Ayurvedic Diet for Long Term Weight Loss

“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” – Ayurvedic Diet Ayurveda kapha Diet gives utmost importance to your diet plan. It stresses that diet is what causes or cures diseases. Weight gain according to Ayurveda is when the human body has the excess of kapha dosha — one of the three doshas that rule human body as per Ayurveda. 

Transform your eating habits with the Ayurvedic Diet

However, not just kapha dosha, there are other factors too that cause weight gain. Sedentary lifestyle, overindulgence on heavy and rich food, lack of sleep, etc. that can cause weight gain. Let us understand the concepts of Ayurvedic diet that can help anyone in their weight loss journey.

Stay away from processed and packed food

If you are running behind those ready to eat foods labeled as “low fat”, “zero cholesterol”, “no added sugar”, “added whole grains”, etc. to include in your weight loss diet menu, you are entirely wrong. Packaged food NEVER comes under Ayurvedic Diet — irrespective of any labels it is printed on.  Processed food contains many restricted substances as given below that are strictly avoided by Ayurveda.

• Preservatives
• Excessive Salts/Sugar
• Refined Flours
• Artificial Flavors and Colors
• Fats/ Trans Fats

An Ayurvedic diet is sattvic in nature; 

Ayurvedic diet is soothing and calming on our digestive system and will suit our digestive fire. It comes directly from nature and never as packaged foods. Ayurvedic diet is all about incorporating the following ingredients into diet menu:

• Fresh organic pesticide-free vegetables, fruits and green leafy vegetables
• Purified water
• Raw and unprocessed cereals, rice and other staples
• Soaked nuts and dry fruits

Foods to shun when on Ayurveda kapha diet

Keep the below-listed foods away from your menu, this step will be a halfway win to reaching an Ayurvedic diet:

• Sweets made of Refined Sugar
• Deep fried items
• Refrigerator based foods such as cool drinks, ice creams, cakes, pastries and many more
• Refined flour items such as pizzas, puffs, sweets, cupcakes, etc.
• Left overs or stale foods
• Addictive foods such as Tea, Coffee, Alcohol and drugs
• Foods of any excessive taste- too spicy, too sweet, too salty, too pungent and too oily, etc.

Maintaining Dosha balance and Metabolism

As discussed, weight gain is majorly a result of kapha imbalance in the body. Both kapha and weight gain have a similar nature, if one can maintain kapha in control, weight gain can be kept in check.

Everyone should have a knowledge of Ayurvedic diet that controls kapha to gain maximum results during their weight loss struggle. All the foods that have been listed in the shun foods come under kapha aggravating type. So, what are the foods that balance kapha dosha?

• Spices – such as turmeric, red chillies, cumin, pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and garlic
• Betel leaves and basil leaves
• Freshly cooked food
• Cooked vegetables
• Warm milk mixed with turmeric/pepper powder/saffron
• Neem leaves
• Egg plant, etc.

You will have to remember that Ayurvedic diet and metabolism will go hand in hand. You should take care of both of these help to achieve the best weight loss results. Eating lunch during the noon around 1-2 PM and dinner as soon as the sunset helps in a long way to achieve weight loss and to maintain a long term results. It is necessary keep moving do yoga and Surya Namaskaras at least three times a week, and avoid excessive sleeping beyond the normal body clock hours.