Time hostility (Kala viruddha)

Time hostility (Kāla Viruddha)

          Kāla is time. This is basically of two types Hot and Cold. According to concept of ṛtucaryā (Ritucharya the seasonal regimens) in hot season we should eat foods having cold properties and vice versa. If we eat cold food in cold season then it will become time hostile. If we eat hot food in hot season then also time hostility will occur.

        Cold and hot nature of different food articles should be known from texts of ayurveda only. As by observing its external features it is not always possible to know the same. Following example will clear the matter.

          

          Curd (Dahi) is advised to be eaten in cold season. Curd is hot in nature. Although refrigerator processed curd resembles as cold from its external appearance it is hot in nature as it has gone through the process of fermentation. So, it should not be eaten during hot seasons like Grishma, Vasant and sharad.

          Buttermilk is hot in nature and not at all cold as per common myth. So, it is advised to drink it in cold season and to avoid it in hot season. Generally, all are used to eat buttermilk in summer assuming that it is cold in nature. But classical texts of ayurveda like sushrut clearly states that curd is hot hot and hot only.

          There is no limit for examples. I will try in some other time to provide a wide comprehensive list of hostile food in later posts.

          Did you know these concepts previously? No ? Then you might have questions in your mind.

         Keep reading…………..keep asking…………keep following ayurveda life style.

Viruddha Anna ( Hostile Diet)

Viruddhāśana/Viruddha Anna / विरुद्धाशन/ विरुद्ध अन्न

Viruddha  literally means opposite or hostile. The diet  which is hostile in terms of guna (quality), Desha  (place), Kāla  (time), Mātrā  (quantity), Sātmya ( wholesomeness), Sanskāra (processing), Krama (order) and so many others, is termed as viruddha anna. Let us see one by one with examples for the sake of well understanding.

Quality hostility –

         All the food items are having some qualities in them on the basis of which their overall effect on health is decided.  Such qualities include hot or cold, light to digest or heavy to digest, unctuous or non-unctuous, soft or hard etc.  Each food have only one quality from above mentioned pairs. So some foods are cold like milk, rise, wheat and other some are hot like black pepper, asafetida, ginger etc. Here coldness is not one which is cold in feeling but it is that one which is cold in effect. Thus even a milk which is made hot by boiling effects as cold in body. This rule is applicable to all food materials. Thus every food item is having some natural qualities in it. If we eat two food items having opposite qualities as mentioned in above said pairs, then it is considered as viruddha or hostile diet in terms of quality.

          Milk is hostile with fishes as milk is cold and fish is hot in quality. Drinking cold water before or after tea is hostile. All fruits are hostile when eaten with milk.

          Upcoming posts will be dedicated to other types of hostility with more number of examples. So keep reading this blog ayurvedbrahm.blogspot.in

            Let me know whether you are feeling this blog useful to you or you are facing some difficulties in understanding the matter. Your valuable feedback will increase the quality of this blog.

Samashana : Mixing Pathya and Apathya together !

Samashana (Samaśana/ समशन)

Namaskar to all !

We are discussing about different aspects of Apathya. This post will tell about Samashana. The word is made up of two small words viz sama and ashana.

Sam (सम्)  – along with, together

Ashana (अशन)  – diet

So the meaning of samashana is ‘the diet in which both pathya and apathya are mixed’ or ‘the diet in which pathya is consumed along with apathya.’

Samashana is very common verity of apathya as we unknowingly consume mixed type of diet good and bad or edible and non edible or pathya and apathya.

Example will enlighten the concept clearly.

If anyone eats fast food along with his/her routine diet then it is samashana; like eating farsana (farasāṇa) with khichadi or Sev with rise or samosa in routine diet.

For a diseased person -  if a pitta disordered person is eating sweet and spicy together it is samashana for him. Because sweet is pathya and spicy is apathya to his disease.

If anybody is consuming curd or dahi in night along with khichadi ( diet made up  of rise and green gram) then it is also samashana as dahi is apathya to all in night.   

So eat only pathya and do not mix any apathya in it.

Don’t drink cold drinks with pathya breakfast like upamā.

Know your disease and constitution and decide your pathya accordingly.

Feel free to contact and comment.

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.