Ayurvedic Diet for Beginners: Benefits and Guide

Imagine you have been following the perfect diet for months, and yet you still see no results. You feel low on energy, struggle with losing weight, and fall sick often. Then it’s probably because your diet is missing something. The truth is, it’s not just about how much or how little you eat. You could be eating healthy, but still missing the key nutrients in your diet. 

This is why you need to try an Ayurvedic diet, it’s a system that not just focuses on the calories or the type of food you are eating. It is focused on understanding the unique body type of each person. And coming up with diet plans that are best suited for your body type and your goals. Its primary focus is on maintaining health and preventing diseases with the power of the food you eat. In this blog, we will explore more about the principles of Ayurveda and benefits of following this diet.

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Benefits of an Ayurvedic Diet

Better Skin Health

According to ayurveda, beauty is just a manifestation of our inner health. Following this diet promotes circulation of blood to the skin tissues making you look bright and nourished. Avoiding fried and processed foods also reduce inflammation in the body, giving your skin a natural glow.

Mental Clarity

Ayurveda in general advises against the consumption of very spicy or heavy foods as these leads to sluggishness or lack of focus. Instead it focuses on eating fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and millets. Which are easier to digest, helping you escape the post lunch energy dip.

Boosts Metabolism

When your meals are freshly prepared along with digestive spices like cumin, fennel, and ginger. It stimulates the digestive fire or Agni. So, you are able to easily digest your food and have better nutrient absorption. 

Improved Gut Health

When you follow an ayurvedic diet, your body is naturally able to get rid of toxins. Which leads to better gut microbiome and smooth digestion. Your gut health is directly linked with your mood, immunity, and skin health. 

Hormonal Balance

If you are dealing with stress or hormonal imbalances like PCOD, then this diet improves your symptoms. Herbs like Ashwagandha and Shatavri are adaptogenics, allowing your body to heal naturally. 

Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Diet

Before we start, these are the fundamental concepts of Ayurveda we need to understand: 

Three Doshas 

The three different doshas refer to three different body types. All three of these are present in all of us, but one of these doshas is more dominant in a person. 

• Vatta 

Linked with the air element, this dosha is energetic and creative. The light nature of this dosha makes you an active person. You usually look thin and find it hard to gain weight. When out of balance, then it leads to anxiety, overthinking, and digestive issues.

• Pitta

Associated with the fire element, this dosha is disciplined, focused, and passionate. When this dosha is dominant, you have a good metabolism and muscular build. But excess of pitta causes irritability, anger, and skin issues. 

• Kapha

Associated with the water and earth element, this dosha is stable and calm. As a Kapha person, you are gifted with physical strength and endurance. An imbalance of this dosha leads to laziness, weight gain, and inability to let go.

Agni: Digestive Fire

Agni, as per Ayurveda, is the digestive fire responsible for breaking down food and transforming it into energy and strength. When the agni works properly you are able to absorb all the nutrition from food you consume. But when the Agni is weak or imbalanced, it leads to accumulation of undigested wastes (ama) in the body. These wastes are considered to be the root cause of all diseases in the body.

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Ayurvedic Eating Practices

Ayurveda not just focuses on the food items you are consuming. There are also rules when should you eat your food, how should you eat it, and certain combinations of foods to avoid.

Mindful Eating

• Eat in a calm space without any distractions
• Focus on chewing your food properly 
• Eat only when you feel genuinely hungry

Meal Timing

• Biggest meal of the should be around noon
• Do not consume cold foods at night
• Breakfast should be light or include fresh fruits

Instead of a quick fix, following an ayurvedic diet is a lifestyle change. It brings us back to our roots, reminding us the power of the food we eat. It guides us to balance our body and energy by eating the foods which are best suited for us. By consuming foods according to your dosha, you are able to maintain a healthy digestive fire. Showing us that eating with intention leads to health and happiness.

FAQs

Q1. Which foods are not allowed in an ayurvedic diet?

When following this diet you avoid consuming packaged, processed, and frozen foods. If there are any leftovers then make sure to consume them within 24 hours.

Q2. What are the best breakfast options in an ayurvedic diet?

Ayurvedic breakfast focuses on meals which are warm and freshly made. As it supports your digestive fire early in the morning. 

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Q3. What is the best time to have breakfast according to ayurveda?

Ayurveda suggests that the best time to have the first meal of the day is during 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. 

Q4. Can children follow an ayurvedic diet? 

Children can also follow an ayurvedic diet and in fact starting early can build healthy eating habits in children.

Q5. How long does it take to see results from an ayurvedic diet?

You’ll start observing changes in your energy levels, and digestion from 2-4 weeks of following an ayurvedic diet. After a period of 3 to 6 months you’ll start to see changes in your weight and better hormonal balance.