Re:ayurveda and the raw foods perspective

[Guest guest]

dear Jayashree Noel,

 

Your question begs a deeper analysis of nutrition and food in

Ayurveda. The type of raw food living that is practiced in the West

bears no similarity to anything in India nor Ayurveda, except perhaps

a diet of a yogi, but even then, not really because it is an

inescapable fact that dairy has always been as a major constituent of

this " sattvic " diet. However, as not all people are yogis, they

will need to eat foods that are appropriate to their particular

circumstance, and this is what Ayurveda recommends.

 

There is no moralizing about diet in the Ayurvedic samhitas, and even

thought there are therapeutic diets that adjust the ratios of the

different manconutrients, the basic everyday diet is robust and rich

in foods with a high nutrient density, including meat. Raw foods are

consumed at a minimum, mostly in the form of fresh milk and fruits,

with relatively small amounts of raw vegetables. Naturally-fermented

raw foods like curd and pickles are also eaten in the traditional

Indian diet, but these don't contribute the bulk of calories. There

is a particularly strong focus in Ayurveda on cooked broths, soups

and stews, prepared from vegetables, culinary herbs, meats, grains

and pulses.

 

As far the enzyme theory, please see:

http://health.ayurveda/message/11625

My standing request is that if

people post references in support of the enzyme theory that they make

sure it isn't just someone's opinion or a rationalization, but an

actual, observable fact. Unfortunately, when I have investigated the

claims, they all point back to a very few, very weak secondary

references. I wouldn't be so concerned except that in my experience,

vegetarian raw foodists almost always have the same deficient,

vatakopa symptoms by year 10, and most people are forced to make

dietary changes for health reasons. I especially have concerns about

raw food veganism during pregnancy. At the least, a true raw foodist

should try to derive the bulk of calories from raw milk, meats, fish,

and egg yolk (raw egg whites being antigenic), in addition to usual

raw food energy-dense staples such as avocado and coconut. This is

not to say that vegetables and fruits aren't prominent, but they

don't provide anywhere the same nutrient density required by

children, pregnant and lactating mothers, the elderly, and active

people, i.e. 98% of society.

Caldecott, Dip. Cl.H, RH(AHG)

Ayurvedic practitioner, Medical Herbalist

web: http//:www.toddcaldecott.com

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> i am wondering if anyone has experience with ayurveda's perspective

> on the modern " raw & living foods " philosophy.............

[Guest guest]

Well said Todd!

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Your question begs a deeper analysis of nutrition and food in

Ayurveda.