Ayurvedic Cuisine Part II

March 3, 2009 | By sonzy In Nutrition, advice, herbs, medicinal, spa cuisine |

We are starting from where we left in the last blog since it is beyond the confines of few hundred words to capture even the essence of Ayurveda. Not withstanding some people will always question the authenticity of such proposition, the proponents of Ayurveda have long enjoyed the benefits of this science.

There are certain foods which are highly beneficial during a particular season

If you feel less hungry at meal times than usual, or if you feel heavy and dull in the two hours immediately after a meal, these are indications that your digestive fire is burning low. To help enhance your agni, add Pomegranate chutney, coriander chutney with yogurt as a condiment for your meal.

Cooking your food with immune-enhancing spices such as cumin, fennel, coriander, turmeric, ginger and black pepper is also an important way to enhance agni and reduce ama (toxins produced by unhealthy eating practices)

Winter is actually the season to enhance the immune system, and support and nurture your body. Eat nourishing, warm food, and avoid any fasting in winter. This is the most effective time to nourish and rejuvenate the mind and body. The important thing is to eat light, warm foods, cooked with the immune-enhancing spices already mentioned.

Some Ayurvedic tips that will keep us warm, healthy and balanced during the cold months.

Eat at the proper time. Eat your main meal in the middle of the day, when the sun is highest and digestion strong. Eat lighter at breakfast and at night, when digestion is weaker. This will enhance immunity.

It’s also important to eat your meals at the same time every day. Your digestion gets used to a routine, and becomes more efficient.

For specific food recommendations, follow a Vata pacifying diet in fall and early winter (from October 15 to February 15). Eat all six tastes, but eat more of the sweet, sour, and salty tastes, as these enhance Vata. Vata-pacifying foods include nourishing grains such as rice and cous cous; sweet, juicy fruits such as cooked apples or pears; squashes, zucchini, and asparagus; and light, easily digestible proteins such as paneer (a freshly made cheese), lassi (a yogurt drink that aids digestion) and vegetable proteins such as moong dhal. Asparagus is especially good for enhancing the immune system.

There are several ways to boast your immune by following the tips provided below

Even though it is the tendency of common Indian household to stuff themselves up with rich traditional food and straightaway go to bed, it is time to consider this: easy to digest foods which includes whole grains, vegetables (some of them even raw like tomato, cucumber, radish, sprouts), legumes, fruits. Try to avoid highly processed foods, canned and tinned foods etc.

Organically grown foods should be included, even though in small quantities if price is a deciding factor.

Immune boosting spices do not only do what it suggests but also help to create flavours which are easily acceptable to Indian palette. Somehow, India home food store are blessed with many of them which are very good for day to day eating like, cumin, coriander, turmeric, black pepper etc.

If you have ever wondered why the Japanese people live the longest, here is the answer: the eat the food as close to natural as possible while we, the Indians have the tendency to cook it almost to the point of no retrieval which also means that we have lost most of the nutrients to heat. Well certainly, there are so many food items which require cooking, but as I suggested we do not have to cook it to the extent of becoming a pulp even with the application of mild pressure as that of from the back of a spoon.

One of the important aspects is to consider timing your meal so that at no point of time you are feeling too weak or too full. Some day you may also consider to put yourself on liquid diet which helps to remove all the toxin.

If you crave for snacks in between the meals, try including the healthy snacks like a serving of fruits or fruit products and raw vegetable and salad leaves. Try to maintain the timing of your meal everyday which helps to prepare your digestive system for better functioning.

Eat proper quantities of food while still leaving some space for water. Eat what your body suits and not the one which keeps your digestive system busy for long and produces constipation. Try to follow the foods with their season and the one which brings balance to your body. Eating cold salads in winter is definitely not going to help your digestive system while eating warming food definitely can.

When I write the next time on this topic, I will include some of the easy to follow recipes which will give you a better insight into the topic.

By Kuntal Kumar