Ayurveda - 5 Ayurvedic eating habits for a healthier life

There are many different habit changes you can incorporate into your lifestyle which will benefit your health and well being. A healthy mind comes from putting healthy compatible foods into the system so a person can function at a high level of awareness. As there are many better habits that can be applied to our modern day lifestyles, there are also a few fundamental practices that we need to keep so our system functions on the same level as nature. Here are five ayurvedic habits that can help you live a healthier Life

1- In a world full of excess it is better to keep meals to 1 or 2 times a day. This three meals a day plus all the snacking and social eating is a major cause of disease in our fast moving society. This tradition of breakfast, lunch and dinner is not very modern any more. You should eat when you need food and not because it is ‘time to eat.’ How can it be time to eat for every single person at the same time? A healthy mind and body only needs 1 to 2 meals a day and that is without snacks. Some days the body also needs a complete rest from intake of food, therefore a fast of warm water is recommended.

2 - The timing of eating is crucial and this needs to be way before bedtime so the body has a chance to do some cleaning during the night. Eating before 5 or 6pm is a health habit to cultivate. This will give the system time to digest the food and then when you are sleeping no energy needs to be wasted on digestion and at the same time no extra toxins are created from undigested food passing into the intestines.

3 - Eating in season is fundamental to a healthy diet. A local farmers market is best as they have local produce which is in season and your body is acclimated to that type of food. Eating foods that are brought in from all over the world creates many issues such as allergies, digestive problems, skin toxicity and constipation. Eat local fresh foods and avoid problems.

Photo: Erin O'Dwyer

4 - Eat in the right combinations of foods. Eating in season alleviates much of this problem but then there are many other foods which should not be mixed together. Milk and fish, dairy and salad, yogurt and fruits etc. You will not know them all but as you eat more correctly, the body and mind will become in tune with what combinations are best. To start the process, when you eat only mix 2 or 3 things together (without sauce) then you will know which foods are not right for at this moment. This is a daily practice that needs to be cultivated and over time a person will intuitively know how to combine foods.

5 - Fill the stomach with one third food, one third water and keep it one third empty. As you leave room for digestion the liquid and food mix to make a healthy combination and help each other to break down to be used as nutrition. This rule will change if a person is very imbalanced in one element or another but in general this is a good guide line for a healthy food intake.

Treat your body well and the mind will follow.

Yogi Cameron