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 re 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
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 wit 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
