Finally...it's summer. However, if you live in the bay area, you might not think so. And, if you're trying to keep your Ayurvedic constitution (your prakriti) in balance with the seasons, well, that's going to be a challenge. Ideally, this is the time of year to "lighten up" - lighter and cooler foods to keep your digestion (your agni - inner digestive fire) from over-heating, and keeping the body well-hydrated and rested given the natural over-exposure and depletion that comes from more outdoor time and activities.
So, what are we to do? Ideally, we do what we can to be in balance and rhythm with our surroundings and the seasons. Given our California coastal "June Gloom," for now, that means, sticking with warm fluids and food --keep the warm stews and risottos going with your favorite seasonal vegetables. My favorite "June Gloom" dish is lemon-asparagus-fava been risotto - warm, yet colorful and light in spirit :-)
Keep it up until the weather breaks...
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The New Food Pyramid - Now a Colorful Plate
The FDA today released the new food guidelines. We have moved away from the 20-year pyramid to a very colorful plate, which is made up with a majority of fruits and vegetables, and grains refer to true grains, not potatoes or pasta. A step closer to connecting with the foundation Ayurveda - it's about balance...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Is It Time To Get Rid Of The Microwave?
Our recent class focused on Ayurvedic nutrition and overall guidelines about food processing, preparation and cooking. We have grown up with "you are what you eat." Ayurveda is about "you are what you digest." It never really occured to me to worry about what's digesting...it's always been about what looks healthy and yummy on my plate.
One theme that came out loud and clear was you need to eat three freshly cooked meals a day - avoid frozen food, leftovers, processed foods, etc. That's great... if you have a mother-in-law or someone of a similar role in your home. If you work 40-50+ hours a week and get home at 7:00pm to cook, it's not realistic.
So, what are we to do?
I think about meals that I can spread out over three days, so while I'm not ready to give up leftovers, that means no freezing is necessary. I re-heat meals on the stove at a slower and consistent rate rather than using the microwave. It may not be as quick, but I think it's a good middle-ground solution that's worth it.
The most important thing you can do is limit the degree to which you change the structure and the many physical (and other?) qualities of your food. For example, microwaving breaks the bonds between the food molecules and the natural structure, qualities and what we call "prana" or life energy of the food is totally lost. Frozen food/leftovers have a similar affect - the water molecules in the food become ice molecules. And, since ice has more volume than water, when the ice melts, it breaks the bonds between the food molecules making it lifeless. So, a little Ayurveda and a little heat transfer info for you today - enjoy and I look forward to hearing what you think.
One theme that came out loud and clear was you need to eat three freshly cooked meals a day - avoid frozen food, leftovers, processed foods, etc. That's great... if you have a mother-in-law or someone of a similar role in your home. If you work 40-50+ hours a week and get home at 7:00pm to cook, it's not realistic.
So, what are we to do?
I think about meals that I can spread out over three days, so while I'm not ready to give up leftovers, that means no freezing is necessary. I re-heat meals on the stove at a slower and consistent rate rather than using the microwave. It may not be as quick, but I think it's a good middle-ground solution that's worth it.
The most important thing you can do is limit the degree to which you change the structure and the many physical (and other?) qualities of your food. For example, microwaving breaks the bonds between the food molecules and the natural structure, qualities and what we call "prana" or life energy of the food is totally lost. Frozen food/leftovers have a similar affect - the water molecules in the food become ice molecules. And, since ice has more volume than water, when the ice melts, it breaks the bonds between the food molecules making it lifeless. So, a little Ayurveda and a little heat transfer info for you today - enjoy and I look forward to hearing what you think.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
So Much To Learn...
I embarked on a journey to learn the world of Ayurveda in September 2010 - a one-year program for now and potentially a Masters of Art at the end of three years. I was so excited for my first class...I spent an afternoon in the aisles of Office Depot buying school supplies. I got up at 6:00am on my first day of class...a Saturday morning... I showed up inspired and left ten hours later feeling disgruntled. How could this be?!
Lesson #1 - I'm not going to agree with everything about Ayurveda, even if it's been around for 5,000 years. And, that's okay. This is a philosophy and a direction that needs to take into account the society/environment in which it is practiced.
Lesson #1 - I'm not going to agree with everything about Ayurveda, even if it's been around for 5,000 years. And, that's okay. This is a philosophy and a direction that needs to take into account the society/environment in which it is practiced.
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