(Ashtáñga Hridayam)
Preparation. Eating warm (cooked) foods enlivens the enzymes for easily and quickly digesting food, promoting Apána Váyu, and removing Kapha. However, when food is overcooked, its life force becomes depleted. Further, cooking with too much heavy oil can weaken the digestive fire. Food is best eaten when cooked or steamed rather than uncooked; it is more nutritive and building. Also, persons on spiritual paths, (i.e., practicing sádhaná (meditation) and following a guru or spiritual guide), generally need not follow such drastic rawfood measures. Eating raw food causes roughness among persons on the spiritual path. It is true that raw foods have enzymes to remove toxins, but they do not adequately build the tissues. Fruit is better fresh and uncooked. Microwaves damage the lifeforce. Restaurant food is generally over- or underspiced, and not as good as a home-cooked meal. Cooking over a wood fire is best. Cooking on a gas stove is better than cooking on an electric stove.
Quality. Sattwic: organic, fresh, homegrown, freshpicked, and raw dairy foods are advised. It is not advisable to eat foods that are rotten, under or over cooked, burnt, unripe, over ripe, stale, or junk food. Other harmful foods include those that are canned, artificial, rancid, and prepared with additives, preservatives, or artificial colors. Finally, frozen foods that contain steroids and chemicals (milk and animal products usually have steroids, chemicals, and preservatives in them) should not be eaten.
Quantity. A proper quantity of food is easily digested, promotes longevity without afflicting the doshas, and helps Apána Váyu. Food, when eaten, should fill one-third of the stomach size or capacity. Liquid, when taken after meals, also should fill one-third the stomach size. The time to drink liquids at mealtime varies with the individual. Heavy or obese persons should drink before meals. Underweight or thin persons should drink liquids after meals, and persons of normal weight should drink with their meals. The remaining one-third of space in the stomach helps digestion. The key is moderation and regularity. Váyu doshas need to eat every 3 - 4 hours. Pitta persons generally have good digestive fire. Kapha constitutions need to eat less. Ultimately, the stronger the digestive fire, the more one can eat. (Less food is better with a fever.
When Hungry. Eat only after the previous meal has been digested. Otherwise, the digestive product of the previous meal becomes mixed with the new food, instantly aggravating all the doßhas. The digestive fire/enzymes have to act upon the food for some time in order to digest the food. Then, the body needs time to restore the digestive fire/ enzymes for the future. If a person takes food before digesting the previous meal completely, the food will not digest properly. The undigested food is pushed along the GI tract by normal peristalsis, imbalancing and aggravating the doähas.
Combinations. Combining vegetables with fruit or milk can cause digestive problems. One needs to be careful while eating or choosing food. Different combinations may be harmful. Its not advised to combine sour tastes with milk, eat cold items after ghee, eat equal amounts of ghee and honey, or eat fish products along with dairy (these unhealthy combinations create subtle toxins). Other aggravating foods are too hot and too cold, or too light and too heavy. Stew and curry are more digestible than individual vegetables cooked and eaten separately. Váyu— the fewer combinations the better (they like combining foods, though it is not good for them). Pitta— does best with combinations Kapha— is between Váyu and Pitta.
Spices. Delicious tastes improve digestion, strength, senses, complexion, and a healthy weight. They are easily digested and help Apána Váyu. The use of spices stimulates the secretions of digestive enzymes. Over-salted, under-salted, or sour seasoning is to be avoided. Foods that are too tasty increase rajas (aggravating the blood). Foods that are too bland cause tamas (suppressing agni). Váyu—does well with rich and moderately strong spices. Pitta—needs only mild spices. Kapha—does best with light, strongly spiced foods.
Frame of Mind. A relaxed, calm mind promotes easy assimilation of food. This makes the mind more sattwic. A nervous, anxious, angry, noisy, and rushed mind makes the food harder to digest. Smoky environments are also harmful when eating. Silence is good, but there is no need to be too serious. A prayer of gratitude to the Creator and Supplier before a meal, or offering the food to benefit humanity and the creation of beings is advised. Chew food properly to digest and absorb nutrients.
Time. Daylight hours are the best hours to eat. Váyu—dawn and dusk (smaller, more frequent meals—eat every 3 to 4 hours) Pitta—at noon, largest meal (three meals daily) Kapha—daylight hours, breakfast is skipped make lunch the large meal After meals, it is good to take a short, easy walk. Some say napping while lying on your left side helps digest foods This causes breathing through the right nostril or “solar” breathing, which increases the digestive heat or fire in the system. Other authorities say napping after meals is unwholesome. Activities such as exercise, swimming, or sex are not recommended just before or after meals. Smoking disperses and dulls the agni (digestive) fire.
Season and Geography. Eat foods and herbs according to season (i.e., do not eat cold and dry items in the winter, or hot and pungent items in the summer). Eat foods and herbs according to geography (do not eat hot and dry items in a hot dry desert, or cold and oily items in cold and damp climates).
Miscellaneous. Do not ingest equal amounts of ghee and honey simultaneously (it becomes a subtle toxin). Do not break with eating habits (e.g., someone who generally eats cold and sweet things should not suddenly start eating hot and pungent items). Herbs, diet, and lifestyle are recommended to balance the doßha, but also should be in harmony with one’s own habits. Intake of substances that aggravate the dosha and state of one’s strength is ill advised. Eat after clearing the bowel and urinary bladder, and only when hungry.
Drinking (except lassi buttermilk [yogurt and water], and medicated herbal wine to stimulate digestion) is not recommended during the meal, but is all right afterwards. Drinking alcohol after meals causes hyperacidity unless it is medicated herbal wines for Váyu and Kapha. Astringent or herbal teas are all right after meals, but coffee promotes indigestion, hyperacidity, or ulcers.
Desserts (especially cold) are heavy and sweet, and suppress digestive fire, causing fermentation and indigestion. They are better before meals, as sweets are the first taste to be digested. Having raw foods and salads at the end of the meal is better for digestion. Other authorities say a little sweet after meals promotes digestion.
Age/Gender these characteristics may bring excess to one’s dosha. Therefore, reduction of doshas may need to be considered at different ages, and for different genders. Kapha reduction is predominantly used from birth to age 15, and for women. Pitta reduction is primarily from age 15 to 55 years old, and for men. Váyu reduction occurs at age 55 and over.
Áma: For 1 or 2 weeks, spices and a light and cleansing diet are followed. Spices are given to digest the undigested food or áma and cleanse the entire body. Sugars, oils, meat, and dairy are avoided. Then, one returns to their dosha diet, staying on the light side until áma is completely gone. Different books offer varying dosha food lists. Ultimately, persons will have to decide whether any specific food is good or aggravating their dosha.
