A half teaspoon of grated ginger taken with a pinch of salt is an excellent appetizer and kindles
AGNI, the digestive fire. Splashing cool water over your face, neck, and hands before meals also
stimulates AGNI.
Eat in a settled environment and quiet atmosphere, with a settled mind. Your company and
environment should be pleasant. Do not work, listen to music, read or watch TV during meals.
Always sit down to eat. Eat at roughly the same times each day.
Eat neither too quickly nor too slowly (about 20 minutes) and without interruption.
Eat to about ¾ of your stomach capacity at your biggest meal; this equals the amount of your two
cupped hands full. Ideally, one third of the meal should consists of liquid food of a soupy
consistency.
Avoid eating a meal or snack before the previous meal has been digested, unless it is a piece of
fruit. Allow approximately 3 to 6 hours between meals, depending upon the types of food
consumed.
If you desire to drink anything with your meals, it is best to sip a little hot or warm water. Also
avoid drinking large quantities of liquids right before and within the first 2 hours after meals.
Drinking excessive amounts of water (3-4 liters a day) may produce obesity, kidney disorders and
mineral/vitamin deficiencies, whereas drinking too little water causes dehydration. To meet the
minimum requirements for water, drink 6-8 glasses of water (at room temperature or warm) each
day. You may need to increase the amount during hot, dry weather, when exercising or during
stressful times in your life. If the color of your urine is dark yellow, drink more water; if colorless,
drink less.
Consuming cold foods, such as ice cream, and drinking iced beverages may reduce your resistance
to disease, impair AGNI and cause mucus congestion.
The diet should be balanced by including all six tastes—sweet, sour, salty, pungent (spices), bitter
and astringent—in at least one meal per day. However, check the previous section concerning
specific taste requirements and physiological needs or imbalances for your particular body type.
It is best not to heat or cook with honey; heat destroys it and makes it toxic.
Never eat just before going to bed. To avoid developing sleeping disorders, there should be at least
three hours between eating and sleeping. If your bedtime is 10:00 p.m., eat no later than 6:00 p.m.
Chew your food thoroughly—the digestive process starts in the mouth.
Ayurveda does not favor the intake of too much raw food like raw vegetables, uncooked oat
flakes, uncooked grains, etc. Fruits are an exception as they are already “cooked” or ripened by the
sun. (See also the section in Chapter 14, Raw Versus Cooked Foods.) The Pitta type is the only
one among the body types who is able to digest more raw foods.
It is best not to eat when the mind is dominated by strong emotions such as anger, worry or
sorrow. Wait until it has become more settled, since the digestive system does not work under
stress.
Sleeping after meals causes sluggishness and increases Kapha and body weight. However, it is
good to rest for about 10 minutes after meals and, if possible, to go for a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Food should always be delicious and pleasing to the senses and should be prepared by a happy
cook.
