Diet
Ayurveda considers Ahara (Diet) as one of the three pillars of life (with sleep and lifestyle). It emphasizes that the right diet maintains balance of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), supports digestion (Agni), and prevents or manages disease.
1. Diet – Disease and Diet (Vyadhi-Anusar Aahar)
Ayurveda prescribes food based on the type of disease.
Example:
In diabetes (Prameha) – avoid heavy, oily, sweet foods; prefer bitter, astringent, light foods.
In hypertension – reduce salty, spicy food; increase cooling and calming diet.
The idea: “Food can act as medicine” if chosen properly for the condition.
2. Prakruti and Diet (Constitution-based diet)
Every person has a prakruti (body constitution) – Vata, Pitta, or Kapha dominant.
Ayurveda says your daily diet should support your prakruti and keep doshas in balance.
Example:
Vata prakruti (dry, cold, light): should eat warm, oily, nourishing foods.
Pitta prakruti (hot, sharp, intense): should prefer cooling, sweet, bitter foods.
Kapha prakruti (heavy, slow, stable): should take light, spicy, bitter foods, avoid too much dairy/sweets.
3. Season and Diet (Ritu-Anusar Aahar)
Called Ritucharya in Ayurveda – adjusting diet with seasons.
Seasons change the balance of doshas, so food should change too.
Example:
Summer (Grishma) – cooling, hydrating foods (fruits, buttermilk, water-rich).
Monsoon (Varsha) – light, easily digestible foods to avoid indigestion.
Winter (Hemanta/Shishira) – heavier, warm, oily, nourishing foods, as digestion is stronger.