How to Make Ayurvedic Foods

Ayurveda is an ancient healing art that focuses on the total well-being of the individual. It's used to cure many ailments, from the common cold to cancer. Maintaining a proper diet is a very important part of Ayurveda. Follow these steps to find out how to make Ayurveda foods.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Learn the Basics of an Ayurvedic Diet

1. Plan to have meals that include the 6 tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Ayurvedic principles state that such meals are balanced. They help the body function at its highest potential.

2. Eat only after the last meal has been digested to improve bodily functions.

3. Choose food in its natural state. Avoid foods that contain chemicals, dyes or artificial flavors.

4. Learn the effects of combining food. Ayurveda states that certain food combinations, like fruits eaten with starchy foods, are harmful to the body.

5. Regulate the quantity of food eaten at every meal. Make sure that each item in the meal is proportional.

6. Know your dosha. "Dosha" refers to your mind and body types. It determines the type of foods that are right for you.

Discover Your Dosha

7. Visit the "Jiva Ayurveda" Web site to find out what your dosha is (see Resources below). They offer a free dosha test.

8. Take a test to determine your body type. There are 3 Ayurvedic body types: "Vata," "Pitta" and "Kapha."

9. Determine your state of mind by taking a Psychological Constitution quiz. The 3 Ayurvedic states of mind are: "Sattvic," "Rajasic" and "Tamasic." A Sattvic mind is a balanced mind.

10. Use your new-found dosha to determine what your Ayurvedic foods will be.

Choose and Make Your Ayurvedic Foods

11. Study an Ayurvedic diet chart to learn what foods are right for your unique constitution as well as what foods to avoid. The "Jiva Ayurveda" Web site gives you a chart after the dosha test (see Resources below). The cost to make Ayurvedic foods should be what you spend on groceries now.

12. Ensure a balanced "Vata dosha" by avoiding non-vegetarian diets. Eat food that's warm, heavy and spicy. Include oil in most meals.

13. Consider switching to a vegetarian diet for a balanced "Pitta dosha." Ayurveda also recommends avoiding oil as well as food that's spicy, hot or processed. The good news is that frozen desserts, like ice cream, is encouraged.

14. Keep fats and oils to a minimum for a balanced "Kapha dosha." Make hot meals and avoid frozen desserts as well as salt and butter. The Ayurvedic diet plan for Kapha dosha encourages light meals in appropriate portions.

15. Learn more about Ayurvedic Foods by visiting the "Big Shakti" Web site (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Seek the immediate assistance of a medical doctor or go to an emergency room if you suffer symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety attacks or uncontrolled bleeding.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Keep your doctor informed about any radical changes to your diet.

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