A scientific examination of western dietary practices as they relate to food practices in ayurveda

Abstract

Ayurveda stresses the important role of food in maintaining health and preventing disease. Healthy, natural, wholesome food is considered to be essential for nourishing body, mind, and soul. In Ayurveda, health centers on nutritious food, and a good digestion depends upon our lifestyle. Our lifestyle depends on our environment, and our environment affects the quality of our food, which in turn affects the quality of our health. But our modern environment is radically different from that of the previous thousands of years, and we are not well educated about how our environment impacts our food, particularly in terms of freezing, microwaving, and processing with chemical additives. Ayurveda proposes that food is best eaten when it is lightly cooked or steamed. Cold food and drinks should be avoided, as should food that is microwaved, frozen, or highly processed. In addition, various food combinations or practices should be avoided such as consuming equal portions of honey and ghee or the heating of honey. But is there any biomedical evidence for these practices? This chapter will evaluate evidence-based research as it applies to Ayurvedic dietary recommendations and discuss how it relates to modern food processing and food consumption.