Ayurveda & Food
“Ayurveda is the most sacred science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world and the world beyond” – Charaka Samhita
Ayurveda is the ancient healing system of India, born out of the Vedic tradition, which is dated at 10,000 years old, but is ultimately considered timeless. Ayurveda is made of two words: āyus = longevity or life, and veda = knowledge or wisdom… thus, Ayurveda is the wisdom of longevity.
“The Self, smaller than the small, greater than the great, is hidden in the hearts of all creatures” – Svetasvatara Upanishad
The Ayurvedic system is holistic – encompassing mind, body and spirit as aspects of one’s whole entity. The tools of Ayurveda include diet, lifestyle, herbs, gems, cleansing and rejuvenation therapies as well as the use of yoga and jyotisha (vedic astrology).
“There is no-thing in this universe which is non-medicinal, which can not be made use of for many purpose” – Ashtanga Hrdayam
A key of Ayurveda is dinacharya (daily routines), which includes an emphasis on what, when and how one eats. Ayurvedic knowledge of food is comprehensive. According to Ayurveda food should:
- Be nourishing and nurturing
- Encourage and support appetite, digestion and assimlation of nutrients
- Include all 5 elements and all 6 tastes
- Be tri-doshic (balancing to vata, pitta and kapha)
- Be seasonal, fresh and organic
- Serve individual needs based on one’s current state of health and one’s natural constitution.
“As oil abides within sesame seeds, butter within milk, water within the riverbed and fire within wood, so Consciousness abides within one’s own self.” – Svetasvatara Upanishad
Yoga & Food
“The most conducive foods for the yogi are: good grains, wheat, rice, barley, milk, ghee, brown sugar, raw honey, ginger, fresh vegetables, lentils and pure water..Ṭhe yogi should take nourishing and sweet food that can nourish the bodily tissues and is pleasing and suitable (for the season, environment, age & constitution).” – Hatha Yoga Pradipika
A yogic diet resides in the aim of yoga – Self-realization, Awakening, Self-recognition… established through many means, including a resolve to live a life focused on removing that which blocks the mind and body from knowing the Truth that already is.
“Food which are prohibited [for the yogi] are those which are excessively bitter, sour, spicy, salty, heating. Also alcohol, fish, flesh foods, and garlic. Unhealthy diet should not be taken [by the yogi] – such as that which is reheated after becoming cold, that which is dry and devoid of natural oils, that which is excessively salty or acidic, that which is stale, and that which has too many items in combination”. - Hatha Yoga Pradipika
All of the recipes at Vedicook are based on a yogic diet.
The Recipes here emphasize:
- Sattvic foods
- Fresh, organic and seasonal veggies
- Healthy fats & oils
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- A balance of the 6 tastes (called rasa)
The Recipes here are free of:
- eggs
- meat, fish, poultry
- garlic
- onion
In addition, gluten-free & dairy-free options are always provided for ease of digestion in those cases where one’s system is hyper-sensitive to heavy foods.
Please note that a yogic diet and an Ayurvedic diet is not always the same! The purpose of an Ayurvedic diet, is healing. As such, there are circumstances in which eggs, meat, garlic and onion are utilized. For example, for one suffering from emaciation, bone marrow broth may be traditionally prescribed, for a period of time, to restore strength. For one suffering congestion or bacterial infection, garlic may be prescribed, for a period of time. Yet, for one who is healthy and balanced, the Ayurvedic tradition also promotes an emphasis on the yogic (sattvic) diet, for the most part. For, afterall, from the Ayurvedic perspective, the reason one aspires toward health is so that he or she may live long enough to endeavor to re-discover the Self… the One consciousness that is the source of all… that is limitlessness itself.
