Diet
and Nutrition
Food
according to Somatic Dosha
(Vataj, Pittaj, Kaphaj)
All the dietary articles, according
to Ayurveda are of three kinds.
- Those which pacify or alleviate the aggravated dosha.
- Those which provoke the dosha
- Those which are good for a normal and healthy.
Oil, ghee and honey are examples of
the pacifying group of materials. Oil acts and brings
to order the provoked Vata. The properties of oil, its
unctuousness, heat and heaviness are opposed to the
properties of Vata such as coldness, lightness and dryness.
In the same way, the properties of ghee like sweetness,
coldness, lightness and slowness act against Pitta and
pacify it. It has properties of dryness and acuteness
and is an astringent. All of them are opposite to the
properties of Kapha.
The provocative dietary articles are those substances
that aggravate the dosha, the Dhatu and the waste products
of the body. Poor varieties of rice, black gram and
other cereals, fish, under cooked or overcooked food,
mixture of foods with opposite properties like milk
with fish and curd prepared form recently fermented
milk are some of the examples of provocative dietary
articles.
The dietary articles that neither increase nor decrease
the Dosha and at the same time do not upset the equilibrium
of the Dosha and at the same time do not upset the equilibrium
of the Dosha are good for the normal healthy person.
There is a required proportion of Dosha, Dhatu and Mala
which should not be decreased or increased in number.
Some dietary articles which are otherwise good for a
healthy person may prove to be harmful if taken in excess
or in too small a quantity in a healthy person and at
the same time prove to be ineffective. Red rice, Shastika
rice (two different varieties of rice), Indian barley,
wheat, flesh of wild animal, Jivanti (Vegetable), pure
rain water etc. can be taken at any time as they are
neither provocative to nor weakening of one's strength.
Food and drink help bring about the transformation of
one tissue to another as long as the process continues
smoothly in accordance with the actual need of the system.
As soon as this need is fulfilled and satisfied, a slight
excess of food and drink would not only curtail upon
the transformational process itself, but would also
set confusion and that may lead to ailments or diseases.
Upon this is based the Ayurvedic advice to forbid, as
a routine, the intake of a meal unless the one taken
earlier has been digested fully and assimilated. Indeed,
the firm conviction of Ayurveda is that a patient can
be freed of ailments even without application of drugs,
if one regularly takes a wholesome diet. But one who
does not take diet at regular intervals, cannot escape
from the attack of disease even with the treatment planned
with best herbs, drugs and their combinations.
Diet
according to season
Diet should according to the climate,
seasonal variations, and stages of life.
• Anti- Vata diet should be given emphasis in
the fall.
• Anti- Pitta diet should be followed more in
the summer and late spring.
• Anti- Kapha diet should be followed more in
winter and in early spring.
Diet according
to constitution
Individuals, whose constitution is
equal in two of the dosha, i.e. have dual constitution
should vary their diet by season as;
• Vata-Pitta types should follow an anti-Vata
diet in fall and winter and anti-Pitta diet in spring
and summer.
• Vata-Kapha types should follow an anti-Vata
diet in summer and fall and anti-Kapha diet in winter
and spring.
• Pitta-Kapha types should follow an anti-Pitta
diet in summer and fall and anti-Kapha diet in winter
and spring.
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Diet according
to climate
• Anti-Vata diet is more appropriate
for cold, dry, windy climates, like the high desert
or high plain regions.
• Anti-Pitta diet is more suitable for hot climates
and deserts.
• Anti-Pitta diet is good in damp and cold regions.
Effect
of the Seasons on Man
• Rainy (Varsha)
The body is moist (Breath and skin), strength is minimum
and digestive power and appetite are weak.
• Early Spring (Sharad)
The body is damp and hot; strength is moderate, digestive
power and appetite are moderate.
• Early Winter (Hemant)
The body is compact, strength is maximum, digestive
power and appetite are strong.
• Late Winter (Shishir)
The body is compact and stiff, has maximum strength
and normal resistance. Has strong digestive power.
• Late Spring (Vasant)
The body is loose, strength and digestive power are
moderate.
• Summer (Grishma)
The body is loose, has minimum strength and low resistance.
Has weak digestive power.
