Ayurveda

Part of the great thing about doing IIN is that I am going to be exposed to SO many different dietary theories.  My knowledge of the wide range of dietary theories that exist will benefit not only my future clients but myself as well!  On this journey I will be encouraged to try different diets (kind of scary for a vegan--I'll see what's entailed!) and seek out my own information as well as the supplemental resources IIN provides me.

Part of what I'm really excited about, too, is being able to share my newfound information with you all, here on my blog!  I hope to share not only objective, factual "stuff," but also my own personal experiences and discoveries, as they relate to the different diets.

That said, let me refer now to the subject of my post:  Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is, very broadly, a way of living with respect to one's dominant "dosha" as well as to the daily and seasonal cycles.  The three "doshas" that every person has is Vata, Pitta and Kapha (more information can be found about each of the doshas online), however, one or two typically predominates within the individual person.  If a particular dosha is off balance, it can lead to a whole slew of maladies.  Similarly, if a person is entirely in balance, he or she will feel optimal!

Ayurveda teaches how to balance oneself as well as how best to live in a way that supports YOUR dominant dosha[s].  Ayurveda teaches which foods to consume and which should be avoided, based on one's dosha, as well as which types of physical activities and lifestyle habits one should adopt, based also on his/her dosha.

There are numerous quizzes online you can take to figure out your dosha[s], if you don't already know it.  From there, you'll know which foods best support you and what you should do to live the happiest, healthiest life you can for your body.

I'm a Vata, which means the types of foods that nourish me are cooked, warm foods with heavier textures and added oils and healthy fats and those I should reduce are foods like leafy greens, most beans, mushrooms, cruciferous vegetables, et cetera.

Hmmmm.  The wannabe high-raw vegan in me is wondering HOW cooked foods can be better than raw and how POSSIBLY reducing leafy greens can be better for me.  Sprouts are a no-no??!

Well, part of IIN's program is being experimental and open-minded to other dietary theories so I decided, yesterday and today, to more closely follow the guidelines Ayurveda advises for Vata types and you know what?  I felt better.  Like, a lot better.  I still adhered to my vegan diet but roasted, steamed or sauteed what I might otherwise have eaten raw.  Additionally, I avoided certain foods--even those I thought I liked--based on the recommendations Vatas were encouraged to reduce.

You know what?  I felt even better there too.

So while it's weird and foreign for me to think that high raw isn't necessarily better, it isn't!  I'm talking about me, personally.  I know people who THRIVE on a high-raw or 100-percent raw diet but that's not me.  From experimenting, I've found that my physical body responds much better to cooked vegetables and warm foods than it does uncooked (for the most part) and cold.

I'm proud of myself for discovering this and being okay with it.  When I start seeing clients it will be important to keep this open-mindedness and understanding in mind.  Basically, the most important thing for ANYONE is to eat more fruits and veggies and less crap.  Saute, boil, steam, roast, stir-fry, grill...do whatever...just eat 'em ;)

Ayurveda also discourages eating raw food with cooked as well as combining fresh food with leftovers.  Similarly, it discourages eating fruit with other foods.  These relate more to food combining guidelines, though.  That'll be another post.

P.S.  Here's a little fun fact!  The five foods that BEST support me are listed below.  I found this list from listening to my body.

1.  Mangoes!!!
2.  Beets, roasted
3.  Squash, roasted
4.  Dates
5.  Almonds