International No Diet Day With Ayurveda: Rediscover Your Relationship With Food

International No Diet Day With Ayurveda: Rediscover Your Relationship With Food

18-Jul-2023

Ditch the Fancy Diet and Say Hello to Healthy, Balanced Life With Ayurveda Wisdom

If we are real to ourselves and accept that following a specific diet can be a handful sometimes. Aren't we once in a while get tired from jumping from one diet to another diet, and in the end, we give up and start following our same routine, where every weekend pizza is our go-to food and don't forget the cola the fizz that gives us refreshing feeling, but for how many minutes? Maybe for a couple of seconds, we know the consequences of junk foods on our health.

This left us thinking, "What to do when we cannot be committed to our fancy diet and eating junk food is affecting our health badly?". Well, it's time to end the diet culture and embrace a more holistic approach to eating! And what better day to do so than International No Diet Day? This International No Diet Day, let's explore how Ayurveda can be a part of your life without tiring you.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, has a unique perspective on food and its impact on our body and mind. According to Ayurveda, food is not just fuel for our body but a source of nourishment, pleasure, and energy. How we eat, what we eat, and how we eat are all equally important in maintaining a healthy balance.

 

 Ayurvedic Dietary Guidelines for Optimal Health

  • Eat fresh foods as much as possible. Try to cook in a quantity that much you need for the day. Leftover food has very little or no prana (life force).
  • Avoid canned, preserved, frozen, or microwaved foods. Always prefer to eat the freshest food that is available to you.
  • Do not overeat. Be mindful of your body's needs and the strength of your appetite.
  • Heavy foods (wheat, nuts, seeds, oats, non-veg, fish, lamb, pork, and eggs) satisfy only half your appetite because heavy foods are difficult to digest. If you are ill, only eat light foods (buckwheat, corn, rye, lettuce, potato, apple, lentils, ghee, and rice)

Avoid these food combinations in your diet.

A poor choice of food combinations can reduce agni (digestive fire) and build up toxins quickly. (Click here to explore Panchkarma Detoxification Plan ). Pay attention to how you combine foods. 

  • Do not mix milk with fruit or yogurt and milk.
  • Radishes, cherries, potatoes, bananas, melons, fish, meat, eggs, citrus fruits, and bread should not be eaten with milk.

Qualities (Gunas) of foods for a healthy diet plan

Ayurveda recognizes that different foods and substances affect the mind and body differently.

  • Satva: Promotes clarity, harmony, and equilibrium in the body and mind. All spices, freshly cooked foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, honey, jaggery, and teas. Also, salads, fruit juices, and herbal tisanes.
  • Rajas: Foods increase energy, promotes action and attachment, and gratifies the senses. For example, onions, garlic, canned foods, pickles, and vinegar.
  • Tamas: Foods promote dullness. For example, microwaved foods, tea, coffee, and alcohol. Also, foods like beef, poultry, fish, eggs, frozen food, mushrooms, fried food, and foods containing pork.

 

Also Read: Understanding Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic Foods

 

Ayurvedic Daily Routines for a Healthy Lifestyle

Ayurveda aims to help us live in harmony with nature and its rhythms. The daily routines help us achieve this. Ayurveda divides each day into six sections that correspond to the dosha characteristics:

From Sunrise to Sunset

  • Kapha time: Sunrise - 10 am
  • Pitta time: 10am - 2pm: 
  • Vata time: 2 pm until sunset

From Sunset to Sunrise

  • Kapha time: Sunset - 10 pm: 
  • Pitta time: 10pm - 2am: 
  • Vata time 2 am - sunrise

Sleeping and Waking up

It is best to sleep in the evening during the Kapha period. Kapha has the quality of heaviness, so it's easier to fall asleep before 10:00 pm. We move into pitta when we delay going to sleep after 10 pm.

It is best to get up just before sunrise while in Vata. This is a light time, so getting up with energy is easier. This is the perfect time to meditate. You may experience a heavy feeling throughout the day if you awaken during the morning Kapha period.

After Waking up

Taking a short walk in the early morning while enjoying nature is good for your physical and mental health. Walking on the grass with bare feet will allow the morning dew into our soles and lower the pH of our bodies.

Elimination

You should empty your colon and bladder first thing in the morning. If you wait until later in your day or do not eliminate them daily, the toxins will re-enter your system. If you cannot eliminate the toxins, consult our Ayurveda experts at Ayushakti about natural treatments.

Exercise

Exercise is important for our general health and gives us energy all day. Choose an exercise program that suits your body type. Not all exercises must be intense to be effective. Gentle exercises like yoga or tai chi can be extremely beneficial.

Meditation

Meditation helps us calm our minds and improve our ability to deal with daily stressors. Even a short (ten-minute) meditation every morning and night can improve our focus, energy, and sleep quality.

Breakfast

Always try to eat something at breakfast. We need nutrients to kickstart our day and all the functions that supply us with energy. You can eat something light and small even if you don't feel hungry. Then, later in the day, you can have a larger snack. Porridge and fresh vegetable juices are good options for breakfast. Fruit smoothies that contain milk and fruit are not compatible!

Lunch

Lunch is at the pitta hour of the day. Our digestive fire is at its strongest when the sun's heat is highest. Lunch is the main meal for the day and should contain (preferably plant-based) proteins, grains (such as quinoa or rice), and vegetables. Eating raw foods such as lettuce or sprouts in the summer is best. After lunch, a short walk (5-10 mins) will aid digestion.

Dinner

Dinner is best served between 6-7 pm around sunset. In the evening, eat a lighter meal as digestion will weaken during the day. You should leave at least two hours between dinner and bedtime to allow your digestion to be complete.

Bed Time

After a long day, the evening is the perfect time to unwind and relax with family and friends. Before you go to sleep, it is important to calm down your nervous system. Relaxing and unwinding can be achieved by listening to music, having a light conversation, or going for a stroll in the evening. Avoid watching television, using electronic devices, or working on a computer. These activities can stimulate the nervous system and make it difficult to sleep.

Takeaway

At Ayushakti Ayurved, we believe that true health is the absence of disease and complete physical, mental, and emotional well-being. That's why we offer personalized Ayurvedic consultations to help you discover your unique body type and create a diet and lifestyle plan that suits your needs.

Our experienced Ayurvedic doctors can guide you on how to eat mindfully, savoring every bite and avoiding overeating. We also offer Ayurvedic detox programs to cleanse your body of toxins and improve your digestive system's efficiency.

Ayurveda also emphasizes the importance of eating fresh, whole foods that are in season and locally sourced. Our Ayurvedic chefs prepare delicious, healthy meals using Ayurvedic principles, balancing flavors and ensuring optimal nutrition

So, this International No Diet Day, let's pledge to ditch the diets and embrace a healthier, more balanced way of eating with Ayurveda. Book an appointment with Ayushakti Ayurved and embark on a journey toward optimal health and wellness. Your taste buds and your body will thank you!

We at Ayushakti, share a mission to help people in every possible way.

You can consult me or our experts on phone or video. Or you can visit one of your nearest Ayushakti centre for a personal consultation.

We will suggest diet & home remedies for maintaining your wellbeing in these difficult times.

Book your consultation here https://rzp.io/l/bZ2M84i

For more information write to us at info@ayushakti.com

You may contact us on our toll-free numbers - 18002663001 (India) & +18002800906 (Global)