[Lakshmi, Queen of Agni Yoga]
In Ayurveda class last week we talked about the Ayurvedic diet and nutrition and wanted to share a little bit of it with you!
The creative energy of food is Brahma,
The nourishing energy of food is Vishnu,
The transformation of food into pure consciousness is Shiva.
If you know this, then any impurities in the food you eat
will never become a part of you.
The nourishing energy of food is Vishnu,
The transformation of food into pure consciousness is Shiva.
If you know this, then any impurities in the food you eat
will never become a part of you.
*********
To create healthy Agni (healthy digestive fire) and avoid Ama (toxins), Ayurveda has recommended eating behaviors for all doshas (body constitutions)...listed A-Z. I found this list very user-friendly, easy to apply to my own life and just generally helpful in the midst of a ton of very new information coming at me. Hope you enjoy it and find at least a couple that feel right for you to commit to...or at least try out!
A. Eat only when you're hungry
B. Establish a routine in terms of time and place for eating. Always sit down while eating
C. Do not eat as an excuse for social interaction. It is possible to serve guests food without compromising your own discipline
D. Always give thanks. Say some sort of grace before eating a meal or snack (even if it's just, "thanks Universe!"). This will remind your mind that there is an important function of the food you are about to eat. The function is to nourish the body and mind. We are nourished due to our relationship to Nature.
E. Feed someone else-- a pet, a plant, a friend, or make an offering-- before you feed yourself
F. Make eating a singular, conscious activity (aka: try not to read or watch TV while eating. If you are with others, engage in easy, stress-free conversation)
G. Thoroughly chew each bite before moving onto the next. The digestive process starts in the mouth
H. Make a conscious effort to eat slowly. The average time for a meal should be 30 minutes. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to register that you're full. If you eat too fast, your stomach will be full but your brain won't know it and you'll risk overeating
I. Eat an "anjali" of food at each meal, at most. An anjali is the deep cup formed when you join both hands, palms facing the sky...the amount you can fit in two hands, held together and outstretched
J. The stomach should be 50% full with solid/semisolid foods, 1/4 full with liquids that have been sipped throughout the meal, and 1/4 full with air (think of your stomach as a blender...you need that ratio in order for it to function smoothly)
K. Pay attention to what you are eating. Treat the body as a temple and remember that every molecule that you eat becomes a part of your Self. So treat yourself well
L. Do not eat when upset, depressed, or bored
M. Feed all of your senses with food that is colorful, tasty, aromatic, and pleasing in texture
N. Avoid taking a meal before the previous meal has been completely digested (3-6 hours)
O. Cook with love, or be cooked for with love
P. Include all 6 tastes in the daily intake of food-- sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent
Q. Be mindful of food combining
R. Eat as close to nature as possible. Avoid packaged foods. Avoid genetic modification. Use organic, locally-grown produce
S. Cold beverages should not be consumed during or directly after a meal as it reduces agni and digestion. Small sips of warm or tepid water taken during the meal serves to aid digestion
T. Favor flat breads (versus yeasted breads)
U. Food is best if warm ad well-cooked. Avoid over-cooked, under-cooked, or burned foods
V. Avoid stale or leftover foods
W. Eat the biggest meal of the day at noon (or lunch time)
X. Eat the last meal of the day well before bedtime (at least 2 hours)
Y. Avoid intoxicants and stimulants
Z. Vata and Pitta constitutions may finish a meal by drinking a cup of lassi. This can be made by blending four tablespoons of yogurt with pinches of ginger, fennel powder, and cumin powder in 3/4 cup of water
To create healthy Agni (healthy digestive fire) and avoid Ama (toxins), Ayurveda has recommended eating behaviors for all doshas (body constitutions)...listed A-Z. I found this list very user-friendly, easy to apply to my own life and just generally helpful in the midst of a ton of very new information coming at me. Hope you enjoy it and find at least a couple that feel right for you to commit to...or at least try out!
A. Eat only when you're hungry
B. Establish a routine in terms of time and place for eating. Always sit down while eating
C. Do not eat as an excuse for social interaction. It is possible to serve guests food without compromising your own discipline
D. Always give thanks. Say some sort of grace before eating a meal or snack (even if it's just, "thanks Universe!"). This will remind your mind that there is an important function of the food you are about to eat. The function is to nourish the body and mind. We are nourished due to our relationship to Nature.
E. Feed someone else-- a pet, a plant, a friend, or make an offering-- before you feed yourself
F. Make eating a singular, conscious activity (aka: try not to read or watch TV while eating. If you are with others, engage in easy, stress-free conversation)
G. Thoroughly chew each bite before moving onto the next. The digestive process starts in the mouth
H. Make a conscious effort to eat slowly. The average time for a meal should be 30 minutes. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to register that you're full. If you eat too fast, your stomach will be full but your brain won't know it and you'll risk overeating
I. Eat an "anjali" of food at each meal, at most. An anjali is the deep cup formed when you join both hands, palms facing the sky...the amount you can fit in two hands, held together and outstretched
J. The stomach should be 50% full with solid/semisolid foods, 1/4 full with liquids that have been sipped throughout the meal, and 1/4 full with air (think of your stomach as a blender...you need that ratio in order for it to function smoothly)
K. Pay attention to what you are eating. Treat the body as a temple and remember that every molecule that you eat becomes a part of your Self. So treat yourself well
L. Do not eat when upset, depressed, or bored
M. Feed all of your senses with food that is colorful, tasty, aromatic, and pleasing in texture
N. Avoid taking a meal before the previous meal has been completely digested (3-6 hours)
O. Cook with love, or be cooked for with love
P. Include all 6 tastes in the daily intake of food-- sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent
Q. Be mindful of food combining
R. Eat as close to nature as possible. Avoid packaged foods. Avoid genetic modification. Use organic, locally-grown produce
S. Cold beverages should not be consumed during or directly after a meal as it reduces agni and digestion. Small sips of warm or tepid water taken during the meal serves to aid digestion
T. Favor flat breads (versus yeasted breads)
U. Food is best if warm ad well-cooked. Avoid over-cooked, under-cooked, or burned foods
V. Avoid stale or leftover foods
W. Eat the biggest meal of the day at noon (or lunch time)
X. Eat the last meal of the day well before bedtime (at least 2 hours)
Y. Avoid intoxicants and stimulants
Z. Vata and Pitta constitutions may finish a meal by drinking a cup of lassi. This can be made by blending four tablespoons of yogurt with pinches of ginger, fennel powder, and cumin powder in 3/4 cup of water
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