Originating in India, Ayurveda is the practice and science of well-being. Whether you’re focusing on your doshas or your diet, Ayurveda is renowned for its positive effects on the mind and body. However, as with most practices, there’s a few things you should do and a few things you should avoid. Diet is one of the most important aspects of practising Ayurveda, so it pays to know what’s good and what is not. Whether you’re practising Ayurveda or not, your diet should be one of the most important aspects of your life. This is because it gives you the fuel you need to get your through the day efficiently.
To give you a helping hand, here is a list of five Ayurveda tips for maximising the benefits in your diet. If practised properly, you can expect to enjoy benefits such as more energy, more productive days, better sleeping patterns and a higher state of awareness.
Avoid Honey in Cooking
Honey is renowned for being one of nature’s most beneficial products. Countless scientific studies have proven its positive effects on your skin and your general well-being. However, heated honey, or cooked honey, has been suggested as being harmful to your health. The healing properties of honey are only present in the raw form. When cooking honey, the heat is actively changing the chemical compounds in the substance, rearranging the delicate natural balance.
According to Ayurveda practices, if you overheat honey, it becomes very much like glue. As the honey becomes extremely sticky, molecules can stick to the inside of your digestive tract. This will cause other bits of food to become stuck, causing it to digest and break down in the wrong part of your body. This can cause toxins within the body which, in turn, can cause illness.
Drink Warm Water in the Morning
Water is known for being the lifeline to all good health. After all, up to 90% of our body weight is water! Our bodies thrive on it which is why it’s important to drink around 2 litres a day. This also equates to 6-8 cups. Ayurveda practices state that drinking a warm glass of water in the morning can also be extremely beneficial to your body. If you get up and drink this warm glass as the first thing you do, you’re effectively helping your body to flush any built-up toxins.
Furthermore, Ayurveda also advises that you avoid drinking cold water during or after meals. However, during meals, it’s suggested that sipping on warm water and boost your digestive functions.
Sit & Drink
While on the subject of water, it’s highly advised by Ayurveda that you sit while drinking water. As water is so important, you’ll want to maximise the efficiency in which you absorb it. By necking an entire bottle or glass of water, you’re actively restricting your body’s ability to replenish your water deposits. While standing, your muscles support your body weight, so your muscles are tense. Again, this affects the absorption rate of the water into your muscles.
Stay Away from Banana Milkshakes
A childhood favourite, no matter what store or supermarket you enter, you’re bound to see some kind of banana milk shake product. Loved by many, Ayurveda guidelines suggest that this combination can have detrimental effects to your health. According to the practice, milk and bananas together produce Ama, known as a toxic substance. This Ama is considered to cause an imbalance in the body and can cause illness and sickness.
Avoid Watermelon After Meal Times
Finally, the last diet related tip involved an extremely popular fruit. Watermelon is not very digestive-friendly. Due to its slightly acidic properties and its overwhelming levels of natural sugars, watermelon is best consumed in the day. This means avoiding it in the evenings, especially after your final meal of the day. The body is renowned for having lower digestive functions at night and finds it difficult to break down the watermelon in your sleep. This means when you wake, you’re likely to have an upset stomach or mild bowel problems. Not the best way to start your day!
Summary
By practising Ayurveda dietary methods, you’re taking your first step towards a happier, healthily and livelier lifestyle. Once implementing these techniques, it won’t take long for you to feel the positive effects, usually after a couple of days!
Do you have any tips on Ayurveda practices to share with us? Making you’ve tried some of these techniques and you want to share your experiences? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!