Proper eating and digestion are central to Ayurveda. Our ancient treatises devoted literally more than hundreds of pages to this area. The Ayurvedic system of classifying food is extremely comprehensive and goes well beyond the western method of just listing out calorific values. Apart from mentioning the whole data of each and every food articles, Its source, method and time of collection, various preparations with individual quantity and various effects of these food in our body, they have extracted only few food stuffs which is easily available and can be used daily constituting perfectly equivalent and more precise to today's balanced diet formula.
Shashtikaanshaalimudgaanca saindhavaamlake yavaan |
Aantriksham payah sarpirjaamgalam madhu chabhyaset || - CH.SU.5/12-13
Shashtika shaali
Mudga
Saindhava
Aamlaki
Yava
Antriksha
Payah
Sarpi
Gamgala
Madhu
Sheelayetshaaligodhumayavashashtikajaamgalam |
Sunishnnakjeevantibaalmulakvaastukam ||
Pathyaamlakmrudvekaapatolimudgasharkaraah |
Ghritadivyodak kshir kshoudradaadimasaindhavam || - A.S. SU. 10/45
Shashtika
Shaali
godhuma
sunishnnaka
jeevanti
baal mulaka
vasthuk
pathya
Mrudvika
patoli
sharkara
daadima
By daily use of these foods one remains healthy and can prevent various diseases.
Rice
Ayurveda recommends that among all varieties of Rice the Lohita Shaali (Brown rice) and Shashtika Shaali (Rice grown in 60 days) as good one for daily use.
It's having properties like Madhura rasa, Madhura vipaka, Sheeta virya, Snigda guna Tridoshagna, Balya, Sthairyakara, Bruhmana and Graahi.
It's rich in carbohydrates and proteins.
It contains Glutelin, Albumin, Globulin and Prolamins
In parboiled rice the Vitamin B1 and niacin is preserved.
Green Gram
Madhura kashaya rasa, katu vipaka, sheeta virya, ruksha-laghu guna,
Kapha-pittahara and graahi
It's rich in carbohydrates and proteins.
It contains minerals like calcium, iron, and phosphorus.
Rock Salt
Madhura rasa, Sheeta virya, Snigda, Suksma guna
Tridoshagna, Vrishya, Rochana
Potassium and chloride
Stimulates gastric secretions.
Embelica Officinalis
Sarva rasa except lavana rasa, ruksha guna
Tridoshagna, vrishya
Richest source of Vitamin C and gallic acid
Carbohydrates, Vitamin B, carotene and potassium
Barley
Madhura Kashaya Rasa, Katu Vipaka, Sheeta Virya, Ruksha Guna
Kapha-pitta hara, Increases vata and shakrit, sthairyakara
Protein like thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and Vitamin-B
Is used for malt and brewing commonly.
Pearl barley (de-husked variety) is not good as it contains fewer Vitamins B
Water
Avyakta rasa, sheeta-laghu guna
Pittahara, jeevanam, tarpanam
It contains all micro nutrients
Milk
Madhura rasa, madhura vipaka, sheeta virya, snigda-guru guna
Vatapittahara, rasayana, sukrala
Rich in proteins - albumin, casein, globulin, lysine, threonine
All amino acids except sulphur amino acids
Fats, vitamin A, lactose sugar
Minerals - calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus
Ghee
Madhura rasa, madhura vipaka, sheeta virya, snigda-guru guna
Vatapittahara, kaphakara, sukrala
100% fat
Vitamin A and cholesterol
Meat
Madhura kashaya rasa, sheeta virya, ruksha-laghu guna
Bruhmana
Protein, Vitamin B
Minerals - Iron, phosphorus
Meat liver is rich in folic acid, riboflavin, Vitamin B12
Godhuma
Madhura rasa, sheeta virya, snigda-guru guna
Vatapittahara, kaphakara, bruhmana, sndhankrit, vrishya
Carbohydrates, proteins like gluten, globulin, albumin, proteose
Vitamin B2, phosphorus and Iron
Biscuit, bread toast and wheat flakes have less thiamin and decreases BMR
Semolina and wheat germ oil is rich in vitamin E
Sunnishnaka
Madhura kashaya rasa , sheeta virya, ruksha guna
Tridoshagna, graahi and vrishya
Carbohydrates, vitamin A, fibres
Minerals- zinc, phosphorus, iron
Baalmulaka
Katu tikta rasa, ushna veerya, ruksha guna
Tridoshagna, hrudya, rochana
Carbohydrates, calcium, oxalic acid
Vitamin B, minerals - sodium, potassium
Vasthuk
Madhura rasa, katu vipaka, sheeta virya, ruksha-guru guna
Tridoshagna, kshara yukta, mala bhedaka
Carbohydrates, carotenes, vitamin B
Minerals - zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and iron
Jeevanti
Madhura rasa, sheetavirya, snigda guna
Tridoshagna, chakshusya, graahi
Vitamin A, fibres, carbohydrats
Minerals - phosphorus, magnesium, iron
Pathya
Sarva rasa lavana varjita, kashaya pradhana, madhura vipaka, ushnaveerya
rukha-laghu guna, tridoshagna, rasayana
carbohydrates, vitamin A, minerals
Mrudvika
Madhura, madhura vipaka, sheeta virya guru-snigda guna
Vrishya, bruhmana, srishta mutra-vit
Rich in carbohydrate, protein, calcium, phosphorus,
Ascorbic acid, minerals - magnesium, potassium
Vitamin B
Patola
Tikta rasa, katu vipaka, sheeta
Kapha pittahara, Rochana
Vitamin A and B, ascorbic acid
Minerals - phosphorus, calcium, iron
Sharkara
Madhura rasa, sheeta virya, snigda - guru guna
Pitta-raktahara, trishnagna, vrishya
Rich in carbohydrates - sucrose
Daadima
Amla kashaya madhura rasa, anushna veerya
Tridoshagna, brumhana, graahi
Carhohydrate, protein, ascorbic acid
Minerals- phosphorus, potassium, sodium
Relation of nityasevaniya Aahara and Rasa
- Shashtika shaali - madhura, kashaya
- Mudga - kashaya, madhura - Katu vipaka
- Saindhava - lavana
- Aamlaka - sarva rasa lavana varjita
- Yava - madhura
- Antriksham - depending on soil
- Paya - madhura
- Sarpi - Madhura- vipaka
- Jangalam - kashaya, madhura
- Madhu - kashaya, madhura
Relation of nityasevaniya Aahara and srotas
- Rasa - Preenanam - udakam kledayati
- Rakta - Jeevan - kseeram jeevayati
- Maamsa - Lepan - maamsam brumhayati
- Meda - Sneha - sarpi snehayati
- Asti - Dharan - madhu sandhaati
- Majja - Pooram - lavanam vishyandayati
- Shukra - Garbotpaad karma - shaali
- Ojas - Mudga, aamlaka, yava
Relation of nityasevaniya Aahara and doshas and malas
- Shashtika shaali - vatapitta hara,mutrala
- Mudga - kaphapittahara, vibandhakrit
- Saindhava - tridoshagna
- Aamlaka - kaphapittahara
- Yava - vatahara, pitta-vata krut
- Antriksham - kapah kara
- Paya - kaphapittakara,vatahara
- Sarpi - pittahara
- Jangalam - pitta, vata and kaphakara
- Madhu - kaphapitta hara
Relation of nityasevaniya Aahara and nutrients
- Shashtika shaali refers to rice, preferably par-boiled (carbohydrates)
- Mudga is green gram (protein)
- Saindhava is rock salt (minerals)
- Amalaki is gooseberry (vitamins and enriched with rejuvenation properties)
- Yava is barley (protein)
- Aantariiksham is rain water (electrolytes)
- Payah is milk (calcium and other good stuff)
- Sarpi is ghee (fat)
- Jaangala is the meat of desert animals (protein)
- Madhu is honey (carbohydrates)
Conclusion :
- It gives a concept of balanced diet when taken matravat.
- Shad Rasa upayoga by combining all these.
- It gives mental and physical health.
- Helps in prevention of diseases from all srotas.
- Drugs used here is tridoshagna.
- Diet here helps to improve the taste, digestion; metabolism and excretion hence prevent various diseases.
- It contains all vitamins and minerals needed for body.
