Understanding the Ayurvedic Diet: Benefits and Drawbacks

In the Ayurvedic diet, it is advised to eat specific fruits, vegetables, grains and pulses for each dosha. All these foods are essential for health. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins. They can also reduce the craving for processed food. Actually, processed foods are harmful for health. Therefore, it is advised to stay away from these foods in Ayurveda. Also, it is advisable to eat natural foods.

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The Ayurvedic diet recommends eating foods rich in nutrients, which can prove to be helpful in weight loss. Research has also proved that by taking an Ayurvedic diet, about 200 people with Pitta and Kapha dosha have lost weight. Apart from this, weight loss can happen faster by including Ayurvedic diet and yoga in the lifestyle.

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Ayurvedic diet can also prove to be helpful in relieving stress or anxiety. A study shows that taking an Ayurvedic diet can help in weight loss. Along with this, one can also get relief from stress, anxiety and depression. Taking an Ayurvedic diet keeps the mind happy and the person feels good.

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It can be a little difficult to follow the Ayurvedic diet, because in this, the physical nature of each person is different and it is advised to eat food according to that nature. Along with this, the Ayurvedic diet also depends on the season. Often people do not know when and how many times the Ayurvedic diet should be eaten. Therefore, following the Ayurvedic diet can be challenging. Especially for those who are about to start taking the Ayurvedic diet.

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In the Ayurvedic diet, some foods have to be eaten, while some have to be completely avoided. This diet is taken keeping in mind the nature of the body. If such foods are eaten, which are against the dosha, then it can cause diseases. In Ayurveda, it is advised to completely avoid meat and alcohol.

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There are three types of doshas considered in Ayurveda - Vata, Pitta and Kapha and diet is decided accordingly in Ayurveda. Let us know what can be eaten under these doshas -

Pitta

• Dairy: Milk, ghee and butter
• Fruits: Sweet and ripe fruits, such as oranges, pears, pineapples, bananas and melons
• Vegetables: Cauliflower, celery, cucumber, ridge gourd, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and carrots
• Pulses: Moong, gram and beans
• Cereals: Barley, oats, rice, wheat
• Nuts and seeds: Soaked almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
• Spices: Black pepper, cumin, cinnamon and turmeric in small quantities

Vata

• Dairy: Milk, butter, yogurt, cheese and ghee
• Fruits: Bananas, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, mangoes and peaches
• Vegetables: Beets, sweet potatoes, onions, radishes, turnips, carrots and green beans
• Pulses: Chana and moong dal
• Cereals: Cooked oats and rice
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, chia seeds and sunflower seeds Seeds
• Spices: cardamom, ginger, cumin, basil, cloves, celery and black pepper

Kapha

• Dairy: goat milk and soy milk
• Fruits: apples, blueberries, pears, pomegranates and cherries
• Seeds: sunflower, chia and pumpkin seeds
• Nuts: raisins and figs
• Vegetables: leafy greens, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, radishes and okra
• Legumes: black beans, chickpeas, lentils and navy beans
• Grains: oats, rye, barley, corn and millet
• Spices: Cardamom, ginger, cumin, basil, cloves, celery and black pepper

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