What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda

“ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते उत्तिष्ठेत् स्वास्थो रक्षार्थमायुषः“

This is a verse from Ayurveda which means, “A healthy individual should wakeup in Brahma muhurta (early morning/before Sunrise) to protect and improve health.”
Indian culture is a life style, not only a way to worship. Ayurveda is a part if this life style.
Ayurveda is an Indian ancient natural medicine system. So let’s discuss about Ayurveda, Ayurvedic diet, benefits of Ayurveda and other related things.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient healing system originating in India that dates back  over 5,000 years ago.
Ayurved is the Upveda (Sab aur near to Veda) of Atharva Veda.

What does Ayurveda mean?

Ayurveda is derived from combination of two words Ayur and Veda. ‘Ayur’ meaning Life, ‘Veda’ means knowledge.
Ayurveda translates meaning “Knowledge of Life”
Yoga and Ayurveda are inter-linked with each other in Vedic Knowledge.
Thus, it is important to understand both roles of Ayurveda and Yoga together.
Vedic knowledge was designed to show the inner workings of the universe in relation to our consciousness.

How Ayurveda Works?

A medical system of India, that has been used for thousands of years.
The goal is to cleanse the body and restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, yoga, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods.
Internal purification is the first step in Ayurveda treatment, followed by a special ayurvedic diet, yoga, herbal remedies, massage therapy, and meditation.

What are the benefits of Ayurveda?

• Reduces Stress.Yoga and Ayurveda are inter-linked
• Aids in Weight Loss
• Balances Hormones
• Reduces Inflammation
• Removes Bad Toxins From Body
• Reduces Risk of Diseases
• Benefits Overall Health
• Healthy Skin
• Anti-aging

The concepts of universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas) are the primary basis of ayurvedic medicine.

What is Ayurvedic medicine made of?

Ayurvedic medicines contain sophisticated therapeutic formulations, using ingredients derived from plants & minerals.

What is an Ayurvedic Diet?

As we have already discussed that Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine.  Ayurvedic diet is based on the principle of the Medicine System of Ayurveda. Ayurvedic diet prescribes or restricts certain foods based on one’s body type, which is claimed to support mindfulness and boost weight loss. Rather than focusing on curing health problems, Ayurveda focuses on preventing them.
An Ayurvedic diet boosts your health by advising:

• when you have to eat
• what to eat
• how to eat

all living creatures comprise of a combination of 3 doshas, which have to be incomplete balance for a healthy body. A unique combination of these 3 energies is required for a balanced body.

How does Ayurveda medicine work?

One of the primary characteristics of an Ayurvedic diet is that you eat according to your dominant constitutional type or dosha. You can think of your dosha as your most prominent energy.
There are three different Ayurvedic doshas that derive from five different elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Each element provides different qualities or attributes.
Vata (space and air): Vatas are often described as creative, intense, or expressive. Attributes include dry, light, cold, and rough. Foods to Eat

• Sweet fruit such as cooked apples or cherries
• Cooked vegetables like asparagus or beets
• Grains including quinoa or rice
• Red lentils
• Dairy products (in moderation)

Pitta (fire and water): Pittas are often described as intelligent, joyful, and driven. Attributes include sharp, hot, liquid, and mobile. Foods to Eat

• Raisins
• Watermelon
• Sweet or bitter vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower
• Dry cereal
• Pasta
• Black beans
• Unsalted butter

Kapha (earth and water): Kaphas are often described as calm, loving, or lethargic. Attributes include moist, heavy, soft, and static. Foods to Eat

• Astringent fruit like applesauce or prunes
• Pungent or bitter vegetables like celery or carrots
• Granola
• Polenta
• Lima beans
• Buttermilk

Among these three energies one is more prominent than the other, called dosha.
Once you have determined your dominant dosha, you can create meals around foods that will help nourish your body and balance your energy.
Through its remedies, Yoga, Ayurvedic diet, meditation Ayurveda helps to maintain balance of these three energies which is key to staying physically and mentally healthy.
Some of the basic Ayurvedic eating practices include:

• Intake of six rasas or tastes. At each meal, you will incorporate foods that are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent. Begin your meal with foods that have a sweet taste (like sweet fruit).
• Eat mindfully and with concentration. Avoid talking, laughter and other distractions to fully appreciate your meal and the wholesome benefits it provides.
• Eat slowly enough that you can savor the taste of the food.
• Eat quickly enough to prevent the food from getting cold.
• Eat the proper quantity of food. Be aware of hunger signals and signs of fullness to avoid overeating.
• Eat only when your previous meal has been digested. The guidelines suggest that you do not eat within three hours of your previous meal or snack, but should not go without food for longer than six hours.
• Focus on breakfast and lunch. Many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend eating a modest breakfast and a larger, satisfying lunch. Dinner may or may not be consumed based on your hunger levels.

“An Ayurvedic doctor can advise the right combination of foods to balance the dosha and make the diet more effective,”