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LET'S TALK LUNCH!


Mealtime tips from Maharishi Ayurveda

Ask an ayurvedic physician for advice on nutrition, and you will find
that the focus of his talk is your lunch. Of course, his diet tips
will largely be based on his assessment of your individual body-type
and current imbalances. But it is not just what you eat, but also how
and when you eat it that matters. And there are some ayurvedic how-
and-when rules that apply to everyone, regardless of physiology.

YOU DON'T NEED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Ice is, no doubt, cool. And on a simmering summer afternoon, a tall
glass of iced water feels very, very nice indeed. But wait! Before
you dip your lips into that glass, consider this:

Ayurveda, arguably the world's oldest system of healing (and also one
of the most evergreen), does not recommend drinking iced water-
especially before lunch.

The reason is simple.

The coolness of ice, say ayurvedic physicians, literally douses the
digestive fires burning bright inside your body. It's exactly like
setting up a barbecue and then, inexplicably, turning it off even
before grilling can begin! Just like the veggies on that grill cannot
cook without fire, your lunch will sit heavy inside you for a long
time if ice has dampened the metabolic energy required for good
digestion.

Therefore, whatever the weather, ask for your water without ice. In
fact, try ordering warm water instead! Surprising, but true: slightly
warm water, taken even during summer, will help you cope better with
the heat! Think about this a moment, and it will make sense: warm
water works like a broom, moving accumulated toxins faster through
your system. This reduces bloating and heaviness, making you feel
lighter and cooler.

Go one step further and add some spices to your drinking water. Cumin
is especially beneficial, for it helps digestion. Roast a teaspoon of
cumin seeds on a griddle. When they release their aroma, coarsely
crush them with a mortar and pestle or in a coffee-grinder. Stir into
plain water, strain and enjoy.

BUT YOU DO NEED A SUMMER COOLER

The ayurvedic drink of choice for hot summer afternoons is lassi:
diluted fresh yogurt spiked with a touch of spice or sweetened with
honey. It takes just a minute to make, and tastes delightful.


What's more, the friendly lacto-bacilli in lassi aid digestion,
especially if you drink the spiced version. What, you might ask, is
the advantage lassi has over plain yogurt? Ramakant Mishra, ayurvedic
expert and Director of Research and Product Development at Maharishi
Ayurveda in Colorado Springs, replies, "Being a diluted form of
yogurt, lassi is not only lighter, but also boosts the toxin-
elimination process, while yogurt can actually clog the channels of
flow. Taken before or with lunch, lassi is goodness itself."

Here's how to churn up a glass of lassi:

Sweet Lassi
1 part fresh cold yogurt (preferably home-made)
3 parts water (at room temperature)
A pinch each of cardamom, sugar, and rosewater.

Digestive Lassi
1 part fresh cold yogurt
3 parts water (at room temperature)
A pinch each of cumin, salt, ginger, and black pepper

In both recipes, blend ingredients together for a minute.

FOLLOW THE RHYTHM OF FIRE

Lunch, says ayurveda, should always be your main meal. Noon is when
both your energy levels and your appetite are-or at least should be,
if your physiology is in balance-at peak. The energy that first
kindles appetite and then digests food is called agni, the Sanskrit
word for fire. Eat a light but nutritious breakfast and dinner. In
the morning and evening, you are mildly hungry.

If you eat large portions at these times-regardless of whether the
meal is healthy or not-you will be asking a dim agni to burn a heavy
load. Which is like expecting a candle to cook a casserole. After
using up and burning whatever it can, the agni will leave undigested
wastes to ferment in the body.

Result: disturbed digestion, interrupted flow of nutrients and wastes
across your body channels. It's really that simple. Follow the rhythm
of the fire within.

A word of caution: making lunch your heaviest meal certainly does not
mean you overload your stomach. The rule of thumb, says ayurveda, is
to eat up to three-quarters of your capacity at any given meal. So
leave the table feeling not quite replete, and you will discover you
have defeated forever the post-lunch slump that usually hits if you
are too full.

HAVE LUNCH WITH A BUNCH OF DAISIES

When was the last time you had flowers on your dining table? Surely,
you might ask, what has that really got to do with eating well? Well,
everything around you affects the way you feel: the color of your
clothes, the temperature of the room, the words you hear, the scent
of the air. So try to make your surroundings as harmonious as you
can.

Buy fresh vegetables, and revel in the pleasure of green peppers and
bright red carrots.

Grow organic fruits and vegetables in your backyard, and herbs on
your kitchen windowsill. These small pleasures will go a long way in
connecting you with your food, and through it, with nature, and the
universe itself, of which ayurveda believes you are an intimate part.


Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.

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