Some food combinations that should be avoided according to Ayurveda:

•  Avoid taking milk or yogurt with sour or citrus fruits.
•  Avoid eating fruits together with potatoes or other starchy foods. Fructose (and other sugars) is digested quickly, whereas starch takes quite some time. In this case the sugar would not be properly digested.
•  Avoid eating melons and grains together. Melons digest quickly whereas grains take more time. This combination will upset the stomach. Melons should be eaten alone or left alone. Honey should never be cooked. Honey digests slowly when cooked and the molecules become a non-homogenized glue which adheres to mucous membranes and clogs subtle channels, producing toxins. Uncooked honey is nectar. Cooked honey is poison.
•  Do not eat meat protein and milk protein together. Meat is heating and milk is cooling so they counteract one another, disturb agni and produce ama.
• Milk and melons should not be eaten together. Both are cooling, but milk is laxative and melon is diuretic, and milk requires more time for digestion. Moreover the action of hydrochloric acid in the stomach causes the milk to curdle. For this reason Ayurveda advises against taking milk with sour fruits, yogurt, sour cream, cheese, and fish.

Amlapitta- Hyperacidity-Dietary Recommendations

• In morning drink empty stomach- luke warmwater+lemon+black salt.

• Drink cold milk ,as it reduces heat in the body.

• Having Amla in morning is also beneficial.

• Gulkanda(Rose petals' preparation) is very helpful for reducing heat in the body.

• Favourable fruits:Pomegranate,custardapple,Figs,raisins,Coconut,Ripe apples.

• Avoid carbonated Beverages-Accumalation of gaseous cabon dioxide causes burping and acid to bubble upwards.In addition,carbondioxide in aqueous solution forms carbonic acid,further eroding the mucus lining of the stomach.

• Leftovers and other ferments such as pickles,spicy foods,oily stuff should be avoided.

• Preservatives irritates the food pipe and stomach,so avoid tinned and ready to eat foods.

• Avoid late sleeping,overeating,stress.

• Can have 2-3 dates in breakfast.

• Basil seeds or 1 spoon use in also benifitial.

• Semolina kheer,ragi kheer,Wheat vermicilli in milk .

• kokam sarbat ,aloe vera juice,mint juice - good in hyperacidity.

• Vegetables in acidity:Snake gourd,bottlegourd,tinda,parwar,Cabbage,ladyfinger,Bittergourd.

• Soup- sweet corn soup.

• Chutney-ridge gourd,bottlegourd,onion,wood apple.

• Avoid- Alcohal,ciggarettes,coffee,chocolates,fried stuff and mayonaise.

 

HYPERTENSION -DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

Diet followed by Hypertension patients should be in such a way that it reduces excess body weight and excess body fat ,thereby reducing the blood pressure.

A vegetarian diet including the following is ideal for hypertension - Garlic, Lemon, bitter gourd, drumstick, mint, spring onion etc.

•One must eat garlic every day for lowering & controlling the high blood pressure. Can also eat raw 1 to 2 garlic cloves daily.

• Eat maximum onion as it is beneficial in it.
• Fresh fruits are very useful in fighting high blood pressure. Indian Gooseberry, Grapes, banana, guava, banana, pineapple, papaya and watermelon are considered beneficial.
• Lemon is useful in lowering the high blood pressure.The quantity of salt used should be minimized to the maximum possible extend. Excessive use of salt is considered to be the main culprit behind many heart diseases especially hypertension.
• Non vegetarian food like red meat and eggs yolk should be completely avoided due to its high salt content.
• Coffee should be avoided because of its caffeine content.
• Reduce the quantity of oil used and completely avoid the use of hydrogenated oils.
• Grind the soya bean with wheat flour for roti.
• Apple reduces sodium in the body.
• Eat Barley. It is useful in hypertension.
• Include Beet in diet. It reduces the high blood pressure.
• 100 ml of juice of raw Cabbage with ¼ tea spoon of cumin seed powder to be taken in the morning on empty stomach.
• Avoid- Pickles, frozen food articles, Custards, ice creams, jelly, fatty substances, and oily, spicy, fried food.
• Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, canned soups, broths and salad dressings, which are high in sodium.If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation (360 ml /week)
• Stop smoking.
• Check food labels for information of sodium in the food.
• Look for products with “unsalted” or “sodium free”labels.

 

Ayurvedic Twelve Dietary Principles -Dwadasha Ashana Vichara

Sushruta has explained the following twelve principles about the diet-
i) Food with cold potency -Persons suffering from thirst, heat, alcoholism and burning sensation and those who are suffering from internal hemorrhage,poisoning, fainting should take this type of diet .

ii) Food with hot potency -This type of food and drinks are suitable for patients suffering from disorders of Kapha and Vata and for those who have been given purification therapy. Similarly, those who are drinking sneha(oily stuff) and are very dry (Ruksha) should take food with warm or hot potency.

iii) Oily food –Persons with Vata constitution, rough skin, dry koshtha(constipated) ,performing lot of physical exercise should always take unctuous food and drinks.

iv) Rough food(Rukshan) – People suffering from obesity, have been received snehana and suffering from Prameha(type of Diabetes) should take food in rough quality.

v) Liquid Diet - Patients who have developed dehydration, thirst and debility should be on liquid diet

vii) Single diet in day – Persons having weak Agni(metabolic fire) should eat only once(1 meal) in a day.

viii) Diet twice in day – Those having good digestive power should eat two times(2 meals) a day.

ix) Diet containing medicine – If the patient has aversion for particular medicine, it should be mixed with food and given to him.

x) Diet in small quantity - Patients having low Agni should always eat small amount of food.
xi) Palliative diet – Appropriate diet given in consideration of season and place.

xii) Normal diet - Persons who are perfectly healthy should consume normal diet.

AHAR VIDHI VISHESHAYATANA

According to  Ayurveda,these are the basic eight principles of our food,diet  and nutrition  :

AAHAR

1. Prakruti– the nature of the food.

 Depending on whether the food is easily digestible or not, food can be class

ified in heavy and light qualities. Meat is heavy for digestion while

rice and vegetables are lighter. This is the basic nature of the food and while eating we must take this into consideration.

 

2. Karana– or processing.

Generally cooked food is better for

nutrition. Some food substances like fruit and some salads are better

taken as uncooked. Food cooked on natural wood or coal fire has

better taste than cooked on electricity or gas. Microwave cooking

destroys Prana in the food. Processing also includes other methods

like roasting, frying, baking, direct heating on fire, preparing by

roasting, barbeque, mixing, drying, churning etc. Depending on the method of the process, the qualities of the food

change. It can be  lighter or heavier for digesti

on.

 

3. Samyoga– means combination.

 While preparing any food the

ingredients must be properly mixed together. Combining sour fruits with milk or curds is not beneficial.

 

4. Rashi- quantity.

While eating one has to consider the

individual ingredient quantity and the total quantity of the food that is

consumed. Here again we have to consider the heavy and light

qualities of the substances that are taken. The quantity of food depends on your digestive fire. There are no fix criteria for the amount of food according to age, sex, race etc.

Parigraha—quantity of each item and Sarvagraha means total

quantity to be consumed.

 

5. Desha- place.

Ayurveda has divided place in three

types -marshy, arid and normal. Also we have to consider the place in

relation with temperature and cold climate condition. Food must be

eaten in place, which is clean. If the surroundings are good and sattvic, the food is better absorbed and has good effect on the body and mind.

 

6. Kala-time or period.

When the previous food has been

proper digested then only the next should be consumed. One must

also change the type of the food as well as its quantity and quality depending on the seasonal changes. The main meal must be taken

between 10 to 2 in the afternoon, which is Pitta time.

 

7. Upayoga Samstha– rules for eating.

 Food must be

consumed while it is hot. This will naturally increase the digestive fire.

Meals must be taken in relaxed, calm and cheerful atmosphere. One

should not eat, when the person is nervous, angry, anxious, or in disturbed state of mind. Similarly eating too slowly or too rapidly, eating while talking, laughing, thinking or watching television is also not advisable. It is better if we concentrate on the food only with the thought that this food is going to benefit my body and mind. Smoking or drinking too much water or any other liquid after eating is not advisable.

Make eating as ritual.

 

8. Upabhokta-Person who takes the food .

Every person must take into consideration, his own constitution, capacity

of his digestive power, the season, time of day & whether the previously taken food has been digested or not.

BALANCING VATA-Nutritional and Lifestyle Recommendations

Balancing Vata-

If excessive stress in your life leads to your Vata force becoming imbalanced, your activity will start to feel out of control. Your mind may race, contributing to anxiety and insomnia. You may start skipping meals, resulting in unintended weight loss, and your digestion may become irregular. If you notice these early symptoms of a Vata imbalance, slow down, take time to meditate, don’t skip meals, and get to bed earlier. A regular lifestyle routine helps ground Vata so you are not carried away into the ethers.

• Vata is cold, light, irregular, dry, and always changing. To balance Vata, make choices that bring warmth, stability, and consistency to your life.Try to get to bed before 10pm, awaken by 6am, and eat your meals at regular times.

• Avoid becoming chilled. Wear adequate clothing appropriate for the season and keep your head covered when the weather is cold.

• Perform a daily self massage using warmer, heavier oils like sesame and almond.

• They experience periods of high energy, but they also tire easily. Light exercise that enhance balance and flexibility is best for a Vata body type. Take care not to push yourself too far and exceed the limits of your energy. Beneficial activities for Vatas include: yoga,walking , light bicycling, light tennis, golf, dance, and aerobics.

• Fresh ginger root is beneficial and can be used frequently. During the cool weather, sip ginger tea throughout the day.

• Be certain that your bowels move regularly on a daily basis.

• Favor soothing, calming music.

• Favor warm colors in your clothing and environment such as earth colors, pastels, browns, and warm yellows.

• Favor aromas that are sweet, heavy, and warm. Examples include basil, bay, cinnamon, citrus, cloves, frankincense, lavender, pine, sage, and vanilla.

Vata-Balancing Nutritional Guidelines

According to Ayurveda, it is important to eat foods that have a balancing effect upon the dominant dosha or that will pacify (stabilize) a dosha that has become excessive or aggravated. Since Vata is drying, cooling and light, favor foods that are oily, warming, or heavy. The best tastes to pacify Vata are sweet, salty and sour. Minimize foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent.

Recommendations:

• To balance the lightness of Vata, eat larger quantities, but don’t overeat.

• All sweeteners pacify Vata and may be taken in moderation.

• Fats and oils are beneficial in the digestive system and help reduce Vata. Use up to 3 teaspoons daily of ghee or extra virgin olive oil.

• All low-fat dairy products are recommended. Milk is easier to digest when warm or heated.

• Rice and wheat are the best grains for balancing Vata. Reduce the amount of barley, corn, millet, buckwheat, and rye.

• Favor sweet, heavy fruits such as: bananas, avocados, mangoes, apricots, plums, berries, coconut, figs, grapefruit, orange, lemon, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapples, rhubarb, kiwi, dates, nectarines and dried fruits.

• Eat fewer dry or light fruits such as apples, cranberries, pears, and pomegranates. To ease digestion, fruits are best eaten lightly cooked or sautéed or eaten alone.

• Cooked vegetables are best. Raw vegetables should be minimized. Favor Asparagus, beets, and carrots. Other vegetables may be taken in moderation if cooked in ghee or extra virgin olive oil, including peas, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potatoes.

• Sprouts and cabbage tend to produce gas and should be minimized.

• Dairy products pacify Vata. For optimal digestion, boil milk before drinking it and consume it while warm.

• Spices that pacify Vata include cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves, mustard seed, basil, asafetida, cilantro, fennel, oregano, sage, tarragon, thyme, and black pepper.

• Nuts are recommended.

• Beans can aggravate Vata, so minimize your consumption of them, with the exception of tofu and mung bean dal.

• For non-vegetarians, use fresh, organic chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs.

Note: Favoring heavy foods such as sweets, oils, and richer foods may contribute to weight gain. Focus on natural grains, and heavy, moist fruits and vegetables. Keep your sweets to a minimum and use low-fat milk products. Cook your food for easy digestion.

Tridoshic Prakrities-characters

You must have observed sometimes..that your Dad, mother and your  sister and you yourself, all have different natures, different tendencies, and different responses towards a same situation.
You hardly suffer from cold and your sister usually does. Temper of your father is high and yours one is low .Your mother loves to stay in cold and your father prefers hot environment.Your father puts in little efforts and lose weight quickly,but your mom tries so hard,but dont get results so fast.You have a good appetite and eats much more than your sister,but dont put on weight,but your sister puts on weight so easily even when she eats too less. 
There are too many differences that list will be too long to discuss. This is not only with you and me. Every family is having same different characters with it. You all stay in same environment and eat same foods!! Then why these differences are there? Answer lies in the concept of Prakruti/Bodytype.


Tri-Doshic Prakruti

---

One person has a tendency to use minimum of energy. She tends to store it. Irritation on different stimuli can cause energy consumption and will result in nothing. This means,she is just cool, calm, and smooth like Kapha. She needs a food that can just fulfill her energy requirement. Even few bucks of extra energies will lead her to blockage in her arteries, dump body, diabetes, over weight and many more bad conditions. If we talk about physical aspects,broad structure,she has a thick,moist,cool skin;strong,white teeth,bright-big eyes,soft-white nails,minimal thirst and appetite,dense-moist-wavy hair,likes sleeping and has dense sleep too.She has a good stamina,grasps things slowly but retains for long.Manges her expenses in a planned way.Temperament calm and slow,moods dont change quickly.She has entrepreneurial skills.She is typically kaphaj in nature.

Another person needs more energy to expend.He has a Pitta constitution. He is sharp enough,has good appetite,good thirst,warm and oily skin,even-yellowish teeth,soft-oily hair,enjoys sound sleep.He is more determined but has loose temperament,intelligent,agitated moods,aggresive and clever mind.Has interests in politics or sports. He will have to be controlled by cool and calm food i.e. what is harmful for first person will be useful for second one. And he is just like a bike of low average and good pick up. His anger should be cooled by special Yogic exercises.

Last one (3rd person)needs the extra energy as she wastes too much in minimum works.She is Vata in nature. She can't stand at a place if she is not offered few bucks for this purpose. Most of the time she is restless.She is always in hurry. Grasps things quickly,but forgets even more quickly,has dark-dry-thin hair,disturbed sleep,dry-rough-cool skin,protuding-uneven teeth,sometimes nervous,swinging moods ,creative at work,spends
lavishly,quite anxious. She needs to be tackled by a mixture of diet and routine of above two. Less food will lead her to deficiencies and extra will lead her to a fatty body.

Besides these three body types there are also the body types which have the traits of two of these. So seven Doshic Prakrutis are:

1. Vata Prakruti
2. Pitta Prakruti
3. Kapha Prakruti
4. Vata-Pitta Prakruti
5. Pitta-Kapha Prakruti
6. Kapha-Vata Prakruti
7. Vata-Pitta-Kapha Prakruti