A journey through the moments of the day to eat food according to this medicine born in India.
Born in India more than five thousand years ago and endorsed by the World Health Organization, Ayurveda or the science of life, as it is known, aims to treat the human being as a whole, as body, mind and spirit. , on natural bases and focused on both prevention and cure of diseases or imbalances.
“Every aspect of life is taken into account when diagnosing and treating diseases. Ayurveda dedicates its effort to the development of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of diseases. It ends up being a philosophy that helps you to know yourself, to accept your current situation and to work to strengthen yourself”, he explains to Clarion Dr. Jose Harvey.
the times of ayurveda
People have their own rhythm to perform different activities throughout the day. Nevertheless, the advancement of different technologies, as well as artificial light at nightcause these rhythms to be altered.
However, the regularity of the schedules is essential when following a routine. Getting up, eating and going to bed at the same time creates a healthy life and a day full of energy. Ayurvedic science establishes the importance of complying with heart rhythms and determines which activity is the most appropriate for a certain time of day.
According to Ayurveda, the day is divided into six unique phases, based on the three doshas (Vatta, Pitta and Kapha), or types of energy, and in each of these phases different activities must be carried out.
Ayurveda hours: night vatta: from 2 to 6
Sleep patterns become light, which makes it more difficult to go back to sleep if one wakes up during these hours. This can lead to the establishment of anxiety, it is best to continue sleeping at this time.
If you cannot fall asleep, to avoid anxiety, the best is to meditate, breath work and chanting mantrasto ground the nervous system and utilize the high frequency morning brain wave patterns.
Morning kapha phase: 6 to 10
This is the ideal time to exercise. When the sun is out, the body and its digestive environment are damp and sluggish, probably with a stuffy nose and runny nose, and even some stiffness in the joints. Therefore, the goal during the early hours of the day is to warm up the body and get it going.
On the other hand, for breakfast is recommended to consume something warm and lightas this supports internal heat.
Pitta phase of the day: from 10 to 14
As the sun reaches its peak, everything lights up and daytime metabolic activity is at its highest. This makes people naturally more productive in this period. and also that they feel more hungry. It is the perfect time to make the most abundant meal of the day.
On the other hand, it is good to avoid doing very intense exercises, especially if it is summer or you have a lot of Pitta in your constitution.
Vatta phase of the day: from 2 pm to 6 pm
At this time we feel light and energetic. We can take advantage of the last hour of the afternoon to do more intense exercises, go for a walk, jog or ride a bike.
It is advisable to reserve this period for tasks that require less attention.
Kapha phase of the night: from 18 to 22
As the sun disappears and night falls, the digestive system slows down and the body’s energy goes down. Dinner should be taken early and should be the lightest and simplest meal of the day., so that the body can digest before sleeping. To sleep well and rest fully, it is necessary to avoid eating dinner after 8pm.
Keys to a healthy diet
- Consume fresh or recently cooked food, over reheated, processed and canned dishes, since they have more prana or vital energy.
- Preferably choose light food, such as vegetables, fruits and grains, which will help the digestive process. Within the fruits, citrus fruits are recommended at this time for their high content of vitamin C.
- Drink at least two liters of water per day to maintain hydration.
- Avoid junk food and white sugar, as they tend to lower the immune system response. Refined sugar in large amounts causes insulin secretion, which in turn can cause systemic inflammation, an abnormal response in the body.
- Use ghee (clarified butter), coconut oil and turmeric in meals, which have healing properties.
