TASTE HAPPINESS IN AYURVEDA

Introduction
Ayurveda is also called the science of life. It is believed that the whole universe is made up of the five Mahabhutas (five great elements) which are – sky, air, fire, water and earth. These five Mahabhutas are the sources of subtle energy in the body and hence they pervade our body in harmony with each other. Ayurveda works on this principle of these five great elements. Our health remains only on the balance of these elements in the body.

Some energy sources in every person are more than other energy sources and they determine the natural system (prakriti) of that person’s body, some of the natural defects of the body are as follows:

1. Vata Dosha – Excess of air and sky elements
2. Pitta Dosha – Excess of fire element
3. Kapha Dosha – Excess of earth and water element
   Doshas affect a person’s body, tendencies (interest for food, digestion), mind and emotions.

For example, people of Kapha prakriti show strong physique, slow digestion, good memory power and strong emotional state, clear earth element. The nature of most people is made up of a combination of two doshas. When Vata, Pitta and Kapha are not in balance, symptoms corresponding to the imbalance of the doshas appear.

FOOD ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT PRAKRITI:-

1. Vata Prakriti:
   

   Beneficial Foods

• The food which are sweet and hot in properties.
• Vata Prakriti people have variable digestive capacity, it is recommended to them to follow an appropriate dietary routine.
• Food should be consumed in small quantities.
• Ginger and garlic shall be used to maintain proper digestive abilities.
• Cereals – wheat, sesame.
• Pulses – black gram, green gram.
• Dairy products – curd, ghee, butter, cheese.
• Oil – Sesame oil, castor oil, cod liver oil.
• Vegetable – white gourd, drumstick, onion, asparagus, and radish.
• Fruits – mango, coconut, grapes, dates, pineapple, almonds, figs.Non-Beneficial Foods
• Food which are dry, cold and astringent in properties.
• Cereals – barely, horse gram.
• Pulses – sprouted pulses, peas, masur, chana.
• Vegetables – dry leafy vegetables, potato, and bitter gourd.
• Fruit – jamun, cucumber, watermelon.
• Spices – chilies, pepper.
• Honey and sugarcane juice are not beneficial

2. Pitta Prakriti:
   

   Beneficial Foods

• Food which are cold, dry, sweet and bitter are beneficial to Pitta Prakriti.
• Cereals – wheat, barley.
• Pulses – masur, greengram, channa.
• Ghee, butter, fresh buttermilk.
• Vegetables – snake gourd, white gourd, carrot, and beetroot.
• Fruits – dried grapes, apple, pomegranate, ripe bananas.
• Old jaggery.
• Spices – coriander, rock salt.
• Meat of deer or goat.Non-Beneficial Foods
• Hot, pungent and sharp (teekshna) in properties food are not beneficial to Pitta Prakriti.
• Pulses – blackgram, horsegram, sprouted pulses.
• Sour curds and butter milk.
• Beef, mutton, sea fish.
• Vegetables – bringal, drumstick, green leafy vegetables.
• Fruits – oranges, lime, tamrind, unripe mango.
• Spices – garlic, pepper, chillies, asafoetida.

3. Kapha Prakriti:
   

   Beneficial Foods

• Food which are light, hot, dry, pungent in properties are beneficial to Kapha Prakriti.
• Cereals – barley.
• Pulses – masur, horse gram, and green gram.
• Oil – mustard oil, sesame oil.
• Vegetables – bitter gourd, drumstick, snake gourd, onions.
• Fruits – pomegranates, lemon.
• Spices – dry ginger, black cumin seeds, garlic, pepper.
• Meat of deer.
• Old wine and substances such as honey.Non-Beneficial Foods
• Food which are sweet, cold, heavy in property are not beneficial to Kapha Prakriti.
• Cereals – fresh rice.
• Pulses – black gram.
• Dairy product – Buffalo’s milk, curd, ghee, butter.
• Oils from animal fat.
• Vegetables – sweet potato, cabbage.
• Fruits – banana, guava, grapes, coconut, jack fruit.
• Mutton, egg, fresh water fish.
• Sugarcane juice, jaggery
• Freshly prepared beverages.
• Spices such as coriander.