Vegetarian Vitality

When something is not going the way we want it to, when we’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed how many of us reach for a cake or something sweet?  I’d say we’ve all been there – and got the proverbial T-shirt.

Recently one of my followers on Twitter offered this quote:
“A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.”~ Joseph Addison
It got me thinking about how to share the way that food can be (ab)used when our desire for contentment is involved.
In Ayurveda there is a simple formula as far as food is concerned: the 6 tastes – sweet, sour, salty, hot, bitter and astringent. It is considered important to include these tastes in at least one meal in a day to satisfy not only the tastebuds but also the mind.

Balancing examples of the sweet taste include ripe/ dried fruit, honey and maple syrup.

Balancing examples of the sour taste include lemons and yogurt.

Balancing examples of the salty taste include (sea/rock) salt and vegetables like celery.

Balancing examples of the hot taste include ginger, mustard seeds and cardamom (slightly).

Balancing examples of the bitter taste include turmeric and aloe vera.

Balancing examples of the astringent taste include pulses (legumes) and the tannins in tea.

I’ve given just a few examples from each group but there are many more. A good reference work with recipes is Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing - Vasant Lad

However, even if we diligently include all 6 tastes in our meal, it is equally important how we eat the meal.
Here are my 3 favourite tips:
1. take a few moments before the meal to give thanks for the food, its preparation and the substances that are going to nourish your body
2. chew each mouthful and savour each bite
3. wait a few moments after eating before getting up from the table.

What do you do to feel satisfied from the food you eat? Share your experiences below. Thanks!

This evening I was trying out a slightly modified version of my carrot muffin recipe in my new oven.  I’ve hardly used it so far – only the grill 4 times  & twice (this was the second time) to bake anything.

I sat down to have my dinner and was approaching my last few mouthfuls when I heard a bang! It was an explosion from my oven where the inner glass section had shattered, strewing glass fragments over my kitchen floor.

Carrot muffins in exploded oven ...

Glass strewn on floor

I quickly turned off the oven & sat down again to finish my meal, wondering what could have caused this dynamite reaction.  I shall be in contact with the company who fitted the kitchen about what happened tomorrow but in the meantime this incident sparked the following thoughts.

I have been meaning to contact the company about another issue in the kitchen for a couple of weeks but have been putting it off as it wasn’t anything urgent. How often do we have niggling little health issues that we put off because they are not anything urgent. Other more important matters come up. Then something “explodes” in our body, which means we have to act immediately to  rectify the situation.

No dis-ease appears suddenly. It develops over a period of time and the body offers us signs in the form of discomfort, pain etc. which we can choose to ignore or suppress or to listen to and act before the situation is out of control and out of our hands.  Preventive medical systems such as Ayurveda  offer many lifestyle guidelines that we can use to look after our health, even before signs appear.

Ayurvedic practices help heal and empower the body, mind and  spirit by emphasising nature, energy and balance and advocating prevention rather than cure. So they can help to enhance our quality of life.

Ayurvedic nutrition  is  one part of Ayurveda, in which we can learn how to use foods to establish balance and health in the body and mind.

What preventative steps could you take now to make sure that you continue to enjoy  health peace for the foreseeable future? Share your comments below.

Here’s a clip to inspire you to drink more water (of any kind) this summer.

Enjoy!!

Going with the flow

What does this involve on a nutritional level?

• following the rhythm of nature i.e.  the seasons for the produce we eat as far as possible,
• buying local and organic – the natural state of produce!

What does it involve for sleep patterns?

• going to bed between 10-11pm to be horizontal so that the liver can do its cleansing work.
• as a general rule going to bed earlier and waking up earlier.

What does it involve in terms of your attitude to life

• Savouring life – and everything it serves up to us.
• Enjoy all that it has to offer and to create a supportive environment. This support will help us to digest on all levels so much more easily even when a situation or food is not necessarily what we thought we wanted.

How do you go with the flow of life? Share your experiences below.

It’s summer and  you’re  hot and thirsty. What would you prefer – a glass of   (ice)-cold water or one that is at room temperature or even slightly warm?

In Ayurveda,  drinking  water at room temperature or slightly warm throughout the day  is known to be the best way to hydrate quickly. You don’t need to use extra energy to bring the water up to its temperature so it is more quickly absorbed by your body.

Also do you like drinking cold water with or immediately after a meal? And do you feel tired after eating?

Cold water slows down the digestive process that has just started by

• diluting your digestive juices so  they cannot do their job as effectively.
• requiring the energy used for digestion to be used to bring the temperature of the resultant liquid in your stomach to body temperature.

The result is partly or undigested food that moves through the digestive system and that  may or may not be eliminated properly. You may also feel heavy, tired and bloated.

Proper elimination is important to prevent the build up of waste material in the intestine because such a build up creates toxins and stops nutrients from being assimilated into the body.

If you’re thirsty during or after your meal, it is better to have a warm drink, for example warm water, herbal tea like ginger or tulsi, and then not more than about half a cup.  Ideally wait until an hour after eating to have a warm drink or drink about a hour before eating

Exercise:

1. For one week avoid drinking anything during your meals or sip half a cup of herbal tea.
2. Note down how you feel after each meal.
3. Post your comments and experiences below!

Are you drinking enough? Find out here .

In Ayurveda it’s is known that almonds are not only packed with nourishment but they have a cooling effect within the body.  And soaking the almonds and removing the skin enhances this effect.  In addition, they then become even easier to digest. This means that we are able to absorb even more nutrients with less effort.

This is good news with the heat wave we’re experiencing, when all we may want to do is to chill out.

Almond milk is sweet, lactose free and easy to make.

Here’s my recipe for this satisfying and nourishing drink, which is ideal for a quick breakfast.

Ingredients
4 dates (pitted)
20 almonds (approx. 25 grms)
Pinch of cardamom powder
Cup of water
1. Soak the dried fruit and the almonds in water in separate bowls overnight.
2. In the morning remove the skins from the almonds.
3. Put them along with the dates into a blender. Blend for about 30 seconds.
4. Pour into a glass and add the cardamom powder.
5. Stir and serve.

Enjoy!

This recipe is taken from my refreshing summer recipes booklet.

So what did you think of the recipe? How else are you staying cool this summer?  Feel free to share your comments below.