nutrition facts

The word
Ayurveda
is from the ancient Indian language
Sanskrit
and literally means "Knowledge of Life".
The Ayurvedic approach to life involves listening to and addressing the unique needs of your body
recognizing and balancing your mental and emotional states and deepening your connection with your spirit
your essential self.

The raw food diet is based around the principle that eating a diet high in raw food will normalise and alkalise your body. This
in turn
connects the mind with the body; thus
Ayurveda and the Raw Food diet are very similar.

This article will hopefully provide a brief guidance on how you could connect the two in a way that is optimal to your health.

In Ayurveda
the idea is that you eat according to your ‘dosha’; vata
pitta and kapha.
Vata is composed of the elements of air and ether
Pitta is composed of the elements of fire and water
Kapha is composed of the elements of water and earth

Vata types are generally thin and find it hard to gain weight. Vatas need to get sufficient rest and not overdo things
as they can tire easily.

Pitta types are generally medium sized and well proportioned. They also tend to be intelligent
with a sharp wit.

Kapha types tend to have sturdy
heavy frames. They are prone to gain weight easily. They often tend to have a positive outlook on life.

So
what does this mean
and how does it apply to you?
In Ayurveda
it is believed that each person is governed by one dominant dosha and you should eat according to that dosha. However
this article is concerned with Ayurveda and Raw Food
so I will only mention the foods that coincide with both these diets.

Vata
Balances: Sweet fruits
apricots
avocado
bananas
berries
grapes
melons
asparagus
beets
cucumber
garlic
radishes
zucchini.
Aggravates: Dried fruits
apples
cranberries
pears
watermelons
broccoli
cabbage
cauliflower
raw onions.

Pitta
Balances: Sweet fruits
avocado
coconut
figs
mango
prunes
sweet and bitter vegetables
cabbage
cucumber
okra
potatoes.
Aggravates: Sour fruits
berries
bananas
plums
oranges
lemon
pungent vegetables
garlic
onions.

Kapha
Balances: Apples
apricots
berries
cherries
cranberries
mangos
peaches
pungent and bitter vegetables
broccoli
celery
garlic
onion.
Aggravates: Sweet and sour fruits
bananas
coconut
melons
papaya
sweet and juicy vegetables
potatoes
tomatoes.

There are many suggestions in Ayurveda
which are very easily translated to a Raw Food Diet.
Such suggestions are:

Eat mainly seasonal fruit
vegetables
nuts
seeds and grains
Eat according to your constitution
or dosha
Fast for one day every two weeks
Establish a regular eating routine
Eliminate or limit caffeinated
carbonated and alcoholic beverages from your life
Drink herbal tea
fruit and vegetable juices

Food (and water) is the absolute first thing you need in order to ensure life. Without it you would wither away and die. You need food for its nutrition and for its sustenance. But are the foods you consume today supplying you with good solid nutrition
or are many of them slowly robbing you of your health and taking years from your life?

Here are some things to consider:

THE HAZARDS OF EATING MEAT
Eating meat (particularly pork and red meat such as beef) in of itself is unhealthy especially when eaten in too large of quantities. Certain meats
such as beef
can take up to 72 hours to digest completely. Therefore
if you eat meat two or three times a day
you could still be digesting the food you had for breakfast the other day while you are again consuming another round of it.

This explains why many autopsies reveal from 5 to as much as 40 pounds of undigested meat still in the systems of many people! Now
imagine how unhealthy it becomes if the animal where the meat came from was treated with antibiotics and other artificial health sustainers? These chemicals stay in the meat fibers; and no amount of washing
cooking
or boiling will get rid of them. Do you really want that in your food?

Hence
many people today are immune to antibiotics for humans. They ingest the antibiotics from animals
and the extra strong antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria in the human body. The more you eat chemically treated meat
the more you weaken your body’s defense mechanisms. This hazard is aggravated further when the meats are processed with artificial flavors and preservatives.

PRECAUTIONS WHEN CONSUMING FISH
Many “fresh” fish in the market today are loaded with preservatives to lock in their “freshness.” Some use formalin
a chemical used in embalming human corpses
to preserve newly caught fish. A few wicked sellers may wash marketed fish with food coloring or textile color to give these fish a “fresh” look. To ensure your safety and enjoy the nutritious benefits of fish
buy them from trusted sources only.

PRECAUTIONS WHEN CONSUMING BREAD
Many white breads are hard to digest. Their hard residues stay long and may form blockades in the intestines. Moreover
eating white bread actually rapidly elevates blood sugar levels in your body. Whole wheat bread is a healthier food alternative to white bread as it supplies better nutrition
but many of the whole wheat breads today still have preservatives because they are commercially produced. Make sure it is made with “whole wheat flour” and not “enriched whole wheat flour”. Always check the ingredients just to be sure.

CHEMICALS IN FOOD
Aside from having their nutrition values greatly reduced
a lot of food today is treated with harmful chemicals. Washing
cooking
and boiling for long hours may lessen the chemicals in your food
but these harmful substances may not be fully eliminated. Peeling the skin off some fruits will not ensure safety either.

Imagine swallowing and accumulating all those fertilizers and pesticides in your body. Do you still wonder why we have so many deadly diseases today that were unheard of in the days of our ancestors?

Insects know better. They will not touch crops with pesticides. That is why you will find these crops sold in the market without any sign of insect bites. People buy them because they look clean and delicious. They don’t know that these outward appearances conceal inner hazards of the food they are buying. Some people think it is a good option to eat fruits and vegetables that show a few nibbles from insects.

PROCESSED FOOD
After having your veggies and fruits treated with fertilizers and pesticides (and these are given to farm animals as part of feeds)
they also undergo artificial processing to prolong their “freshness.” They are treated with preservatives
which mean more chemicals. Some instant noodles are treated with chemical wax
which may be cancer causing. Do you know that these noodles are banned in some countries?

Because processed food terribly lacks real nutrition
their sellers sometimes put synthetic vitamins in them and pass them off as “plus factors” for good health when actually; these synthetic vitamins often do little to nothing for you or in some cases can even harm your health.

If you want to live a long
happy
and healthy life
always be on the lookout for the presence of preservatives in your food. Look at the labels and find out if some of the ingredients can be harmful to your health.

Sticking to a nutritious diet while traveling can be one of the more difficult things to do. However
if you learn how to make smart choices
a healthy diet is really not that difficult. It’s probably not the best time in which to start a healthy diet
but if you are currently making healthy choices in your foods already
modifying your diet slightly to accommodate travel
is not as difficult as it first may seem.

If you are traveling by airplane
your diet may have to include airplane food
which can often be of poor nutritional value
depending on the selection. When you book your flight
ask about your food options
ask if a vegetarian dish is available? Vegetarian dishes are sometimes more nutritional in this case
but it really depends on what they may be serving. If you can
eat a larger meal before your flight
so that you don’t have to eat the entire meal that is served
to feel full.

When driving or taking a bus
you may be tempted to stop at fast food restaurants and eat the meals found there. Avoid this whenever possible! If you’re on vacation
you may wish to splurge a tiny bit
but having fast food more than once during a week can really be bad for your health. If you must
choose the healthiest options available
like chicken breasts and diet soda.

Also
remember that you can take your own meals when traveling. Carrying a loaf of whole-wheat bread or pita wraps
some lean lunchmeat
and low-fat cheese in a cooler is a great way to avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol junk food meals. These are much better choices and you’ll save a lot of money as well. Call ahead to ask if there will be a refrigerator in your hotel room.

Lastly
make smart choices when you eat out. If you choose salads or pasta get the dressing on the side and ask about low-carb options. In fact
many places print these dieting options directly in the menu for the health-conscious people. Control your portions by ordering lunch menu sizes or splitting the meal in have and getting a doggie bag
and you’ll be well on your way to healthy eating
even away from home.

Yes
eating healthy foods when you travel can be a challenge. However
your health is worth it. Eating meals high in nutrition will also assist in fighting illnesses that you are likely to encounter when traveling and you will find yourself more alert so that you can enjoy your trip.