What is the Ayurvedic Diet that Balances Energy?

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a healthy living system that has been practiced in India for thousands of years. Ayurveda can be described as “life science”. According to Ayurveda, there are five basic elements that compose the universe. These are:

• Air (Vayu)
• Water (Jala)
• Akash (Void)
• Fire (Teja)
• Soil (Prithvi)

These elements are believed to form three different “doshas”, defined as the types of energy circulating in the body^[1].

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, humans are created according to a basic principle known as prakruti. According to this idea, prakruti is an original component of each person’s physical and psychological characteristics.

While an individual’s core prakruti is always the same, it is always subject to change based on several factors such as day and night, seasonal variations, food, lifestyle, and constantly. Ayurveda experts suggest that the foods consumed, the exercises performed and the relationships established with other people can have positive or negative effects on health. Ayurveda attaches importance to keeping the person healthy. It is recommended to maintain health by following daily and seasonal diets to maintain the balance of the body for this purpose.

When it comes to perfect health in Ayurveda, it means the balance created between body, mind, spirit and social well-being.  Essentially, Ayurveda, focuses on the intertwined relationships between body, mind and soul like all holistic health systems. However, according to Ayurvedic philosophy, these connections go beyond the individual and reach the universe^[2].

What is Ayurvedic Nutrition?

Ayurvedic nutrition, in a very general definition, is a holistic, rule-based nutrition style that focuses on the development of balance between body and mind.

The Ayurvedic diet is an extension of the Ayurvedic philosophy. It has been practiced in India for thousands of years in accordance with Vedic teachings. It is based on determining the dominant dosha in the individual and consuming the necessary foods to maintain the balance between the three doshas described in the upper part of the article.

One of the hallmarks of the Ayurvedic diet is that it offers personalized teachings for everyone about which foods to eat and which foods to avoid, based on your body type. The fact that the Ayurvedic diet is believed to improve mental health in addition to physical health is a significant factor in its popularity.

People are thought to belong to one of the 3 main dosha groups depending on their body type, personality traits and various sensitivities although it is accepted that each person has a unique structure^[3].

The word dosha describes a body type specific to each individual. Every dosha maintains equilibrium in the body’s many physiological processes. The functions of the doshas are:

• Pitta dosha controls hunger and thirst and/or body temperature.
• Vata dosha is responsible for electrolyte balance and movements.
• Kapha dosha supports the functions of the joints^[3].

You can take an Ayurvedic test, or an Ayurvedic evaluation, to find out which dosha type you are. An initial evaluation with an Ayurvedic practitioner may take approximately 1 or 2 hours. During this time, you will be asked questions about your general health, diet and lifestyle^[4].

Ayurvedic Test

When having an Ayurveda test, you should be evaluated by a specialist practitioner. The Ayurvedic practitioner feels 12 distinct pulse spots on your wrists. The practitioner also examines your skin, tongue, nails and eyes in detail to obtain information about areas of your body that may be imbalanced. Your practitioner determines your specific dosha balance after the evaluation. Although the three doshas should be balanced in humans, it is often seen that one dosha dominates the other doshas. In this case, it can also create an imbalance in the body. Your practitioner will also obtain information about your body and prakut characteristics, as well as other characteristics that your practitioner will determine in line with your answers to the questions. In this way, your practitioner prepares suitable plans for you.

After the Ayurveda test, the practitioner explains your treatment plan, which consists of diet, exercise, herbs, yoga, meditation and massage, prepared specifically for you. The main purpose of the treatment plan is usually to restore 1 or 2 doshas and restore balance.

Foods Allowed/Prohibited in the Ayurvedic Diet

Foods are categorized into classes in the Ayurvedic diet based on their physical characteristics as well as how they interact with the body of the individual.

Recommended Foods

Some of the foods you are allowed to consume based on your specific dosha include:

Pitta

• Protein: Small portions of poultry, egg whites, tofu^[1]
• Milk and dairy products: Milk, butter^[1]
• Fruit varieties: Orange, pear, pineapple, banana melon, mango (it is recommended that the fruits be fully ripe)^[1]
• Types of vegetables: Sweet or bitter vegetables such as celery, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage, leafy greens, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes or Brussels sprouts^[1]
• Legumes: Black beans, chickpeas, lima beans, mung beans, lentils, kidney beans^[1]
• Grains: Barley, basmati rice, oats, wheat^[1]
• Uts and seeds: Small portions of pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut
• Herbs and spices: Small amounts of cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, dill, turmeric and coriander^[1]

Vata

• Foods containing protein: Small portions of poultry, seafood, tofu^[1]
• Milk and dairy products: Butter, milk, yoghurt, cheese^[1]
• Fruit types: Blueberries, bananas, strawberries, grapefruits, peaches, plums, mangoes (it is recommended that the fruits be fully ripe)^[1]
• Vegetables: Beets, radishes, onions, turnips, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes (vegetables must be cooked)^[1]
• Legumes: Chickpeas, black beans, lentils, mung beans, kidney beans^[1]
• Cereals: Cooked oats, cooked rice^[1]
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds^[1]
• Vegetables and spices: Cardamom, basil, thyme, cloves, cumin, ginger, black pepper^[1]

Kapha

• Protein: Small portions of egg whites, poultry, seafood^[1]
• Milk and dairy products: Skim milk, goat milk, soy milk^[1]
• Fruit varieties: Apple, blueberry, pear pomegranate, cherry raisin, fig prune^[1]
• Types of vegetables: Asparagus, leafy greens, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, radishes, okra^[1]
• Legumes: Black beans, chickpeas, lentils^[1]
• Cereals: oats rye, barley, corn, millet^[1]
• Nuts and seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds in small portions^[1]
• Vegetables and spices: Basil, cumin, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, thyme^[1]

Foods Recommended to Avoid

Foods that are recommended not to be consumed according to the Ayurvedic group according to their dosha characteristics are:

Pitta

• Foods containing protein: Red meat, seafood, egg yolk^[1]
• Milk and dairy products: Sour cream, cheese, buttermilk^[1]
• Fruit types: Sour or unripe fruits such as grapefruit, grapes, apricots, papaya and cherries^[1]
• Vegetable types: Pepper, beet, tomato, onion, eggplant^[1]
• Grains: Brown rice, millet, corn rye^[1]
• Nuts and various seeds: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, sesame
• Herbs and spices: All spices not included in the previous section^[1]

Vata

•  Foods containing protein: Red meat^[1]
• Fruit types: Dried, unripe grapes, cranberries, pomegranates, pears^[1]
• Vegetable types: Cooked broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes that can be consumed with any raw vegetable^[1]
• Legumes: Black beans, kidney beans^[1]
• Cereals: Buckwheat, barley, rye wheat, corn, quinoa, millet^[1]
• Herbs and spices: Parsley, thyme, coriander seeds^[1]

Kapha

• Foods containing protein: Red meat, shrimp, egg yolk^[1]
• Fruit varieties: Banana, coconut, mango, fresh fig^[1]
• Vegetable types: Sweet potato, tomato, zucchini, cucumber^[1]
• Legumes: Soybeans, kidney beans^[1]
• Grains: Rice, wheat, cooked grains^[1]
• Nuts and various seeds: Cashews, walnuts, pine nuts, sesame seeds^[1]

Does Ayurveda Help You Lose Weight?

The Ayurvedic diet is a type of nutrition that helps regulate your body’s digestive system. Furthermore, it keeps harmful compounds from entering the body and building up there, and it facilitates a healthy metabolism by bringing in helpful elements. When all these factors are combined, it is possible to lose weight with the Ayurvedic diet, and more importantly, it is possible to lose weight permanently^[4].

Ayurvedic Diet Tips

You can find what you want to know about the 4 tips on the success of Ayurveda in weight loss and evaluate the sections that are suitable for you in this section. The way that Ayurveda approaches diets differs from that of fads, which are strict and challenging to follow. Ayurveda can also be considered a type of alternative medicine that has been practiced in India for 500 years^[5]. Here are 4 tips to consider to lose weight with the Ayurvedic diet:

• Natural: To achieve complete mind-body and spiritual health when using the Ayurvedic diet, natural modifications are reinforced by paying attention to sleep patterns^[5].
• Personalized effect: Ayurveda emphasizes that one size does not fit all. You should first become self-aware and choose which body type is best for you^[5].
• Preventive treatment: Ayurveda does not cure any disease. Your genetic history is especially emphasized when determining personal health goals in Ayurvedic consultations. In this way, your guide can create a special nutrition style just for you by focusing on issues such as hypothyroidism, obesity, anxiety and depression^[5].
• Reducing stress: Stress is one of the important obstacles to losing weight. By using purifying practices like meditation and herbal teas, Ayurvedic nutrition aims to lower stress levels^[5].

Ayurveda is not used for medical treatment or prevention of any disease a person has. In other words, the ayurvedic diet program is not a therapeutic diet. It mostly aims for individuals to develop a healthy lifestyle. The Ayurvedic diet and the diet you can follow for weight management can prevent more serious diseases that may occur later in your life. It is important to apply holistic and personalized methods during the diet. For instance, while some people benefit from intermittent fasting, some people may not benefit from this practice^[5]. Ayurvedic consultations mostly address the following subjects:

• The person’s health condition
• Individual’s genetic and social history
• Individual’s emotional and mental health
• Existing imbalances in an individual’s lifestyle

By examining these factors, the main reason for the person’s weight gain is determined and, accordingly, a long-lasting weight loss is tried to be achieved through changes in diet and lifestyle^[5].