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The Ayurvedic Science of Life – Balancing Mind, Spirit, and Body

Written by Nigel Ford

Ayurvedic medicine is a 6000 year old system that’s referred to as the science of life. Ayurveda is a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of our well-being.

In the western world, nutritional science focuses on the physical aspects of our diet: getting enough vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins, and so on. Nutritional science is unparalleled in its understanding of the material makeup of food, but tends to ignore its more subtle energetic qualities.

The Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine, then, can complement conventional nutritional science quite well. Ayurveda provides us with a deep understanding of the energetic relationship between our bodies and the food that we eat.  

It’s an incredibly in-depth science, but there are a few simple concepts that can help you grasp the basics of the Ayurvedic philosophy.

The Elemental Makeup of Our Diet

One of the foundational beliefs of Ayurveda is that ahara (diet) and anna (food) are the keys to a long and healthy life. Healthy foods nourish not just the body, but the mind and soul of an individual.

Much like Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Ayurvedic system asserts that everything in the universe – including our bodies and the food that we eat – is composed of a mixture of 5 different elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether. The amount of each element present in something determines its physical and energetic qualities.

From a western viewpoint, these ideas can be tricky to understand. We’re used to counting calories and meeting our RDAs for different nutrients, not trying to balance elemental energies.

Nonetheless, one of the most apparent benefits of a system like this is that it allows us to easily develop a diet plan that’s specifically suited to our individual constitution.

Finding Your Dosha, or Ayurvedic Body Type

In 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed the ‘food pyramid,’ a basic diet guide that suggests that people consume between 6-11 servings of complex carbs and vegetables and 2 servings of meat or dairy daily.

This recommendation assumes, however, that different foods are equally suitable for people with different body types.  

Ayurveda looks at the human constitution a bit differently and recognizes that there is a complex relationship between each person and their diet. A serving of raw carrots, for example, may be easy for one person to digest but difficult for another.

Your body type, or dosha, determines which foods are easy for your body to digest. Each dosha combines two elements and has its own characteristics:

·         Pitta, fire and water. Pittas are generally mid-sized, hard-working, and intelligent. They may be prone to having a short temper or high blood pressure.

·         Vata, air and ether. People of the vata dosha are generally thin and wiry with a lot of energy. They are creative, quick thinkers who may be more susceptible to problems with anxiety and depression.

·         Kapha, earth and water. Kapha people are more sturdily built. They are generally calm, collected, and loyal. When out of balance, a kapha may struggle with weight gain or depression.

When your constitution is balanced, you’ll exhibit the more desirable traits of your dosha, but when you’re imbalanced, the negative traits tend to emerge.

The best way to remain in balance is to consume foods with elemental qualities opposing those of your dosha.

People of the vata dosha, for example, embody the lighter elements of air and ether. To bring balance into their lives, a vata should eat heavier, grounding foods that combine the elements of earth and water – things like whole grains, oils, or fish.

A kapha, however, is on the other end of the spectrum. Kapha already embodies the elements of earth and water, so for them to find balance they would need to eat lighter foods, such as apples or pears. The same foods which help to balance kapha tend to aggravate vata.

This system is profound in its simplicity. It acknowledges that everyone has their own unique metabolism and provides a basis for them to build a diet plan that works in harmony with their constitution.

Agni – the Digestive Fire

Another prominent concept in Ayurveda is the digestive fire, or agni. Agni is critically important to our health and well-being. It is the discerning force that determines which nutrients are absorbed by our body and which will be eliminated.

Weak agni is said to be the root of all diseases and imbalances. Many things can weaken the agni. An unhealthy or sedentary lifestyle, a diet that doesn’t cater to your dosha, and unresolved emotions can dampen your agni.

When your agni is impaired, your body accumulates ama – a toxic substance that disrupts your overall health and well-being. Impaired agni and excess ama can lead to emotional problems, fatigue, changes in appetite, and indigestion.

If your agni is strong, you will be energetic, stable, and emotionally grounded. Your digestion will be regular, you will have sound sleep, and your mind will be sharp and clear.

You can stabilize and strengthen your agni by basing your diet on your dosha, exercising regularly, and rising with the sun each day.

Moving Forward

Ayurveda is a comprehensive and thought-provoking science that fills in a lot of the gaps that western nutrition hasn’t yet accounted for. Creating an Ayurvedic diet plan based on your dosha can be fun and exciting.

You can identify your dosha by taking a simple test online. After doing this, you can start to adapt your diet to match your personal needs. If you’d like to learn more about Ayurvedic medicine, don’t hesitate to look for an Ayurvedic practitioner in your area!

Sidebar:

The strength of your agni will fluctuate during the day. Agni tends to be highest around noon, which is when you should eat your largest meal, and lowest after the sun has set.  Eating after sundown can dampen the agni and lead to digestive problems.