Oils
Oils and fats are a much misunderstood area of our modern diet. We moved away from cooking with saturated fats (e.g. meat fats, dairy fats) as we were told they were causing us too many problems.
Amla
Amla undeniably a powerhouse of nutrients. It is a very delicious fruit. Amla is also known as Indian Gooseberry. Amla Botanical name is Emblica Officinalis. This herb is a little fruit stuffed with versatile and miraculous health benefits. It is world’s best recognized herb and edible fruit rich in vitamin C. Amla is the best natural source of this vitamin which helps in keeping the skin healthy and strengthens the immune system of the body. It is also a very good antioxidant that can prevent ageing and rejuvenate the cellular structure keeping it young and healthy for a long time. The herb prevents our body from bacterial and viral aliments like cold and cough.
It is used in various forms because of its many health benefits. One can use it as a Amla fruit juice, Amla powder form or as a whole fresh fruit. In Ayurveda Amla is best used to make the equilibrium of three major powers of body (tridosha) i.e vata, pitta and kapha.
It belongs to Phyllanthaceae family. The Latin name of the plant is Emblica officinalis.
Animal Products
Meat is the most nourishing food, excellent for debility, convalescence, lowering high vāta disorders. Meat is considered deranging and makes more toxins or āma, especially in pitta personality. It promotes infections, fevers, tumors and increases irritability. Meat is considered a highly tamasic food, which interferes with spiritual elevation. It may be because meats trigger the adrenals to secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are very stimulating hormones that create alertness and irritability.
Cooking Spices
Spices, in general, enhance the taste of food. Spices are an essential part of Āyurvedic cooking. Āyurveda recognizes the medicinal qualities of spices. Āyurvedic cooking uses these spices intelligently to balance the doṣas, to enhance digestion (stimulates Pācaka pitta), to efficiently absorb nutrients, to improve circulation, to improve hormonal balance on an individual basis. All six tastes are included in the foods through an appropriate use of spices as well as other food ingredients that are suitable for the individual.
This helps in having a balanced meal that enhances the individual’s health.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are rich in proteins, fats and fiber (ojas). They are a great alternative to grains, which are often too carbohydrate rich but deficient in other nutrients. Our ancestors ate a diet rich in nuts and greens.
Legumes and Beans
Legumes (lentils, peas, beans) are comprised mostly of the elements of earth and air. Sweet and astringent in taste, they are immediately cooling, then go on to nourish and strengthen.
While this is ideal in India’s hot, moist climate, beware however, too many legumes introduce rough, heavy, drying qualities that form gas and are hard to digest. Beans and lentils are high in fibre, but in excess or improperly prepared they cause constipation!
Signs of Depletion and Increase of Dhatu & Mala
Dhatus also have three states – sama (Balanced state), vrddhi and ksaya (same as doshas). Aggravated doshas weaken dhatus, so in the disease process dhatu ksaya signs are addressed. Only in few diseases vrddhi signs are mentioned.
Strotas – Channels/Ducts of Transportation
The entire body is composed of uncountable channels called srotas. These are the spaces that carry and transform materials.
There are 13 subtypes of srotas. Three input srotas – anna (food), udaka (water) and prāṇa (breath/air), seven srotas for seven dhātus, three srotas for three malas. ‘Vaha’ is indicative of a carrier flow. Hence, Prāṇavaha is the carrier of ‘breath’/ ‘prāṇa’ and so on.
Dairy
Dairy is most beneficial when it is raw, from animals that are treated kindly, are fed with fodder free from pesticides, insecticides, and receive no steroid injections or rBGH (bovine growth hormone) in their foods.
