Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

Everything you need to know about Ayurvedic cooking

Ishani Chetty by Ishani Chetty
February 23, 2022
in Conscious cooking, Featured, Features
0
Everything you need to know about Ayurvedic cooking
4
SHARES
10k
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

Over the past few years, Eastern traditions and culture have become all the rage in Western society and Ayurveda is no exception as many people across the globe adopt its principles. Here are all the basics that you need to know about Ayurveda and its approach to both cooking and food.

What is Ayurveda?

Often referred to as the Mother of All Healing, the Sanskrit word “Ayurveda” directly translates to “the science of life”.

The Art of Living, an international NGO with a presence in South Africa, defines Ayurveda as a natural and holistic medicine system.

When compared to modern medicine and science, instead of focusing on the management of a disease or illness, Ayurveda focuses on the prevention and possible elimination of illnesses or diseases.

The origins of Ayurveda

According to the Ayurvedic Institute, an organisation dedicated to the practice and teaching of Ayurvedic medicine and ancient Indian therapies, Ayurveda originated in India over 5,000 years ago and is rooted within Vedic culture.

Michele Mistry, a certified Ayurvedic nutrition specialist and founder and owner of a local brand, INDIKAAP Vegan Ayurveda, shares that the origins of the practice and concept were passed down orally through generations.

“Ayurvedic traditions and concepts have been traced back to the Vedas, which are ancient Indian mantras that were memorised and passed down between spiritual ascetics. Charak and Sushrata were two scholars who created the first written texts known as the Charaka Samhita and the Sushrita Samhita respectively. The compilation of these two texts was called the Ashtanga Hridyam.”

The principles of Ayurveda

With a holistic and natural approach to not only healing but life in general, the principles of Ayurveda are based on three key concepts that all relate to the basic biology of the human body.

Michele outlines the three universal principles of Ayurveda.

“There are three universal principles that are present in all that exists. These are Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Sattwa is purity, right action and spiritual purpose; Rajas is movement, change and transformation; and Tamas is inertia, confusion, decay and death. From these come the elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Everything we are and experience has the five elements and the universal principles present.”

Within its foundational roots, Ayurveda is rooted in balancing the three principle energies of the body.

A paper written by Vasant Lad, an Ayurvedic physician and the founder of the Ayurvedic Institute, outlines these three principle energies as Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

“Energy is required to create movement so that fluids and nutrients get to the cells, enabling the body to function. Energy is also required to metabolise the nutrients in the cells, and is called for to lubricate and maintain the structure of the cell. Vata is the energy of movement; Pitta is the energy of digestion or metabolism; and Kapha, the energy of lubrication and structure. All people have the qualities of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, but one is usually primary, one secondary, and the third is usually least prominent. The cause of disease in Ayurveda is viewed as a lack of proper cellular function due to an excess or deficiency of Vata, Pitta or Kapha. Disease can also be caused by the presence of toxins.”

Michele adds that Ayurveda does not simply look at the surface but has a deeper approach to treating illnesses and in addressing one’s overall wellbeing. “Nothing is seen in isolation. A practitioner would not focus on the symptoms of the illness alone, but on all aspects of life, like nutrition, lifestyle, stage of life etc.”

Ayurvedic cooking

The principles of Ayurveda are echoed through its approach to food and cooking practices as outlined by Michele.

“Ayurvedic cooking uses the knowledge of the three universal principles and how the human body and mind are affected by them. Using the appropriate qualities and quantities of foods, we create food that heals, rejuvenates and transforms. Ayurvedic food is medicinal and intentional, and feeds more than our desire for taste. That said, it can be incredibly delicious, too.”

Unlike other practices, Ayurveda believes that each person’s body and digestion is unique and, as such, there is not a rigid approach to cooking or food.

Contrary to popular belief, not all Ayurvedic foods are Indian, vegan or vegetarian as Michele points out. “Ayurveda uses food to medicate as needed by the client.”

Some popular Ayurvedic dishes include kitchari and conjee. Both of these dishes are rice soups and are used during an Ayurvedic cleanse.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by INDIKAAP Vegan Ayurveda (@indikaap_vegan_ayurveda)

Each principle energy relates to a specific approach to food and diet – a detailed explanation of this can be found here.

The benefits of Ayurvedic cooking

There are multiple benefits to utilising Ayurvedic principles in our cooking methods and diets as it approaches wellbeing with an internal focus.

“We can regulate our own health, our wellbeing, our mood, our energy levels, our libido, our enthusiasm, our anger, our drive and our joy by adjusting what we ingest, how we prepare it and when we eat it. It is revolutionary as it puts our health and wellbeing where it should be – in our own control,” concludes Michele.

Tags: AyurvedaCooking trendsFood Trends


Related Posts

modern-food-labels-explained
Conscious cooking

Exploring the new lexicon around dietary food choices

March 27, 2023
French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness
Baking tips and tricks

French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness

March 23, 2023
misomite
Features

Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

March 23, 2023
Next Post
Babylonstoren launches innovative wine museum

Babylonstoren launches innovative wine museum

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

misomite

Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

March 23, 2023
Chefs share 8 trade-secrets to making a fantastic milk tart at home

Chefs share 8 trade-secrets to making a fantastic milk tart at home

February 20, 2023
The 4-ingredient dough recipe that changed my life

The 4-ingredient dough recipe that changed my life

February 13, 2023
We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

We predict 2023’s biggest food trends for home cooks

February 1, 2023
The Food24 team shares their 2023 kitchen goals

The Food24 team shares their 2023 kitchen goals

February 1, 2023

Recent favourites

  • olives in a bowl

    Quick and speedy pantry hacks: 5 clever things to do with store-bought olives

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From vetkoek to fynvleis: The new 100+ Flavours report is a deep-dive into SA food culture

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Discovering the world of locally made miso with master fermenter James Kuiper

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • French vs Swiss vs Italian meringue: A quick guide to marshmallowy goodness

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 15 perfect potato side dishes that will upgrade any meal

    32 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Festive
  • Baking
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Braai Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Easter Recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Delicious pork recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Low carb recipes
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • South African recipes
  • News
    • Food news
  • Videos
  • Cooking guides and tips
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Food24 taste tests
    • Kitchen design and appliances
    • Drinks
      • Non-alcoholic drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Cocktails
      • Coffee
    • Win

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.
Close
Food24
Get the latest recipes delivered to your inbox weekly
Promotional Newsletter

Be the first to receive information about competitions and special offers from Food24 and it's partners.

You have successfully been subscribed!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Make sure you have completed all required fields.
I don't want to see this again