So, why Ayurveda? This is a question one could ask before embarking in this journey of nutrition, which could bring one’s life in balance. The Ayurvedic science of food and diet is vast and comprehensive, and influences every aspect of one’s life.
It is often stated about Ayurveda, that it is “The Science of Life” and that it is called the “Mother of All Healing”. And both of them are true, giving Ayurveda the legitimacy to support its claim, on the ability to provide tools for a balanced healthy life to everyone. And, just as India has seen many different rulers and aggressors and it has never lost its territorial integrity, Ayurveda has been preserved and practiced continuously, for more than 5000 years, to the present day.
In 900 BC, three magnificent Ayurveda scholars and masters, CHARAK, SUSHRUT & VAGBHAT, gave this oral tradition a structured form, by writing down the principles of Ayurveda. Today, their textbooks are still used by students, practitioners and all Ayurvedic Medical Schools throughout India.
Ayurveda considers Body, Mind and Consciousness as an organic whole. As they are highly interconnected and could affect each other in various ways, Ayurveda has a very deep understanding on how to balance the imbalance.
According to Ayurveda, all life must be supported by energy, which should flow in a balanced state. Energy is required to create movement, so that fluids and nutrients get to the cells, enabling the body to function. Energy is also required to metabolize the nutrients in the cells, and it is used to lubricate and maintain the structure of the cell. When there is minimal stress and the flow of energy within a person is balanced, the body’s natural defense systems is strong and can better defend against disease.
When Energy is in balance, a free flow runs in your daily life, where your Mind and Body work together, manifesting into easiness, clarity and stability, and it reflects in a natural laughter and shine in your eyes, in your relaxed body movement, generating freshness. Despite these very “spiritual” words, this could really happen to you, adding a peaceful state of mind to a relaxed body, bringing your life stream in balance. And this inner balanced energy reflects in your outside world as well, as a magnifying mirror.
Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy (Doshas), that are present in everyone and everything: Vata (the energy of movement), Pitta (the energy of digestion or metabolism) and Kapha (the energy of lubrication and structure). They are combinations and permutations of the five Great Elements that manifest as patterns present in all creation: Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. All people have the qualities of Vata, Pitta and Kapha: one is usually primary, one secondary and the third is usually least prominent. Despite the fact that they are different in magnitude in general, and their amount is unique for each individual, they are always in harmony in a “balanced” body . Any excess or deficiency of Vata, Pitta or Kapha causes imbalance and disease.
As Ayurveda is a precautionary science, food and lifestyle are considered, at the same time, a prevention medicine and prime culprit for causing diseases. Not following Nature’s guidelines creates imbalance of Doshas, which in turn vitiates bodily tissues, digestive enzymes, circulatory channels and bodily excretions.
Ayurveda helps you experience food, understand its effects on your body, and naturally choose the food that is right for you. Whether you are coping with weight issues or uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, gas, or indigestion, often the underlying root problem is a disturbed digestion. This is why, understanding food is so important for our entire existence.
Proper digestion is a key factor in our physical and emotional well-being. As Ayurveda recognizes, “we are not only what we eat, but we become what we digest.” By making choices that strengthen our digestive system, we create a strong foundation for a stable health and vitality.
