Ayurvedic Living Nutrition: An Integrative Approach to Optimal Wellness
Ancient Wisdom, Future Health
Radio Interview with Shantree about Ayurveda his book Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis
The power of live-foods for optimal vitality is being well supported these days with nutritional science and research. The old saying ‘the closer anything is to the vine is divine’, holds true to both the teachings of Ayurveda and Nutritional Medicine.
The true essence of comprehending living-foods is … if it is not broken, don’t fix it. Living-foods are those, which have not been cooked at high temperatures, processed, “pesticided” or “herbicided”, microwaved, irradiated, or genetically engineered. They characterize an unbroken wholeness that is the original creation and nutritional gift of Mother Earth. The basic fact is that the food we eat is an energetic whole, greater than the sum of the parts, reveals a holistic view of nutrition.
The Ayurvedic Living Nutrition course at The Living Centre takes into account the ‘full spectrum’ of nutritional needs combined with practical tools to support holistic living.
Enzymes are the sparks of life. Without enzymes, there really is no life on this planet. Enzyme reserves seem to be connected to life-force, health, and longevity. Enzymes are living biochemical factors that activate and carry out all the biological processes in the body such as digestion, nerve impulses, detoxification processes, the functioning of RNA/DNA, repair and healing of the body, and even the functioning of the mind. There are natural enzymes in live-food, which minimize the enzymes that need to be secreted by the body for digestion. The body’s enzymes can then be converted and be used for the process of detoxification, repair, and overall healing. Most enzymes are destroyed through processing and cooking foods above 118 degrees. The preservation of our enzymes by eating live-foods seems to play an important role in slowing the ageing process and maintaining optimum health.
Ayurveda: The Art of Conscious Living
Ayurveda is the art of healthy living, supporting a person to create harmony in body, mind, emotions and spirit. The word Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, and literally means “Knowledge of Life” or “the Art of Conscious Living”. Ayur means “life”, and Veda means “the knowledge of”. To know about life is Ayurveda.
A Biochemical, Bioenergetic & Biospiritual System
Ayurveda is primarily a bioenergetic and a biospiritual system. However, it does integrate a biochemical understanding of healing. This is brought into the practice through understanding how foods, herbs and essential oils work in supporting healing. This is unlike the way modern pharmaceutical approach, which isolates chemical constituents and nutrients and uses them in isolation. Through the biochemical system, we can understand the natural world through different eyes. This is valuable as long as we integrate it with the bioenergetic and biospiritual approaches as well.
The Art & Science of Conscious Living
Ayurveda is a systematic approach that utilizes all that nature provides to not only overcome illness but also continually strengthen oneself. Ayurveda evolved in an ancient culture that understood the human condition to be limitless. The day-to-day implementation of Ayurvedic principles creates a strong body, clarity of mind, and tranquillity of spirit so the individual may move closer to realizing her/his true potential.
According to Ayurveda, the healthiest foods to eat are ones which are classified as Sattvic. Sattvic simply means a cosmic force of balance, tranquillity, and contentment. What this means from a nutritional perspective is that foods that provide these qualities create a Sattvic individual. A diet that consists of light, soothing and easily digested foods would be classified as balancing and producing a peaceful state. The majority of live-foods produce a state of well-being and are life-enhancing.
Sattvic signifies etheric qualities and includes foods such as fruits and vegetables – especially sun foods and highly, nutrient-dense filled foods. These foods draw energy from the earth and are high in phytonutrients. These goods have a quickening and lightening effect on the body’s nervous and digestive system. They include sprouted whole grains, fresh vegetables, fruit, land and sea vegetables, pure fruit juices, nut and seed milk, legumes, sprouted seeds, honey, and herbal teas. The best foods are fresh, balanced in all flavour, and are consumed in moderate proportions. The Sattvic way of eating nourishes the body and maintains it in a peaceful state of mind.
The life-force in food is directly utilized and assimilated by the body in order for it to carry out its life functions. When you eat foods that have very low to no life-force left you are expending energy to digest these foods. The effect this has on the functioning of your mind and the expression of emotions is very important to understand. When foods are ingested that are not life-giving, they tend to drain and irritate the body and mind. These will not only affect physical performance but also have a direct effect on one’s emotional state and outlook. When food that is high in life-force is eaten it feeds that essence in our being. Whole foods high in life-force come into the body with enough energy to aid digestion and free up energy for higher spiritual and mindful pursuits. Food that is full of life often creates a certain state within the body; light, clear and alert are often characteristic feelings of eating live foods. Live-foods nourish the body and create a peaceful state within the mind and emotions.
Living-foods Support a Sattvic Way of Life
Choosing to eat live-foods is one of the most important steps that can be taken in order to embrace a Sattvic lifestyle, and support the organic movement and a cleaner environment. Eating a live-food diet in a conscious manner that supports your personal constitution will allow you to create and maintain a peaceful state of body and mind.
People have been eating live foods for thousands of years. Cultures that have eaten primarily live foods such as the ancient Greeks living in the Peloponnesus area in 3000 B.C., were reported by Herodotus to live an average of 200 years. The ancient Essene culture thrived on a live-food lifestyle with an extended lifespan, higher quality of health, vitality, joy and wisdom. In summary, live-foods have the highest amount of bioactive food nutrients, phytonutrients, bioelectrical energy, biologically active water, electrons, and are the most energizing to the whole body. Life-supports-Life.
CategoriesAyurvedic Living Nutrition
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