Hello friends, welcome to my new blog post about diet and dietic norms as per Ayurvedic principles. in this blog we will learn Ayurvedic principles which were suggested before five thousands years by Ayurvedic sages for the better of our health.
“Aharavidhi Vidhana” is a term derived from Sanskrit, which can be broken down into two words: “Aharavidhi” (Aahara means food, and Vidhi means system or method) and “Vidhana” (meaning rules or procedures). It generally refers to the principles and guidelines related to diet, food intake, and healthy living.
Recently lifestyle related diseases are at the pick, Ahara is the Sanskrit word that means diet which is one of the three pillars of life, diet is referenced as Mahabhaishajya (great medicine) because it helps to nourish the healthy and diseased person. Diet is all that we consume through various routes that includes five senses and also mind. we can also say that diet nourishes body, mind, senses and soul. The researchers have noticed that when the food enters in the oral cavity and when it passes through the digestive system, it sends special signals to the brain which are loaded with nutritive, sensory and informative. on this basis, the digestion and metabolism is not limited to ingestion of food only, but it is affected by how the brain and nervous system receives and processes the information too. doesn’t it interesting? we are always taught specially in Ayurveda that we should eat with calm mind and we should be aware of the food. because the food what we eat can be more energized with our own power. or we can say that the food which we take itself has special energy that nourishes us based on our own energy at the time of taking food.
Diet is one of the three pillars ( Diet, Sleep and self control of senses are the three pillars) of Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka mentioned ahara vidhi vidhana which can be considered as the rules to be followed while eating food for proper digestion and maintenance of health or we can say dietic norms. let us understand these rules suggested by Ayurvedic sages.
There are four types of food suggested in Ayurveda, (1) based on the fundamental composition of the food. (a) Easy to digest (Laghu): This type of food are predominant of fire and air element and can be easily digestible. (b) Hard to digest(Guru): This food are predominant with earth and water element and can take longer to digest. (2) Based on the source of food. (a) Vegetables. (b) Fruits (c) Grains (d) Dairy (e) Protein (3) Based on form of food. (a) Eatable (b) Drink able (c) Lick able (d) Mastic able (4) Based on the effect of food. (a) wholesome (b) unwholesome Dietic norms as per Ayurveda. (A) Consuming warm food (उष्णं भुंजिता) We should consume food that is warm. Consuming warm food sustains the taste of food, stimulates the digestive fire, and digestion process takes place easily. It also helps in elimination process. Cold or freeze food has heavy properties that takes longer to digest, so cold food should be avoided. (B) Consuming unctuous food ( स्निग्धम भुंजिता ) Unctuous food is suggested, because it tastes delicious, and it will increase the subdued power of digestion. unctuous food gets digested easily and elimination becomes easy as the food is soft. (C) Proper quantity (मातृIवत् भुंजिता) Food should be taken in proper amount, if food is taken in correct quantity it promotes lifespan by balancing the energies within and keeps the digestive fire stimulated (जठराग्नि), it also promotes proper peristalsis that moves food properly for the elimination process. proper quantity of food depends upon individual’s own digestive fire. The right quantity always depends upon the substance itself. Based on the food-article itself, it is advised that heavy to digest articles should be taken up to one third to one half of capacity of stomach, The remaining proportion shall be filled with light to digest food. Neither heavy to digest nor light ones should be taken in excessive amount in order to maintain the strength of digestive fire. (D) Food after digestion of previous meal (आहार जीर्ण अश्नियात) we should eat when the previously taken meal is digested because, during the process of digestion, the eaten food mixes with the product of the earlier meal which is in the process of digestion which vitiates all the doshas quickly. Having food during incomplete indigestion (अध्यासन) it vitiates the digestive fire causes hampered fire which produces toxic material known as Ama cause of all the diseases. in contrast, when one eats after the previous meal is situated in their own location, fire is stimulated, appetite arose, the entrance of the all channels are opened, the heart is normal, flatus passes down and urges of flatus, urine and stool appears. (E) food suitable to the body (वीर्याविरुद्ध आशनीयत) We should take food consisting of the items which are sympathetic in potency. While doing so, we are not affected with the disorder caused by the food antagonist, as opposite properties (विरुद्धाहारा )can create diseases such as blindness, blood disorder, IBS, hypersensitivity, skin disorder, and fever. (F) Consuming food at appropriate place (इष्ट देशे इष्ट सर्व उपकरणम् अश्नीयत्) We should eat at a proper place with appropriate accessories. While eating in a favorable place, our mental stage is not disturbed and we can eat with a calm mind that enhances the energies of the food and the effect of the food to the body. we should take our meals in a proper places with a proper utensil, the absence of both can create stress, which activates the ‘Flight or Fight’ response in the central nervous system and slower the blood flow in digestive system , affects the digestive muscle and decreases the secretion of enzymes needed for digestion. It can also cause spasm, and stress that can finally cause digestive issues. (G) Eating at a moderate pace ((न अतिद्रुतम् अश्नीयात, न अतिविलम्बितम् अश्नीयत्) We should not eat fast because by eating fast, the food may enter into the wrong passage. in recent days it’s our habit to eat while we drive, watch T.V., or doing any work, that has affected our mental stage and we do not have patience, that has created so many lifestyle disorders. The meal should be taken at a proper speed so that all the enzymes can mix with the food for the proper digestion. Taking too speedy food can cause respiratory tract infection by choking it. It can also cause other diseases such as GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). If food is taken in proper speed, enzymatic juices mix properly so food gets easily digested. The brain takes about 20 minutes to recognize that the stomach is full. So, eating with optimum speed prevents overeating and slowly taking of food improves appetite regulation, prevents overeating, decreases the food consumption, and well-absorbs essential nutrients. On the other hand, one should not eat too slow because if one does not get satisfied, he eats more and also the food becomes cold which slow down the speed of digested. (H) Consuming food with calm mind, no talking or laughing while having meals (अजल्पना, अहसान, तन्मना भुंजिता). We should eat with calm mind and with focus, we should not talk or laugh, the talks during the meal time can creates arguments which can lead to stress , anger or pain. which ultimately results in indigestion. as per sage Charaka these factors creates imbalance in secretion of enzymes and digestion process is disturbed. also the energy of food changes as per our own mental stage at the time of consuming food and those imbalanced energies effects our nervous system and cognitive functions.
Now we know about dietic norms but these norms should be followed as per our own body constitution type and as per our constitutional requirement. these norms offers a timeless approach for healthy eating, it teaches us to eat consciously , and provides us knowledge to understand the food as an important tool for achieving overall wellness.
Ayurvedic sages have had broad vision and they have emphasized on the dietic norms which can ultimately help to fulfill the goal of Ayurveda of preserving the health of a healthy person and to eliminate the diseases of the sick person. (स्वस्थस्य स्वस्थ रक्षणं आतुरस्य व्याधि परिमोक्सनम्). these norms can help to lower the lifestyle related disorders. There are many more factors to be considered for dietary regulation which we can learn in my coming blogs. till then we can try to follow the above described norms for better of our health. Thanks for taking time to read this blog and see you next month with a new interesting topic till then eat healthy and stay healthy.