Known as the ‘Sister Science’ to Yoga, Ayurveda is an ancient holistic science. It has been around for more than five thousand years and in this post, we provide you 13 Ayurveda benefits.
The main aim of Ayurveda is to focus on your life between the physical and the emotional self. One of the main beliefs of Ayurveda is that what we eat directly affects our state of being. It can make us happy or miserable. We can be full of energy or be very lethargic, and it all depends on what we consume. This is called the SATTVIC approach and it is closely related to Ayurveda benefits.
What is the Sattvic Approach?
- The word ‘Sattvic’ means ‘pure essence’ in the Sanskrit language.
- Ayurveda recommends a sattvic diet which menas there is emphasis on seasonal foods, fruits, dairy products, nuts, seeds, oils, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
- Sattvic is one of the purest diets that one can adopt and supports in being ones best self too.
- The diet is ancient and very holistic by nature.
- Sattvic diet is great for the body mind and the soul, and a great support for yoga and meditation too.
Now that you understand that food is the fuel of the body, another benefit that the ancient practice of Sattvic diet gives us is a clear mindset to work with. Most Ayurvedic experts at Ayurveda retreats opine that they are able to concentrate better and sleep well, and are less anxious overall with this diet. So here are thirteen more ways Ayurveda can benefit us in life on a daily basis.
13 Ayurveda Benefits
1 . Ayurveda Encourages You to Love Yourself More
Yes, you are encouraged to find more love within yourself and not to compare yourself to others. Ayurveda wants us to understand that we are completely unique and approach life in the most customized way as possible. Individual needs should be discovered and it is encouraged by Ayurveda.
2. Ayurveda Offers a Nurturing Approach to a Healthy Life
First, you must understand that being healthy is a natural state. When you are in balance and in harmony with your environment, you are considered to be in optimum health.
Imbalances are not caused overnight; hence we do not have the time for preventative action or to slow the process of the same. When we realize what is affecting us, we must refer to the foods to eat or not eat, according to the dosha we have. This will help bring back balance properly in harmony with the environment around.
3. You Have a Better Understanding of Life
One of the principles of Ayurveda is that we are part of nature.
There are five elements in nature, namely, space, air, water, fire and earth. The behaviour and the interaction of these elements that they have in our lives is a big deal when it comes to the practice of Ayurveda.
For example, if you suffer from forgetfulness, it will be blamed on Air. Fire manifests as anger, indigestion and inflammation issues. Issues with bones would relate to Earth. When you understand and recognize these elements which show up most prominently for you, you will know which dosha you belong to and then work towards creating a balance.
4. Ayurveda Teaches You How to Clean Up Your Energy
We often need to reset our physical and mental well-being.
As ever changing humans, it is very important that you reflect within and clear out what is not good for you and your life. This makes space and room for something new to enter. When you cleanse, you clear the system. This can be done with an Ayurvedic diet and with the help of meditation the mind can be cleared as well; with yoga too.
When yoga and meditation are done on a daily basis, you get to recalibrate with ease and have more inner peace; one of the Ayurveda benefits most spoken about.
5. Ayurveda Provides a Complete Philosophy
We are much deeper than our skin, and this is what Ayurveda reminds us about daily. There is an essence and energy within each of us that can bring light into the world.
You are more than muscle and bones, says Ayurveda. You are in fact a spirit which has all the five elements. With Ayurveda, there are positive physical impacts on the body, but it also brings balance to the mind and soul as well. You will begin to realize this and feel from within, and it all starts with lifestyle and the kind of foods you consume .
6. Ayurveda Helps on a Cellular Level
7. Ayurveda Helps Bring Down Toxins
Dr. John Douillard at LifeSpa says that there are three different types of toxins in our bodies.
Ama is the most common amongst them, and it is a waste product that builds in the digestive tract. This happens when we eat too much of food that is wrong for our bodies. When not cleared up on time, it will build up and begins circulating throughout the body. This causes major feelings of imbalance.
Within Ayurveda, there are various Ayurvedic practices followed to bring down toxins. One of them is eating your largest meal at lunch, this is when the sun is at the highest and hottest point, and it prevents toxins from further multiplying in our bodies. This is one of the Ayurveda benefits that you would have when you follow the sattvic diet.
8. Better Digestion Through Ayurveda
When you start eating according to your dosha, the strength the digestive system will have is amazing. There are certain foods that will activate during the right time of the day in the digestive system. This will cause a decrease of toxins build up in the digestive tract. This will also help you feel more active and less lethargic, and bring to you higher levels of energy as well. With optimal digestion, you get to keep a healthy weight and are less agitated as well.
9. Less Stress and Better Sense of Being Through Ayurveda
Food does influence the way you feel, we all know that, don’t we? When the digestive system is not fired up and working well, you don’t feel too good; you feel tired and uncomfortable. This manifests into negative feelings and affects the way you show up in your life too. When you have a customized diet for your individual needs, you begin to find a clear picture for your body and the mind. Once again, the science and holistic ways of Ayurveda positively affects the way the mind works and hence reduces overall stress too.
10. Straightforward diet Regime By Ayurveda
There are no two ways about it, and Ayurveda is very clear about what you should consume with regard to the dosha you have. There are guidelines on what you should eat and when you should eat, and they are very simple to follow. For those who like to stick with the norms, the no-nonsense guide set by Ayurveda is easy to follow without any deviation. There may be adjustments in the beginning, but consider it to be as eating foods which you were meant to consume.
11. Ayurveda Encourages The Consumption of Whole Foods
The Sattvic diet has specific guidelines meant for each dosha, but the diet encourages the consumption of whole foods. Foods such as legumes, grains, veggies and fruits must be consumed whole. This helps with your health on a greater scale and the foods mentioned have a lot of nutrients in them as well.
The diet also brings down the need to consume foods that are processed. Processed foods lack the amount of fiber, minerals and vitamins needed by our bodies. Research and studies show that having a lot of processed foods can lead to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and more, death too.
12. Ayurveda Promotes Weight Loss
With all that we know of the Sattvic diet, it emphasizes on consuming nutrient rich whole foods. And this may boost weight loss too. There is limited research available on the relationship of the same, but there are some studies that show how effective a sattvic diet is for the body to lose weight.
More on How to Lose Weight With Ayurveda here.
13. Ayurveda Promotes Mindfulness
Apart from the foods we eat, being mindful is another part of Ayurvedic diet which is a big deal. Being mindful is a practice which means you have to see how you feel in the present moment. In particular, when we talk about mindful eating, it means bringing down all distractions during your meals to focus on the texture, the taste and the smell of the food.
Studies have shown that when you practice mindful eating, you can bring down your body weight, stress and depression, and binge eating too. Mindful eating promotes self-control and also brings about a good relationship with the food you consume.
In a Nutshell…
If you want to bring an everlasting change to your diet, health and your life, maybe Ayurveda would be the right thing to adopt. It has strong guidelines for sure that have for centuries been proven to be the best. Consider it to be an all encompassing plan for a better life ahead. Stay healthy!
Author Bio
Very informative post. Thankyou for sharing this post with us.
Ayurveda School in Kerala