Good Eating Habits in Ayurveda

It is fundamental for a person to be healthy that they have a good diet and a healthy routine. A person should eat a diet that fits their constitution.

The eating of food should be judged by the condition of Agni (digestive fires in body). Unless you feel hungry you should not eat. Don�t eat if you feel thirsty or drink if you feel hungry. If you feel hungry your digestive fire is enkindled and if you drink at this time it can put out the fire of digestion, dissolving the digestive enzymes.

Agni

If Agni is disturbed you will not taste the food properly, as the taste of food depends on Agni. Spices help to enkindle Ami, help to make food taste better and clean the body.

Before Meal

Before eating it is good to bathe, or at least clean the hands, feet and face. It is a good ideal to meditate (say a prayer) before eating and sanctify the food.

Just before a meal eat a teaspoon of ginger with a pinch of salt (black salt is best), which awakens the taste buds and starts your juice flowing and purifies the mouth and tongue. But this may not be a good idea for Pitta people. Best to cut the ginger into long thin strips and then marinate it in lemon juice.

How Much Food To Eat

Fill the stomach one-third full with food, one-third full with water, and one-third full with air (or empty). In general this means to eat no more food than what can fit in two cupped hands. In general if one eats more than this, the stomach will expand and want additional food. Over-eating causes the stomach to expand like a balloon.

Overeating is unhealthy as it causes an increase of toxins in the digestive tract. This causes the food to become poisonous and the body has to spend a large amount of work to discharge the food.

Things to Take Into Consideration with Food (Whether It Is)

� Oil or Dry
� Hot or Cold producing
� Heavy or Light
� Taste of Food (astringent, bitter, pungent, salty, sour and sweet).
� Liquid or Solid

Healthy Foods

� Eat only freshly cooked food while it is still hot.
� Eat only good tasting foods.
� Food cooked with love is beneficial.
� Eat food that is proper for your constitution; ones that nourish you and don�t aggravate your Doshas.
� Choose food according to the season.
� Eat fresh, Sattvic food.

Water and Drinks

� Drinking too much water can cause obesity.
� Too many cold drinks reduce resistance and create excess mucus.
� Don�t drink anything too hot or cold, or fruit juices while eating. Best to sip warm water, every couple of mouthfuls of food.
� Water can be taken in the form of fruit juices, but not during meals.
� Should sip water while eating, as it aids in digestion. If a good quantity of water is drunk right after eating it will dilute the digestive juices and harm digestion.
� The amount of water needed changes according to the seasons and climate.
� Water and other drinks should be taken at a luke-warm (room) temperature.
� If you want weight loss, drink before the meal. To maintain weight, drink during the meal. If want weight gain, drink after meal.
� Don�t drink tea during a meal and not within a half-hour before or after a meal.

Food to Avoid

� Best to avoid greasy, fried foods or overly dry foods.
� Reheated and canned foods create gas.
� Don�t eat snacks. This includes all liquids except water.
� It is a good idea not to eat too much in restaurants, as food cooked by people who don�t give a damn is not good.
� Best not to eat Kapha-producing food at night such as yogurt, cheese, ice cream, sesame products or melons.
� Ice cold foods as a class weaken the digestion.
� Cooked honey should not be eaten, as the molecules become like glue that adheres to mucous membranes and clogs the subtle channels, which produces toxins.

Bad Eating Habits

� Overeating
� Drinking too much water, or no water at a meal
� Drinking water just before or after a meal.
� Best to not drink very cold water, especially during a meal.
� Drinking fruit juice and eating fruit during a meal.
� Emotional Eating
� Taking snacks between meals.
� Eating when constipated
� Eating at a wrong time of day.
� Eating food that is too heavy
� Not eating enough food.
� Eating when not hungry.
� Eating foods that are incompatible combinations.

During Meal

� Don�t eat too slow or too fast.
� Don�t rush a meal and don�t linger too much while eating.
� Eat and drink only when sitting, not when standing.
� Give full attention to the food when eating.
� Don�t eat hot and cold dishes at the same meal.
� Use only clean utensils.
� Eat in a pleasure atmosphere.
� Best to eat in a clean, isolated place.
� Eat alone or with people that you know and trust.
� Play pleasant music.
� Flowers are nice.
� Best to face east while eating, the direction of the sun. Don�t eat facing south.
� Pay attention to food while eating. Best not to watch TV, listen to the radio or talk, as this interrupts your concentration.
� Best to remain silence while eating. Best not to talk while eating.
� Best to eat with you hands (not with utensils, in this way the skin sends information to the brain about the texture and temperature of the food.
� Feed all five senses: food that taste good, smells good, has a nice texture, looks good and sounds good (like frying) is good for you.
� Chew over 32 times per mouthful. This makes it possible for the digestive enzymes in the mouth to act properly. Chewing food slowly and thoroughly gives the stomach time to prepare for the incoming food.
� Chew at a moderate speed. Don�t gobble down food.
� Sit up straight while eating.
� Avoid distractions.
� A teaspoon of ghee with rice improves digestions.
� A glass of warm, raw milk with ginger before bedtime is good for the body and calms the mind.

After Meal

� If possible laugh after a meal, as this helps with digestion.
� Don�t sleep within 2 hours of a meal at this disturbs the digestion and mind.
� Wash hands, mouth, face and eyes after a meal.
� Avoid physical activities or heavy mental concentration for two to there hours after eating.
� Urinate after eating. It is best not to defecate for at least three hours after a meal.
� After a meal clean the mouth, put water in eyes (helps to prevent weakening the eyes because of an increase in Pitta after eating), urinate (but best not to defecate). Then take a 100 step walk, which help digestion.
� Do not exercise within an hour of eating.
� Best not to study or take rest within two hours of eating.
� If you have overeaten or are physically weak, lie on your left side to get the right nostril working which will to get the digestion working better.
� After a meal eat a mixture of yogurt and water. If you have a strong digestion you can take 3 to 1, yogurt to water. If you have a weak digestion can have 1 to 3 proportion of yogurt to water. Vata persons can add lemon juice, a pinch of salt, fresh diced ginger or chilies, or whole or powdered cumin or coriander. Pitta persons can add coriander leaf or seed, cardamom powder, lemon juice (less than Vata), and a sweetener such as maple syrup or sugar. Kapha can add honey and powdered ginger or black pepper, diced green chilies or other hot spices.

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