Elements of Eating
Do you remember what you had for breakfast this morning ? Did it give you energy or
make you feel draggy ? Wouldn't it be nice to know what types of foods are best for you? There is a science of health, which dates back 3 to 5 thousand years, which can tell you which are the optimum foods for you. This system of knowledge is called Ayurveda. It is the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine. It categorizes each of us according to our physical and emotional type. It then offers dietary guidelines which are tailored to your needs. How does Ayurveda do this? By looking at the elements of nature, air, water, earth and fire.
An airy person is generally slight in build, and always has their head in the clouds. They tend to have dry skin, and a nervous temperament.
A person in which fire predominates will have a quick temper and be a fast talker. They are the type A personality, and tend to eat fast.
A watery person is highly emotional, and feels deeply. They tend to retain water, and have trouble losing weight.
The earth type is of a solid build. They tend to be thorough and slow, and sometimes procrastinate. They love rich food.
So, if we gain some idea of what type we might be, how do we know what to eat?
Luckily, Ayurveda also categorizes plants in terms of the elements. The ideal is to eat the types of food that balance your body type.
The Ayurvedic physician would look to see which elements were out of balance in his patient, and then prescribe a diet accordingly.
Most root vegetables like carrots, are Earth. Those which are cooling and wet correspond to the element of Water , such as cucumber and melons. The edible flowering plants, such as broccoli and cauliflower are Air. Fiery foods produce heat in the body. Tomatoes onions, and red bell peppers are in this category.
Based upon the premise of working with foods as medicine, I advise my clients with fire symptoms such as gout or arthritis, to avoid processed meat, cheese, tomatoes, salt, and peppers
I advise them to eat raw celery and carrots, dark green leafy salads, brown rice, and steamed vegetables. Most cases of gout will be better within days on a balancing diet like this.
Earth imbalances will cause lack of energy, excessive weight gain, and laziness. Foods that make this worse are heavy , refined and sweet foods, particularly cheese, bakery foods, and fried food.
This problem can be helped with spicy foods, steamed vegetables, and soups.
Water symptoms, such as edema, respond well to drying foods. I find celery seed, parsley, and dandelion or any kind of bitter green to be very helpful, as well as elimination of sweet foods, which contribute to dampness in the body.
Air symptoms translate into mental or sleep disturbances,feeling "spacey" and sometimes low body weight.Dry skin can sometimes be a problem with an air imbalance. High protein and oily foods are good for this type of imbalance.Use mustard and cumin as spices. Cook with oils like sesame and olive oil, and use coconut oil as a moisturizer. Coconut oil can be found at the health food store, and is especially good for the drying effects of summer heat. Have you noticed that your appetite decreases in the summertime? In Ayurveda, each season of the year requires us to eat differently
What foods are good for you in the summer? Fresh fruits in season, green leafy vegetables, and beans and rice for protein. Cooling foods are important in the summer.
In the Fall, we choose cleansing foods to prepare our bodies for winter. Late summer apples and pears clean the gallbladder and liver.
Spicy soups and steamed vegetables warm the body in preparation for winter.
Wintertime is the season for stews and spicy food. We need the heat from cooked food to provide warmth for the body.
Springtime is the season for housecleaning, and our bodies do the same. It is the best time to eat bitter greens and raw vegetables, as our body cleanses itself to prepare for Summer.
In addition to these guidelines, it is also important to eat slowly, and have small frequent meals throughout the day to keep the blood sugar level.
For a good reference book on this subject, I suggest "The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, by Dr. Vasant Lad.
Following a few simple eating suggestions will make you feel healthier. Understanding the elements present in foods can help us choose more wisely when preparing meals.
The science of Ayurveda has helped countless people over the centuries to regain and nurture their vitality according to their unique nature.
Try Ayurveda as a means to discover your own path to a fuller and more energetic life.
make you feel draggy ? Wouldn't it be nice to know what types of foods are best for you? There is a science of health, which dates back 3 to 5 thousand years, which can tell you which are the optimum foods for you. This system of knowledge is called Ayurveda. It is the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine. It categorizes each of us according to our physical and emotional type. It then offers dietary guidelines which are tailored to your needs. How does Ayurveda do this? By looking at the elements of nature, air, water, earth and fire.
An airy person is generally slight in build, and always has their head in the clouds. They tend to have dry skin, and a nervous temperament.
A person in which fire predominates will have a quick temper and be a fast talker. They are the type A personality, and tend to eat fast.
A watery person is highly emotional, and feels deeply. They tend to retain water, and have trouble losing weight.
The earth type is of a solid build. They tend to be thorough and slow, and sometimes procrastinate. They love rich food.
So, if we gain some idea of what type we might be, how do we know what to eat?
Luckily, Ayurveda also categorizes plants in terms of the elements. The ideal is to eat the types of food that balance your body type.
The Ayurvedic physician would look to see which elements were out of balance in his patient, and then prescribe a diet accordingly.
Most root vegetables like carrots, are Earth. Those which are cooling and wet correspond to the element of Water , such as cucumber and melons. The edible flowering plants, such as broccoli and cauliflower are Air. Fiery foods produce heat in the body. Tomatoes onions, and red bell peppers are in this category.
Based upon the premise of working with foods as medicine, I advise my clients with fire symptoms such as gout or arthritis, to avoid processed meat, cheese, tomatoes, salt, and peppers
I advise them to eat raw celery and carrots, dark green leafy salads, brown rice, and steamed vegetables. Most cases of gout will be better within days on a balancing diet like this.
Earth imbalances will cause lack of energy, excessive weight gain, and laziness. Foods that make this worse are heavy , refined and sweet foods, particularly cheese, bakery foods, and fried food.
This problem can be helped with spicy foods, steamed vegetables, and soups.
Water symptoms, such as edema, respond well to drying foods. I find celery seed, parsley, and dandelion or any kind of bitter green to be very helpful, as well as elimination of sweet foods, which contribute to dampness in the body.
Air symptoms translate into mental or sleep disturbances,feeling "spacey" and sometimes low body weight.Dry skin can sometimes be a problem with an air imbalance. High protein and oily foods are good for this type of imbalance.Use mustard and cumin as spices. Cook with oils like sesame and olive oil, and use coconut oil as a moisturizer. Coconut oil can be found at the health food store, and is especially good for the drying effects of summer heat. Have you noticed that your appetite decreases in the summertime? In Ayurveda, each season of the year requires us to eat differently
What foods are good for you in the summer? Fresh fruits in season, green leafy vegetables, and beans and rice for protein. Cooling foods are important in the summer.
In the Fall, we choose cleansing foods to prepare our bodies for winter. Late summer apples and pears clean the gallbladder and liver.
Spicy soups and steamed vegetables warm the body in preparation for winter.
Wintertime is the season for stews and spicy food. We need the heat from cooked food to provide warmth for the body.
Springtime is the season for housecleaning, and our bodies do the same. It is the best time to eat bitter greens and raw vegetables, as our body cleanses itself to prepare for Summer.
In addition to these guidelines, it is also important to eat slowly, and have small frequent meals throughout the day to keep the blood sugar level.
For a good reference book on this subject, I suggest "The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, by Dr. Vasant Lad.
Following a few simple eating suggestions will make you feel healthier. Understanding the elements present in foods can help us choose more wisely when preparing meals.
The science of Ayurveda has helped countless people over the centuries to regain and nurture their vitality according to their unique nature.
Try Ayurveda as a means to discover your own path to a fuller and more energetic life.
posted by Eileen Hetherington | 2:27 PM
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