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Tending the Fire: Ayurveda for Balancing our

Diet and Weight w/ Scott Blossom

Ayurveda-the science of life and longevity

Agni- Fire, Force of transformation, digestion, and the principle of discernment in

the body and mind

Three Pillars of Life--Activity, Food, Rest

Food

Food Carries Consciousness

Food is made up of the five elements and these affect our consciousness

Mitahara- Right intake of food. One of the limbs of the Six-fold Path of Tantric Yoga
(Sadanga).

The Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space

The Three Doshas:

Kapha= Earth + Water

Pitta = Fire +Water

Vata= Air + Space

Metabolic

Metabolic Influence of the Doshas

Kapha- Anabolic- Increases mass as potential energy storage
Vata- Catabolic- Decreases mass to create kinetic energy
Pitta- Metabolic- Regulates kinetic and potential energy
Diet and Lifestyle

Doshic Imbalances from Diet and Lifestyle

Kapha imbalance- too much inactivity or food (esp. heavy, cold food)
Vata- Too much activity/stress, under eating or eating too much light, cold food
Pitta- Too much intensity, eating too much protein, spicy or fried food, foods that are
intensely spicy, sour, or salty foods- esp. alcohol
Constitutional Response To Stress/
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Constitutional Metabolic Response to Stress (Vata Imbalance)

Kapha- Mandagni- Stress increases vata which indirectly increases kapha- weight
increases
Vata- Vishamagni-Stress increases vata-weight decreases
Pitta-Tikshnagni-Stress temporarily increases vata and pitta- weight fluctuation

Constitutional Test
Prakriti- Nature/Constitution
Determined at conception

Vikriti- Current condition

This includes 11 factors including your constitution.

Six Tastes/Rasas
Sweet- Earth + Water
Sour- Earth +Fire
Salty- Water + Fire
Spicy/Pungent- Fire + Air
Bitter- Air + Space
Astringent- Air+ Earth

Emotions and Tastes

Sweet- Satisfaction, In excess- Complacency, inertia
Sour- Refreshing, In excess- Envy, jealousy, pessimism, sour grapes attitude
Salty- Grounded, Assertive In excess- rigidity, controlling and/or hedonistic
Spicy/Pungent- Inspiring, motivating In excess- Anger, Aggressiveness, overly
intense/passionate
Bitter- Promotes a sober, introspective, and healthy dissatisfaction In excess-
disillusionment and grief
Astringent-Promotes ascetic, unemotional quality In excess- Withdrawn,
disconnected, cold hearted

Daily and Seasonal Cleansing Routines

Sandhi- Junctions when the doshic influence is shifting. This is the most important
time for cleansing, esp. Spring and Fall equinoxes

Kapha- 6AM/PM - 10AM/PM, late-Winter through Spring

Pitta- 10AM/PM - 2AM/PM, late Spring through Summer
Vata- 2AM/PM 6AM/PM, Indian Summer through Winter
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Constutional Sattvic Diet

Kapha-
Eat mostly light, drying, warming foods- especially foods with Pungent, Bitter, and
Astringent flavors- Low Fat, Low-Carb vegetarian.
Avoid-excess cold, sweet, heavy foods like dairy, meat, and processed, simple
carbohydrates

Pitta-
Eat mildly spiced, alkaline foods that are abundant in sweet, bitter, and astringent
flavors. Vegetarian foods with ample fats and proteins that can include eggs
and dairy. Mediterranean Diet
Avoid- Excessively sour, spicy, and salty, or fired foods- esp. alcohol, coffee, excess
protein

Vata-
Eat a warm, nourishing, easy-to-digest diet that is abundant in the sweet,
sour, and salty flavors- small amounts of spice such as ginger, nutmeg, and pepper
are helpful for delicate digestive fire. Flexitarian diet
Depending on your heritage flesh foods may be needed to create stability and
maintain weight. Managing stress, daily routine and relaxation are essential.
Avoid- Excess cold, raw, dry, light foods

Three Definitions of Health

Arogya- Without disease
Svastha Vritta- Established in the rhythms of Nature/Self, Healthy habits
Sukha- Optimal Health and Happiness

Further Reading

Prakriti by Dr. Robert Svoboda

The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Dr. Vasant Lad
Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners by Morningstar
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
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