Ayurveda: Ancient Indian healing diet for more vibrant health

Ayurveda recommends cooking with fresh herbs and spices.

Ayurveda (an Indian word for "science of life") is an ancient approach to healing that recommends balancing the three "Doshas" or three different physical types. These types are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The qualities associated with them correspond somewhat to the Ectomorph, Mesomorph and Endomorph body types. Ayurveda states that everyone tends to have one of the Doshas dominant, and when the Doshas go out of balance our health suffers. You can take this quiz to find out your Dosha type.

Food is a big part of Ayurveda, and what we eat can push our Doshas out of balance, or bring them back into balance. One basic principle of Aurveda is that the digestive fire, or Agni, must be maintained for food intake to give us the nutriment we need. This fire can be "stoked" and digestive and metabolic function can be improved. 

Three Body Types, Three Lifestyles

Each Dosha has specific qualities that define its presence in the body. The Tri-Dosha system says we tend to have an imbalance in at least one Dosha at a time, and different lifestyle habits can throw different Doshas out of balance.You can take this quiz to find out your Dosha profile. People with too much Vata, or a Vata inbalance, tend to be thin, nervous, prone to stress, feel cold in their extremities, talk too fast, act impulsively, or have any number of other symptoms such as headaches, back pain, coughs or nervous stomach. They need to eat regularly, and eat nourishing foods. People with too much Pitta are moody, irritable, perspire a lot, have strong body odor, are impatient, have skin rashes or acne, and other symptoms that are listed here. They should avoid sour, fermented foods. Kapha types have a tendency to be overweight, to sleep a lot, to move slowly, to be even-tempered, to be possessive and acquisitive, and have a tendency to be depressed when things are out of balance. They should avoid too many sweet foods.

Putting Ayurveda into Practice

There are a number of excellent books on Ayurveda that emphasize dietary changes for better health, including Deepak Chopra's Perfect Health, which includes a thorough questionnaire to help you determine your Dosha type; or Ayuveda: A Life in Balance by Miya Tiwari, which includes recipes and food plans. There are certain foods, herbs and spices recommended by Ayurveda that may be easily found in the grocery or health food store, such as ghee (clarified butter), turmeric, or cumin.

It is easy to implement the principles of an Aurvedic diet into your life. More complex and involved treatments may be prescribed by an Ayurvedic specialist, such as special forms of massage with herbal oils. Also, the recommendations of diet changes to address Dosha imbalances are usually accompanied by other lifestyle changes, such as improving your sleep hygiene, developing a regular routine, or spending time outside in nature. Ayurveda may seem complex at first but once you learn the basic principles of it, it can be a very fulfilling and effective way to maintain your health.