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.

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