Photo: fabola

I’ve taken quite a bit of Ayurveda training because I find the science fascinating and it just makes sense. And while I have only just scratched the surface, I have already learned so much. Ayurveda is a science that focuses on balancing the body’s life energies (vata, pitta, and kapha) rather than focusing on individual symptoms. Because of this, Ayurveda helps your body to arrive at its natural weight. It makes you feel calm, relaxed, and most of all, balanced. Your diet is one of the main components of Ayurveda.

1. Cut the Distractions

Alcohol, caffeine, and television are really nothing more than mental distractions. If you want to cut to the root of who you really are, you need to cut back. Substitute tea for coffee in the morning unless you’re addicted to caffeine. We’re not trying to be drastic here, so if you’re getting awful headaches, just try and cut way back. Both caffeine and alcohol make it impossible to establish our true mental state, that’s why it’s important that you don’t have too much of either.

2. Make Kitchari

Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic dish that’s known for its ability to detox the body and balance all three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. For yogis that want to cleanse the body and soul in a gentle manner, kitchari provides ample nutrients while pushing the junk out of your body. It’s made with mung beans, basmati rice, seasonal vegetables, ghee, and spices. The mung beans are known for their ability to remove toxins, specifically pesticides and insecticides, from the body. Mung beans are also a source of protein and the rice provides ample carbohydrates and fiber.

Read More: What’s Kitchari and Why is It One of the Most Detoxifying Foods?

3. Stop Drinking Water with Meals

The ancient science of Ayurveda says that drinking water during meals, specifically cold water, puts out our digestive fire so that our bodies don’t properly digest the foods we eat. As a result, it’s recommended that you avoid drinking water at least 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after your meal. If you must have a drink, sip on a room temperature beverage.

Read More: Stop Drinking Water With Meals–Seriously

4. Meal Timing

The biggest meal is always in the middle of the day. This is because the digestive fire is most potent. The liver digests your food in the middle of the night and if you eat and drink tons of food at night then it will be overloaded. If you wake up groggy in the morning, it could be because your liver was unable to effectively digest all of your intake. You should ideally eat your last meal of the day before the sun goes down.

Breakfast: 7-8am
Lunch: 12-1pm
Dinner: 6-7pm

5. Eat Only When Hungry

Listen to the messages that the body is sending. Don’t just eat to eat. The most important aspect of any diet is the way you eat. Every meal is a gift for which you’re thankful. Imagine you’re eating your rolled oats with fresh fruit as you stare out into Mediterranean Sea with crystal blue waters as far as the eye can see. Every bite is special.

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