What is Ayurvedic Nutrition?

Ayurveda regards right nutrition as the foundation of good health. Ayurvedic Nutrition is based on the six tastes - sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent - and their effects on the body/mind before, during and after digestion (rasa, virya, and vipak, respectively). The six tastes in foods reflect their proportions of the five elements. Therefore, over- or under-consuming any taste leads to imbalance of the doshas -Vata, Pitta and Kapha - also comprised of the five elements. To create balance, the six tastes are consumed in amounts and frequencies appropriate for individuals, according to their doshic constitutions (“Prakruti”). The quality of food sources, cooking methods, eating environments (setting, company) and eating processes are also key to creating health-sustaining nourishment of the body, mind and spirit.

Cravings play an important role in Ayurvedic Nutrition. Ayurveda distinguishes between two type of cravings -- those that balance or imbalance the doshas. To correct imbalance-driven (“unhealthy”) cravings, dietary changes are introduced slowly. Gradual change allows the body to gently release stored toxins and the mind to relax its grip on inappropriate food choices. Eventually cravings shift toward those that maintain balance. Such “healthy” cravings are intrinsic and to be celebrated. These cravings guide us to select foods containing the six tastes required for our individual doshic balance. Foods eaten based on healthy cravings also provide proper proportions of our daily essential macro- and micro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrate, and fats, and vitamins and minerals, respectively), according to Ayurveda.