Diet According to Ayurveda – Dr Kirti Paik
www.india-herbs.com Dr Kirti discusses more about the healthy diet. According to Ayurveda, every food has its own taste (rasa), heating or cooling energy (Virya) and a post digestive effect (Vipaka). Some also possess phrabhava, better known as the unexplained effect. So while it is true that an individual’s Agni largely determines how well or poorly food is digested, food combinations play a vital role. When two or more food having different taste, energy and post digestive effect are combined, the Agni (digesting power) can become overloaded, inhibiting the enzyme system and resulting in the production of toxins. Yet these same foods, if eaten separately, might well stimulate Agni, promoting better digestion and even help to burn Ama, the undigested food product. Poor combining can produce indigestion, fermentation, putrefaction and gas formation. If the indeigestion prolonged, it can eventually lead to toxemia and disease. For example, eating bananas with milk can diminish the Agni, change the intestinal flora, produce toxins and may cause sinus congestion, cold, cough and allergies. Eg.Banana Rasa Sweet/ Astringent/ cooling / sour/ smooth, heavy, laxative Milk is Sweet / cooling/ sweet Light, oily, smooth Increases kapha, decreases vata and pitta Before you say it’s too much, too complicated for me, Tip of the day is, “eat fruit on its own” Avoid taking milk or yogurt with sour or citrus fruits.