Ayurvedic Diet-
Sangeeta's Questions and Answers
Firstly, are you
an Ayurvedic Practitioner?
No,
I must make it clear that I am not a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner. It takes
years of study, exams, and supported practice to be in the position to diagnose
and prescribe remedies! That said, we cook and prepare food (and drinks) for
you, using Ayurvedic principles. Due to my increasing love, understanding and
practice of Ayurvedic cooking, I would take great delight in introducing you to
Ayurvedic foods’ sublime tastes, qualities and effects.
Please
note that along with our food, our spices are also organic. We prefer the
highest quality tastes and benefits!
Do
I eat during my Colon Cleanse?
Yes, if you are with us
for the Colon Cleanse, between Days 1-3,
we will offer you delicious, specially prepared meals, 3 times a day. You
are always welcome to be with us while we cook, so that you can participate,
observe, or ask questions. After the
5 day fast (from Days 4-9) you will
have completed the cleanse! On Day 9, there will be a celebratory,
super-healthy spread of foods consisting of foods you feel
intuitively/instinctively drawn to. We will prepare them together.
As
a retreat client, will I have all my meals prepared?
Yes! All other retreat
clients will be offered 3 Ayurvedic meals per day, for their entire stay in
retreat.
How will you know
which foods/spices will help me the most?
To provide you with
nutrition which will meet your constitutional (doshic) needs, we invite you to fill in a questionnaire.
Additionally, what you share with us regarding food preferences, general
health, diet and lifestyle, will assist us in choosing and preparing the
food/spices we give you.
But,
what if I do not like spicy (hot) food?
A common notion is that
Ayurvedic food is hot and spicy. Actually, the principle is that it should be
balanced in taste and effect; therefore, no, it won’t be blowing your head off,
giving you indigestion, or diarrhoea. It can be warming or cooling, balancing,
calming, or stimulating depending on the specific needs/preferences of the
individual.
Our sense of taste is our natural guide towards proper nutrition. Our
taste buds do much more than simply identify tastes- they unlock the nutritive
value of foods and provide the initial spark to the entire digestive process.
As we tune into the tastes naturally desired by the body, we become attuned to
the body’s innate wisdom regarding our health and happiness.
Ayurveda
identifies 6 tastes by which all
foods can be categorized: sweet, sour,
salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. While the first four tastes are
probably recognisable, the last two may not seem familiar. Pungent taste is hot and spicy as found in a chilli pepper, while
astringent taste is dry and light as found in popcorn.
What
are the constitutions, or doshas?
The
term Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit words: "ayus" meaning "life" and "vid" meaning knowledge, or science. According to Ayurveda, the
universe is composed of five basic elements, namely: space, air, fire, water
and earth. Energetically, we are a combination of these elements.
The three doshas (constitutions), Vata, Pitta and
Kapha are the primary and essential bio-energetic forces of the human body.
Each has its
characteristic site and unique function in the body. They are interrelated
and, in their normal state, maintain the integrity of the living organism,
conferring strength and assuring normal physiological functioning as well as
longevity. The three doshas need to be in a state of equilibrium for the body
to remain healthy. Any imbalance of these bio-energetic forces results in
ill-health.
How do you balance the doshas through taste?
Depending on your doshic
type, together we will choose foods and spices which will appeal to your taste
buds. In turn, these will aid your digestion and nutritional assimilation.
How did you
become interested in Ayurveda?
My
interest in Ayurveda dates back to the early 90’s, when, as a teenager on a mission,
I made annual trips to India (I qualified as a Colourpuncture therapist in
Poona, Maharashtra in 1992). For as long as I can remember, I held a deep
affinity with Indian culture, and read my first book on Ayurveda when I was 14
or 15. I felt instantly at home in the land where Ayurveda originated, and
wherever I travelled in India, I always found people happy to share their
knowledge, and show me how to prepare food, drinks, and even remedies ( much to
my absolute delight and amazement).
Once
back home in Glastonbury, Somerset, and feeling pretty imbalanced, my fortune
was to improve when I discovered the well-respected and gifted Glastonbury
practitioner, Andrew Johnson, click here to visit his website. He used his highly-tuned compendium of diagnostic
skills (including pulse, tongue, and facial diagnosis, iridology and
kinesiology), together with information which I supplied verbally, regarding my
medical and general health, diet and lifestyle. He was able to diagnose certain
imbalances I had at the time, and prescribe herbal remedies.
Although
my diet had already been very clean and balanced (in terms of the tastes, and
effects of the foods/spices once inside the body), I was suffering the effects
of the stress associated with being a self-employed health practitioner,
without the necessary boundaries in place to prevent burn-out. I was also
fanatically pushing my body far too hard at the gym. I will never forget what
Andrew said, “You don’t have to do it all before you’re 25. You can slow down!”
Well, at the time, that was exotic news to me. I took his herbs for about 8
months, and they really did the trick. I calmed down, had more energy, and felt
happy again. Years later, I took my baby son to him, who also benefited from
Andrew's herbs, expertise and humanity.
I
would highly recommend exploring the vastness that is Ayurveda. If you wish to
create Ayurvedic food, then you may like to start with Amadea Morningstar, who
has I think 2 books of delicious recipes. If you are interested in other components of
this comprehensive healing art, do email me, and I will do my best to recommend
some other books.
Click here to visit an interesting Ayurvedic retreat website 
