The word, Ayurveda, is from the ancient Indian language,
Sanskrit, and literally means “Science of Life”.
The Ayurvedic approach to life involves listening to and
addressing the unique needs of your body, recognizing and balancing your mental
and emotional states and deepening your connection with your spirit, your
essential self.
The raw food diet is based around the principle that
eating a diet high in raw food will normalize and alkalize your body. This, in
turn, connects the mind with the body; thus, Ayurveda and the Raw Food diet are
very similar.
This article will hopefully provide a brief guidance on
how you could connect the two in a way that is optimal to your health.
In Ayurveda, the idea is that you eat according to your
dosha; vata, pitta and kapha.
Vata is composed of the elements of air and ether
Pitta is composed of the elements of fire and water
Kapha is composed of the elements of water and earth
Vata types are generally thin and find it hard to gain
weight. Vatas need to get sufficient rest and not overdo things, as they can
tire easily.
Pitta types are generally medium sized and well
proportioned. They also tend to be intelligent, with a sharp wit.
Kapha types tend to have sturdy, heavy frames. They are
prone to gain weight easily. They often tend to have a positive outlook on
life.
So, what does this mean, and how does it apply to you?
In Ayurveda, it is believed that each person is governed
by one dominant dosha and you should eat according to that dosha. However, this
article is concerned with Ayurveda and Raw Food, so I will only mention the
foods that coincide with both these diets.
Vata
Balances: Sweet fruits, apricots, avocado, bananas,
berries, grapes, melons, asparagus, beets, cucumber, garlic, radishes,
zucchini.
Aggravates: Dried fruits, apples, cranberries, pears,
watermelons, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, raw onions.
Pitta
Balances: Sweet fruits, avocado, coconut, figs, mango,
prunes, sweet and bitter vegetables, cabbage, cucumber, okra, potatoes.
Aggravates: Sour fruits, berries, bananas, plums,
oranges, lemon, pungent vegetables, garlic, onions.
Kapha
Balances: Apples, apricots, berries, cherries,
cranberries, mangos, peaches, pungent and bitter vegetables, broccoli, celery,
garlic, onion.
Aggravates: Sweet and sour fruits, bananas, coconut,
melons, papaya, sweet and juicy vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes.
There are many suggestions in Ayurveda, which are very
easily translated to a Raw Food Diet.
Such suggestions are:
Eat mainly seasonal fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and
grains
Eat according to your constitution, or dosha
Fast for one day every two weeks
Establish a regular eating routine
Eliminate or limit caffeinated, carbonated and alcoholic
beverages from your life
Drink herbal tea, fruit and vegetable juices