NUTRITION
AYURVEDA: HARMONISING BODY AND MIND
In Ayurveda, a traditional medicine based on Indian philosophy, body, mind and spirit are considered to form an inseparable whole. Acting on one of these aspects necessarily influences the others. This whole is also a microcosm that is in constant interaction with the world - the macrocosm. Everything around us, everything we consume is made up of the same elements: ether, air, water, fire and earth. Three vital energies, called doshas, stem from the association of these elements. The principle of mobility (vata) is made of ether and air; that of transformation (pitta), of fire and water; and that of structure (kapha) is composed of water and earth. Another central element is the digestive fire (agni), which allows us to absorb food, emotions and information. Illnesses of the body or soul can have many origins, explains Dr. Simone Hunziker, a general practitioner specialising in Ayurveda: “Either they are related to an excess of one or more doshas and/or to a disturbance of agni, our digestive fire. In the case of sleep disturbances, we first check that they are not the result of another problem, such as pain from rheumatism or acid reflux. If this is the case, the first step is to treat that condition.” Too much vata can kill sleep “If this disorder is not secondary to a pathology, it is usually related to an excess of vata. So we need to focus on foods and activities that can reduce it,” says Dr. Hunziker. This is easier said than done, because, unfortunately, vata is a dominant principle in our daily lives: “We are bombarded with information, we live at a totally irregular pace, we eat cold and raw food quickly while talking... All these factors increase vata," she says. The first step is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The second step is
AYURVEDIC TIPS FOR GOOD SLEEP
1) Chew. “It stimulates digestion and satisfies all the senses.This is considered to be the second phase of the digestion process.The first is the cooking of food and the third takes place in the stomach," says Dr. Simone Hunziker. 2) Opt for foods that soothe vata. They have a predominantly sweet, salty and acidic taste. Astringent, bitter and pungent flavours have the opposite effect - they increase vata - and should therefore be consumed in moderation. Starches, wheat, rice, oats and quinoa are all good, so are vegetables (watch out for leaves and cabbage), ripe and seasonal fruit, including tomatoes, and milk and dairy products, if you are able to digest them.
to eat foods that soothe vata: they are smooth, moist, warm and cooked - the exact opposite of this principle, which is characterised by cold and dryness. “ Vegetable soup with rice or pasta in the evening is ideal - that doesn't mean you can't eat bread and cheese, but in small quantities. And a glass of red wine - just one! - is also recommended to soothe vata ” , summarizes Dr. Hunziker. Finally, in order not to smother or diminish our agni, our digestive fire, we should choose the time when this fire is at its AND RAW FOOD QUICKLY WHILE TALKING... ” “WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH INFORMATION, WE LIVE AT A TOTALLY IRREGULAR PACE, WE EAT COLD
peak to eat our main meal: between noon and 2 p.m. These few adjustments can really make a difference," says the specialist.
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