What do u mean by diet? A frequent question that all of us want to get an answer. A diet is a food system consciously planned for the health of an individual in all aspects. It doesn’t mean a restriction on particular things but selecting of useful food for the body and mind. In Ayurveda the food is called AAHARA that which is ingested. It is one among the three pillars (other two are, Nidra sleep and Brahmacharya/following the brahma jnana) of life. In Ayurveda the Ahara/food itself with conscious selection for the health is pathya/diet. The importance of diet can be elicited by these sentences

“PATHYE SATI GADARTASYA KIMOUSHADHA NISHEVANAM

PATHYE ASATI GADARTASYA KIMOUSHADHA NISHEVANAM”

There is no need of medicine those who follows the diet and there is no need for medicine those who don’t follow the diet. That is if a person follows diet properly he will be having good health, immunity and a balanced state of mind. So also, there is no need for any medicines. On the other hand if a person who is having a disease and if he is not following the food regimen to support the body to remove the disease, there is no point in taking medicine.

The whole world is behind the controversy on which should be followed, vegetarian or nonvegetarian diet. But as an ayurvedic doctor I strongly recommend the diet which is giving short term difficulty and long-term health, is the best diet you can follow. There are also calorie counting diet, amount based diet, selection-based diet etc. But the final one should be chosen by you after a conscious watch on how a particular food is responding to the body, mind and your soul. The health consists of your body mind and soul So consider all before choosing a diet.

The things which we should be careful of before choosing a diet are as follows,

1. Diet is different for everyone
2. Experience the food impact on your body, mind and soul. Be conscious on each and every food you take and feel the changes on your body mind and soul. Select those which give comfortless to you.
3. Don’t follow the taste to select the food. But follow the impact on you by the food.
4. Select the diet which is easy to procure, cheap, fresh but healthy.
5. Select the food in and around your home (within 100km) so that it is having similarity in climate, water, etc. Let the digestive system undergoes a friendly digestion.
6. Selection of the food should be from different groups like, fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains.
7. It should be consisting of all the six tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salt, astringent). Ayurveda says the food having six tastes considered to be the complete one.
8. Above all conscious on your eating, consider the food you are going to eat become you. Respect it, and Don’t waste it.

The topic on food in Ayurveda will take a lot of time to discuss and explore. Please wait for the updating.