Ayurveda and The Raw Food Diet

The word Ayurveda is from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, and means "Knowledge of Life."

The Ayurvedic approach to life involves listening to and addressing your body's unique needs, 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 normalize and alkalize your body. This, in turn, connects the mind with the body; thus, Ayurveda and the Raw Food diet are very similar.

Hopefully, this article will provide brief guidance on how you could connect the two in a way that is optimal for 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 fire 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 sufficient 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 with 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:

1. Eat mainly seasonal fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains.

2. Eat according to your constitution, or dosha.

3. Fast for one day every two weeks

4. Establish a regular eating routine

5. Eliminate or limit caffeinated, carbonated and alcoholic beverages from your life

6. Drink herbal tea, fruit and vegetable juices