Foods in different climates, Countries

[Guest guest]

Dear Ossi Viljakainen

 

The querry raised by you did not attract much response but kept on ringing in

the author's mind. It needed an in-depth discussion on points which are most

relevant in todays lifestyle driven by materialism. Author will generalize the

subject a little so that many other querries (GERD/Allergy related) are also

covered.

 

Ayurveda has defined the food intake guidelines according to time of the day as

well as season of the year. E.g. an online source for both is:

 

http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/dina.html

http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/ritu.html

 

However, these guidelines are based on population living close to the equator

(or between tropics of cancer and Capricorn) where well defined seasons exist

and difference between the length of day and night is not large, even when sun

is at solstice position. The demarcation between seasons is not strictly as per

Julian calendar, but due to the global warming effects, the season change has

become erratic, and needs to be sensed by Vaidya. This subject has been

discussed earlier in archives and a general consensus was that ayurveda

recommendations need to be adopted to the geographic regions suitably. The

principles which will guide in this adaptaiona are climate, temperature ranges,

humidity ranges, amount and obliquity of sunlight rays, the

terrain/forests/soil/type of trees/ amount of rain etc, which also determine the

kind of crops which grow in that region.

 

The sequential changes in the sunlight time over 24 hours in tropics, become

meaningless where there is a night or day for 24 hours. How does then a person

modifies ayurvedic principles for such cases? Do seasonal food recommendations

should apply to persons for whom such a food may be undesirable from his

constitution? Several such questions arise when applying a science developed

predominantly in Hindustan, which at one time included many neighbouring

countries of Middle east too. Vaidya needs to exercise restraint when following

ancient texts in modern times.

 

Author wishes to emphasize that the best choice of the food, which takes into

account time of the day, season, constitution and region in which person stays

is best decided by body itself. The view that mind is different from the body,

and body is a chemical plant willing to exhibit responses to various chemical

drugs belongs to modern science. Ayurveda attributes intelligence to the body

too, which necessitates dividing Vata into pranvata, vyanvata, pitta into sadhak

pitta etc. The pulse test given in post#4511 is the response of the body to the

foods suitable/unsuitable at that place, time, seasona and for that person. In

post#15489, it was stated that ginger tea boosts natural intelligence allowing

to choose suitable/unsuitable foods at that time. Author takes this idea

further to exploit the mind for better health.

 

The basic reason for sickness is pargyaparadha, whose meaning can be stretched

to retrograde intelligence. The natural intelligence given to the soul tells the

person suitable/unsuitable foods for him. As long as the person follows his

inner voice, health remains excellent. But as his intellect tempts him to eat

unsuitable but tempting foods, the disease enters the body. This tempting is

attached to Rahu in astrology, which governs intoxicants, narcotics, poisons,

sex energy/semen boosters. The mantra to apeace rahu contains this meaning.

" Ardhakayam mahaviryam… " . Under the influence of Rahu, as a person gets tempted

to eat unsuitable foods, it precipitates diseases.

 

Ancient ayurvedic texts were written in Sanskrit, and it was left to few

spiritual gurus, yoga teachers and many practicing vaidyas to present the verses

with correct meaning and examples to bring in more clarity, in local languages.

Since many principles were based on observations of nature around us, the

spiritual Gurus also contributed to the development of ayurveda, making it a

divine and descending science. The Gurus worked for masses. They did mix in some

religion into the ayurvedic practices, so that conformance to requirements was

better. The beliefs attached to fastings, resting/absenting from sex during

menstrual period ensured that health rules were followed better and society was

healthy. All this smeared the border line between classical ayurvedic texts and

yoga/spiritual texts. The shatkarmas of the yogic texts may have origins in

ayurvedic texts.

 

Many eminent vaidyas/saints have written books explaining ayurvedic

recommendations. As far as diet is concerned, some of the Jain monks have

meditated deeply and have evolved some detox routines to cure some of the most

" difficult to treat " vatic diseases(e.g. Post#2765). The practices of Jain

monks consists of several fasting routines and they encourage these practices by

persons seeking spiritual progress. Deep connections between diet and

thoughts/temptations caused by wrong foods have been the subject of many texts

by Jain monks.

 

Author chooses Jain text " Dharmabindu " wherein Acharya Harisbhadrasuri explains

food choices. The person following worldly duties should keep his body healthy,

so that he can observe rules and sacrifices for his Dharma well. With diseases,

he can neither observe his religion, nor follow worldly duties. The secret to

health is " Eat food harmonious to constitution and at right time " . There are

two criteria here. Choose food harmonious to constitution(Vata/Pitta/Kapha).

Vata dominant person should reduce vata boosting foods such as legumes. Pitta

dominant person should reduce and if possible eliminate salty, sour and pungent

foods. Kapha dominant person should reduce cold and sweet foods. The foods

unsuitable for the constitution, if eaten by retrograde intelligence(temptation,

pragyapradha), illness is certain. Second criterion is to take food according to

time and season. If we divide the day into three parts 4 hours, the dominant

doshas in three consecutive periods are Kapha, Pitta and Vata, which repeat in

same sequence during 12 hours of night. The food should not enhance the dosha

which is active at that time. The program should be modified according to

dominant dosha of each person at that time. Medication may alter the dosha

pattern and consulting a vaidya is best to determine dosha pattern. To

illustreate this, fermented products can be eaten during kapha dominance time,

or by kapha dominant person, but not during pitta dominance time or by person.

Early morning vata dominance can be pacified by a sweet made from pure cow ghee.

The first period of the night has kapha dominance, hence milk can be taken in

moderate quantity, but curd is undesirable. The person who understands these

simple rules, he will rarely need to visit vaidya.

 

One should also consider seasons. Winter attracts dominance of Vata. One can eat

hot sweet foods and even fried salty foods during winter. Vasant season which is

running now, causes meltdown of accumulated kapha. Hence instead of oily, sticky

foods, dry foods would be more suitable. Pitta increases during " sharad " season,

which makes milk, rice, payasam more desirable.

 

The food must be suitable for region too. In most of south India, the climate is

sultry and damp. This climate is unsuitable for wheat crop. The climate also

makes wheat difficult to digest in south India. Hence rice is a main diet of

south Indians. If they eat wheat as a major diet, they will loose health. Same

should be said about people living in Mumbai. In humid climates, gluten rich

foods should be avoided. Even fresh rice is better avoided, and used only after

6 months. Jwar and Bajra are the local crops in Gujarat, other than groundnut.

Gujaratis loose health by eating wheat. But Jwar and Bajra cause no problems to

them. Saurashtriyans can consume oily products, as Groundnut is a major crop

there. South Indians/Mumbai borns working in North America/Canada tend to get

allergies, asthma, auto-immune diseases by adopting wheat and refined floors in

their diet. In fact all auto-immune conditions can be the result of

pragyaparadha, which spoils " pragya " , immune system being a part of it. On the

basis of these principles, those in arctic regions eating more meat and fish

should be healthy, as agriculture land is less there.

 

Author had an opportunity to taste several regional foods. The receipes of most

traditional Indian dishes follow ayurveda recommendations. Many items have been

discussed by this author in archives. Which food/herb has what properties as far

as health is concerned, can be determined by principles of spiritual ayurveda.

Animals know those, only humans get misguided by modern science.

 

All of us have healthy agni, but we do not eat to satisfy this agni, rather to

satisfy the temptations of taste buds(Jivhalolupya). In community lunches many

items are available to suit individual constitution. But in order to satisfy the

curiosity, one takes many items, some of them mutually incompatible too. This

results in stuffing the stomach such that tightness develops, belt needs to be

loosened, and rest is needed for some time. Most people go to bed without

leaving the necessary gap. The excess food transforms to fat around belly, and

other than obesity, hypertension, diabetes, excess cholesterol are invited

conditions. Many gujarati CAD patients under allopathic treatment had a severe

MI after sumptuous dinner in marriage ceremony. And severe allergic reactions of

patients on ACE Inhibitors are widely scattered in archives. Thus pragyaparadah

also includes taking modern medicines to suppress symptoms, fear etc.

 

The firm rule to observe four hours gap between two meals can save us from

these troubles. The agni remains kindled by physical exercise or work. Those

whose profession demands physical work keep healthy. Many diseases are not the

result of germs, but rather production of ama as a result of food habits which

can be classed as pragyapradha. Eat the food and quantity what you can digest.

Soft carbs, refined sugars, sweets, hydrogenated fats, bakery products, fast

foods and foods having preservatives should be reduced as much as possible.

Regular walking or other exercises/yoga, meditation, pranayama are further

health tips. Basic rule of health is to follow inner voice, listen to body using

skills developed by meditation and avoid pragyaparadha.

 

A patient from Texas who was suffering allergic rashes when exposed to sunlight

stopped getting them just by one liver detoxification and change of diet. She

was on Allegra for last 18 months, including 10 days in India. ACE Inhibitor

produced need for Allegra. After the above changes, she did not get any rashes,

as long as she avoids specific foods containing gluten and jersey cow milk

products. B.P. is also normal now, despite the ACE Inhibitor eliminated.

Swellings, rashes, palpitations, hypertension are symptoms, not the disease.

Root cause is once again, pragyapradha.

 

Dr Bhate

 

______________

(Post# 15557)

I have wanted to get deeper in understanding different points for dietary

adjustment.

 

.....

 

What are the advises for a humid climate? Dry foods seem quite suitable, but

are there particular tastes that should be favoured more? Perhaps Astringent

and Bitter - and perhaps sweet and salty should be avoided, as they collect

fluids in the body?

 

And what would be advises for windy climate? I guess more oil, and more

heating foods. But sometimes it can be windy and very humid. Or windy, humid

and cold, or dry, but extremely cold and windy.

I would like to have a discussion on this subject, and get your insights.

______________________

(erxcerpts from Post#15769 )

 

Believe me I feel like a normal human being

and have a lot more energy! I stopped buying anything that has High Fructose

corn syrup. Sometimes when I am outside(someone's house) I may have a little

juice, etc. for courtesy and I suffer quite a bit from burping, etc. So I will

just be refusing.

The reason I am writing all this to you in because I was in the same boat as you

are now. Some small changes in our life style can help quite a bit. And No

Allopath Doctor can tell you any of this because their first URGE is start you

on something and then keep increasing the dosage!

[Guest guest]

Dr. Bhate, this is excellent post and one I have been looking to understand

for a long time. Living in the south of US, I have wondered how to adapt

Ayurveda principles to my individual constitution. And trusting my body is

one of the answers that helps.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr Bhate

 

Thanks a lot for nice explanation. However it would be nice if you could explain

how to determine the season in order to apply " ritucharya " (because in ayurvedic

textbooks, they are divided by lunar calander).

 

Normally the advice is to divide the day in three period of 4 hour duration (for

kapha, pitta, vata in order). In the cold countries (France, UK, Russia,

Canada, USA), during the winter the duration of day is shorter. So should not we

divide the day (sunlight to sunset) in 3 equal part. And similarly the night in

3 equal part (sunset to sunlight)?

 

Regards

Vibhuti

 

_____________

Ayurveda has defined the food intake guidelines according to time of the day as

well as season of the year. E.g. an online source for both is:

 

> http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/dina.html

> http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/ritu.html

 

However, these guidelines are based on population living close to the equator

(or between tropics of cancer and Capricorn) where well defined seasons exist

and difference between the length of day and night is not large, even when sun

is at solstice position.

[Guest guest]

>However it would be nice if you could explain how to determine the season in

order to apply " ritucharya " (because in ayurvedic textbooks, they are divided by

lunar calander).

>

>

 

Thanks for your interest in these finer points.

 

As stated in last post, our way of perception through " modern science defined

variables such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, rainfall, clouds etc " cant

tell us accurately the season change;

however look at nature. Trees go through the fertility cycle, shading leaves,

forming flowers, fruits etc. Fishes, birds migrate. The nightingale and other

birds make sounds. Animals, birds, trees are more sensitive to slightest changes

in the environment. We have lost that sensitivity due to our relaxing in

concrete cages and artificially regulated environment in them. Since our

lifestyle is insensitive to daylight or its absence, we have attracted several

diseases. Animals are free, healthy and we are caged patients!

 

Seasons are formed by suns movement along eccliptic, and hence they should be

defined by solar calendar and not lunar. That is why, farmers note sun's

movement through stars (Nakshatras) rather than lunar calendar. When the

monsoons will start, when they should sow the seeds etc gets decided by movement

of sun. However, moon also is important, as it governs life on the planet,

especially fertility and growth cycles by regulating the amount of water in

environment. Defining season boundaries is difficult, since the boundaries

themselves are smeared by global warming.

 

As far as dincharya is concerned, following local time is what ayurveda

recommends. In ancient times, the time measurement was based on sun's movement,

day was counted from one sunrise to next. This approximately 24 hour period was

divided equally into Ghati, Pala, Vipala (similar to hour minutes, sec) etc.

Hence the confusion did not exist, method being applicable all round the year

and all across the planet. One could divide the day time into three equal parts

and night time also similarly.

 

Of course one should not take all this as mathematically precise. For instance,

consider only one hour sunlight period. It is difficult to imagine that body

will sweep through Kapha, Pitta, Vata dominance in just one hour, and

immediately slow down to same change in next 23 hours. This is what makes pulse

diagnosis more applicable all across universe, as we are asking body itself:

" what dosha unbalance you have " ?

 

The way Reiki master passes bio-energy from his body to patients body by touch,

meditation, concentration, vaidya also is trying to enter his consciousness into

patients inner world, trying to assess the dosha waves. Vaidya having more

energy will be able to pass energy to patient, directly affecting pranvata. That

is the reason, the pulse rate of the patient drops in 2-3 minutes. That is also

the reason that pulse diagnosis should be repeated at least once during the

consultation.

 

Dr Bhate

_____________

 

Normally the advice is to divide the day in three period of 4 hour duration

(for kapha, pitta, vata in order). In the cold countries (France, UK, Russia,

Canada, USA), during the winter the duration of day is shorter. So should not we

divide the day (sunlight to sunset) in 3 equal part. And similarly the night in

3 equal part (sunset to sunlight)?