We tell you a little about Ayurveda medicine and how to prepare your meals with all the necessary components to make a completely balanced dish and the benefits of starting to implement Ayurveda in your life.
What is Ayurvedic Medicine?
Ayurvedic medicine is a traditional system of medicine originating in India that is over 5,000 years old. The word "Ayurveda" comes from Sanskrit and is composed of "Ayur," meaning life, and "Veda," meaning knowledge or science. Therefore, Ayurveda translates to "the science of life."
Basic Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine
Doshas:
Ayurveda is based on the idea that all living beings are composed of a combination of three fundamental energies called doshas:
Vata (air and ether): Responsible for movement, breathing, and circulation.
Pitta (fire and water): Controls metabolism, digestion, and body temperature.
Kapha (earth and water): Provides stability, strength, and resistance.
Each person has a unique combination of these doshas, and a dominant dosha that determines their physical and mental constitution, known as prakriti.
Balance and Imbalance:
Health, according to Ayurveda, is the result of proper balance of the doshas. When one or more doshas become unbalanced, it can lead to physical or mental illness.
Diet and Lifestyle:
Ayurveda places great emphasis on diet, lifestyle, and daily routines. Proper nutrition, exercise, meditation, and other holistic practices are essential to maintaining balance and health.
Purification and Rejuvenation:
Ayurveda also promotes detoxification and purification techniques known as panchakarma, which seek to remove toxins from the body and restore balance.
You can take the Dosha test at this Link , to find out which is your dominant dosha.
Ayurvedic dish
A complete Ayurvedic meal to have a balanced body and the best functioning of your digestive system is made up of 2 main parts with 2 elements each:
Purifying foods: composed of Legumes + Vegetables that purify
Building Foods: Consists of Building Grains + Vegetables
We must divide our plate into 4 sections:
40% Grains
20% Vegetables that build
20% Purifying vegetables
20% Legumes or some protein
Grain Options:
Amaranth
Wheat
Quinoa
Rice of most types (we recommend basmati)
Wild rice
Oatmeal
Building Vegetable Options:
Avocado
Beetroot
Carrot
Corn
Cucumber (without peel and seeds)
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Sweet potato
Squash
Butternut squash
Purifying Vegetable Options
Asparagus
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Purple and white cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Green beans
Kale
Peas (also counts as a legume)
Prickly pear
Legume or Protein Options
Black beans
Lentils
Chickpeas
Egg
Chicken
Salmon
Whitefish
Beef
Pork
Build your meals with this structure but it doesn't necessarily have to be everything on the same plate. You can start your meals with a salad that has building vegetables and cleansing vegetables, and then some rice and your protein.
Take into account the foods that do not mix according to Ayurveda.
Animal Protein & Dairy
Legumes and animal protein
Legumes and egg
Egg & Animal Protein
Eggs & Dairy
Fruits with any other food.
We leave you some ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner that apply with Ayurveda.
Breakfast:
1. Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Mushrooms
Ingredients: Eggs, fresh spinach, mushrooms, onion, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Description: Sauté the onion and mushrooms in olive oil. Stir in the spinach until wilted, then stir in the beaten eggs. Cook until the eggs are set, season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Vegetable & Avocado Omelette
Ingredients: Eggs, pepper, onion, spinach, zucchini, avocado, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Description: Beat the eggs and pour them into a hot pan with a little olive oil. Add the chopped vegetables and cook until the omelette is golden and cooked on both sides.
Serve on your plate and add the Avocado on top.
3. Poached Eggs on Avocado Toast
Ingredients: Eggs, avocado, whole wheat bread, lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Description: Poach the eggs and place them on a slice of whole wheat toast with mashed avocado. Add a little lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
4. Tomato and Pepper Shakshuka
Ingredients: Eggs, tomato, red peppers, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Description: Cook the tomatoes, peppers, onion and garlic in a pan with olive oil. Once the mixture is smooth, create small holes and crack an egg into each one. Cook until the eggs are cooked to your desired doneness.
You can accompany it with pita bread.
5. Baked Eggs with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients: Eggs, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Description: Place the asparagus and cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Crack the eggs over the vegetables and bake until the eggs are cooked to your liking.
Meals
Basmati Rice with Grilled Chicken, Squash, and Brussels Sprouts
40% Grains: Cooked basmati rice.
20% Building Vegetables: Roasted squash.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Roasted Brussels sprouts.
20% Legumes or Proteins: Grilled chicken.
Instructions: Cook the basmati rice and roast the Brussels sprouts (you can prepare them as in our Pesto Brussels Sprouts recipe) and the squash in slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add some sliced onion and roast it along with the squash. You can add a bit of tahini to the squash for a delicious flavor. Grill the chicken until fully cooked. Serve everything together on a plate.
Wild Rice with Salmon, Cucumber, and Broccoli
40% Grains: Cooked wild rice.
20% Building Vegetables: Sliced cucumber (peeled and seeded).
20% Purifying Vegetables: Broccoli.
20% Legumes or Proteins: Salmon.
Instructions: Cook the wild rice. Sear the salmon with a bit of lemon, herbs, salt, and pepper. Boil your broccoli and then sauté them in a pan with salt, pepper, and a bit of tahini. You can add some chopped nuts. Serve the rice with diced cucumber, broccoli, salmon on top, and some avocado.
Pink Basmati Rice with Salmon
40% Grains: Cooked basmati rice.
20% Building Vegetables: Beetroot & Avocado.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Broccoli.
20% Legumes or Proteins: Salmon.
Instructions: Cook the basmati rice. Boil the beetroot until tender. Place the beetroot in a bowl of cold water and cut it into cubes. Sauté the broccoli in a pan with a bit of lemon and soy sauce. Cut your avocado into cubes and grill your salmon. Add a bowl of rice and place all your ingredients on top. You can add an extra touch by drizzling some tahini on top.
White Fish Tacos with Avocado and Purple Cabbage
40% Grains: You can prepare some steamed rice to complete your meal.
20% Building Vegetables: Avocado & Carrot.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Purple cabbage.
20% Legumes or Proteins: White fish.
Instructions: Season your fish with lemon, salt, and pepper. Cook the fish, either baked or grilled. In a bowl, place the shredded purple cabbage and shredded carrot, add olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, and a bit of sesame oil. Mix your vegetables well with the dressing. Heat your tortillas and place the fish in pieces, avocado, and your mix of cabbage and carrot on top.
Dinners
Corn Tortilla Tacos with Chicken, Avocado, and Purple Cabbage
40% Grains: Corn tortillas.
20% Building Vegetables: Sliced avocado.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Shredded purple cabbage.
20% Legumes or Proteins: Grilled chicken.
Instructions: Grill the chicken and cut it into strips. Place the chicken on the corn tortillas, add sliced avocado and shredded purple cabbage. You can add a touch of lemon and cilantro if desired.
Spinach and Cheese Quesadillas
40% Grains: Corn tortillas.
20% Building Vegetables: Avocado.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Spinach.
20% Dairy: Cheese.
Instructions: Heat your tortillas, and place the cheese and spinach inside. Once hot and the cheese is melted, add avocado.
Whole Wheat Pita Wrap with Black Beans, Mushrooms, and Spinach
40% Grains: Whole wheat pita bread.
20% Building Vegetables: Roasted mushrooms.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Fresh spinach.
20% Legumes or Proteins: Cooked black beans.
Instructions: Roast the mushrooms with a bit of onion and spinach. Heat the black beans. Open the pita bread and fill it with the beans, and the mushroom, onion, and spinach mixture.
Ezekiel Bread with Avocado and Cheese
40% Grains: Ezekiel bread.
20% Building Vegetables: Avocado.
20% Purifying Vegetables: Spinach.
20% Dairy: Goat cheese.
Instructions: Toast the bread and add the avocado with mixed goat cheese, along with some spinach and sliced tomato. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top.
Tell us what you think about Ayurveda's approach to finding balance in your life through food.
If you have tried to include Ayurveda in your life, tell us how it has worked for you and what changes you have noticed in the comments. We love to read your comments!
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