Eating Ayurveda – an essential guide

Ayurvedic medicine can influence every aspect of your life to unlock some great advantages. Here at Organic Apoteke, we use a mixture of Ayurveda and science to help our customers realise incredible results from their skin care routine.

Looking after your skin (and wider health) from the inside however is vital, whether you’re looking to care for sensitive skin, or combat the symptoms of skin problems like rosacea and eczema.

Eating Ayurveda is easier than most people think, and is responsible for harnessing a number of benefits. Through an Ayurvedic diet, you can up your intake of whole foods, promote better weight management, and improve mindfulness related to eating.

In this blog post, we offer a definitive guide to eating Ayurveda so you can reap the rewards first-hand.

Eat based on your body type

Everyone is different, and with this, one type of diet may not be applicable to everyone. Ayurveda encourages people to eat based on their body type or dosha.

There are three doshas, which relate to different elements. Pitta represents fire and water, Vata represents air and space, and Kapha represents earth and water. Take this Ayurvedic body type quiz to find your dosha.

Your dosha dictates the foods you should eat to bring balance to your body and mind. Those identified as Pitta for example should eat cooling and energising foods whilst limiting their intake of spices, seeds, and nuts. Vata doshas should opt for warm and grounding foods, avoiding bitter herbs, raw vegetables, and dried fruit. In comparison, Kapha doshas should swap nuts, seeds, oi, and other heavy foods for whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and legumes.

Natural and organic is always better

Whatever your dosha, the more natural the food is the better. Processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and red meat should be avoided.

All food should be fresh, organic and natural, with locally sourced produce the Holy Grail of Ayurvedic eating. Traditional spices are used liberally in Ayurvedic cooking, with turmeric, coriander, cumin, and ginger particular favourites. These herbs don’t just make meals taste great, they unlock further Ayurvedic benefits.

It’s not just about what you eat

Whilst what you eat is important, when you eat is also integral to the success of Ayurvedic eating. Timing is everything as Ayurvedic India details:

“One of the significant factors of an ayurvedic eating plan is one should allow 5-6 hours between meals for complete digestion. Persons with a powerful digestion and furious desire can have a light snack, such as juice, fruit or nuts, between meals to maintain energy.”

Despite normal eating practices – breakfast and lunch tend to be smaller portions in western culture – eating bigger meals in the day time and smaller meals as the evening approaches is recommended with Ayurveda.

Maintaining good digestion is what Ayurvedic eating is all about. Minimising portion sizes as the day draws to a close ensures food can be appropriately digested before you go to bed.

A diet that doesn’t believe in restriction

Most diets dictate what you eat and how much, but with Ayurvedic eating, you don’t have to place these kinds of restrictions on yourself.

Suppressing your appetite can have damaging consequences according to Ayurveda. Restriction causes long term appetite loss, aches and pain, fatigue, poor vision, and low energy. It can also lead to overeating and increased food cravings.

Eating when you feel hungry, sticking to the timings we previously mentioned as much as possible, will keep your body satisfied. Listen to your body and nourish it with delicious and healthy food.

Never eat your food in a hurry

Eating Ayurveda is a cleansing experience that shouldn’t be rushed. While it’s important to eat meals fresh and soon after cooking, rushing will only disrupt balance. Eating with a calm mind and in a comfortable setting, away from everyday distractions like smartphones and the TV, will keep you present. It’ll also help you to truly appreciate the flavour, aroma, texture, and appearance of your tasty Ayurvedic meal.