AYURVEDIC NUTRITION
using the elemental forces
Images of Thai Basil, Coriander
It is important to gather an understanding of how the food is energy and an easy way to do this is through the elemental forces.
There are six tastes that are present in the food that we choose to eat. When sitting down to a meal it is important to have these tastes in varying quantities in your meals for optimal health and wellbeing.
The following is a guide only to the tastes, the energetics and the elemental forces that preside within these tastes.
Pungent - Fire - Air - light - hot - rough - hot
Salty - fire - water - heavy - oily - hot - water - fire
Sour - fire - earth - heavy - hot - oily - hot
Sweet - water - earth - cold - heavy - oily - cold
Astringent - earth - air - light - cold - rough - cold
Bitter - space - air - light - rough - cold - cold
Of course it depends on our constitution as to seeking the balance with these forces and it will always be governed by your current state of awareness. So in essence your conscious awareness is essential for good health and wellbeing. It is one of the most empowering experiences to realise you are your own master of wellness, you have the ability to heal, maintain, balance your inner being.
INSPIRING - ISN'T IT!
So when starting out on this nutritional adventure - keep it simple and allow your inner knowledge to flow through you ( water) the current of wisdom & knowledge - it feeds your brain matter, nurtures your cellular structure, drink and be merry so they say - now you know what that means - drink the elixir of life JALA - WATER. Stay flexible, in mind, body, emotions and life will be a treat.
Image is of shivas linga - shiva represents Agni - Fire
Let's address digesting!
Ask yourself the following question - Are you digesting?
Chambers within chambers of consciousness - keeping it simple!
In ayurveda, the proper transformation of food is based on the strength of the digestive fire known as agni. A healthy digestive system is important to our overall health.
Here are some tips to help create good digestion:
-
Eat when you are hungry & when the previous meal has been fully digested
-
Maintain hygiene
-
Always express gratitude - a simple thankyou from the heart is potent
-
Eat at a moderate speed - become conscious of how many times you chew
-
Warm fluids encourage efficient absorption of nutrients, aid the elimination process and assist agni
-
Enjoy good company and environment
-
Be mindful not to take a shower or swim within 3hours after eating as this hampers digestion
-
Fill your stomach with half solid foods, a quarter with liquids and leave a quarter empty to aid digestion
-
Avoid heavy exercise for approx 30minutes after meals
-
Avoid sleep for approximately 2 to 3 hours when possible after a meal to allow food to digest efficiently
Digestion relates to mental, physical & emotional digestion of energy that we take in or absorb from without to within. Just as we acknowledge that food digested well helps with a healthy body, so to are our senses affected by what sounds we hear, what we watch and absorb from our environment and those who we come into contact with - these all play a vital role in ability to digest our circumstances in an harmonious, balanced and nourishing manner.