Vishamashana (Irregular diet)

Vishamashana / विषमाशन / Viṣamāśana

This is also one of the type of Apathya in terms of timings and quantity of food. If we are eating too more than our need or someone is eating too less than his/her need then it is vishamashana. If We are eating before the usual habitual time or after then it is also apathya included in vishamashan only.

Here, the word Vishamashan is made up of two words as that of Adhyashana.

Vishama (विषम) = irregular, or other than usual

Ashana (अशन) = Diet.

So, Vishamashana (विषमाशन) is the diet which is taken in irregular quantity or at irregular timings.

 Quantity of food depends on ones prakriti (constituent) and type of agni (digestive fire), which further depends on season, body strength, exercise one performs and previous diets etc. Pitta prakriti, higher digestive fire, cold season, great body strength are causing higher demand of food. On contrary, Kapha prakriti, lower or irregular type of agni, hot or rainy season results in less demand of food.  

Exercise has a big role in regulating quantity of food. If previous diet is heavy, it will hamper upcoming diet quantity.

Timing of diet is either our usual daytime or physiological time for consuming diet.

Usual daytime is the time of your meal habitual to you. Physiological time of diet can be known with the help of symptoms like lightness in the body, feeling of cleanliness in heart, pure belching, feeling of hunger etc. This physiological time may fluctuate due to factors discussed above.

In short following situations could be named as vishamashana –

1.     Eating in too much quantity than body demand.

2.     Eating in too less quantity than body demand.

3.     Eating when there is no huger sensation.

4.     Eating few hours after hunger sensation.

Vishamashan plays a vital role in generating metabolic disorders including obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, skin problems, muscular and bone and joint problems.

So for avoiding the hazardous effects of vishamashana we should know following things

1.     How much quantity of food should be consumed in accordance with season ?

2.     In which constituent which type of diet should be preferred ?

3.     In which type of Agni which type of diet should be consumed?

4.     How to understand physiological timing of diet ?

5.     How to change diet according to exercise ?

6.     How to change diet according to disease?

These issues will be discussed in later posts.

So, eat in proper quantity and proper times.

Did you like the post?

Do you have any queries regarding this?

Let me know through your valuable comments.     

Taking Diet upon Diet ! Adhyashana !

Adhyashana /अध्यशन / Adhyaśana

As we have discussed earlier, there are certain types of apathya as this concept is much broad.

In today’s post we are discussing about one of such type viz Adhyashana.

The word Adhyashana is made up of two basic words 1. Adhi (अधि) 2. Ashana (अशन)

Adhi = above or over and above

Ashana   = Diet

Thus, Adhyashana is the diet which is consumed over previous diet.

Here meaning of ‘over’ is before complete digestion of previous meal.

So, Adhyashana is the diet which is consumed before the complete digestion of previous diet.

Generally, for complete digestion it will take approximately 5 to 8 hrs depending on status of your digestive fire i.e. ‘Agni’ in terms of Ayurveda.

Here for sake of convenience I will take average figure - ‘6 hrs’.

So, if we take another food before 6 hrs of previous one then it is termed as Adhyashana.

If we had our morning eating on 8 Am then it is better to take another food on 2 pm. If we eat before that it will be considered as Adhyashana.

Ayurved advises to take only two diets a day in general with the distance of 8 hrs. So, it is better to take morning diet on 11 Am and evening diet before 7 am.

It is ideal !!!

Observe in nature birds, animals do not eat anything after sunset.

We should not eat anything after the sun set. Our ancestors used to take their evening meal before sunset and experienced full fledge health throughout their lives.   

So, in short, take your morning diet on or up to 11 Am max and evening one on or up to 7 Am max.

Mean while you should not eat anything neither fast food nor the snacks.

Hazardous effects of Adhyashana include –

1.  Digestive system disorders.

2.  Obesity.

3.  Metabolic disorders.

4.  Possibility of Diabetes.

5.  Skin problems.

6.  Acidity.

7.  And so many others depending on what type of diet you are eating.

Thus, Avoid Adhyashana i.e. diet upon diet. Diet before digestion of previous diet.

Take only two diets in day.

You may have many questions regarding this topic.

Please fill free to ask questions through comment box bellow.

Let me know whether you like the post or you have some suggestions for my blog.

It will encourage me for further writing.

Other Types of Apathya.

Other types of  Apathya 

Good Morning and Namaskāra to all !

In previous posts, we learned about Pathya and Apathya. I provided list of Apathya in last post. But, concept of Apathya is not strictly adhered to type and name of particular food only. It is very much broad concept which includes methods of preparation of food, timing in which you are eating food, your mental condition while eating food, mixing of one food with another one, Status of your hunger before meal, Status of your digestive system before meal and so on. So kindly read it carefully ones again –

1.     Methods of preparation of food

2.     Timing in which you are eating food

3.     Your mental condition while eating food,

4.     Mixing of one food with another one,

5.     Status of your hunger before meal,

6.     Status of your digestive system before meal

7.     And many more factors including seasonal issues, place factor, constitution, personal unwholesomeness and particular diseased condition.

Considering these points, concept of Pathya and Apathya becomes more comprehensive and needs to explain under more clear headings.

So, here are some points under which I will explore this matter through the eyes of ayurveda.

• 1.     Adhyashana
• 2.     Vishamashana
• 3.     Samashana
• 4.     Viruddhashana
• 5.     Constitution i.e. Prakriti
• 6.     Allergy or personal unwholesomeness
• 7.     Diseases

Remember !

Nothing is said to be Pathya to all in each codition.

And Nothing is said to be Apathya to all in each condition.

It requires basis of consideration of above said points and much more.

Let us discuss one by one in following posts.

List of APATHYA (Food : Not to be consumed daily)

Some common Apathya

Here is a list of some common apathya.

It is not so easy to common people to decide whether they are eating Pathya or Apathya.

So for sake of their convenience here I am giving list which includes common food items entitled as APATHYA.

Remember these food items could be rarely eaten and may not harm when eaten in limit.

Eating these food articles ones in a fortnight is not so harmful to health.

But problem is that we eat one of the bellow food item daily.

If we eat panipuri ones a weak, and pavbhaji ones a wk, Pizza ones a wk, Bhel ones a wk, and so on. Then actual calculation is that we are eating apathya daily.

So you can eat any one food article as a change ones a while and not at all on daily basis.

It is highly recommended to avoid these food items as far as possible to maintain health.

REMEMBER – ONLY RICE, WHEAT/BARLEY/JOWAR ROTY, MUNG DAL AND FRUIT VEGITABLES ARE PERMITED TO BE CONSUMED DAILY.

OTHERS CAN BE CONSUMED BUT NOT FREQUENTLY.

So, here is the list of apathya  .......

Bread	Pav	Samosa	Kachori	Burger	Pizza
Chinese	Snacks	Pani puri	Bhel	Pav bhaji	Pulav
Biryani	Non veg itoms	Dahi	Dosa	Uttapa	Idali
Toast	Cold drinks	Soda	Sweet	Paneer	Milk shakes
Puri bhaji	Dahi vada	Dhokla	Khaman	Shev puri	Dahi puri
Bhaji/Pakode	Other Chats	Dabeli	Poha/pohe	Vada sambar	Hotel meals
Party meals	Excess tea	Excess coffee	Biscuits	ALL OTHER SIMILAR FOODS ……

So friends think !

How many food articles from above list are being eaten daily?

Is it good for health ?

My advice is please avoid these foods as far as possible.

Eat only healthy and daily consumable food which I listed out in previous post under the heading Pathya Part II

What if unavoidable situation occurs ? lets discuss tomorrow……

Three types of diet According to Indian philosophy.

Three types of diet

Sātwika, Rājas and Tāmas

          According to ancient Indian philosophy including ayurveda, diet is of three types i.e. satwik, Rajas and Tamas. Lets discuss its details as per bhagavadgita; one of the most trusted philosophical texts in India.

आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः ।

रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः॥

                                                                         श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता  17/8

                Sātwika diet is one, which is helpful for increasing life, good qualities of mind, body strength, happiness and health. And which is juicy, unctuous, stable  and pleasant in neture.

कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः ।

आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः

                                                                                                                श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ॥ १७-९ ॥

                Rājas type of diet include the one which is spicy, sore, saline, very much hot, pungent, astringent, rough and vidāhi in nature and one which increases miseries, sadness and diseases.

यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्‌ ।

उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्‌

                                                                                                                श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ॥ १७-१० ॥

                Tāmas type of diet is one, which is not fresh or one which is prepared before more than three hours, dried, stale and eating the leavings of another man and also impure diet is considered in as tamas.

         

          Out of above three type of diet first one that is sātwika or satvik diet is Pathya i.e. good for continuous daily eating and remaining two i.e. tāmas and rāras are Apathya i.e. not to be eaten on daily.

Fast food

Fast Food

What is fast food?

Should we eat fast food daily?

Why?

What in case of unavoidable situation?

Fast food

          The word ‘fast’ itself indicates and accepts that the food which can be prepared fast i.e. in relatively short period or which can be eaten fast or in running may be called as fast food. Fasting is the concept somewhat contrary to fastness of fast food. In fasting wholesome food in less quantity or absolutely avoiding food is expected. The concept of fast food itself thus indicates shortcuts in its preparatory process and also speedily eating, both are types of apathya. Every food must be allowed to take its complete process of preparation. Instant food remedies are good examples for my statement. Making idali, dosa, Gulabjamun, upama using instant packages is quite time saving but it doesn’t undergo the complete required process for preparation of that food, which generates unwholesomeness in it. For instance in idali preparation with instant method, there is no process of leavening which is actually expected in routine process. The leavening enables fast digestion of idali which is lacking in instant process. Instead, people mix curd in it, which may increase pitta. In other types of fast food where pav, breads are used as a base like pav bhaji, sandwich, vada pav, dabeli etc,  according to rules these pav and breads are having staleness and these come under the concept of viruddha anna according to ayurveda. Thus these are not wholesome to be eaten on daily basis. The oils or masala and many other things which are being used in these fast food, also make somewhat unwholesomeness in this fast food. 

to be continued……..

Apathya : What is to be avoided ?

Apathya

         

          In today’s scenario of fast life style, it is becoming very difficult day by day to restrict the busy people about their diets.  Increasing development of false or partial true concepts under modern dietetics is another big problem in front of society, due to which ancient concepts, which are really complete and great are lagging in their application in day to day life. So, there is a big list according to our great science i.e. ayurveda, containing literally thousands of food remedies under the heading ‘Apathya’ i.e. the foods not to be taken as daily habit. But the scenario is that the common people are totally unaware of this apathya, as false concepts of calorie based system diet is only known to them and they are unaware of ayurvedic concepts of pathya and apathya that means what is to be consumed and what is to be avoided. The menu cards of maximum hotels and restaurants, are really apathya, the food items of which are highly preferred by our people. If we read the previous list of pathya given in this blog in older post, we can assume this truth. The raw material which is used for preparing this food is not of trustable quality. The raw material includes grains, cereals, oils, chilly, salt, sugar, masala, water, vegetables, fruits, milk products, food colors, preservatives, drying agents and hundreds of other items. For collecting and selecting each raw material mentioned above, there are specific rules. No one is obeying these rules, but just ignoring these as if a very simple negligible one. But, there is a very close and big relation among use of these materials and health. Rules have prepared for considering overall health. What are the rules ? It is very big list which is very difficult to share in single blog post. There are separate rules for each of the above though some common rules are there. But for sake of understanding, some of them will be discussed here. Grains like wheat, rice and cereals like mung, tur and others, there is a rule that these should be yielded in good land i.e. free from chemical prolusion. These should be used after one year of its production in farm. These should be well dried and well washed before current use. These should be processed according to ones constitution and disease. For example if we want to make some rice item, raw rice grains which are to be used, should be one year old at least. These should be well washed. These should be fried in pan for making them light and for removing extra water from grains. These should be well cooked by adding 14 times water in it. The extra water should be allowed to go and should be separated. Thus prepared rice should be used for preparing any rice item. Depending on process to which it undergoes, it becomes heavy and difficult to digest. These are some rules for just one grain i.e. rice. Considering contains like vitamins and minerals only, we are ignoring other these factors, which are important one. Just think, if anybody thinks about the washing out of vitamins only in above said method of rice preparation, and ignores other rules then he should ask a question to himself that does he eating a vitamin or he is eating rice. If rice means vitamins only and nothing more than that then it is better to eat a tablet containing specific vitamins. But, the case is that we have to think about rice as a whole and not about the separate constituents only. We must think the overall impact of any food material on overall body and not only on specific single organ or system. Apathya is very broad concept. Only certain food items could not be listed as apathya. Merely name of food item could not be titled as apathya. There are number of criterions on which it is decided that the food is pathaya or apathya. Type of raw food, from where it is collected, When  it is collected, how it is stored,  processes, time, methods of preparation, the co products along with it is to be consumed, the season in which we are eating, the time of day or night we are eating, The disease or constituent of consuming person, state of digestive system, state of mind  and so on.  A simple curd becomes apathy when we consume in night. Same is pathya of day time. Here time is the factor deciding the pathya or apathy. So, depending on food there are certain deciding rules. Thus it is not actually possible to give a specific list of apathya which is common to all. But for sake of understanding some examples will be quoted in future posts.

Pathya - II Part

पथ्यम् अपथ्यं च – द्वितीयो भागः। (२)

पथ्यम् ।

                                                                ओदनम्                 -              शालितण्डुलाः

                                                                पोलिका /रोटिका  -              गोधूमः, यवः।

                                                                शाकम्                   -              बालमूलकम्, पटोलिः।

                                                                यूषार्थम्                 -              मुद्गः।

                                                                मधुरम्                    -              सितशर्करा।

                                                                स्नेहः                       -              घृतम्।

                                                                द्रवम्                      -              क्षीरम् , दिव्योदकम्

                                                                फलम्                     -              दाडिमः, द्राक्षा।

                                                                लवणम्                  -              सैन्धवम्।

                                                                औषधिः                 -              हरीतकिः, आमलकिः, ।

                                 शालितण्डुलाः नाम किम् इत्यस्य विवरणं शरद् –ऋतुः। -२ (September 30th post) इत्याख्ये शीर्षके पूर्वमेव कृतम् । तत्तत्रैव द्रष्टव्यम्। पोलिकानां कृते गोधूमानां (गेहूँ, Wheat) यवानां (जौं, Barley) वा पिष्टस्य पृथक् मिलित्वा वा उपयोगः कर्तव्यः। शाकार्थं बालमूलकस्य (हिन्द्यां छोटी मूली इति), पटोलस्य (हिन्द्यां परवल् इति) तथा च अन्येषां तत्तप्रदेशोपलब्धानां फलशाकानां प्रयोगः कर्तव्यः। यूषनिर्माणार्थं प्राधान्येन मुद्गानाम् एव उपयोगः विधेयः। मधुरम् यदि भोक्तव्य तर्हि सितशर्करोपेतमेव। गोघृतस्य मात्रायाम् उपयोगः अवश्यमेव कार्यः प्रत्यह्नमेव। गोघृते भक्षिते सति कोलेस्टेरॉल् इत्यस्य वर्धनं कदापि न भवति इति संशोधनम्। तस्मात् भयं मास्तु। आहारे गोक्षीरस्य तदनुपलब्धौ माहीषक्षीरस्य अजाक्षारस्य वा उपयोगः। दाडिमानां द्राक्षाणां भक्षणार्थम् उपयोगः फलेषु कर्तव्यः। लवणार्थं सैन्धवम् एव उपयोक्तव्यम्। एतद्धि नेत्रहितं, शीतं पथ्यं विद्यते। अन्यद् नेत्राहितं, उष्णम्, अपथ्यम्। औषधीनां प्रयोगः यद्यपि प्रतिदिनं नैव कर्तव्यः तर्हि अपि हरीतकीआमलकीनां प्रयोगः रसायनगुणत्वात् प्रतिदिनं कर्तव्यः । येषां पित्तप्रकृतिः, याश्च गर्भिण्यः तैः हरीतक्याः सेवनं )न कर्तव्यम्। आमलकीनां तु सर्वैः एव प्रयोगेण सेवनं कर्तव्यमेव। एतेषां पदार्थानाम् एव प्रतिदिनं सेवनं शास्त्रे उपदिष्टम्। अतः एते एव पदार्थविशेषाः भोक्तव्याः।  एतदेव पथ्यम्। श्वः अपथ्यं कथयिष्यामः।

Pathya

Rice                 -           Shali

Roti/Chpati     -           Wheat or barley

Vegetables      -           Smaller Radish,  variety of small cucumber (Trichosanthes Dioeca)

Dal                  -           Green gram

Sweet              -           made up of rock candy.

For processing -           Ghee

Liquids            -           Milks and pure water

Fruits               -           Pomegranate, Grapes

Salt                  -           Rock salt (Sendha Namak)

Medicines        -           Chebulic Myrobalan, Indian goosebery         

            Description regarding shali has been made previously in the post naming “Sharad: October heat 2. For preparing roti or chapatti flours of wheat and barley should be used. For making vegetables, one should use smaller variety of radish and that of cucumber along with other locally available fruit vegetables. Dal should be prepared from mung i..e green gram. For preparing sweet, rock candy sugar should be used. Ghee should be used for processing the vegetables and dal. Ghee of Indian cow which is originally known as gau or go or gay, should be used along with roti and rice. According to researches, it doesn’t increase bad cholesterol. Use of milk and milk products like buttermilk is also recommended. Milk of Indian cow which is light to digest and having other hundreds of properties in it, should be preferred. Milks of buffalo or goat could be used in case of unavailability of cows milk. Among fruits pomegranate and grapes are good. Rock salt should be preferred instead of common salt.  Rock salt is cold in nature and beneficial for eyes on contrary to common salt which is hot in nature and harmful to eyes when consumed in large quantity. Medicines should not be indicated for daily use. But however these two medicinal herbs viz chebulic myrobalan i.e. harad and Indian gooseberry i.e. aamla, could be used on daily basis. These two herbs maintain health of all tissues and cells and all the systems including digestive one. This function of harad and aamla is named as rasayana. Chebulic myrobalan is contraindicated in pregnancy and in pitta prakriti (Constitution of body having influence of piita.). All this is about pathya, which should be practiced daily. Later posts will describe about apathya. To be continued…..