Ayurvedic principles are based primarily on nutritional balance and the unique needs of the individual in acquiring this balance. Diet is the key component to achieving this balance and those who practice Ayurvedic principles design diets based on several factors including: gender, age, body tissue strength, digestive fires, the level of toxins, or “ama” in the system and what they refer to as “doshic” tendencies.
Despite the individual approach, there are some universal principles that are generally followed in the Ayurvedic method.
There are six basic tastes that are applied to all foods. These classifications are: sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, salty and astringent. It is recommended that all six of these types are consumed in each meal. These tastes each have their own balancing components which help minimize food cravings and keep digestion and appetite in check. In North America we have a tendency to consume too much of the salty, sweet and sour foods while avoiding those which are pungent, bitter and astringent.
Ideally foods from each category are eaten. Using vegetables as an example, carrots would provide sweet, lemons sour, endive the bitter, radish or ginger root provide the pungent and broccoli or cabbage the astringent.
Other diet principles include the classification of food by heavy or light, liquid or dry and warm or cool. Different combinations of these categories provide the differing balances in the doshas. Using the overall principles discussed at this point, some of each physical property should be eaten at major meals. However, these can be varied to accommodate for individual needs of balance.
Another category of food is how they affect the mind, heart, spirit and senses- the non-physical components of the physiology. There are sattvic foods which uplift and stabilize; there are the rajasic foods which stimulate the mind, senses and the heart; and finally the tamasic foods which cause lethargy and deter spiritual growth. Sattvic foods are generally considered useful in producing mental clarity and emotional and sensual balance. They also help the coordinated functions of the body, heart, senses, spirit and mind. Sattvic foods are items such as honey, mung beans, rice and almonds, and fresh leafy green vegetables.