The best way to find out A LOT about this diet (do not assume diet means that you will be deprived. You will not) is to actually get to an Ayurvedic healer who can design an individualized diet for the people they see, based on various factors such as age and gender, the doshic tendencies that need to be balanced at a given time, the strength of the body tissues and the digestive fires, and the level of ama (toxins) in the body. The place where a person lives and the season are also factors that affect dietary dos and don'ts. (excerpt from http://healing.about.com/od/ayurvedic_diet/ss/eatforbalance.htm). My friend Mariellen of BreathDreamGo http://breathedreamgo.com/ has been to the http://www.caish.ca/ in West Toronto and reports that it is quite good! I have yet to go for an assessment but am eager to try it out. Will report back at a later date when I get to the centre myself.
So, for the last two years or so, but definitely the last year I've found that I've been eating to my Ayurvedic type without knowing it ;) That's how easy this is, folks. It's like Yoga, easy and practical :) Though it is an extensive Asana practice and philosophy and dare I say it, science, it is still a pretty straight-forward practice, really. To me, it has always made more sense than some other 'givens' when it comes to how we deal with our health in the (post) modern age. First of all, it is preventative. I prefer preventative medicine myself and feel it is much more effective to see a professional 'guide' (Naturo/homeopath, osteopath, yoga teacher, Ayurvedic physician, Chinese herbalist, acupuncturist, nutritionist) and remain healthy, then seek aid after becoming sick, as if the case with much of Modern Western Medicinal practice today. Yoga, If practiced daily, should result in improvements in your over-all health and your out-look on life. All the poses have simple names; if you are hearing them in Sanskrit and are not familiar with the language they might sound 'exotic' to some people, but the direct translations just tell it how it is, for example, Pavanamuktaasana, the pose, sounds pretty awesome, huh? Well, it translates to "wind-releasing pose"! You can piece together the purpose of such an Asana pose, now can't you? Here it is in a little flash animation. Great practical pose for a great practical purpose! http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/windrelieving.asp.
Which, brings me to my next point. Digestion. In my humble opinion, it's pretty darn important! I have found that if you are not digesting your food properly (and you'll know it) you are eating something that is inappropriate for 'your type'. It really is not brain science to see why the Ayurvedic diet is good for you. Below is a list of some of the foods for each type. You can see that there are many high fibre foods and also wholesome, nurishing energy foods that offer a lot of 'staying power' for the body, mind, and 'self'. With the exception of frozen foods, which I promote as being helpful during the Canadian winter (freezing fruits or veggies from our harvests in the summer and fall allow for a healthier diet in the Winter) and Ghee, which I do not eat, as I consider it to be a 'bad' fat, the list is pretty 'clean'. I LOVE HERBS & SPICES! I think they are the 'other' food group. You can also grow your own herbs and spices, and dry them for Winter use!
2.Opt For The Right Kind of Food:
In general, the following food items should be included in –
Ayurveda Vata Diet – Grapes, Bananas, Lemons, Strawberries, Onions, Carrots, Cucumber, Potatoes, Rice, Wheat, Almonds, Cashews, Chicken etc.
Ayurveda Pitta Diet – Apples, Mangoes, Watermelons, Brocolli, Mushrooms, Zucchini, Barley, White Rice, Kidney Beans, Freshwater Fish, Cottage Cheese, Cheese etc.
Ayurveda Kapha Diet – Apples, Berries, Cherries, Raisins, Cabbage, Garlic, Egg Plant, Spinach, Potatoes, Red Lentils, Split Beans, Eggs, Ghee, Ginger, Garlic, Fenugreek etc.
Eat natural and whole foods.
Stay away from food items that are frozen or canned.
Avoid such food items that contain preservatives, added colours or flavours.
Make a special effort to eat seasonal food items which are available only during those seasons. These include seasonal fruits and vegetables.
3.Satvic Food is Good For You:
These include green leafy vegetables, fresh seasonal fruits, almonds, rice, honey and easy to digest food items.
4.Include 6 Basic Tastes in Each Main Meal:
These include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. It is said that doing so helps to create an optimum balance within the body.
5.Herbs And Spices:
Include herbs and spices in your diet as they help in improving digestion, as well as cleansing the body.
Always remember that Stomach is the Shrine of the Divine so treat it with respect and love and it will give back to you in the form of good health. Make the right choice, choose an Ayurveda Diet and move towards a healthy and happy life. And yes, an ayurvedic lifestyle does promote weight control. My weight loss post-partum has been consistent and steady as a result of eating 'right for my Ayurvedic type'. Slow and steady and doable for life, this diet a great way to achieve optimum health, support a Yogic and Green lifestyle, and lose weight gradually.
(excerpts from http://ayurvedadiet.com/)
Here are a couple links to more pages that discuss this diet and lifestyle choice! Happy eating ;)
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/ayurvedicdiet
cool site for all sorts of awesome recipes http://www.epicurious.com/
here is a cook book you might want to check out! I have this one and its pretty good!
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Taste-Heal-Ayurvedic-Cookbook-Modern-Living/dp/0976917009
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