic principles

Everybody can decide for himself to what extent he wants to get involved in it.

This requires above all very conscious, attentive eating. But is it not worth it?

With all the different rules, diets and „scientific“ findings that exist nowadays regarding our diet, it is precisely the individually „right“ food that is worth striving for.

With this in mind – simply ask yourself the most important questions every time you eat:

  • How does it taste to me?
  • How do I feel physically during and after the meal??
  • How am I afterwards moodwise „drauf“?
  • How am I and my digestion today and the next day with it?

You will find that it depends not only on your constitutional type and the food you eat, but also on the individual situation (z.B. (on a trip, in a restaurant or at home), your own state of mind (balanced, stressed, angry, etc.), and your own mood.) and your individual, momentary needs (bspw. stimulating for the evening still to come, calming for a day after work or energizing for a day of physical work).

Let your food be your healing food: observe and recognize in this way your individual feel-good food. I wish you a lot of fun.