Aruyvedic foods are eaten with the goal of improving and enhancing digestion, say Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai, authors of "The Ayurvedic Cookbook: A Personalized Guide to Good Nutrition and Health." Ayurvedic eating focuses on the relationship between foods and how eating certain foods improves digestion and increases overall health and well-being. If you are considering an Aruyvedic diet, there are many foods that are considered top Aruyvedic choices.
Honey
According to Harish Johari, author of "Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine: 200 Vegetarian Recipes for Health, Balance, and Longevity," honey is considered a holy food in the Ayurvedic diet. Honey is eaten both for its taste and its medicinal properties. Johari recommends adding honey to an Ayurvedic diet because it kills bacteria and promotes healthy digestion.
Nuts
Johari suggests adding nuts to your Ayurvedic diet because they contain pure forms of protein that are easily digested by the body. Nuts also increase the speed of digestion, and when eaten in combination with other foods, enhance the body's overall ability to properly absorb the nutrients from food.
Milk
Milk is considered an important part of an Ayurvedic diet, says Vinod Verma, author of "Ayurveda for Life: Nutrition, Sexual Energy & Healing." Milk promotes growth and eases weakness in order to improve overall health and well-being. Warm milk aids in digestion and enhances the ability to sleep, says Verma.
Ginger
Ginger is a root that can be used fresh or powdered. Adding ginger increases your appetite and aids in the digestion of a variety of different foods, says Johari. Eating 1 teaspoon of ginger with a pinch of salt before a meal will promote better digestion, recommends Johari.
Ghee
According to Verma, ghee is the best cooking fat for cooking Ayurvedic foods. Ghee is clarified butter and it is used to prepare many Ayurvedic foods because it promotes healthy digestion and encourages your body to absorb the nutrients and medicinal properties of food.
Lemons
Johari writes that lemons are prized in the Ayurvedic diet because they support healthy digestion and calm the digestive system as you are eating. Drinking lemon juice or eating the fruit can calm a nauseated stomach and will help ease diarrhea. Johari also recommends a cup of warm water with lemon juice to help treat constipation and return the digestive system to normal.
Bananas
Bananas are one of the holy foods of the Ayurvedic diet, reports Johari, because they stimulate proper digestion, particularly if you are experiencing indigestion. Ripe bananas are digested easily and can help to cure constipation. Johari recommends eating a banana after a meal to speed the digestion process.
Beans
Beans are an important part of an Ayurvedic diet because they promote digestion and provide cleansing fiber, writes Verma. Beans are generally served for at least two meals in the Ayurvedic diet because they fill you up and the fiber helps your digestive system work efficiently.
Rice
Rice is easily digested, says Johari, making it a staple of the Ayurvedic diet. A combination of rice and yogurt can help to ease diarrhea or loose stools by helping to regulate the digestive system. Eating rice on a regular basis can help to prevent constipation and promote healthy digestion.
Wheat
Wheat provides a variety of nutrients to keep the entire body functioning normally. Wheat is easily digested, says Johari, and can be used in a variety of ways. Wheat breads and wheat cereals are two common ways to eat wheat and help to keep the digestive system functioning normally.
References
- "The Ayurvedic Cookbook: A Personalized Guide to Good Nutrition and Health"; Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai; 1990
- "Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine: 200 Vegetarian Recipes for Health, Balance, and Longevity"; Harish Johari; 2000
- "Ayurveda for Life: Nutrition, Sexual Energy & Healing"; Vinod Verma; 1997
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