Ayurveda

How to Eat According to Ayurveda: Eating in the Present Moment

By Lipi Vora | Posted: May 29, 2020

One might have heard of the popular saying, originally given by Hippocrates, that “We are what we eat”. The food that is on our plate, goes into our mouth, through digestive and metabolic processes, gets converted into the cells, tissues and various other structures within our body. So after all, we are “what” we eat.

As a society, we pay a ton of attention on eating the right foods. And rightly so. An often ignored aspect of eating however, and one that Ayurveda reminds us, is that “how” we eat is equally, if not more important than “what” we eat. How we eat is essential to healthy digestion. Hence, we are also, “how” we eat!

My personal journey of healing with Ayurveda has been a journey of both the “how” and the “what” of eating. The “how” never came easily to me. It was through the struggle of training my racing brain to slow down and to eat mindfully, I discovered the enormous potential of these simple measures. What I share below are some tips from my personal journey.

Tips on the “how” of eating

1. Taking a pause before eating

Eating is a sacred process. The atoms and molecules that make up the food we eat, have been around longer than we have, and will be around longer than we will. Eating food can become a sacred connection between the past, present and the future. Additionally, food is also a connection between the five elements--the Panchamahabhutas, as Ayurveda describes, outside of our body to the elements inside our body.

Taking a moment of pause, to acknowledge ourselves and our digestion, that is capable of transformation through our metabolism, becomes key. It could be as simple as taking a few deep breaths before eating. Alternatively, one could recite suitable Sanskrit mantras or say grace from any tradition. Saying grace before meals has never been restricted to a single culture. Cultures across the world have had rituals around being thankful for the food on their plates.

Apart from acknowledging ourselves and the source of food, taking a moment of pause helps us slow down our racing minds. It brings the mind to the activity we are currently performing, which is eating, and greatly enhances digestion.

2. Eating without distractions

Eating is our time with ourselves and our food. Our mind needs to be with our food when we eat. Not with the TV, and not working on a project. Reducing distractions and eating in a calm environment is more conducive to proper digestion.

Over the years a lot of us have forgotten the importance of a good family meal. Some of us tend to sit in front of the TV, or with our cell phones, and have our meals! While it is okay to engage in conversation (after a few initial moments of silence) while eating, it becomes important to not multitask while eating.

Here is why eating without distractions becomes so important. According to Ayurveda, digestion and metabolism are not mechanical acts. Our digestive system is not just a factory performing its prescribed tasks. It is an intelligent system that is aware of what foods are best absorbed in specific parts of the body. When we do not put our attention into eating, this intelligence goes haywire and results in indigestion. Ama (toxins) are formed as a result of this indigestion. These toxins flow from our digestive system into the bloodstream and further into our tissues and organs where they rest and manifest as disease. This process is also a testament to the popular statement that all diseases begin in the gut.

3. Avoiding overeating

Another very important aspect of the “how” of eating is avoiding overeating. We should be eating until we are 3/4th full, until we are satisfied, and not any more. By eating slowly, our mind is better able to listen to our stomach on when to stop eating.

Similar to how eating with distractions increases the Ama in our body, so does overeating. The food that our body is unable to digest gets converted to Ama and follows the above mentioned process of manifesting as disease.

4. Eating only when one is truly hungry

Eating only when we are truly hungry keeps our Agni (digestive fire) well kindled. Snacking without experiencing true hunger lowers our Agni, and hence our digestive and metabolic abilities. Ayurveda recommends a minimum of 3, and ideally 4.5 hours between our meals. This time however would vary from person to person based on their Dosha (body constitution).

Avoiding emotional ‘stress’ eating is another important aspect. It means not letting our feelings affect when or how much we eat--eating simply because we are upset or bored can be avoided. Bringing even slight awareness to our eating habits can help us eat at the right times.

Proper digestion and our overall health is dependent on us putting attention not to just “what” we eat, but also “how” we eat. Currently with a lot of us spending more time indoors, we have an opportunity to be mindful of our food and how we eat it. Let us give ourselves that time, with our food, now.

To bring yourself more into the present moment while eating and throughout your day, try this free Breath and Meditation session, Beyond Breath, with a live instructor.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.