Ayurveda Article - Fresh And Organic For Everyone

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Fresh and Organic

 

Every time we talk about the proper ayurvedic diet, we urge you to

eat foods that are fresh and organic.

 

>From the ayurvedic point of view, there are two primary reasons why

it's emphasized that you eat foods as close to nature as possible:

 

1. Leftovers, and refined, preserved, canned and processed foods, are

harder on the digestion than fresh foods, cooked right before they

are served. When the food you eat is not properly digested, ama

accumulates in the physiology. Ama is the ayurvedic term for

digestive impurities, and is considered the breeding ground of

disease in ayurveda.

 

2. Fresh foods contain "prana" of life-giving energy. The more you

eat of life giving foods, the more health and longevity you are

likely to enjoy. As food sits around on supermarket shelves, or even

in your refrigerator, it loses some of this life force. Food grown

with the aid of chemical fertilizers or sprays is equally devoid of

natural life energy. Ayurveda considers food very powerful

medicine. Why not make the best use of the foods you prepare and eat

by choosing fresh and organic, filled-with-prana foods?

 

Many cities and towns now host farmers' markets, where trucks loaded

with produce from nearby farms drop off their cargoes of fresh fruits

and vegetables. Why not make visits to these markets a part of your

shopping routine? In most cases, the produce will have been picked

the day before, and the fruits and vegetables will be fresh and

bursting with flavor. If you grow your own vegetables, you'll know

that the tomato you pick off the vine is far superior to the one you

pick off the produce shelf at the supermarket. It's true that you

may pay more for your produce, but you'll get value for your money,

and what's more, you'll be helping small farmers survive and produce

specialty items that supermarket chains and agriculture conglomerates

don't consider big business.

 

Modern nutritionists concur that fresh is better. Food that spends

weeks in transportation has lost much of its vitamin content by the

time it finds its way to your crock-pot or saucepan. Fruit is often

artificially ripened or ripens in transit instead of on the tree or

bush or vine, where the sun and the rain and the air coax it to the

peak of its juiciness and sweetness.

 

Of course, farmers' markets only carry fruits or vegetables in

season, but that's part of the adventure of eating. Once you've

experienced the nuances of flavors and textures offered by truly

fresh produce, you'll be willing to build your menus around what's

available. And herbs and spices can always dress up any vegetable

with flair.

 

Food that is certified organic is grown without chemical pesticides

and fertilizers that are harmful to health and to our environment,

and an independent certifying body has confirmed that that is indeed

so.

 

So check out that local farmers' market this weekend. You'll fill

your shopping basket with prana, and help support your community at

the same time.

 

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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