‘Ayurveda’ is a Sanskrit word that pertains to ‘life science’. It has its origins in India and has been in practice for a long time. Ayurveda gives great importance to the food we eat, particularly fresh food or food picked directly from the farm. This blog gives you relevant information on the Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss, which will help individuals, who are dealing with obesity due to various health conditions.
Ayurveda gives great importance to the energy produced in the body by virtue of the food we take in. As a result, both the health and mind of the body improve. So, let’s start today’s blog!
Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss: Know about the Diet Plan
Taste All Types of Food
As per Ayurveda, the six different tastes to be included in the diet are:
- Foods having drying and cooling effects (astringent foods)
- Sweet
- Strong-smelling foods (pungent foods)
- Sour
- Salty
- Bitter
Three Meals to be Taken Daily
As per Ayurveda, for a healthy body, food to be consumed should be easily and fully absorbed by the different enzymes in the human body. A healthy meal also includes avoiding snacks in between meals.
Sound Sleep
Sound sleep is very much needed for the body to function properly, or else it can have a disastrous effect on the health and weight of the person. According to Ayurveda the suitable time to sleep, in order to remain healthy is between 10 pm to 6 am.
The glass of Hot Water or Tea
Ayurveda diet recommends that hot water, when slowly taken, gets rid of the harmful substances that are present inside the human body. The harmful substances i.e., toxins are produced by eating junk foods and food containing high amount of oil.
Do Exercises on a Daily Basis
Doing exercises daily helps to keep the body and mind in shape. People who do exercise frequently are likely to be in fit shape and are less likely to develop extra fat in their bodies.
Getting involved in activities like swimming, running or hiking helps people to keep their joints and different body parts in motion. This in turn helps the body to be in a healthy condition.
Diet to be followed for Weight Loss
Other than eating basic foods, the inclusion of an Ayurvedic diet can help with weight loss. Foods rich in fiber, and unprocessed foods which are low in sugar, salt, and fat, such as vegetables, nuts, and fruits help to regulate the metabolism in the body. By eating these type of foods, the increase in body weight is controlled.
A study published in 2014 revealed that, among the people who participated, lost 13 pounds over a period of nine months. The participants followed the diet based on Ayurveda, including doing yoga.
Five Elements in Ayurveda
Ayurvedic medication revolves around five elements – ‘akash’ (space), ‘jala’ (water), ‘prithvi’ (earth), ‘teja’ (fire), and ‘vayu’ (fire). Union of each element leads to ‘doshas’ i.e., ‘vata’, ‘kapha, and ‘pitta’.
The above ‘doshas’ affect a person’s mental, physical, and emotional health.
Each person is said to have a unique mix of ‘doshas’ that differ from another. A person versed in Ayurvedic science can help you find out your ‘dosha’.
Recommended Foods for the Diet
The main features of the diet included are ‘Pitaa’, ‘Kapha’, and ‘Vita’. Astringent foods such as pomegranates, apples, and beans help to mitigate ‘pitta’. Strong-smelling foods such as garlic, onion, and ginger help you to clear your nasal passage and increase sweating. Sweet food, such as honey, cools your body temperature, while the acerbic taste found in lemons and berries helps in the assimilation of the food.
Avoid these Foods in Your Diet
There are certain foods that you need to avoid depending on your ‘dosha’. These include as follows:
1) Dairy food products and food rich in fat to help mitigate ‘Kapha’ ‘dosa.
2) Alcohol based drinks, spicy and hot food to reduce ‘Pitta’ ‘dosa’.
3) Food containing caffeine and cold foods for the body to reduce ‘Vata’ ‘dosa’.
How to Start and Maintain Daily Chart for Ayurvedic
If you stick to a healthy lifestyle, it will benefit you in the long run, although it may not produce immediate benefits.
Below is a simple weight loss diet plan to follow to get rid of the excess fat in the body.
Morning Breakfast
Early in the morning, take a glass of hot or warm water depending on your preference or ginger tea on an empty stomach, and later you can take fruit like apple or berry.
Supper or Lunch
Take vegetables which are leafy and green, devoid of starch. Then take a bread toast full of energy. Later, food rich in protein such as beans, spinach, and chickpeas.
Evening Snack
Rather than taking heavy snacks in the morning, it is advisable to eat pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. Dry fruits such as almonds, walnuts and resins are also healthy for snacks.
Dinner
For weight loss in the dinner, vegetable soup is preferred. Vegetable soup can also be prepared in the home if one is fond of cooking. Homemade soup is more healthy as compared to the ready-mix soup.
Guidelines to be Followed While Eating as per Ayurveda
- Eat slowly and avoid unnecessary talks while eating.
- Digest the food slowly, and avoid taking water in between the foods.
- Don’t overeat. Only eat as per your diet.
- Try not to miss the morning breakfast or the afternoon lunch.
- The next meal is to be taken only once, when your previous meal is fully digested inside the body.
- While taking salty and spicy food, keep it to minimum levels.
- It is advised to eat sweets just before your meal.
- The above diet guidelines when followed properly are quite effective for weight loss.
Conclusion:
The Ayurvedic diet for weight loss lays significance on whole foods rich in fiber, and protein and for control of weight loss. The diet recommends healthy foods for eating. It restricts our passion for junk or fast foods. This diet if adhered to will lead to a healthy mind and a healthy body.
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