Diet and Ayurveda Medicines

The Ayurvedic physician usually begins the cure of disease by arranging the diet that is to be followed by the patient. So much do the Ayurvedic physicians rely on diet that they declare that all diseases can be cured by following dietetic rules carefully along with the proper herbal supplements; but if a patient does not attend to his diet, a hundred good medicines will not be cured.
                                                                                                    - Charaka Samhita 1.41

"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food

According to Ayurveda, diet should be chosen according to the season, constitution of the individual and the specific doshic imbalances that are present.

The equilibrium between Man and Nature leads to perfect health. The five elements in nature ((ether, air, fire, water and earth) are present in every human being and govern every life on Earth. These five elements are in fact present in the naturally available food that we eat. Therefore any imbalance in the relation between man and nature is bought in equilibrium by the art of maintaining a proper diet.

The Benfits of a Personalized Ayurvedic Diet

Better health, youthfulness and better memory More energy, endurance and strength A gradual decrease in existing diseases Prevention of colds, flu's and other diseases Greater ability to handle stress and anxiety saves you money in the long run Improved sleep and concentration Better digestion, metabolism and elimination Healthier skin, complexion and slowed down aging Increases intelligent Healthier progeny Stronger immune system Weight loss or gain and better sense control

Charaka prescribes the following principles for healthy eating:

Food should be hot, tasty and easy to digest. Eat proper amount of food.   Food eaten should not be too much or too little.   Do not eat when you are not hungry and conversely do not fail to eat when you are hungry.   Eat in congenial and pleasant surroundings with all accessories necessary for the enjoyment of food.   Eating should neither be rushed nor too leisurely.   Concentrate on your food while eating.   Our diet should be tailored to suit our prakriti. A vata individual should take warm and sweet food articles. A person with pitta prakriti should take cool, heavy, sweet, bitter and astringent food items. A person with kapha prakriti should take food, which is dry, warm, light, pungent, bitter and astringent.