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WATER - Panacea of Life: Water is the Elixir of Life. 75% of earths area is covered by water. Water is the major component of all living beings and it is the major constituent of human cells too. When you feel thirsty, your cells are starving!! Ayurveda, the science of life & Healthy living, highlights the little things involved in our day to day life. In the text Ashtanga Sangraha, Acharya Vagbhata has described the indication & description of when, how and what amount of water should be drunk for a healthy living. As regards to the Ayurvedic theory, each person has a different need. The Ayurvedic principle - "consume water whenever you feel thirsty". BODY CONSTITUTION & WATER REQUIREMENT: The prakruthi(Body constitution) plays a major role in water intake, "VATA PRAKRUTHI" needs more water due to the drying nature of dominant "air" element in them.Vata constitution needs lubrication too... "PITTA PRAKRUTHI" needs more water due to the dominance of "fire" element in their body. Also, they
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Perspire more and require more water to keep their body hydrated and cool. "KAPHA PRAKRUTHI" demand less water due to the dominance of cooling" water and earth elements" in their constitution. WATER & FOOD: Water before meals is bad for our digestion. It causes sluggish digestion which is the root cause of many diseases. Water taken immediately after meals is bad When a large amount of water is drunk immediately after meals it leads to dilution of digestive juices causing indigestion, acidity and other chronic complaints related to Digestive system. Hence drinking water immediately after meals is not recommended as it acts like poison. Water taken with/during meals is compared to nectar as it aids digestion. This would soften the food and make it easier for digestion. Water taken after digestion of food gives strength to the body. It would cleanse the leftovers after digestion. Having water one hour after meal, is a safe way to go.
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WATER & SEASON: I'm sure you would wonder how the climate could influence water. But Ayurveda, the oldest known healing system has a lot details about this. In a Humid climate, The substances found in a humid climate tend to be full of humidity themselves, and so are "heavy" for digestion; they contribute too much water to the system, making it difficult for the digestive fire to remain hot enough to function efficiently..This is the climatic influence on water, food and digestion. According to different seasons there are some things you can add to your water to balance Doshas and maintain health .Jeeraka (cumin), Ushira (Vettiver zizanoides), fresh or dried Ginger, Tulasi and such others can be customized as the season changes. They augment the healing properties of water by many times. They can be just added to hot water or steeped in boiling water for 10 min for more strength. Benefits of cold water Intake - An Ayurvedic view Ayurveda explains properties of cold water as follows
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Sheetammadaatyaya/glaani/moorchaa/chardi/shramabh ramaan || Trushna/daaha/pittasravishanyambu niyacchati || Cold water reduces Alcohol intoxication. It relieves fatigue, giddiness, vomiting sensation and quenches thirst. It alleviates symptoms of increased pitta, rakta and poison.. Cold suppresses normal hunger patterns and slows down the digestion. Cold water literally douses our digestive capabilities. It leads to dilution of digestive enzymes and leads to build-up of toxic waste or Ama in our body. Drinking cold water, beverages, soda and any cold, iced drinks is strictly discouraged in Ayurveda. Benefits of Hot water - An Ayurvedic View: Deepanam/ paachanam/ kantyam laghushnam /basthi shodhanam ||Hidma/admaana/ anila/ shleshmasadyahashuddhinavajware | Kaasaampinasashwaasapaarshwarukshu cha shasyate | Hot water kindles hunger, helps in good digestion, sooths throat, cleanses bladder, reduces hiccups, and alleviates increased vata and kapha. Hot water is recommended during panchakarma therapy. It eases symptoms of cold, cough, fevers and breathlessness. It
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removes and flushes ama (undigested food materials), the metabolic toxin of body. Warm water helps in balancing all the three Dosha (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) in our body. It also relieves abdominal bloating, pain and constipation. WATER IS "OUSHADA" (MEDICINE): Ayurveda considers water as medicine or poison depending on the way its taken. In Ajirna (i.e. Indigestion) warm water acts like medicine. Lukewarm water has "aamapachana" (Digesting the undigested food particle) properties. Lukewarm water removes obstruction of "aama"(Undigested food/toxin) which then allows smooth flow of digestive juices to the ingested food. When it comes to Ayurveda, Water is essential for life, but too much water ruins health. By contrast, within the past few years, millions of people have adopted the practice of carrying water bottles wherever they go... Where does this unhealthy intensive drinking behavior come from? Ayurveda recommends - "One should fill two parts of the stomach with food, one with drink, and in the fourth
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part leave room for the wind, the decomposing phlegm, and the digestive bile." Of course, it is difficult to know what would constitute one-fourth part of the stomach, but when you plan for another serving of food stop with the finished one. The idea expressed here is to not eat until full, indeed, only half full, and then consume far less beverage than food, still not filling the stomach.

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