Treading the middle path

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<this message has been edited by cybervaidya>

 

Even in 2004, we do not have an appropriate knowledge of food or diet.

In all of "science" , including modern science, with " references", we deal

with statistics. Statistically, the majority should feel better ( if not cured)

with Drug A vs Drug B. That also means there is going to be a certain population

that does not feel better with Drug A, and hopefully has no complications. If

the rate of complications outweighs the cure rate, that is the end of that drug

or therapy or food.

Ayurveda is the first ever and a continuous study of certain diet and herbal

medicine with a very large population group. Needless to say that that itself is

overwhelming, but is not backed by current social need for "double blind" or "

chemical" studies. As much as there is an overwhelming data, mostly social, of

vegetarian food being a generally healthy one, one cannot separate the fact that

essentially India is extremely hot and a light diet is perhaps good, just as in

the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. A column such as ours is going to

attract people with " diseases" , who are looking for " answers" not available

with the traditional diet or medications dispensed here in the West, especially

when the western Treatment or diet has either not delivered "health" or is

incapable of a "full cure" of their current disease.

 

As Buddha says, the middle ground is always better. Let us come back to the

middle ground. That perhaps all meat is not good---scientifically proven now,

with all the heart disease , etc.. And that pure vegetarian diet may not be

enough in these colder climates--not yet proven scientifically, but perhaps

makes some academic sense, in generation of internal body heat and provision of

mass. It needs to be looked at scientifically, and only a large group , studied

over decades, will prove or disprove these theories. Much the same problem as

with Ayurveda itself. That there are no clinical trials. Let us also understand

that some meat eaters will not respond well to pure vegetarian diet, because

their minds, palates, and stomachs will not accept this radical change, and that

some vegetarians will totally abhor any discussion of an animal in their body,

and might even vomit if they find out what they have been served. But, for most

omnivores, like the majority here, it makes sense to lighten up

on the meats consumed, with a generous increase in the vegetarian foods ( not

just salads, but real vegetable dishes), and let us not forget the 3rd important

part of this triad---exercise. Most people do not exercise.

 

It makes a lot of sense to go back to Agni. And see how to improve one's Agni,

regardless of the diet. And if you are a Kapha, with a Mandaagni, it is perhaps

better to eat vegetarian foods. Meats without heavy exercise in Kaphas will

build a lot of Ama. If you are a Vata with a Mandaagni, or a Vishamaagni, even

if theoretically you could eat non-veg to decrease the Vata, and increase the

Kapha, you may not digest it too well, leaving a lot of Ama, unless you take

multiple small amounts of " fattening foods", until you build yourself. This is

the only group that can have light or no exercise. The real Pitta type can

digest meat with no problem. I have seen most people describe themselves as

Pitta, even if mentally or physically they are not, because it makes us feel

good to say we are not Kaphas or Vatas. Most of us are not pure Vata or Pitta or

Kapha, so we should find out for ourselves from a good Ayurvedist( not

necessarily an Ayurvdic practitioner), our Prakriti and our Vikriti.

Prakriti does not need a Vaidya, but Vikriti does. Vikriti needs treatment, and

should not be attempted by an occasional practitioner ( week end type

Ayurvedist).

Let us also understand that regardless of the food we have chosen, that unless

it is naturally raised, we are bound to have its repurcussions from the

additives, hormonal or genetic. we are bound to manifest our own reactions to

these additives. Just taking people off of milk is not enough, if we do not

change our food to a naturally raised one.And all discussion of ideal foods is

useless if we are going to stuff ourselves with impure stuff. Then again, is

really " pure" stuff really available in the market???? Unless you are raising

it yourself, or know a farm house that does.

 

As far as Bonnie's needs for a Vegetarian breakfast, there are several good

books on Vegetarian breakfasts. They mostly indulge in rice preparations like

Iddly, Vada, and Dosa. Vada and Dosa entail using oil, but their cousins--the

iddly and Uttapam do not.

There are several vegetables, and Khichdis that can also be used as breakfasts,

if you are having a late breakfast/early lunch. These are heavier than the

"light " breakfasts of cereals or breads/ toasts. Yoghurts with fruits are also

good as breakfast material.

I , personally, am not much of a breakfast person , unless I am on vacation. We

go away on vacations, where all this fancy Indian Breakfast is not available,

unless you vacation in India. We have late breakfasts and end up having the same

as any one else--either omelettes or fruits and yoghurt or cereals. Or just a

light lunch.

 

durgesh mankikar