The word DIET brings out thoughts like calorie counts, skipping meals, intermittent fasting and eating bland food to one’s imagination. It is mainly associated with a short term goal for weight loss, a more calculated and measured way of eating which may not be fulfilling at the same time. 

For those who think that modern day dieting concepts are the only way to a healthy lifestyle are gravely mistaken. Ayurvedic diet is a far more effective, fulfilling and a mindful concept for your fast paced and negligent lifestyle. 

The concept of Ayurvedic diet is a boon to our  miserable diet culture. Ayurveda approaches the concept of dieting in a different way, by educating us to be more conscious while choosing and preparing foods that would best benefit each of us on our own paths towards better health and wellness. With the ultimate goal of supporting a thriving state of health, Ayurveda offers a far broader perspective that includes not just what we eat but also when and how we consume—as well as our own state of mind. The Ayurvedic diet is healthful in a really holistic sense because it takes into account how we approach our meals, from our own energy and mindset to the times of day we sit down to eat. 

Your main dosha (or energy) and the balance of that energy are related to your physical and mental constitution. Each dosha is compatible with specific meals, nutrition, and self-care practices that can be pursued to create and preserve a state of optimal health and wellness. There are three doshas, which are associated with five elements -air, water, fire, earth, and ether. How you feel, think, act, and live is a reflection of your dominant dosha(ies). The features of each dosha are summarized as follows:

Vata-dominant persons typically feel dry and cold, have slender bodies, and embody the elements ether and air.

Pitta-dominant individuals typically have a medium build, run hot, and feel angry because they are a blend of fire and water.

Kapha People who are kapha-dominant, who are ruled by the elements of earth and water, often have a heavier frame and feel rooted and caring.

In the ayurvedic diet, each dosha (or combination, if you don't have one dominant dosha), has recommended foods to eat and avoid. 

Since Vata is a chilly and dry dosha, it is best to stabilize it with warm, nourishing foods that have a relatively thick texture as well as additional butter and fat. Pick foods with savoury, sweet, and sour flavours as well as those that are calming and filling. Vatas benefit from warm milk, cream, butter, hot cereals, warm soups, warm stews, warm fresh-baked bread, and raw nuts and nut butters. In the late afternoon, sip a hot or herbal tea while eating some snacks. All sweet fruits are suitable for Vata as long as they are extra-ripe. Vatas respond well to warm beverages or hot water.

Pittas respond well to cool or warm foods with relatively substantial textures, as opposed to dishes that are blazing hot. The best tastes are astringent, bitter, and sweet. In the summer or when it's hot outside, consume cool, refreshing foods like salads, milk, and ice cream. Pittas can be calmed by herbal tea, especially mint or licorice root tea. Breakfast for a Pitta would consist of cold cereal, cinnamon toast, and apple tea. The greatest foods for Pittas are typically those that are vegetarian because eating red meat might cause the body to get overheated. Milk, cereals, and vegetables should be consumed in large quantities by them.

Raw fruits and vegetables or foods that have been mildly cooked are excellent for kaphas. Kaphas should eat anything spicy, especially really hot Mexican or Indian food in the winter. For Kaphas, dry cooking techniques like baking, broiling, grilling, and sautéing are preferred to moist cooking techniques like steaming, boiling, or poaching. The Kapha appetite can be stimulated by foods like romaine lettuce, endive, or tonic water. Cumin, fenugreek, sesame seed, and turmeric are the favourite spices.

Here are some significantly backed reasons as to why you should start ayurvedic deit-

Building Immunity- 

Ayurveda assists in strengthening one's inner strength and power by enhancing the body's immunity to combat various diseases and infections. According to Ayurveda, the meal must be thoroughly and appropriately cooked to make it digestible in order to boost immunity. Preserving one's natural resistance to illnesses and their signs and symptoms is crucial for immunity and wellbeing. Ayurvedic immunity boosters help us recognise foreign substances that attack and kill cells, maintaining our health. Ayurveda suggests taking a variety of spices to boost immunity as a means of protecting against diseases and infections. Eat spices like ginger, turmeric, and cumin to strengthen your immune system. 

Weight Control-  

Ayurveda offers various simple yet effective methods to help you lose weight in a healthy way. According to Ayurveda, having an excessive amount of Kapha dosha might result in obesity. Utilizing meals appropriate for your constitutional type is one of the most successful Ayurvedic weight loss strategies. The foundation of the weight loss diet is the energy of each dosha. Which makes it easier to choose the foods that will help one stay healthy, manage illnesses, and maintain their overall wellbeing. Due to the fact that this wellness programme does not place a high priority on instant results, you wouldn't need to deprive yourself or excessively restrict the kind of foods you can enjoy. Instead, it places a significant emphasis on following a few simple guidelines that can help with weight loss and support a generally healthy lifestyle.

Reduce food cravings- 

Another concept of ayurveda is conscious eating, which is comparable to mindful eating. Instead of rushing through your meal or eating on the run, the objective is to sit down, relax, and enjoy your food's complete sensory experience (how it feels, tastes, and smells in your tongue).

It is crucial to approach meal preparation with the proper attitude. Cooking while upset, dissatisfied, stressed out, or otherwise preoccupied assures that the energy is incorporated into the dish because, according to Ayurveda, the thoughts and energy of the cook are infused into the meal. 

Lowering the risk of chronic illness

One of the tenets of an ayurveda diet is to emphasize "living food," which refers to plant and plant-based foods, and to restrict overly processed foods. On an ayurvedic diet, it is recommend eating fresh foods as frequently as possible. This includes items like whole grains, rice noodles, dried lentils, yoghurt, and sauerkraut, which are acceptable because this is how these foods have traditionally been preserved and stored.

There is a condition known as sattva, which is Sanskrit for clarity, light, peace, and balance. Foods that are rajasic (overstimulating) or tamastic (depleting), such as "those that are manufactured by a corporation and are overly salted, spiced, or fried, and are ultimately depleting to our tissues, are discouraged in Ayurveda.