We all know and read everywhere about conventional nutrition. It is all about the right amount of calories and proteins and vitamins.
The fact is that there is no such thing as an "Ayurvedic food" there is only a methodology of structuring diets according to your individual metabolic functions. Ayurvedic nutrition is decided by the ayurvedic practitioners or dieticians keeping in mind the need and constitution of each individual.
The primary problem with conventional nutritional approaches is that they are not orientated towards the individual using them. Modern nutrition uses and ‘one size fits all’ approach to people of all different sizes, shapes and cultures.
Ayurveda teaches that a balanced diet does not need revolve around the percentage of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins like conventional diet. Nor are calories, vitamins, and minerals given a lot of attention in Ayurveda. Ayurveda allows us to eat a balanced diet naturally, guided by our own instincts, without turning nutrition into an intellectual headache.
Unlike the conventional nutrition Ayurveda does not talk about dieting and eating less calories. According to ayurvedic diet one must eat what is in season and live a balanced life in harmony with the changing cycles of nature.
Losing weight the ayurvedic way is healthy and holistic since it treats weight reduction as a lifestyle and incorporates a balanced diet of fresh and warm food. Ayurveda strongly recommends that Crash Diets are not a solution for long term weight loss.
Ayurveda recognizes six tastes, or rasas: Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent. In Ayurveda a balanced diet must contain all six rasas at every meal. It is not necessary to overload a meal with each taste. Just a hint of herbs and spices will add pungent and bitter to a meal. Nor is it good to let the same tastes dominate day after day. The basic rule is simply to give the body all six rasas each day so it can respond to feed completely.