HEALTHY DIETARY PRINCIPLES

DR. PRASAD VELUTHANAR from the Wellness Center at Kanha Shanti Vanam shares some simple dietary principles from the ayurvedic perspective to bring about better nutrition and well-being.

- DR. PRASAD VELUTHANAR

Eat only when you are hungry. Sometimes a drink is all that is required to satisfy a craving.

Eat breakfast to help prevent a mid-morning energy slump (especially for vata types).

Drink a glass of fresh organic fruit or vegetable juice each day, e.g., carrot, apple, or spinach. Don’t mix fruit and vegetable juices, with the exception of carrot and apple together.

Eat the largest meal at midday, when the digestive fire is strongest.

Take ginger pickle half an hour before each meal.

Sit down while eating and put your full attention on the food being eaten. Do not divide the mind and weaken the digestive juices by excessive talking, reading, or watching television. Always be conscious of the taste of food and the act of eating, and try to eat in a settled, peaceful environment.

Eat only food that is attractive, wholesome, aromatic, and tasty, as this ensures proper digestion.

Eat fresh organic food whenever possible, and avoid processed and refined products. Try to avoid lifeless, nutrient-poor food such as microwaved, pre-cooked, left-over, or canned.

Favor unprocessed, unrefined oils such as Udo’s, flax, pumpkin, ghee and olive oil.

Use honey, maple syrup, agave, and stevia extract for sweetening.

Reduce the use of refined sugar, salt, white flour, hard cheese, and processed or microwaved food.

Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, pastries, and meat. If you do eat meat, choose white meat or fish in preference to red meat, as they are easier to digest.