“Dietary Principles in Ayurveda: Aahara, Tridosha Balance, and Contemporary Relevance in Lifestyle Disorders”

“Dietary Principles in Ayurveda: Aahara, Tridosha Balance, and Contemporary Relevance in Lifestyle Disorders”

Dr. Pawan Singh Rawat

Swasthwrita, Uttaranchal Ayurvedic College, Dehradun

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12040144

Received: 23 April 2025; Revised: 01 May 2025; Accepted: 07 May 2025; Published: 22 May 2025

ABSTRACT

The prime concern of human beings is to maintain good health, which solely depends on dietary pattern, in which Ayurveda plays a significant role. The human body requires food to provide energy for all life processes, growth, repair, and maintenance. A balanced diet contains different types of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need of the body is adequately met. Eating a well-balanced diet regularly and staying at an ideal weight are critical factors in maintaining emotional and physical well-being. In Ayurveda, diet forms an important component of life as it is included in the Tri-Upastambha (three pillars of life). The Trayopstambha (three pillars of life) is a concept comprising 3 elements, viz. Aahara, Nidra, and Brahmacharya and Aahara is the most important among the three. (Ch.Su. 11/13).

Henceforth, this article particularly summarizes diet and related regimen in consideration of Ayurveda as it plays a vital role in healing. The diet mentioned in Ayurveda not only refreshes the body but also is a refreshing energy source for the soul. One must be particular while following Ayurveda diet as any faulty practice in preparation or consumption may result in body disorders, which has become a primary concern these days for health researchers and care providers as well.

Keywords: Aahara, Nidra, Brahmacharya, Tri-Upastambha.

INTRODUCTION

The body grows, develops strength, and gradually matures from the time of conception. Proper time (Kala Yoga), favourable disposition of the nature (Swabhava Samsiddhi), excellence of properties of food (Ahara Sausthava), and absence of inhibiting factors (Avighata) are the factors responsible for the growth of the body [1].

Dinacharya (daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), Sadvritta and Trayopasthamba have been mentioned for the same in our classics3. The important component of life is Aahara (diet) as it is included in the three pillars of life (Traya- upastambha) in Ayurveda2. The body is endowed with growth, strength, and complexion when there is support by Traya- upastambha and continues till the full span of life3. The human body requires food to provide energy for all life processes and the growth, repair, and maintenance of cells and tissues. The dietary needs vary according to age, sex, and occupation. A balanced diet contains different types of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need of the body is adequately met. Eating a well-balanced diet regularly and staying at an ideal weight are critical factors in maintaining emotional and physical well-being.

Ayurveda specified the characteristics of food in terms of quality, quantity, and time, which vary with age, constitution, digestive power, season, disease, and also from person to person. One has to consume a diet that is suitable for them in all aspects, and deviation from this may cause diseases. In addition to these, wrong cooking procedures, irregular timing, consuming imbalanced and non-congenial food, and not following the prescribed rules for preparing, preserving, and eating food may also cause an imbalance in health.

The history of dietetics comes from old times, where it was considered most essential fuel to lead a life with smooth functioning. In that context, Acharya Charaka has mentioned that diet is a causative factor in originating purusa and diseases5. Maharshi Sushruta in Sushruta Samhita requested to lord Dhanwantari with regard to application and importance of diet on physicians part resulting in historical significance of dietetics6. In Manusmriti, it is advised that one must praise the food always and get delighted on seeing it7. Bhagwat geeta has described that Rajasika individuals prefer foods that are bitter, pungent, sour, saline or hot, burning and unctuous which in turn produces pain, grief and diseases8. In case of Tamasika people, food that is tasteless, stinking, cooked overnight and impure is preferred9. Dietetics, a science applied to the principle of nutrition refers to as the planning, preparation and regulation of the food and diet with relation to maintaining health along with treatment of diseases10. Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine in India which describes ‘Aahara’ in context of two meanings: food items and the act of food intake11. As it is said, diet is not only responsible to living long (Annam vrittikaranam)12, but also plays a significant role in maintaining good health. Ayurveda explains that when the food is eaten in appropriate amount following all rules and regulations, it helps in sustaining the life, nourishes all dhatus (tissues), refreshes all our sense organs, organs of functions along with mind. It increases strength, memory, intelligence, oja and provides good complexion and luster to the body13.

One has to consume the diet, which is suitable to him in all aspects, and deviation from these may cause diseases. In addition to these, wrong cooking procedures, irregular timing, and consuming imbalanced and non-congenial food and not following the prescribed rules for preparing, preserving and eating food may also cause imbalance of health. The improper digestion produces toxin (Ama), which leads to majority of diseases, e.g. it causes Rheumatoid arthritis (Amavata) when it afflicts the joints. The relation between the faulty food & diseases are well explained like if one consumes only Sweet (Madhurarasa) in excess, he may develop diabetes. If one regularly consumes articles that are heavy to digest, he may become obese. Nowadays, the diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes (madhumeha), obesity (sthoulya), cancer (arbuda), liver diseases (yakrit vriddhi), insomnia (nidranasha), anxiety neurosis (chittodvega) and bronchial asthma (tamaka swasa) are highly prevalent and are labeled as lifestyle disorders. These lifestyle disorders are due to avoidable causes, mainly faulty diet habits and practices. Therefore, due consideration mentioned in Ayurveda should be given to all aspects of diet planning in the treatment of diseases and to maintain the health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature in the present article has been searched on the concept of Ahara, Dietetics and Ashtha Aahar Vidhi Visheshayatana from standard text books of Ayurveda including Charaka samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Ashtang Sangraha and from ancient commentaries like Manusmriti, Bhagwat Geeta as well. Research articles from different online journals of standard e-database like PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Medline and Science Direct were searched to get relevant research papers related to manuscript.

The food contains six basic tastes and each taste has pre-dominance of particular elements of Panchamahabhoota 14 which exerts specific effect on the Tridoshas & Dhatus.

It is mentioned that, drugs having sweet, sour and salty taste alleviate Vata, those having astringent, sweet and bitter tastes alleviate Pitta and those having astringent, pungent and bitter tastes alleviate Kapha dosha.

Four forms of food: Basically Ayurveda describes four forms of food preparations-

• Ashitam – Eatables
• Khaditam – Masticable Food
• Peetam – Drinks, Beverages
• Leedham – Licking Form

Principle of Balance Diet -According to Ayurveda, the stomach should be divided into four parts: two parts filled with solids, one part filled with liquid, and one part left empty for the Doshas. The term “balanced diet” refers to a diet that nourishes both the mental and physical structures. Balanced diet in Ayurveda can be defined as “the diet enriched with Shadarasa, required Gunas, Veerya and given to the individual after consideration of Prakrati, Agni, Kostha and Ritu. In Ayurveda, Matravatashniyata Ahara.There are two forms of Matra. One is Sarvagraha, and the other is Parigrah, so the diet must include a range of foods in sufficient quantities from various classes in order to include both micro and macro nutrients. Furthermore, Acharya Charaka determines the amount of food to be consumed based on its consistency.[15]

Incompatible Diet (Viruddha Ahara): The food with incompatible or contradictory qualities has poisonous effect on the body that aggravates Tridoshas intern leading to various disorders viz: Gulma (Lump), Fever, Allergic Dermatitis, Eczema, Abscess and other Skin diseases. It also destroys strength, vigour, memory, immunity etc [16].

Seasonal- dietetics according to Ayurveda17,18 –

Rules to have Ahara/ food according to Ayurveda- 19

Indications

• The food should be tasty, warm, qualitative, unctuous, and easily
• It should be eaten neither too fast nor too
• The food should be eaten only when hungry, after the last meal has been
• Should include all the tastes, namely sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent, in the daily
• Should eat food that is nourishing and suitable to the particular constitution, mental and emotional
• It is best to focus on food while
• One should eat while comfortably sitting.
• Food should be eaten in pleasant surroundings with utensils and prepared of the individual’s

Contraindications

• The food should not be contrary to each other in e.g. – fish and milk together, radish and milk together, honey and ghee in equal quantity.
• Eating should not be in a
• It should not be very slow
• Should not eat when emotionally
• Too much use of any of the 6 tastes, namely sweet, salt, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent, is not conducive to health.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The root cause for the strength, complexion, and vitality of living beings is Ahara (food). It can control the disease pathology and promote health as well. When consumed in a proper way (samyak yoga), Ahara maintains the body, while ati (excess), mithya (improper), and hinayoga (inadequate manner) lead to awful effects on the body. A balanced diet contains different types of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need of the body is adequately met. Eating a well-balanced diet regularly and staying at an ideal weight are critical factors in maintaining emotional and physical well-being. In Ayurveda, diet forms an important component of life as it is included in the Tri-Upastambha (three pillars of life). Each food article either has a Dosha aggravating action or a pacifying or balancing action on the human body. To keep the homeostasis of Doshas (health), Ayurveda has described a specific diet. Proper planning and adherence to the diet can maintain our body.

The primary goal, as mentioned in our authentic books, is “Swasthasya Rakshanam” which means to protect and preserve health, which is only attained by following a dietary regimen according to Ritus, Doshas, diseases depending on gastric fire, intake of food at a desired time with a relaxed state of mind. There is no need for medicine intake if one follows a proper dietary regimen, as said in Vaidyajeevanam. All human beings should have proper information about food and its importance to obtain better benefits from it.

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