What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda Benefits, Diet, Nutrition and more | Veda Naturals
“The impact of lifestyle choices in preventing diseases is well researched, but are we really in tune with our senses to realize poor health choices?”
Ayurveda, in Sanskrit means "the knowledge of life", having taken form 5000 years ago as the oldest holistic form of alternative medicine. Above all, Ayurveda simply means understanding and being in sync with your body intuitively.
Born in Kerala, India, the Ayurvedic art of healing has been passed down classically from generations of sages to disciples. A millennia old way of life, this native Indian system of healthcare continues to be taught scientifically worldwide.
The year 2020 threw the world off-balance. A state of sudden global pandemic altered our clockwork system and urged us to start focusing inwards. With days and months of our lives ticking away with new normal routines, health unfolded onto a new definition. The impact of lifestyle choices in preventing diseases is well researched, but are we really in tune with our senses to realize poor health choices?
Ayurveda at home
It does not take blood, sweat and tears to choose a healthy change. Balance, in our daily choices is key. The beautifully woven Ayurvedic concept of Dinacharya comes into effect here by syncing
with the cycles of nature to connect us back to our bodies, naturally, with simple daily habits rather than rigid routines. Effective rituals at home grounded in Ayurvedic concepts, backed by science, reset us to optimal health - even knocking out mid-day slumps, crashes and optimizing our sleep.
What can Ayurveda do for your body?
Ayurveda works with a root-cause preventive approach to health and well-being that brings the body into a physical, emotional and spiritual balance. It addresses the whole system and not just one part in isolation. The holistic philosophy of Ayurveda offers you the tools to understand your body better and make ayurvedic practices that maximize your well-being. This is done through lifestyle practices like meditation, yoga, dietary changes, ayurvedic products and medicines and holistic therapies.
How do I know my ayurvedic body type?
One size does not fit all. Ayurveda understands that each individual has a different and unique mind-body type - their own body constitution and nature that make up their physical and emotional attributes. If you've ever questioned why some people have a ramped up metabolism than others, some others more hyperactive or calmer, or a majority of people barely gain weight despite bingeing heavy meals - Ayurveda settles these thoughts with knowledge of the three doshas, mainly the three governing body types - Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Derived from the five elements of nature, Vata is made up of space and air, pitta constitutes fire and water while Kapha is made up of earth and water.
Knowing your dosha puts you in the front seat to become your own healer; it affects aspects of not just your psychology, but energy, food, movement, career choices, the quality of your skin, your response to stress and so on. Each of these body types thrive under a specific lifestyle, diet and exercise regimen suited to them. An imbalance from your natural body order can lead to illness, so it's crucial to understand your dosha.
Note that an exact determination of your dosha can only happen with an Ayurvedic practitioner.
Ayurveda and Food - What is the Ayurveda Diet?
"what you see, eat and how you eat - you become"
Our ancestors held the wisdom to understanding the nature of food with our bodies and unlocked a wholesome nurturing experience, followed by the benefits of science.
A time-honored tradition, since thousands of years Ayurveda has used food as much as for medicine, as for nutrition and mindfulness.
"what you see, eat and how you eat - you become"
You’ll observe during periods of extreme stress, your system usually feels more inflamed.
Ayurveda believes every thought, emotion, feeling and our body’s reactive response matters in the way food enters our body to affect us.
Food is a sacred celebration, a sensory experience in Ayurveda.
This Ayurvedic diet can serve you best when you eat according to your mind-body or dosha type resulting in a healthy inner balance. While other diets inform you of the carbs, calories or nutrition on your plate, Ayurveda works with a mindful approach.
Ayurvedic principles advise eating freshly cooked, locally grown food that is closer to harvesting, which also ranks higher in nutritional value.
Instead of restricting a lot of foods, Ayurveda explains the science behind when, what and how to eat, so that over time you intuitively know what works for your body and what doesn't.
Among it's guidelines for food and nutrition, Ayurveda also tells of a not-so-secret classic approach to reduce your cravings! Explained by rasa (taste), Ayurveda puts forth six tastes - flavor profiles which each affect all doshas and also our physical and emotional balance.
Rasa here is understood not just in terms of taste, but as an experience of life itself. The six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent derived from the five elements - ether, air, water, fire and space when balanced proportionately in each meal, essentially leave you content and satisfied. This affects your mental desire to subside your cravings which makes the shift to a healthy Ayurvedic diet easier.
Finally, your approach to preparing food is as important as the kind of food you consume. A hurried meal prepared with deadlines looming in your head, or distracted with your calendar for the day stresses out your gut and digestion. Being fully present while cooking gives you gratitude for nature's refreshing bounty, for the food you intake. Similarly, sitting down mindfully to consume a meal stimulates your digestive fire (agni) well which eases your digestion and helps you de-boat after a meal.
In a nutshell, what can one really expect with an Ayurvedic diet? A multi-sensory experience that not only serves you well physically but also an elevated mental state emotionally.
Ayurveda Nutrition
Many modern pharmaceutical discoveries have been inspired and formulated by plant components. Ancient Ayurvedic texts have mentioned the use and benefits of herbs for overall well-being and health imbalances. Years later, science has backed these benefits for our immune system with research used in forming dietary supplements.
Do we really need dietary supplements?
Let’s face it, our diet in comparison to our lifestyles is pale in a whole set of proportionate nutrients we need. We live in an age of either over or under nutrition of essential nutrients. Stress, fatigue and poor digestion hamper your ability to tackle challenges and create your desired overall well-being.
Enter : Herbal food supplements or dietary supplements, which are all natural additions to your diet for improving digestion , immunity , hair health , mood and energy.
Characterized by being preventive in nature and having bioavailability - meaning the nutrients with food supplements get absorbed easier into your bloodstream with better effects than synthetic vitamins. Aiding memory and sleep, stress management, healthy skin and hair, gut health and women’s health (Shop) to name a few, these multi-faceted single herbs can be taken in any form that suit you best - smoothies, beverages or meals.
Herbal supplements are not meant to replace a diet, but are rather to be used as an addition to your daily intake of food. Their holistic effects show up well when done over a consistent period of time, at least 4 - 6 weeks.
Veda’s proprietary Ayurvedic formulas are used to manufacture these supplements in a way where the concentrated intelligence of natural herbs remains intact. (Learn more here)
In conclusion, by focusing on the unique needs of your own body, it is possible to bring back your body to a state of peace and optimal health. Harnessed by the best of science and nature, allow Ayurveda to bring your life in a balance - from the inside out (discover our shop)