The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach To A Light Diet

According to Ayurveda, it is important to know how to eat properly when the digestive fire or agni is low. A lighter diet is recommended when one has a fever, flu, cold or diarrhoea, when one is recuperating from an illness, and during panchakarma - the ayurvedic rejuvenation program. Women should eat a lighter diet during menstruation and menopause. Children often need light yet nutritious diets. If you are under the care of a physician, it is recommended that you check with your physician or before making changes to your existing diet.

During those periods when internal systems are functioning at less than optimal levels, agni, the fire of digestion, becomes weak and one has to gradually increase the strength of the digestive fire to regain energy and health. Neither a heavy diet nor fasting is recommended during these times. When the digestive fires are low, consuming heavy foods and meals can overtax the digestion. Any existing imbalance in body and mind is then further aggravated by the accumulation of ama, toxic residue from undigested food.

A light diet consists of food that quickly transforms into rasa or bodily tissue, creating new healthy cells. These foods are lighter and therefore digest quickly and easily. The single most important food for a light diet from the Ayurvedic perspective is organic mung (moong) dal (dhal). Mung dal is yellow split beans made by splitting green mung beans and discarding the green husk. It can be obtained from Asian grocery stores but organic mung dal has up until now only been available in UK from Maharishi Ayurveda Products.

Mung dal cooks quickly and balances all three doshas. Khichri, a nutritious combination of rice, mung beans, vegetables, spices and ghee (clarified butter) is an excellent one-dish meal for people on lighter diets.

If one is ill and has little or no appetite then a special warm drink called Kanji water may be made from either split mung beans or organic brown rice. 1-2 litres of warm kanji water can be drunk through the day in between light meals. Kanji water delivers instant nutrition to the body. It provides carbohydrates, giving the body energy, and helps build more strength in the body in general. Kanji water is an excellent source of energy whenever the body is dehydrated or depleted from an illness. It is also good if you are trying to lose weight as a satisfying snack during the day. Kanji water balances Vata because it is warm, it balances Pitta due to its liquid and watery texture and it balances Kapha because it produces perspiration, which releases toxins through the skin. It therefore balances all three doshas and brings agni into balance.

To make Kanji water:

14 parts water
1 part organic brown rice or mung dal. 
pinches of salt, fresh ground ginger or a slice of fresh ginger, cumin

Put the rice (or dal) in the water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 1 hour or until the rice becomes swollen and broken. Stir and strain out rice. However it is not necessary to strain out small pieces of rice. Add one pinch each of ginger, ground cumin and salt. Pour into a thermos and drink through the day.

A light diet for breakfast may consist of stewed apples or pears or hot cereal. Lunch may consist of soupy mung dal with basmati rice, cous cous or quinoa and two types of vegetables sautéed in ghee with spices, flat bread such as chapatti, and a yoghurt drink called lassi. Dinner is lighter such a khichri (recipe below) or vegetable barley soup. Or hot cereal such as cream of wheat.

When on a light diet, one may eat more frequently, since a light meal should only take about 3 1/2 hours to digest.

Foods to favour

Mung dal, aduki beans, basmati rice, cous cous, barley, quinoa, tofu, cooked vegetables with ghee and spices such as turmeric, cumin, ginger, fennel, black pepper and coriander, hot milk with ginger, stewed fruit, fruit and fresh vegetable juices, ripe sweet fruit, chapatti, lassi, dates, and ghee and olive oil.

Heavy foods to avoid or reduce:

Hard cheeses, eggs, fish, and meat, chicken. If meat is on your diet then Ayurveda recommends having it during the daytime in the form of soup that has cooked for a long period of time. Also avoid peanut butter, sprouted grains, raw vegetables, bananas, cold milk, yoghurt (lassi is okay) cold foods and drinks.

Khichri

1/4 cup organic mung dal
1/4 cup organic basmati rice
6 cups of water
1 teaspoon Maharishi Ayurveda organic ghee
1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
2 teaspoons Maharishi Ayurveda Vata, Pitta or Kapha Seasoning Mix as appropriate to your body type and the season
1 teaspoons chopped cilantro leaves
salt to taste

Rinse rice and dal. Add water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low boil and continue cooking for about 55 minutes or longer if you wish a thicker consistency. In a separate pan, heat the ghee. Add the seasoning mix and sauté briefly, for about 30 seconds until aroma is comes off. Add to rice and dal. Add salt, lemon juice and cilantro. Stir well.

For Further information about and to order the products mentioned above see How to Order or call 01695 51015 and for information about Panchakarma treatment see www.MaharishiAyurveda.co.uk or call 01695 51008.

 

DISCLAIMER: Information in this document is presented for the sole purpose of imparting education on Maharishi Ayurveda and neither the information nor the products are intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional and it is recommended that you speak with your physician before making changes to your diet or routine.