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Why do Indians Sit the way they Sit on the Floor.

In ancient times, even Indian kings sat down in padmasana posture and consumed food. Saints meditated for years in the same posture. There might be a reason behind it if it’s been followed for such a long time. Because Indian traditions, cultures, and beliefs which are been passed on to many generations do have some medical benefits which we will discuss in this article.

In India and some other countries, we usually sit down on the floor properly and eat. By sitting properly I mean, sitting in cross-legged (There are many forms of cross-legged posture) posture which is also called palthi posture. It’s a form of a yoga pose called sukhasana or padmasana.

The question is Why do we sit in these postures? And is it the perfect posture? What are the benefits of doing it?

There are indeed many benefits of sitting down in a cross-legged posture for eating as well as meditation. For meditating, the postures and its benefits are discussed in the latter part of this article.

The following are the benefits of eating in a cross—legged posture

Digestion: we sit in cross-legged posture and bend forward to put food in the mouth and then come back to the same position. You can feel your tummy being pressed a little. This front and back motion helps release of digestive juices in a higher amount so that the food gets readily digested.

Stops us from over-eating: Eating food till your stomach fills to the brim results in improper digestion and acidity (Due to the release of digestive juices to higher then requisite amount). Sitting down in a cross-legged posture will result in the compression of the upper part of the stomach, which reduces the volume of the stomach leaving half of the stomach empty for the food to digest. You can feel the difference once you compare your appetite when you are eating on the chair and when you are sitting down on the floor and eating.

Sitting down is also an art, which if done properly can do wonders.

Some of the postures are given below.

The benefit of these postures are:

It helps stretch the hip flexors and sacral area to improve digestion and also stimulates pelvis, abdomen and bladder regions and maintains normal blood flow from legs to the abdomen.

For Padmasana and Swastikasana you need to place your feet on the opposite thighs, which requires flexibility and openness in hips, which allows spine to lengthen and for breathing to slow.

Even saints perform padmasana, swastikasana while practicing meditation because it gives the body relief by freeing up the spine, limb, and breathing so that yogi could sit in the same position for a very long time and concentrate on mediation. The goal is to achieve steadiness in our bodies.

The perfect alignment is described like this “The arrangement of pelvis and legs should be in a way so that it supports the spine. And the spine should be a support for the skull and spine and the skull can together protect the brain and spinal cord. In this particular arrangement, the nervous system can register this sense of support and ease, and turn its attention to practices such as pranayama or meditation. When the spine is supported by pelvis and legs, the ribs are also free to move with the breath, rather than become part of the supporting mechanism or sitting“.

Interesting fact: As time passed people started adapting foreign cultures, people started preferring eating on the dining tables which eventually changed our normal body functioning. An interesting fact is the human body was never designed to sit on a chair, our body is perfect to freely stand, walk, bend, squat, and lie down. The babies without learning know how to use their bodies in an effective way, and sitting on a chair is not one of them. We have learned to sit on a chair by looking at others, and our bodies adapted itself according to that. The issue when we sit on the chair is it tilts the hip to one side which is the center of our body. Because of this unusual modification, the blood circulation throughout the body slows down.  Glutes and hamstrings are pressed, causing their inactivation for a long time, causing muscular imbalances. Muscular imbalances change the body structure and bring tension in the joints when we try to bring the balance back. It affects your physical as well as your mental state, and many studies have shown that it may even decrease your mental clarity.

Benefits of Sitting & Eating on the Floor

In many Indian households you will find that people sit on the floor and eat their meals. While most of us have embraced the table and chair as a place to eat, there are those of us who prefer to sit in front of the TV and/or sit on the bed and eat. While this might be very comfortable, it might not necessarily be the best thing for your health. Our ancestors definitely had a plan when they made sure we sit on the floor, cross legged and ate our food. Here are 10 reasons going back to your roots is the best for your health.

Helps improve your digestion:

When you sit on the floor, you usually sit cross legged – an asana known as sukhasana or a half padmasna which are poses that help in digestion (since it is believed that when one sits in this pose in front of food it automatically signals your brain to prepare for digestion). Apart from that when you eat from a plate placed on the floor, you will have to naturally bend forward slightly and go back to your starting position to swallow. This constant back and forth movement causes the muscles of your abdomen to be activated and also leads to increased secretion of stomach acids – making it much easier for you to digest food.

Helps you lose weight:

Sitting on the floor and eating has significant weight loss benefits too. When you sit in this position, your brain automatically calms down and is better equipped to focusing on the food you eat. Moreover this position helps you cognate the amount of food you have eaten and helps you feel full faster. How does that work? Well, the main reason people overeat is because they do not know when they are full. This happens because the vagus nerve (the main nerve that transmits signals from the stomach to the brain) sends signals to the brain as you eat, telling it if you are satiated or not. When you sit on the floor this nerve is able to perform better and transmit signals more efficiently. Also, since this position makes you eat slower than you would while sitting on a table, it gives your stomach and brain time to cognate the signals of feeling full, thereby preventing overeating and bingeing.

Makes you more flexible:

When you squat or sit in padmasana, the muscles in your lower back, pelvis, around your stomach and those of the upper and lower abdomen stretch – reducing pain and discomfort. This, in turn helps your digestive system relax and stay in a normal position. Moreover, this position does not compress your stomach in anyway helping you eat and digest better. Moreover, the regular stretching of these essential muscles also helps make you more flexible and healthy.

Aids in mindful eating:

When you sit on the floor and eat as a family it aids in mindful eating. Not only does it help you focus on your food, but it also helps you make better choices when you eat. Since your mind is calm and your body is ready to accept nutrition, sitting on the floor is the best way to eat the right amount and kinds of food. According to leading nutritionist, Rujuta Diwekar, eating food while concentrating on every aspect of the food – its smell, taste, texture and how much you are eating is the key to losing weight – which is what sitting on the floor and eating gives you.

Helps you bond with your family:

Usually the practice of sitting on the floor and eating is a family activity.  This time is great for you to bond. One of the reasons sitting on the floor is better at helping you bond is because it leads to a calm and happy mind – helping you listen more intently and peacefully.

Improves your posture:

Posture is very important when it comes to staying healthy. Good posture not only helps prevent injuries but it also reduces the chances of excessive strain on certain muscles and joints, which can lead to fatigue and quicker than normal wear and tear. When you sit on the floor your posture is automatically corrected, making your back straight, lengthening your spine and pushes back your shoulders – beating all the common aches and pains that come with bad posture.

Can make you live longer:

Sounds a bit unbelievable right? Well, it’s true, sitting on the floor and eating can actually help you live longer. A study published in the Journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who sat on the floor in padmasana and were able to get up without any support were more likely to live longer. This is because being able to get up from that position takes a considerable amount of flexibility and lower body strength. The study found that those who were not able to get up without support were at the risk of being 6.5 times more likely to die in the next six years.

Lubricates and keeps your knees and hip joint healthy:

According to PS Venkateshwara, author of the book Yoga for Healing, padmasana and sukhasana is one pose that has health benefits for your entire body. Not only does it help your digestive system function better, but it also helps keep your joints supple, flexible and less prone to injuries and degenerative diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. That is because the constant bending of the knees, ankles and hip joint helps keep them flexible and free of diseases. And with flexibility comes better lubrication between the joints making it much easier to sit on the floor.

Relaxes the mind and calms the nerves:

Sukhasana and padmasana or the cross legged way one sits on the floor while eating has a number of benefits, and one of its most significant ones is that it calms the mind and relaxes frazzled nerves. A very handy tool, it is believed in Ayurveda that eating with a calm mind helps better digestion and in some cases has even helped people relish food better.

Strengthens the heart by improving circulation:

Have you ever noticed that when you eat, you tend to feel warmer and in some cases even sweat? Well, that is because when we eat our stomach needs all the energy it can use to digest food. One of digestion’s most important element is a sound blood circulation. To keep up with this process, your heart tends to work overtime to help out your digestive system. Here is where sitting on the floor and eating can help you out. When you sit on the floor your heart gets the benefits of circulation as the blood is easily pumped through the heart to all the organs needed for digestion. This is in contrast to the pattern of circulation when you sit on a dining table and chair, wherein the blood flows to the legs as they are lower than the heart. Therefore sitting on the floor and eating, affords you a healthy heart with strong muscles to help it cope with the pressures of daily life.

Benefits of Sitting on the Floor and Eating

With changing times, we have expensive dining tables at our homes. Most people prefer having their meals at dining tables. With time, I explored the benefits of sitting on the floor while eating. I have listed a couple of benefits of sitting down and eating.

The Indian Culture

Some people still follow ancient Indian beliefs and believe in the benefits of sitting on the floor. Earlier, everybody sat on the floor while having meals. It didn’t matter if you were an upper-caste or lower-caste. While having food, everybody was considered equal. Therefore, food was served to the ground. With modernization, the theory of DINING TABLES came into play. It is derived from Western culture and thoughts.

The Yogic Posture – Benefits of Sitting on the Floor

HAVE YOU EVER SAT ON THE FLOOR WHILE HAVING MEAL? If yes, you know the position we sit on the ground. It is called SUKHASANA (the crossed legs). The name itself suggests that it is a GOOD (SUKH) POSTURE. It speeds digestion in our body and helps in regulating calmness. Sukhasana is also proved to improve blood circulation. It further keeps the heart-healthy.

Helps In Losing Weight – Benefits of Sitting On the Floor and Eating

You must have noticed that while sitting on the floor, you slightly bend forward while eating. This posture is believed to prevent you from overeating, which is the main reason for obesity. Sitting on the ground with your back slightly bent, helps your stomach get full quickly.

The continuous elevation and sitting movement in between and after your meals help in reducing weight. None of these happens while you are seated at a table and chair while having meals. Therefore, the benefits of sitting on the floor while eating are also applicable to weight loss.

Relaxes Mind And Body

Like any other yogic postures, Sukhasana is an ideal position to relax the mind and body. It helps you relieve stress and increase the oxygen flow in your body. Apart from the health benefits of sitting on the floor while having food also has psychological and emotional threads. It makes you kinder and grounded. In addition, it helps you to understand the importance of MOTHER EARTH and emotionally connects you with your family.

It is further essential living by Indian customs and beliefs. No matter how advanced we are, or how much modernised our country becomes, we should always be grounded and stick to our culture. So, start having meals sitting on the floor, with your beloved ones and emotionally connect with them rather than indulging on Netflix while eating!

Indian Way Of Sitting On The Floor Has Many Health Benefits

It’s time to ditch furniture and go back to the roots of sitting on the floor, as Indian way of sitting has many health benefits.

India is a land of rich heritage culture, with some of the most noted health practices. Over the years, people from around the globe have started adopting more habits that are being followed in our county from time immemorial. However, due to western influence, we Indians have somehow adopted habits that have changed our lifestyles. This also includes sitting on a chair for each and every task we do throughout the day. If several health reports are to be believed, human bodies were not created to sit on chairs. But, we seem to be so much in love with sitting on furniture that we have forgotten how comforting and benefitting it is to sit on the floor. Let’s remind ourselves wholesome advantages of sitting on the floor, which we call the Indian way of sitting.  

Improves Food Digestion 

Even today there are many households, wherein they have their food not in front of televisions or on dining tables, but on floor. In fact, gurudwaras and various Hindu temples follow the same healthy rule, since it is believed to be a courteous and robust habit. When you sit on the floor, you keep your body in motion. So you bend forward to eat and go back to your natural position. This helps muscles of your digestive organs to secrete necessary juices, and therefore break down food properly and quickly.

Enhances Dull Body Posture 

Back in times, there were not so many people complaining about back pain and issues related to the spinal cord. But, with time, we humans have put a lot of strain upon the fundamental structure of the body. Sitting on the floor with crossed legs help the body to straighten up automatically.  If you notice, in this position the back becomes aligned and the spine expands pushing our shoulders back. Sitting in this position can beat pain and aches that are caused due to bad posture. 

Boost Blood Circulation In The Body 

Proper blood flow is a must for our bodies to function properly. It’s the blood in our systems that carries oxygen and other consumed nutrients to all the organs. Anything that happens to interrupt the process can put your health in jeopardy. Sitting cross-legged boosts the blood flow in the body, as the function happens to relax the nerves. It also alleviates the pressure on it. Difficulty in blood circulation affects the heart’s health big time, as it is this organ that pumps the blood to the entire body. 

Calms The Nerves Down 

There is a reason that the Indian way of sitting on the floor is followed highly by yogis around the globe as a yoga asana. It is called sukhasana and padmasana postures. As per health reports, the yoga asana allows the mind to relax and calm down. Anyone, who feels they are under a lot of pressure should start sitting on the floor with their legs crossed. The more effective thing to do is eating Ayurveda foods while sitting in this posture. 

Keeps Knee & Hip Joint Flexible 

Not just the elder population, but even the younger generation are suffering from knee and hips pain. At the age when millennials are supposed to be fit and energetic, most of them are dealing with old-age health problems. It is better to teach kids the importance of adopting habits that were designed to support human bodies. Sitting on the floor helps keep joints supple, flexible and less prone to injuries. Diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis can also be controlled by sitting on the floor because bending the knees, ankles and hip allows them to be flexible and free of diseases. 

Culture of touching Elders feet!!! The science behind it!

Why do we need to touch the feet of elders?

We bow down before our parents, elders, teachers, and noble souls, and they bless us by placing their hands on our heads. Touching feet of elders is the foremost thing that we Indians are taught from childhood. They (elders) say you get blessings when you touch their feet which gives you more energy to fulfill your desires and succeed in your life.

The age-old tradition of bowing down to elder’s feet with complete devotion and compassion puts all your ego down to their feet, and they feel honored for being respected for the knowledge and experience they have gained throughout their life.

To get the complete benefit out of it you should do it with a heart full of Devotion (Shraddha) and Compassion (Karuna).

Devotion puts ego aside and lowers your emotion along with the solar plexus chakra and increases the receptivity of the person. Karuna activates the heart chakra of saints or elders. So this act has multiple benefits, one is you will become a humble person and will also have the blessings of the elders.

According to The Modern Vedic Science, Our body is a conductor of electricity as well as energies, and it’s believed that our body is vertically divided into two parts, Left positive part and Right negative. So when we stand opposite and touch their left foot with the left hand and right foot with the right hand, the energy from both sides meet and form a big circuit through which energies flow uniformly without ups and downs.

Our fingertips have thousands of mechanoreceptors especially Merkel discs and Misseners corpuscles. They are open never endings with high sensitivity to light touch. A cascade network of neurons is activated and the information is processed.

In Mahabharata Yudhistira said that touching the feet of elders makes one feel powerful and great.

This is what we hear from our elders, now let’s dive a little deeper.

Touching feet is an act of “Pranama”, a yogic practice. And practicing a yogic posture needs to be done in the right way to get its benefit.

The following are the postures:

Ashtanga dandavat pranama: It means 8 parts are involved, the chest, head, eyes, attention, speech, feet, hand, and knee. We have to engage all these parts to achieve this posture.

Shastanga Pranama: it means 6 parts, the toes, knees, hands, chin, nose, and temple touching the ground.

Panchanga pranama: It means 5 parts, the knees, chest, chin, temple, and forehead touching the ground.

Namaskara: It means adoration and is performed by folding hands touching the forehead. It’s a type of greeting.

Abhinandana: bending forward with folded hands touching the chest.

What is the benefit of these postures??

These practices are beneficial to exercise for inner thighs, inner calves, and side knee muscles, it brings flexibility to toes and ankles which help in preventing ankle spraining or twisting. Your joints remain active.

In shashtang pranam, your waist, backbone, and all joints in the body gets stretched and relieves stress and body pain. Your blood circulation improves and the blood reaches your brain faster, which is good for eyes.

What does science has to say about it??

Let’s first see what Vedic science has to say about it, According to Vedas, hands are one of the most precious organs. Scripture describes that our body made out of 5 elements that is Space, air, fire, water, and earth.

And each finger relates to an element of the universe.

1. Thumb – Space
2. Forefinger – Air
3. Middle finger – fire
4. Ring finger – Water
5. Little finger – earth

Food

One of our favourite customs and traditions in Indian culture is food! Every region in India has its own distinct cuisine with a signature dish or ingredient. It’s one of the best countries for vegetarian cuisine, which you’ll find predominantly in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Non-vegetarian options feature strongly in Bengali, Mughlai, North Indian and Punjabi cuisine, and Kerala in South India is famous for its delicious fish dishes.

You can always guarantee plenty of fresh ingredients, including wonderful herbs and spices used for flavour, aromas, to enhance colours and for healing properties.

Although many restaurants provide cutlery for tourists, it’s great to get involved with the Indian tradition of eating with your hands. As well as immersing yourself in Indian culture, your digestive system will thank you as it means you eat more slowly. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after, and use your right hand to eat.

8 Practical Vastu Tips For Your Mandir’s Direction In Home

Pray to your idols in the right Vastu direction with these essential Vastu tips for your mandir’s directions at home!

Let the light, joy and faith be in the right direction!

Puja mandir in a home is one of the most important aspects of Indian Hindu homes. It is a place that can totally change the ambience of your home. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to consider some serious aspects of the mandir in the home.

While the presence of the mandir itself accentuates the aura of your home, placing it in the right mandir direction in home, choosing the right colours, arranging the idols correctly, selecting the right puja unit layout, etc., play crucial roles. No matter if you have a dedicated puja place in your house or adjusting it in your small apartment, we have some great Vastu tips for your mandir direction in the home.

Vastu is an essential factor while designing your puja unit at home. Without the right Vastu guide, your puja mandir is incomplete! So, if you are planning your new home, it’s the best time to note down the important mandir direction in home according to Vastu. And if you already have a puja corner, go through the following points and make all the necessary changes.

The Right Mandir Direction In Home Is Northeast

The most important step while designing your mandir at home is to select the right place. You must know that placing the mandir or the puja unit in the wrong direction may be inauspicious. Hence, you must not take chances as the mandir is the pivotal corner of your home’s ambience. According to Vastu, the ideal mandir direction in a home is the northeast. If the northeast direction is otherwise occupied, you can go with either north or east directions. According to Vastu Shastra studies, the northeast is believed to be the ideal mandir direction because the direction helps in imbuing the maximum solar energy.

Tip: Avoid placing your mandir in the south direction; it is a no-no in Vastu Shastra.

Tip: You can also place the idols in the west, but you must totally avoid the south direction.
A veneer finish puja unit with storage drawers and cabinets
Puja Unit’s Doors And Windows Must Open In The North Or East Direction
While placing the mandir in your home, make sure that you are placing the puja unit in such a way that its doors and windows open towards the north or the east direction. You must keep the puja unit in a spacious area where there is enough room to open the shutters properly. According to Vastu Shashtra, a puja unit must always have two doors or shutters. So, keep the unit in an airy place that allows the doors to open completely.

Tip: You can also place the idols in the west, but you must totally avoid the south direction.
A veneer finish puja unit with storage drawers and cabinets
Puja Unit’s Doors And Windows Must Open In The North Or East Direction
While placing the mandir in your home, make sure that you are placing the puja unit in such a way that its doors and windows open towards the north or the east direction. You must keep the puja unit in a spacious area where there is enough room to open the shutters properly. According to Vastu Shashtra, a puja unit must always have two doors or shutters. So, keep the unit in an airy place that allows the doors to open completely.

The Ground Floor Is The Best For Placing The Mandir In A Home
If you have a multistorey or duplex house, it is advisable to place the puja ghar on the ground floor. While you can place mini puja units in your bedrooms, if you have a dedicated mandir at home, place it on the ground floor. This place is also ideal as it generates a positive vibe, right on the house’s entrance floor. An interesting place would be in the foyer area or the porch area of your house. This placement choice comes from the older days when mandirs were placed in the ‘aangan’ or front verandah of houses. However, make sure you have your puja unit or mandir away from the shoe racks.
Tip: Don’t place your mandir in the basement as it is considered inauspicious. And if you are placing the puja unit in your bedroom, make sure your feet don’t point towards it.

Always Place Diyas And Agni Kund In The Southeast Direction
While going for the right mandir directions at home, make sure you never miss out on the suitable directions for placing the mandir diyas, lamps and agni kund. According to Vastu, you must place the lamps and the mandir’s agni kunds in the southeastern direction. You can also decorate the mandir with beautiful hanging diyas, as in the picture. You can also place the diyas in the east or the north. Placing them in the east is believed to bring health to the family, whereas placing them in the north brings wealth.

T
ip: Avoid placing the mandir diyas and lamps in the south. According to Vastu, placing them in the south may drain the house’s wealth.

A beautiful marble puja unit for spacious homes

While placing or designing the mandir face direction in home, make sure you are arranging the idols in such a way that you always face north or east while praying. The north or east direction bring positivity to the house; hence, praying towards those directions will facilitate the positive aura. You must keep in mind that while designing your mandir at home, keep enough space to sit and pray. If you have many family members, place the mandir in such a way that every member gets to sit properly and pray.

Make Sure You Face North Or East While Praying

You Can Decorate The Mandir With Religious Books And Other Auspicious Items

Generally, you must avoid storing things in your mandir. However, if there is enough space and cabinets in the puja unit, you can place religious books, rudraksha malas, thaalis and other puja-related items in the storage. You shouldn’t, however, store money or tricky books and items in the puja unit as this may hinder the positive vibe of the place.

Tip: Avoid placing photographs of deceased people near the mandir.

Choose Soothing/Light Colours For Your Mandir In Home

A mandir is a sacred place where you can pray, meditate and imbibe positive vibes. So, the right colours for such an auspicious place are light, soothing colours. These colours help in echoing subtle tranquillity in the house that helps maintain a peaceful aura. Light colours also make any place look and feel airy and spacious, whereas choosing dark colours may make the place look cramped and heavy. So, go for whites, off-whites, creams, pale pinks and light yellows as the mandir colours.

Some Vastu Tips For Your Mandir In Home

• Do not place your mandir or puja unit near the bathroom.
• Do not place the mandir below the staircase; you can use the space next to the stairs.
• Always keep your mandir well-ventilated, which is why using CNC cutting designs is good as they allow proper ventilation.
• If you are placing your mandir in the kitchen, make sure it is placed towards the northeast direction.

Benefits of Sitting on the Floor while Eating

These days, you enjoy your meals with your family, mostly in the dining room or in front of the television. But in earlier times, long before tables and chairs came into use, people used to comfortably sit down on the ground and eat their meals. In many parts of Asia, and especially India, it is more of a traditional practice than a common one. If you think that sitting relaxed on the couch or the dining table is a better place to have your meals, then you are under the wrong impression. Following are some significant reasons, as to why you should eat your meals sitting on the floor.

Aids indigestion

Sitting down on the floor, with crossed legs (Sukhasana) helps in improving our digestion process. Place your plate on the ground, and slightly move your body forward to eat and come back to your original position. This repeated action results in triggering of the abdominal muscles, which increases the secretion of stomach acids and allows food to digest faster.

Helps in losing weight

Getting up and sitting down elevates the body movement. It also helps you feel full sooner. Rather than sitting on the chair, place a mat, cross your legs and keep your back straight. Follow this pattern regularly if you want to lose fat. This position is also effective in relaxing your mind and therefore, not letting you overeat. It also helps in reducing fatigue and body weakness.

Increases blood circulation

Cross-legged position enhances the blood circulation in our body as it calms the nerves and releases away from the tension in it. It keeps the heart healthy as when we are sitting down; there is less pressure on our body and the heart. In Sukhasana, blood flow is distributed evenly throughout the body.

Improves posture

Like all other yoga asanas, sitting in Sukhasana helps you in maintaining a good posture and relieves you from muscle and joint pains. It gives you flexibility, keeps your back straight and provides strength to your legs. Some studies also claim that people who practice this habit, have longer life expectancy than people who don’t. It is so because, practising the art of getting up without any support, requires core strength and agility.

Relaxes the mind and body

Padmasana and Sukhasana are ideal positions for meditation and benefit a lot in relieving stress from the mind. It is also an excellent position for doing breathing exercises, which in turn increases the flow of oxygen in the body. It straightens the spine and relaxes the shoulder muscles.

Not only sitting down has a lot of immediate health benefits, it aids in many psychological and emotional factors too. Sitting down to eat our food makes us humbler and more grounded. It also connects the family together. So, make sure that you start eating your meals sitting on the floor, with your family and loved ones and avoid indulging in television or gossip during meals.

5 scientific reasons to sit on the floor to eat

Have you ever wondered, whenever you go to a place of worship, why do people always sit on the ground and receive prasad or meals??

Even our ancestors used to sit on the floor cross-legged to eat.

This might amaze many of you but this simple act of sitting on the floor has an in-depth connection with one’s physical & psychological wellbeing. If you don’t believe me, the reasons I will discuss below will prove my point.

1) It is a form of YOGA
When you sit in a cross-legged position while eating, you automatically do an asana known as Sukhasana. With absolute ease now you are multitasking. You are eating as well as doing yoga. This posture allows the mind to calm down and applies the pressure to the lower spine which facilitates relaxation.

2) It aids in Digestion
When you sit on the floor and bend forward to eat and come back to your natural position. This back and forth movement helps muscles in the abdomen to secrete digestive juices and helps in digesting the food very quickly.

3) Assists you in Mindful Eating
When your body touches the ground the mind automatically calms down. So, you automatically eat slower. Also, in this position the body is in a heightened state of receptivity to accept nutrition. In my personal experience I have noticed that whenever I sit on the floor to eat, I can never overeat. Even if I want to do so, my body doesn’t cooperate.

4) Helps you sustain a Good Posture
When you sit on the floor, the body’s posture is automatically corrected, with a straight spine. Expanding our spine and pushing our shoulders back, beats all the frequent pains and aches that are caused by a bad posture.

5) Makes you Humble & Grounded
A sadhu or a monk always sits on the floor to meditate. Why does he not choose a chair?? Well, there is definitely a reason for it.
According to spiritual beliefs when you sit on the floor it is easier for you to connect to your spiritual side. It makes you humble. Eating while sitting on the floor thus becomes a spiritual practice.

Do you know??
Humans are not conditioned to sit on a chair. Sitting on a chair is a recent phenomenon. Even the kings used to sit on the floor and eat. In so many parts of the world, the chairs are still not common.

If you have never sat on the floor, initially it can be challenging. But with consistent practice, it will become more comfortable than a chair.
If you have never tried eating while sitting on the floor, I guess ‘NOW’ is the time.

How do you all eat at home??

• On a dining/chair/sofa?
• Always on the floor?
• Occasionally on the floor??

Why Do Indians Eat with Their Hands?

5 fingers – 5 elements

The practice of eating with one’s hands, specifically your fingers, originated within Ayurvedic teachings, where it is believed that our bodies are in sync with the five elements of nature and each finger is an extension of one of these five elements.

• The thumb is an extension of space
• The forefinger is an extension of air
• The middle finger is an extension of fire
• The ring finger is an extension of water
• The little finger is an extension of earth

When using your hands, you are supposed to utilize all fingers together. This brings together all of nature’s elements and brings awareness to the texture, taste, aromas, and temperature of the food.

When you touch your food with your hands, you are creating a physical and spiritual connection with it, being more present in the moment.

Yes, it’s hygienic!

Eating with your hands is also very hygienic contrary to popular belief. We practice washing our hands before/after every meal and wash them more often than we wash silverware, especially now with COVID-19! Furthermore, the bacteria that live on your palms and fingers are known to improve digestion.

Indian recipes such as chapatis, dosas, and parathas are torn and wrapped around a side dish such as chutneys or raita. Indian rice dishes are usually hand-mixed with a side of curry and eaten in delicious sizable chunks.

Celebrating Togetherness

Additionally, for me, eating with my hands takes me back home and keeps the culture alive in a small way. When we share a meal with loved ones, we create a beautiful environment of love, peace, togetherness, and mindfulness. We feel one with nature and with each other.

Having meals on the floor

Before dining tables became essential in every household, Indians would traditionally sit on the floor to eat, with a cloth or mat serving as the seat [1]. When one’s feet are beneath the heart (as in a position when sitting on a seat), the blood flow is directed to the feet, whereas when one sits with folded legs on the floor, the heart gets the advantage of better dissemination.

Additionally, when an individual assumes sukhasana (sitting crossed-legged Indian-style), it strengthens the lumbar region of the body by reducing stress and anxiety. This posture also induces calmness of mind.

When the individual sits to eat in an appropriate position, digestion-related juices are secreted in the stomach, which gets ready for processing the food. The plate or a banana leaf (practiced in south Indian cultures, sustainability for the win!) is placed in front of the individual, who bends forward to eat and then goes back to the starting position to swallow the morsel of food. The constant back and forth movement activates the abdominal muscles and helps with digestion.

Indian traditional way of eating food with hands / fingers

A majority of Indians like the traditional way of eating food / meals i.e.sitting on the floor and eating food with fingers / hands. This may sound unclean / unhygienic for non-Indians but for Indians there is some in-depth meaning in this traditional way of eating.

In the ancient times Indians might have had a thorough knowledge on the advantages of this ancient Indian way of eating food and there could be some rationale behind it. Let’s study.

Eating food sitting on the floor

A healthy ancient Indian practice of eating food is having food sitting on the floor and not on dining table. Food is served in eco-friendly plantain leaves placed on the floor. In Hinduism, food is considered sacred and is considered as Goddess Annapoorna Devi who is believed to have served food to Lord Vishwanath (i.e Lord Shiva) of Kasi (the present Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh).Shoes and socks or sandals must be removed while sitting on the floor for having meals which is a typical Indian style of eating food. By doing so, the spread of germs / pollutants which otherwise might have accumulated on your shoes / socks, is restricted.

Sitting on the floor and eating food is a mark of respect to Annapoorna Devi – the Hindu goddess of food. It signifies humbleness and devotion to the goddess. Scientifically, human beings who are living beings cannot survive without food. So, Indians respect the food they get to eat for the day.

Maintaining etiquette while eating

When a traditional meal is served on plantain leaf, one has to wait till all the items are served. Picking up of items while these are being served and putting in mouth is not a good manner. Secondly, when there are elders sitting in the row, one is supposed to wait for the elders to start eating food. This is a gesture of respecting the elders.

Similarly after a person finishes eating, he / she is not supposed to get up and go for hand wash but he / she has to wait till the elders i.e the older ones finish eating. The young ones have to get only after the elders get up and go for their hand wash.

Another good gesture while having meal is not to leave any food in the leaf. Food which is grown by the farmers, should not be wasted. So, initially all the items are served in very little quantity in the leaf to avoid wastage.

Serving all the items shows what all items are prepared for the meal. During the second round of serving food, people ask the items of their like and politely reject the items which they don’t like. By doing so, there is no wastage of food. Leaving food items (half eaten or not eating at all) in the leaf is not a good manner. But it is treated as a sign of disrespecting food.

Indian way of eating food with fingers / hands

An ancient eating habit of Indians is eating food with fingers / hands. Basically Indians are rice eaters, particularly South Indians while in the North people mostly eat Indian breads i.e chapati made of wheat. Food is served hot and also relished hot. So, one of the advantages of eating with fingers is that when you initially touch the food with hands, you can easily make out whether the hot food is bearable or not. This avoids burning your mouth / tongue.

The very sight of food and its touch triggers the secretion of digestive juices and the digestive system gets ready for its proper functioning.

Indian foods are enjoyed the most when you eat with hands / fingers. It gives you a satisfied feeling.

So also, licking of fingers after a sumptuous meal is a sign of satisfaction and it indicates how much you relished the food. But lifting up the plate / bowl and licking it is not considered a bad sign.

In Hindu religion, it is inappropriate to eat food with left hand as this is used for the other purpose i.e. cleaning the private parts. A majority of Indians follow the age old practice of using water for cleaning the private parts after defecation. Indians are not much used to the use of toilet tissues. Hence, use of left hand is restricted for the purpose and is not used for other good activities. Basically, Indians use their right hand for touching food, serving food and for eating. However, when you eat and simultaneously serve food, then you are not supposed to touch the food to be served, with your right hand as you are still eating with the hand.

However, washing hands before taking meals is a must from hygienic point of view.

Disposing of the leftovers

The age old practice of disposal of leftovers is done in an eco-friendly manner. The plantain leaves along with the leftover foods, if any are rolled up and disposed in the backyard. This serves as a food to many animals / living creatures. Animals feed on the disposed items. If it not fed by the animals, it mixes up with the soil and replenishes the soil with nutrients.

After this flash of thought, I thanked the Westerners (of course in my thoughts) who gave me the opportunity to get to know more about the traditional way of eating food. However, India being a vast country with varied culture, the way of eating style differs from region to region.

7 Indian Food Traditions That Connect You to Your Culture

In India, food is not only for filling our stomachs but also a way to connect with our religion and culture. Though nowadays not everyone follows all of them, those traditions still hold importance. So, let’s explore a few Indian food traditions that have been passed down through the generations:

India is a country of several cultures and traditions. We are strongly attached to our rich heritage and deep-rooted beliefs. With time, many traditions have evolved and transformed, but certain rituals and social customs are still followed in the same way by several families in the country. The best example of this is Indian meals and dining etiquette.

In India, food is not only for filling our stomachs but also a way to connect with our religion and culture. Though nowadays not everyone follows all of them, those traditions still hold importance. From offering food to God to eating on leaves, there are many Indian customs that are either backed by science or part of religious beliefs.

So, let’s explore a few Indian food traditions that have been passed down through the generations:

Offering Food To God

In Hindu culture, offering food to God is part of the worship ritual. When the food is prepared, the devotees present it to the deity and then consume it themselves. Therefore, tasting food during the preparation is also strictly prohibited. Hindus believe that offering food to God will make the food free from bad omens and is also considered a blessing.

Eating With Hands

This is one of the most popular traditions that is followed all over the country. According to Ayurveda, this practice stimulates the five elements that are present in our fingers (space, air, water, fire, and earth), which aid in the release of digestive juices in the stomach and make digestion easy. According to Healthshots, eating with hands also improves blood circulation in the body.

Jol Pan

Also known as jal paan, this is a breakfast tradition that is traditionally followed in Bengal, Assam, and Bihar. Jol pan consists of a variety of dishes such as pitha, rice, curd, chiwra, paratha, etc. This tradition ensures that people understand the importance of breakfast as a meal. It is also served on special occasions like festivals and weddings.

Thali-Style Eating

The word ‘thali’ means a large plate that includes many little compartments that can hold a variety of dishes. Basically, this style of eating allows you to enjoy everything that is available on the table. Indian thali offers a variety of dishes like curries, greens, dals, rice, and bread, accompanied by side dishes like chutneys, raita, pickles, papadums, and desserts. According to Healthline, thali is a balanced meal that provides all the essential nutrients on one plate.

Eating From One Plate

This is a popular tradition among the Bohri Muslim community and represents the symbol of unity in diversity. According to this tradition, food is served on a big platter called the thal. The entire family sits around the same platter and enjoys the meal together, which also ensures there are no leftovers. The thal consists of a variety of dishes, and it starts with a dessert.

Serving Food On Leaves

Some common leaves used for serving food in India are banana, lotus, sal, and teak. Apart from providing a distinct flavour to the food, this tradition also has a lot of health benefits. According to Prorganiq, banana leaves are rich in polyphenols, a kind of natural antioxidant that protects against a variety of diseases. It also prevents the spread of germs, as the leaves are antibacterial.

Eating On The Floor

This is still very common in many families. According to the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, this tradition has many health benefits. When sitting on the floor, more muscles are used, which in turn aids digestion, helps in managing weight, improves posture, and relaxes the body and mind. It also has an emotional and psychological factor, as sitting down while eating makes us humbler and lets us stay connected to the family.

10 things to never eat and drink in India

India is one of the world’s greatest foodie destinations, with all kinds of amazing curries, soups, spices, sweet desserts and iconic Indian dishes. But before you dive into all that glorious food, there are a few rules that travellers should follow to avoid getting the dreaded ‘Delhi Belly’. From tap water to peeled fruits and meat, here are 10 things you should never eat or drink in India, along with some quick tips to avoid getting sick on your trip to India. 

1. Tap water

The first rule of travelling in India is to never drink tap water. Even if you see locals drinking tap water, don’t follow their lead. Unsafe tap water contains harmful chemicals and E. coli bacteria that foreign stomachs cannot handle and will make you sick. It’s best to only drink bottled water and you should always make sure the seal hasn’t been broken before you drink it. You should also use bottled water to brush your teeth. 

This rule also goes for ice. No matter how hot it is, never have ice in your drink, even in reputable restaurants, as ice is often made from tap water. If you want to learn a useful local phrase, learn to say ‘without ice’. It’s better to be safe than sorry! You should also avoid the fresh fruit juices sold on city streets around India, as most street vendors use tap water to make these. 

2. Raw fruit and vegetables

It’s not just the fruit juices that should be avoided, but the fruit too. Most fruits are likely unwashed and carrying bacteria, while other fruits are covered in pesticides and chemicals, like the wax on apples used to make them shine. 

When it comes to raw fruit and vegetables, the rule is to ‘cook it, peel it or leave it’. The heat from freshly cooked food should kill most bacteria, otherwise you should go for fruit that can be peeled like bananas – but always make sure the peel is fully intact before purchasing. Avoid fruits like pineapples or mangoes that have already been peeled, as they’re a breeding ground for bacteria. 

This goes for salads too. The raw vegetables are often carrying harmful bacteria and aren’t thoroughly washed, which can all lead to E. coli infections and food poisoning.

3. Gol gappe

You’ll likely see gol gappe (also known as puchkas or pani-puri) in street food stalls all over the country – but it’s best to steer clear. They’re deep-fried crispy breads with a hollow middle, filled with a stuffing containing flavoured water. Again, the issue is contaminated water, and unless you know for sure they were made with safe drinking water, give it a miss.

4. Golas

These popular flavoured ice candies look very tempting on a hot summer’s day – but you should always avoid them. They’re often made with tap water, stored in unsanitary places, or made with unsafe food colouring and syrups.

5. Meat from street vendors

Meat from street stalls and markets is a big no-no in India. It’s highly prone to bacteria and parasites that can lead to food poisoning and other severe illnesses.

But not to worry, as India is a vegetarian utopia, home to the world’s largest population of vegetarians. In fact, the state of Maharashtra has totally banned beef, due to Hindu religious reasons. Because of their meat-free lifestyle, Indians have taken vegetarian cooking to a new, incredible level. With all kinds of tasty veggie Indian dishes, you’re sure to keep coming back for more.

6. Cheese

We know you love cheese, but it’s best to avoid it, especially ones sold loose. It’s incredibly easy for the cheese to be contaminated with bacterias like staphylococcus aureus. The trouble with this bacteria is that it’s difficult to see. It doesn’t show any signs of spoilage, but it will definitely cause severe food poisoning. If you really want to try some cheese, go for paneer, an Indian cheese used in lots of delicious Indian dishes.

7. Bhut jolokia

This notorious little chilli pepper is infamous for being the hottest in the world. We do not suggest testing out your spice limits with it! Bhut jolokia is so intense, they’ve been used to make tear gas by the Indian Army, so this is not something you want to mess with. 

8. Too much spicy food

When it comes to Indian cuisine, most locals like it hot! You might want to try out the chilli flavours used in Indian dishes, but be sure to start slow and proceed with caution. Too much spicy food can act as a mild laxative, especially if you’re not used to it.

The hottest chillies to watch out for are red and green chillies. It’s also a good idea to learn the local phrase for ‘no chilli’. And make sure you have plenty of antidotes on hand like bread, yoghurt and plain rice!

9. Paan masala

Paan masalas are marketed as mouth fresheners, but they’re actually a toxic blend of tobacco, areca nut, slaked lime and other carcinogenic flavouring agents. They’re very dangerous to consume, so avoid them at all costs.

Actor Pierce Brosnan was caught up in a controversy in when he appeared in an Indian ad for paan masala. He later apologised, saying he was deceived by the company, as he thought he was promoting a breath freshener and tooth whitener with all-natural ingredients. 

10. Room-temperature food

So you’re at a buffet in India and you’ve followed all the rules so far: No tap water or ice, no raw fruits or vegetables, and no fiery chillies! The final thing to watch out for is room-temperature food.

You should always avoid any buffets or restaurants that have had food sitting out for a long period of time, as this is a breeding ground for bacteria. Even something as innocent as rice could leave you in a lot of pain, so play it safe!

Tips to avoid getting sick in India

• Always wash your hands and use hand sanitiser too. The most crucial times to wash your hands are before and after using the bathroom, after handling money, and before and after eating.
• You’re always touching something (door handles, stair rails etc) so always keep your hands away from your mouth.
• Wipe down cutlery, cups and plates with antibacterial wipes before using them.
• Only eat at popular food locations and ask your Trafalgar guide for the best recommendations.
• Avoid using plates, cups or cutlery that are wet (this could be remnants of tap water).
• Use your own stainless steel straw or even bring your own travel cutlery.
• Try to watch how your drink is being made. While ice might not go into it, the ingredients may have been sitting on ice and are contaminated by it.
• Ease into eating Indian dishes, as the heavy curries and spices may be a shock to the system at first.
• Try to eat as much Indian cuisine as possible. While travelling in India it’s easy to get ‘curried out’ but it’s actually much safer to eat local food as opposed to Western dishes, as Indian chefs know how to cook their own food well. Western food in India is extremely hit and miss, and often more likely to make you sick.

What to pack to help avoid getting sick in India

• Always stay hydrated, as the hot and sticky weather can be quite exhausting. You’ll need to drink extra water to replace lost fluids and it’s also highly recommended to bring electrolyte sachets or tablets. Should you get sick, these will be a lifeline for ensuring you don’t become dehydrated. Many hotels in India will provide free filtered water, so also bring your own reusable water bottle.
• Bring saline nose spray as it’s important to keep your nasal passages moist to avoid the germs that cause viruses. It also helps to manage the nose-drying pollution in India.
• Pack some safe snacks like granola bars from home. They’re great for long journeys or when you’re feeling queasy.
• Consult your doctor about extra precautions you can take before travelling to India. They may recommend taking probiotic pills before departure and during your trip to protect your stomach. You can also pick up some diarrhoea stoppers, pain relief and anti-nausea medication.

Our best tip? Trust your gut

Try not to be too paranoid about what you’re eating in India. Even if you religiously follow all the rules you can still get sick, wherever you are in the world. If you do get sick, there’s no need to panic. Remember that it will eventually pass and you’ll have your fantastic Trafalgar team by your side to help you.

The most important thing is to maintain your sense of humour, be patient, listen to your instincts and embrace your experience in one of the greatest culinary wonderlands on earth!

What are your top tips for avoiding sickness and staying well while travelling in India? Let us know in the comments…

Benefits of sitting on the floor while eating that you may not know

These days, how do we eat our meals? In the dining room, sitting on the dining table with family? Or on the living room couch, watching our favourite TV series? Or perhaps quietly sitting on the table while surfing the net over the smartphone?

Just a few decades ago in India, people used to eat meals while sitting on the floor, and that tradition goes back thousands of years. Chairs and tables were not so popular back then. But the dining table’s unavailability was not why people consumed meals while sitting on the floor. Our ancestors had such a deep knowledge of human anatomy that they came up with the best method of consuming food, and that was while sitting on the floor. How eating while sitting on the floor helps our body? Let’sLet’s find out.

Sukhasana:

Sukhasana, a yoga pose, is used when we eat while sitting on the floor. Sukhasana is a sitting pose from Hatha yoga. It is a simple method of sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position. Also known as the easy pose, this method has been used for meditation for thousands of years. If you are not used to it, this is how you perform it.

-If you are not used to sitting on the floor, have supportive padding like a blanket under your sit bones. It should be placed so that your hips shall be a little higher than your knees before you perform the pose.

-Now cross one shin before the other and put each foot under the opposite knee. Put both of your pinky toes on the floor, and adjust your thighs to get that comfortable position.

-Adjust your hip bone so your pelvis will be in a neutral position. Lean back-forth and backward several times to align your shoulders directly over your hips.

Benefits of sitting on floor while eating:

Digestion: Sukhanana pose helps in the digestion process. While eating in Sukhasana, food will be laced in front of you on the plate kept on the ground. You must lean forward every time to lift the food with your spoon or hand. And to put it in your mouth, you have to lean a little backward. You repeat this during the entire process of consuming food. This movement activates the abdominal muscles and improves the secretion of gastric juices, enhancing digestion.

Weight loss: sitting down on the floor calms your mind. Getting up and sitting down for the meal and slightly leaning back and forwards elevates the body movements. Both of these relax your mind. When you sit on the floor in a crossed legged position, it connects your mind with your stomach, giving signals about how much exactly you need to eat. When your mind is at peace, you avoid overeating, which leads to gradual and healthy weight loss.

Blood circulation: Sitting in a cross-legged position circulates your blood towards your stomach lining. It improves the peristalsis and the physical movement of the stomach and intestines, which is essential to absorb the vital nutrients required by the body. Sitting in Sukhasana keeps the heart healthy, as there is less blood pressure to the lower body and heart, and blood is circulated evenly throughout the body.

Posture: Sitting in Sukhasana improves your posture by strengthening the back, thigh, and knee muscles. It improves flexibility as well. Getting up from the floor requires excellent core strength and agility. People who are used to sitting in Sukhasana have both of these qualities.

Relaxation: Almost all of the ancient idols of Buddha are either in the Sukhasana pose. Do you know why? Because it’s an ideal position for meditation. It’sIt’s an excellent position for breath regulation, enhancing the oxygen flow in the body and leading to relaxation. Ayurveda suggests that consuming food in a calm and relaxed state aids in better digestion.

Apart from these factors, sitting on the ground literally makes you more grounded and humbled. Eating in Sukhasana helps you to connect with the spiritual side. The ground gives spiritual courage and calmness to the spiritual practitioner. It keeps the family together. Each bite you consume with mindfulness gets loaded with stomach juices and digestive enzymes, making you healthy.

After saluting the food, and thanking the one who has cooked and served it, go ahead, and enjoy it with mindfulness. We hope you have gained some new insight into the reason why most people in India sit on the floor while eating.

WHY OUR ANCESTORS WERE SITTING ON THE FLOOR WHILE EATING.?

Sitting on the floor while eating is a part of our Culture. Sitting on the chair or table and eating with a knife is not a part of our culture. This traditional practice of eating has immense health benefits. During those old ages, there were no dining tables, everyone in the family sat on the floor while eating. According to the experts, sitting on the floor cross-legged while eating as practiced in India, its yogic postures called”sukhasana” it is said that is good for abdominal muscles, boost circulation in the lower part of our body. Moreover, our ancient shastras recommended eating with hands is healthy. In this era, people have been forgetting about the benefits of sitting on the floor and eating but we should realize there are scientific reasons behind this traditional practice of sitting on the floor to take food.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF IT?

1. HELPS FOR BETTER DIGESTION.

While we sitting in sukhasana postures it helps the blood flow to the stomach, this leads to better digestion. When we sit while eating, we bend forward and backward to eat, this back and forth movement promotes our abdominal muscles, increases secretion of stomach acids, and helpful for better digestion.

2.STRENGTHEN LOWER BODY.

Sitting in the cross-legged position or posture is good for the body’s flexibility, stability and strengthen our lower body. Eating while sitting in sukhasana which helps to build fitness. Our muscles in the lower back – pelvis and around the stomach stretch reducing pain. If we do it regularly these muscles help our flexibility and fit and it also reduces the excessive strain on muscles and joints.

3.IT STIMULUS OUR BRAIN.

Sitting down and eating is an old tradition of so many Indian families. Scientifically it has proved to be the best and right way of eating. The sukhasana posture makes a lower body that relaxes our mind and soul. It also keeps our brain to prepare the body for digestion. The sukhasana postures keep the mind calm and pressure on the lower spine which makes relaxation and also breathing slow down, tension releases, blood pressure becomes less.

4.ESIER BLOOD CIRCULATION.

Sitting cross-legged while eating improves the blood circulation to all the organs of our body. The circulation of blood to the legs and extra blood flows to all organs in the abdomen. Moreover, it is easier for the heart to pump blood and circulates it to other parts of the human body. In fact, good blood circulation is an important element in healthy digestion and good health. The heart receives proper blood circulation.

5.HELPS TO LOSE WEIGHT.

When we sit in sukhasana or cross-legged our mind and body are at rest, it enables us not to eat much. therefore it prevents us to take excessive food. When we sit on the floor the nerves of the brain function well., it doesn’t allow us to take excessive food. So it helps to reduce fat from the body. And also when we do movements to the body it reduces extra fat around the stomach.

6.STRENGTHEN THE HEART.

One of the important elements of the human body is sound blood circulation. The human heart works hard to help the digestive system. When we sit on the floor to have food our heart gets the benefits of circulation, blood easily pumped through the heart to the other parts of digestion. Therefore sitting on the floor and eating helps have a healthy heart.

7.IT CONNECTS US TO GROUND ROOTS.

While doing meditation or pranayama or Yogasanas we sit on the floor, not on a chair. Because when we sit on the floor our connections to the ground and to the roots will develop. It will be easier to connect ourselves with spirituality. We become more humble with other people. We can feel peace and calmness inside us.

8.DEVELOPS FAMILY BONDING.

Sitting on the floor and having food is most beautiful and enjoyable. Almost all in the Indian family members sitting together to eat. This ritual exactly develops the bonding between the family members. More importantly, the sukhasana postures relax the body and mind of family members at a time. Totally it’s a beautiful moment with the family.

LAST WORDS.

Whatever it maybe it’s a beautiful part of our culture, sits on the floor and folds legs and dine on a banana leaf. According to Ayurveda when we sit on the floor and eat with hands the five fingers together form a mudra that activates the sensory organs. While our ancestors were not so educated, it is true that the practices they professed have meaningful health benefits.

10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Vegetarian Food

A century ago, it would have been difficult for people to survive in many parts of the world, if they solely depended upon vegetarian food. Few decades later salads, soups and raw or boiled vegetables became accepted in those countries as the vegetarian food. Nowadays, due to globalization and immigration, vegetarianism gained wider acceptance. Vegetarians now have a variety of options to choose from. It is true that there are still some people who believe that vegetarians are weird or crazy.

Vegetarianism is not just a moral, cultural or religious issue. It has ramifications for the whole world and for the future of the planet itself. Much of the destruction of the life and earth’s ecosystem happened due to our carnivorous tendencies and our preference for animal food. Everyday millions of animals are slaughtered, and millions of tons of fish are emptied out of the oceans to meet the growing demand for food and culinary enjoyment. We have not yet fully woken to the long-term damage that it may cause to our survival and continuity.

1. You can save many lives in your lifetime.

According to one estimate, a vegetarian person spares at least 50 animals per year, including 27 land animals and several fish and other aquatic creatures. When you multiply that by the number of years one may live, you will realize that a vegetarian saves thousands of lives in his or her lifetime. Thus, by eating only vegetarian food you have a better opportunity to save lives and promote humanity and humane treatment of animals. Animals are living beings too. They have feelings, emotions, families, communities and relationships. They play an important role in our survival. As a vegetarian, you can refuse to be complicit in their destruction or violence which is inflicted upon them during their slaughter. You can inspire others to show their human side to all living beings, not just to pets or domestic animals and save lives

2. You can prevent inhuman treatment of farm animals

Sitting in a restaurant and eating their favorite meat dish, many people do not realize the agony suffered by the poor animals before they were slaughtered, processed and prepared for human consumption. Meat  producers use many inhuman and cruel practices to ensure quality and taste. Some of their practices involve inflicting severe pain and trauma without using pain killers to cut the costs and improve the quality and taste. For example, farm animals are branded, castrated, mutilated, injected with hormones and antibiotics. Young calves are kept in dark rooms without fresh air. Pigs are packed inside cages that are so narrow that standing in them and unable to move, turn or sit they often become mad and hurt themselves. In poultry farms, birds are confined to narrow spaces to prevent them from flying or moving freely so that most of them end up becoming crippled. When they are ready for slaughter, they are dumped in hot water tanks and scalded alive to remove their feathers. Male chicks are considered uneconomical by the egg industry since they do not lay eggs. Therefore, right after they are born, they are macerated alive in blenders and turned into feed. Useless animals are also disposed of in other cruel ways such as subjecting them to suffocation, burning, gassing and decapitation while they are alive. These practices are widespread to meet the growing demand for meat and meat products by millions of people. Most of them do not know what happens in the background before the meat reaches them in various forms and packages and under different brand names.

3. Vegetarian food improves health and Wellbeing

Vegetarian food is healthier than meat. It is now well established that all animal food products contain cholesterol, thereby increasing the chances of the clogging of arteries. The risk of cancer and heart disease said to decrease with vegetarian diet. There is a growing conviction among health experts that plant diet not only reduces heart disease but also in some cases reverses it. The American Diabetes Association states that consuming vegetarian food lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and cholesterol levels. Vegetarian diet does not pose as many health problems as animal food. Properly planned and prepared vegetarian food is suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds, even for pregnant women, infants and adolescents. It also contributes to weight loss and the prevention of obesity. However, one has to be careful about the way the vegetables are grown and whether any chemicals are used in their cultivation. Meat producers use a variety of antibiotics and chemicals to improve the quality of the meat and the growth of the animals. One of its unintended consequences is the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bugs, which are making the treatment of many human diseases and illnesses difficult.

4. It leads to the conservation of drinking water and energy

Meat production has a major impact upon the conservation of drinking water and energy. Production of vegetarian food requires a fraction of land, water and energy required to produce meat. For example, farm animals consume a lot of harvest feed and water. Uncontrolled grazing reduces the soil quality and water retention capacity of green pastures, resulting in soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Farm animals also consume large quantities of water for drinking, cleaning and other purposes and add to the problem of drinking water scarcity. In arid regions, where water is already scarce, maintaining large cattle populations result in the drying of wells and depletion of local water resources resulting in other socioeconomic problems. It is estimated that 6-17 times as much land, 4-26 times as much water and 6-20 times as much fossil fuel is required to produce one pound of animal protein compared to one pound of soy protein.

5. It will save our oceans and aquatic life

The “Living Blue Planet Report,” released by World Wildlife Fund in 2015 suggests that half of all marine life has been lost in just 40 years and most species are on the verge of extinction. It happened mainly due to the overfishing of our rivers and oceans using trolling, netting, dredging, illegal fishing, and other destructive and mechanized methods which result in a clean sweep of all life in the target areas rather than selective fishing. Another study suggests that at the current rate at which we are emptying the oceasns, commercial fish and seafood species could potentially and irrevocably become scarce by 2048. Overfishing of the seas to meet the consumption demands of the human populations across the world is going to leave a devastating effect on marine ecosystems, with further consequences to life on earth and to the economies and communities that depend upon fishing. It will also lead to other problems such as the pollution of the oceans, depletion of oxygen levels in water bodies and disruptions in the food chains of large and small ecosystems. The earth and the oceans cannot be saved unless people stop overfishing and look for other, safer, ecofriendly options to obtain fish food.

6. You can consistently live your values

Eating vegetarian food is a necessity in many religious traditions for those who want to practice spirituality and engage in self-transformative practices. Even where it is allowed, the practice is usually discouraged with a number of restrictions. Hence, those who eat only vegetarian food have a better opportunity to practice nonviolence and other moral and spiritual values without any mortal or spiritual conflicts. They can universally extend love, nonviolence and compassion to all creatures without any guilt or remorse. They can also feel good about themselves since they do not directly or indirectly engage in any acts of violence or cruelty towards animals and are not complicit in the painful and inhuman practices of the meat and poultry industry. If you are a spiritual person, it is morally difficult to reconcile your love for pets and other animals with your preference for animal food. If you believe in karma and the liberation of souls, you may have to cope with cognitive dissonance whenever you consume animal food, be it a religious or social function or otherwise, ignoring the harm and pain it must have caused to some poor creatures which made that enjoyment possible.

7. You can facilitate the spiritual evolution of all beings

Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism consider killing of humans and animals a sinful practice. Killing for pleasure or for selfish and egoistic purposes results in sinful karma and leads to one’s moral and spiritual downfall and delay in spiritual progress. They also hold that animals are not spiritually inferior to humans, since they share the same spiritual destiny. They also evolve physically, mentally and spiritually just as humans, and have the potential to take birth as humans in their future lives. Therefore, they emphasize that all living beings deserve to be treated with respect, love and compassion as anyone likes to be treated by others. These traditions also regard nonviolence as the highest ideal. Therefore, if you are a vegetarian and hold those beliefs, you have a better opportunity to be in harmony with your spiritual and religious values and facilitate the physical, moral and spiritual evolution of all beings upon earth.

8. It improves climate and environment.

We have already discussed how horticulture and agriculture compared to commercial meat production reduces the consumption of water and energy and saves the oceans and the earth from destruction and depletion of life and resources. Apart from having such negative effects upon climate and environment, farm animals are also responsible for large quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. In case of plants, trees and other forms of vegetation, the opposite happens. They clean the environment and reduce greenhouse effect, as they consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen in return. A United Nation Report states that livestock is one of the major causes of environmental degradation, deforestation and reduction of biodiversity, with associated problems such as pollution, climate change, overfishing, sedimentation of coastal areas and the spreading of invasive species. These problems can be mitigated by promoting vegetarianism.

9. It will save the planet and the humanity

The planet earth is the main sufferer in the progress of our civilization. When we talk of climate change or  environment, we ignore the destruction we cause to the earth and other living beings as we strive to satisfy our needs such as food, shelter, comfort, need for belongingness, etc. Although most governments enacted laws to prevent cruelty to animals and the wanton destruction of wildlife and forests, the food industry wields considerable influences upon the local governments to protect their business interests, taking advantage of loopholes that exist in the laws. They engage in questionable farming and fishing practices that are painful and cruel and cause untold misery to the farm and aquatic animals. The Deep sea fishing, the dredging of ocean floors and other unethical practices do irreparable loss to the planet. We have already discussed how overgrazing and over consumption of harvest feed can affect the soil fertility and availability of drinking water. Vegetarianism can answer most of these problems. If a large number of people opt for vegetarian food, they can save the planet and the humanity from many ethical, social and climate related problems.

10. It reduces crime and violence in society

Some studies show that killing animals as a profession or working in slaughter houses or witnessing the bloodshed and mayhem on a regular basis, makes people less empathetic to the suffering of others. As they witness the continuous violence and cruelty which is inflicted upon animals, they may either become depressed and apathetic or develop a rather sadistic, insensitive and aggressive mindset. Studies also show that the areas where slaughter houses operate report a higher incidence of violent crimes and social aggression. One of the common, spiritual beliefs associated with the continuous consumption of meat and animal products is that it leads to the preponderance of grossness and animal nature, making their spiritual transformation rather difficult and almost impossible. On the other hand, vegetarian food is considered to be spiritually pure (sattvic), which facilitates spiritual growth and refinement of character and conduct.

REASONS WHY THE INDIAN WAY OF SITTING ON THE FLOOR AND EATING IS GOOD FOR HEALTH

In many Indian households you will find that people sit on the floor and eat their meals. While most of us have embraced the table and chair as a place to eat, there are those of us who prefer to sit in front of the TV and/or sit on the bed and eat. While this might be very comfortable, it might not necessarily be the best thing for your health. Our ancestors definitely had a plan when they made sure we sit on the floor, cross legged and ate our food. Here are 10 reasons going back to your roots is the best for your health.

• Helps improve your digestion:

When you sit on the floor, you usually sit cross legged – an asana known as sukhasana or a half padmasna which are poses that help in digestion (since it is believed that when one sits in this pose in front of food it automatically signals your brain to prepare for digestion). Apart from that when you eat from a plate placed on the floor, you will have to naturally bend forward slightly and go back to your starting position to swallow. This constant back and forth movement causes the muscles of your abdomen to be activated and also leads to increased secretion of stomach acids – making it much easier for you to digest food.

•  Helps you lose weight:

Sitting on the floor and eating has significant weight loss benefits too. When you sit in this position, your brain automatically calms down and is better equipped to focusing on the food you eat. Moreover this position helps you cognate the amount of food you have eaten and helps you feel full faster. How does that work? Well, the main reason people overeat is because they do not know when they are full. This happens because the vagus nerve (the main nerve that transmits signals from the stomach to the brain) sends signals to the brain as you eat, telling it if you are satiated or not. When you sit on the floor this nerve is able to perform better and transmit signals more efficiently. Also, since this position makes you eat slower than you would while sitting on a table, it gives your stomach and brain time to cognate the signals of feeling full ^, thereby preventing overeating and bingeing.

• Makes you more flexible:

When you squat or sit in padmasana, the muscles in your lower back, pelvis, around your stomach and those of the upper and lower abdomen stretch – reducing pain and discomfort. This, in turn helps your digestive system relax and stay in a normal position. Moreover, this position does not compress your stomach in anyway helping you eat and digest better. Moreover, the regular stretching of these essential muscles also helps make you more flexible and healthy.

• Aids in mindful eating:

When you sit on the floor and eat as a family it aids in mindful eating. Not only does it help you focus on your food, but it also helps you make better choices when you eat. Since your mind is calm and your body is ready to accept nutrition, sitting on the floor is the best way to eat the right amount and kinds of food. According to leading nutritionist, Rujuta Diwekar, eating food while concentrating on every aspect of the food – its smell, taste, texture and how much you are eating is the key to losing weight – which is what sitting on the floor and eating gives you.

• Helps you bond with your family:

Usually the practice of sitting on the floor and eating is a family activity.  This time is great for you to bond. One of the reasons sitting on the floor is better at helping you bond is because it leads to a calm and happy mind – helping you listen more intently and peacefully.

• Improves your posture:

Posture is very important when it comes to staying healthy. Good posture not only helps prevent injuries but it also reduces the chances of excessive strain on certain muscles and joints, which can lead to fatigue and quicker than normal wear and tear. When you sit on the floor your posture is automatically corrected, making your back straight, lengthening your spine and pushes back your shoulders – beating all the common aches and pains that come with bad posture.

• Can make you live longer

Sounds a bit unbelievable right? Well, it’s true, sitting on the floor and eating can actually help you live longer. A study published in the Journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who sat on the floor in padmasana and were able to get up without any support were more likely to live longer. This is because being able to get up from that position takes a considerable amount of flexibility and lower body strength. The study found that those who were not able to get up without support were at the risk of being 6.5 times more likely to die in the next six years.

• Lubricates and keeps your knees and hip joint healthy:

According to PS Venkateshwara, author of the book Yoga for Healing , padmasana and sukhasana is one pose that has health benefits for your entire body. Not only does it help your digestive system function better, but it also helps keep your joints supple, flexible and less prone to injuries and degenerative diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis. That is because the constant bending of the knees, ankles and hip joint helps keep them flexible and free of diseases. And with flexibility comes better lubrication between the joints making it much easier to sit on the floor.

• Relaxes the mind and calms the nerves: 

Sukhasana and padmasana or the cross legged way one sits on the floor while eating has a number of benefits, and one of its most significant ones is that it calms the mind and relaxes frazzled nerves. A very handy tool, it is believed in Ayurveda that eating with a calm mind helps better digestion and in some cases has even helped people relish food better.

• Strengthens the heart by improving circulation:

Have you ever noticed that when you eat, you tend to feel warmer and in some cases even sweat? Well, that is because when we eat our stomach needs all the energy it can use to digest food. One of digestion’s most important element is a sound blood circulation. To keep up with this process, your heart tends to work overtime to help out your digestive system. Here is where sitting on the floor and eating can help you out. When you sit on the floor your heart gets the benefits of circulation as the blood is easily pumped through the heart to all the organs needed for digestion. This is in contrast to the pattern of circulation when you sit on a dining table and chair, wherein the blood flows to the legs as they are lower than the heart. Therefore sitting on the floor and eating, affords you a healthy heart with strong muscles to help it cope with the pressures of daily life.

Eating by sitting on the floor has multiple benefits!!! Science behind Rituals

The present generation is prone to problems related to digestion, acidity and other allied problem. There is a simple solution. Sitting on the floor and eating has many benefits.

1)      A person is sitting on the floor with crossed legs and the plate is placed on the ground. Now to eat the person has to bend and come to normal position to swallow. This movement activates abdomen and aids in digestion.

2)      Secondly, when the person has to bend to swallow the food and this slows down the process of eating. This in turn allows the brain to get the message of fullness of the stomach, at the right time and avoids over eating.

3)      Sitting on the floor and getting up is a very good exercise and keeps the person fit. If a person can get up from the floor without any help, he is in good health, and this fact is supported by a study (European Journal of Preventive Cardiology)

Our ancestors advocate the habit of eating by sitting on the floor and eating at the dining table is a taboo. We have ignored that and got dining tables into our house. It does not cost anything to pick this habit. Start now and get the benefits.

भूमि पर बैठ कर खाने के फायदे

हमारा आज का युवा वर्ग बेहद ही रोगग्रसित होता जा रहा है, इसका मुख्य कारण है प्रतिदिन   की अति व्यस्त जीवन शैली..अनिद्रा, कब्ब्ज, पाचन सम्बन्धी समस्याएं तथा अन्य ऎसे ही शारीरिक समस्याएं आज के युवा वर्ग को जकड़ती जा रही हैं  .. परन्तु इन सभी समस्याओं को एक ऐसा हल है जो बेहद ही आसान है जी हाँ भूमि पर बैठ कर खाना आइये हम जरा इसके वैज्ञानिक प्रभाव को समझते हैं

1. व्यक्ति जब भूमि पर पालथी लगा कर भोजन ग्रहण करने बैठता है और अपने सामने  भोजन रखता है, तो उसे भोजन को ग्रहण करने के लिए बार बार झुकना और पुन्हः अपने वास्तविक मुद्रा में लौटना पड़ता है यह एक तरह का व्यायाम है जो मनुष्य की पाचन शक्ति को बढ़ता है और उदर सम्बन्धी रोगों से मनुष्य की रक्षा करता है
2. इस विधि से भोजन ग्रहण करने का दूसरा महत्व यह है की जब मनुष्य भोजन ग्रहण करने के लिए झुकता और पुन्हः अपनी मुद्रा में लौटता है तो इस प्रक्रिया में उसके भोजन ग्रहण की गति धीमी हो जाती है जिससे मस्तिस्क के लिए यह समझना सरल हो जाता है की कब हमारा पेट भर गया है और इस प्रकार वह अधिक खाने से बच जाता है और उसका पाचन तंत्र शक्तिशाली   होता है.
3. भूमि पर बैठना और पुन्हः उठना बेहद ही उत्कृस्ट व्यायाम है जिससे हमारा शरीर स्वस्थ रहता है यूरोप के वैज्ञानिकों ने यह प्रमाणित किया है कि अगर व्यक्ति बिना किसी सहायता के भूमि से स्वयं ही उठ खड़ा होता है इसका अर्थ हैकी वह स्वस्थ है
4. हमारे पूर्वज हमेशा भूमि पर बैठ कर भोजन ग्रहण करने के पक्षधर थे,, वे कुर्सी पर बैठ कर खाने का घोर विरोध करते थे और यही कारण है कि वो हमसे अधिक स्वस्थ रहते थे.. अभी भी देर नहीं हुई है आप इस अच्छी आदत को अपनी जीवन शैली में अपनाएं और स्वस्थ रहें

Why people sit on the floor while eating in Asia

If you’ve been the person who tries to get better health, gain mental strength, or even build a happy relationship with family and friends, then sure this could be a catalyst in making your dreams alive.
Major health benefit
Mental health benefits
Healthy relationships

Major health benefits
a) Better Digestion
As sitting on the floor is as just as sitting in the ‘sukhasana pose’ with crossed legs helps in improving our digestion process. Slightly bent posture towards the front results in the maintenances of abdominal muscles, which increases the secretion of stomach acids and allows food to digest faster.
b) Weight Management
Getting up and sitting down elevates the body movements. This position is effective in relaxing the mind and spinal bones. The fold of the stomach will help to prevent overeating. It also helps in reducing fatigue and body weakness.

c) Increases blood circulation
The cross-legged position enhances the blood circulation in our body as it calms the nerves and releases away from the tension in it. It keeps the heart healthy as when sitting down there is less pressure on our body and the heart. In Sukhasana, blood flow is distributed evenly throughout the body.

a) Relaxed mind
As Padmasana and Sukhasana are ideal positions for meditation, they are beneficial a lot in relieving stress from the mind. It is also an excellent position when our lungs are fully stretched, which in turn increases the flow of oxygen in the body. It straightens the spine and relaxes the shoulder muscles.

b) Build gratitudeness
Sitting down while eating makes the mind most conscious. The mind goes from a hustle state to the relaxed one. So it makes us think grateful for having that meal in our day. It builds respectfulness towards whatever is being served before you.
There are many ways you can build gratitude. Many people, families or communities in Asian countries practice a praying gesture just before jumping into their meals.

“Giving Thanks-
For food in a world where many walk in hunger,For faith in a world where many walk in fear,For friends in a world where many walk alone,We give you thanks, O Lord.”

Healthy Relationship
The food that you eat has an ultimate impact from its resources, the way you eat, and last but not the least ‘your surroundings’ where you eat.
This not only helps in improving your relationship with your family and friends but also with your body, mind, and soul.

a) Peace with yourself
You could even feel the peace you would be able to make with your mind and body. Practising this could be beneficial in having conscious eating which will ultimately be helpful in the long run.
Several studies claim that many diseases can be prevented by changing simple and small habits like this.

b) Healthy realtionships with family and friends
While you sit down, it must involve encouraging your siblings, kids, parents(if in the condition of sitting at that position) to join you. This builds patients and prevents emotional eating.
As many studies are incorporating loneliness as the main reason for depression, anxiety, and stress, this is one of the lifestyle changes where all these negative impacts get cancelled out.

d) Improves posture
Sitting in Sukh Asana helps in maintaining a good posture and relieves you from muscle and joint pains. It gives flexibility, keeps back straight, and provides strength to your legs. This Asana has provided longer life-expectancy to the people practising it. It could be more helpful for stamina as practising the art of getting up without any support, requires core strength and agility.
2.Mental Health benefits
Get close to the mental health benefits of sitting down while you have your meals. Not only sitting down has a lot of immediate health benefits, but it also aids in many psychological and emotional factors too.

conclusion:
Many festivals in Asia often engage people in eating in shitting queues where people are asked to take as much food as they need and complete their plates properly.

Here are some of the benefits from the immense sea of advantages of sitting down in Sukha Asana (cross-legged) while having your meals. If you are passionate about adopting good habits, this may be included in your ‘try to do next list’.

Benefits of sitting on floor and eating with hand
Nowadayswe have culture of sitting on dining table and eating with fork and spoon, same we are following with our children. But have we ever thought why our traditional way of eating was actually sitting on floor and eating with hands! Our elders also used to sit on floor and eat with hands.

So today I was listening to Dr. Rhutuja and can’t agree more, every word she said was true and just want to share the same with you all.

Nowadays we have nice and costly high chairs for our kids, and from starting we let them sit on high chairs with food and most of the time they are on chairs or sofas. Slowly this becomes their habit and they will not sit down on floor. Let’s discuss how this changing lifestyle affects our kids heath in long-term.

1. Yoga posture (Sukhasana)

Our traditional way of sitting on floor while having food and if you have noticed while doing yoga also we sit on floor, so it’s a two-way benefits as you are doing yoga also while eating (sukhasana).

2. Easy Digestion

While sitting on floor and eating we tend to move forward and bend to eat and by this way we helps our abdomen muscles in secreting digestive juices which helps in easy digestion of food.

3. Strengthen Lumbar region

Sitting down and eating helps kids maintaining good body posture, opening their hip-joint and giving more flexibility to their pelvis and legs and strengthen their lumbar region of the body.

4. Family bonding

It’s not only kids will sit and eat, as a family you all have to sit down together and eat. This will help in some family bonding time also.

5. Improves Blood circulation

It helps in improving blood circulation by relaxing the nerves and calms your body, that helps in easy digestion too. As when you sit on chair your blood circulation is directed towards feet and while sitting in crossed legs position heart receive proper blood circulation.

6. Eating with hands

While sitting down we should also teach them eating with hands then with spoon/forks. Traditionally we eat with our all fingers as per ayurveda our five fingers are the extension of five natural elements ( will discuss it in my next blog ). While eating with five fingers it energies the food and helps to keep all pranas balanced.

7. Flexible

When your kids body is easy and flexible while sitting on floor, sitting on chair is not be hard. But if you let your kid only sit on chair every time it will be hard for them to get flexible and sit comfortably on floor.

For encouraging kids we need to step forward and set an example for them, they love to do what we do so why not share some good habits that we had from our elders.

8 Reasons Why Eating With Hands is Awesome
Getting your hands messy with food just became so much more awesome.
Can you imagine using a spoon, fork or a knife to pull the meat off your favourite chicken wings? Won’t you rather just pick it up with your bare hands and take a big juicy bite?

For example in India, it is disrespectful to eat with the left hand (sorry lefties!).
In Africa, the same rule as India and two bowls of water are placed in front of you with the dish: one bowl is for washing your hands before the meal and one after it.
In the Middle-East, it’s the same rules except the food is scooped with hands or the bread (mostly pita bread) from the communal plate.
It is also a practice being adopted by a lot of Americans lately. The availability of different cuisines like Indian, Mexican and Middle-Eastern is making it possible for many people to experience and take it up.

Eating with hands has been around longer than cutlery. A practice that was adopted by the most civilised of the civilisations like Indus Valley, Greek and the Egyptians, it would hence be incorrect to call it barbaric.
But besides necessity, there are a lot of other reasons for it that you must know:

1. What Ayurveda Explains
   Eating is supposed to be a sensory experience and it is said to evoke emotion and passion. According to the Vedas, hands are the most precious organs of action. The scriptures reveal how every finger is an extension of the five elements. Through the thumb comes space, with the forefinger comes air, the middle finger is fire, the ring finer is water and the little finger represents earth.
   Hence, eating with one’s fingers stimulates these five elements and helps in bringing forth digestive juices in the stomach.
   The nerve endings on our fingertips are known to stimulate digestion. Feeling your food becomes a way of signalling the stomach that you are about to eat. You become more conscious of the taste, textures and aromas.
2. Because our Hands are Good Enough
   Biologically speaking, our hands were made to be multi-taskers. We can pick up things, scratch, feel, touch, make it into a claw shape and pick up small stuff or large stuff, hold water without dropping it…Do you get the point?
   DISCLAIMER: Spoons are recommended while drinking soup or gravy, though.
3. Helps Manage our Food Portions
   Eating with hands makes you eat slower and hence digest better because you become more aware of the process of eating as you experience it with all your senses.
   Many recent studies have shown how you can mange your portions using the hand trick.
4. Eating with Hands is an Exercise too
   Eating with hands increases the blood circulation in the body since it is sort of a muscle exercise.
   For all you lazy bums out there like me, you know what to answer when someone asks about your exercise schedule next time.wink wink
5. Helps Manage Digestion Problems
   we have a bacteria, known as normal flora found on the palm and fingers of the hand. It is not harmful to humans, it, in fact, protects us from many damaging microbes in the environment. When you eat with your hands, the flora in the fingers is swallowed. It is beneficial for health and for various body parts such as the mouth, throat, and intestine, and it promotes healthy digestion in the gut.
   As mentioned above handling food with your fingers releases digestive juices and enzymes. Also, millions of nerve endings in your fingers relay the message that you’re about to eat, including the temperature of the food, level of spiciness and texture of food, thereby prepping the stomach for digestion.
6. Helps You Stay Fit
   Besides better digestion, managing food portion and muscle exercise (hehe) but two studies published in the journal Appetite found that when people ate by hand while simultaneously reading a newspaper or watching TV, they were less hungry at snack-time and opted for a smaller snack. Researchers concluded that eating by hand promotes a sense of fullness and satiety as compared to eating with utensils.
7. Helps Prevent Diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.
   All the above advantages and the fact that it helps prevent type 2 diabetes. A new study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that people with type 2 diabetes were more likely to be fast eaters that used cutlery to eat, as compared to people without the condition. Eating with forks and spoons correlates with faster eating, which has been linked to blood-sugar imbalances in the body — contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes.
8. It is More Hygienic
   Contrary to popular belief eating with hands is way more hygienic than with utensils because of the simple reason that you wash your hands multiple times a day while we wash the utensils once a day. We are conscious of the cleanliness of our hands and hence whatever happens our hands will be cleaner at the end of the day.

The Vedic Science behind Eating With Your hands
Hands are considered our most precious organ of action. Our hands and feet are said to be the conduits of the five elements–space, air, fire, water and earth. One of the five elements courses through each finger. Through the thumb, angushtha, comes space; through the forefinger, tarjani, air; through the midfinger, madhyama, fire; through the ring finger, anamika, water and through the little finger, kanishtha, earth.

In Vedic tradition, we eat with our hands because the five elements within them begin to transform food and make it digestible even before it reaches the mouth. This transformation also heightens the senses so that we can smell, taste and feel the texture of the foods we are eating. We can also hear the sounds of eating. All of these sensations are a necessary prelude to beckoning agni, the fire of digestion, to ready itself for the meal to come.

On the greater dimension, the act of eating is spiritual feasting. We are activating the energies of the Deities aligned with the elements, stimulating a surge of heightened consciousness within. This is made possible through the powerful play of mudra. It brings the elements of nature through our hands and fingers into the food, and then joins it with agni. If we are aware of awakening the fire within ourselves, we digest not only the food but also our thoughts more smoothly. The fire of digestion and the fire of the mind, tejas, work hand-in-hand. As you see below, there are six specific mudras for eating.

Ayurveda tells us that disease takes rise in the body because the digestive fire is awry and the mind is agitated. Most people today eat and run, juggling an overly full calendar. We often skip breakfast, eat a less-than-nutritious lunch, and that too in a hurry, and sit down to dinner late at night, after which we immediately fall into bed. How could proper digestion occur when we force the system to put up with such abuse year after year? In this frantic pace of living, how could we maintain composure in the mind and therefore remember the sacred purpose of these limbs? No wonder then that we have such a high incidence of cancer and heart disease, and ailments resulting from improper diet. We refuse to observe the integrity of our physiology by nourishing our bodies and souls with dignity and respect. Using the time-honored ways of sadhana can help us to restore health and harmony in our everyday lives.

Eating food with your hands feeds body, mind and spirit. According to the Taittiriya Upanishad, food represents the coarsest and last of the five vestures in which the soul is clothed and passes from body to body in the long process of metempsychosis. In other words, food is not limited to what we eat, but expresses the universe’s entire body and all that is manifested within her. Likewise, we eat food not only to sustain the body, but to assimilate the universe’s elements and energies within our physical and emotional body and to nourish the greater, spiritual Self. The Taittiriya Upanishad tells us: “The essence of all things here is the Earth. The essence of Earth is water. The essence of water is the plant. The essence of the plant is a person.”

Let’s take this text a step further and ask ourselves: what is the essence of a person? I believe it is the fundamental nature that is uniquely ours and connects us to the universe. As humans, we are linked to the vast energy of the infinite, dimensionless universe by way of our limbs. The Purusha Suktam, a sixteen-mantra poem composed by the sage Narayana is regarded as the oldest work on cosmic anatomy and ecology. It reveals that the universe is an infinite continuum of energy. Yet it describes this energy as a living force, with eyes, ears, arms, legs, hands and feet and heads watching over all of existence. Just as the universe guards the many limbs and energies of its infinite structure, so each of us is meant to become aware of the greater life force and its many aspects. The sage explained that the individual who strives to live a spiritual life must first be aware of the life force and its many manifestations, limbs and faces before he can accomplish and serve it.

When we use our limbs in accord with the sacred laws of nature, every action worships and praises the omniscient Divinity in all things. When we eat with our hands, or feed the young and infirm with them, use them to dig into the rich soil and plant a good seed, embrace someone, or give them a gift, clasp the hands in prayer, we are using our hands to share in the maternal healing energies of the universe. Being conscious of how we use our hands is a wonderful act of sadhana.

To remind yourself each day of the sanctity of your limbs, recite the Vedic prayer, “Karagre vasate Laksmih karamule Sarasvati Karamadhye tu Govindah prabhate karadarsanam,” which means, “On the tips of my fingers is Goddess Laksmi, on the base of my fingers is Goddess Sarasvati, in the middle of my fingers is Lord Govinda. In this manner, I look at my hands.”

To start your mudra practice, engage anjali mudra. Each morning you engage this practice will help you remember the sanctity of your hands and your connection to the creative energies of our universe. In anjali mudra, bring the palms of your hands together in front of the heart, with fingers pointing upward. When we clasp the hands in this manner, we stimulate the prana, or energy, that circulates through the heart, which increases its vitality and brings us a sense of ease and resolve. To evoke the Deities, raise the clasped hands to the center of the forehead. This mudra is itself an act of prayer and helps to heal the heart, not only of the trespasses of the present life, but also of the wounds incurred through timeless rebirths. When you bring your hands together, you are transforming all five elements back into their source of tejas, the energy of the subtle fire of creation that is responsible for cellular and nuclear metabolism within and without. You will immediately feel oneness with the Divine.

We are all embarked on a lifelong quest for consciousness, which emerges from the cultivation of awareness, the inner knowing that depends entirely on the harmonious relationship we develop with nature. The aim of the food sadhana practices I advocate is to help us reconnect to the greater energy of the universe so that we may restore our cognitive memory that goes far back to the origin of the universe. Using mudras for eating and communing with the food we eat is a paramount step to connecting with cosmic energies and a vital means of receiving nourishment by touching upon the Earth’s bounty. The practice of these specific mudras is likely to open your heart to the Mother’s wisdom. Feast with your hands at Her table and you will never go hungry or angry. Food is memory. Eating with your hands is remembering your sacred nature.

While in the West eating with the hands usually conjures up pictures of a young child smeared from head to foot with food, in the East, using the hands as utensils is a highly refined art. Here are the six major ways in which the hands are used. (see newstand copy for illustrations):

In ghronikah mudra the five fingertips form a petal around a lump of food about the size of a plum. This is one of the two main mudras used for eating solid food like grains and vegetables, or for scooping dhals with chapati or bread.

In annabhakshana mudra, use the fingertips to pick up a small amount of food, sufficient to fit on the base of the four fingers. Use the thumb to advance the food forward and into the mouth. This is the second of the two main mudras for eating any solid food. Only the right hand is used for eating. Annabhakshana mudra practice cultivates our discrimination in eating good quality food in the appropriate quantity and in a tranquil environment.

Kangulah mudra is taking food with the thumb, forefinger and mid-finger. Engage this mudra when eating long, slender pieces of food, like asparagus, carrots, celery, sugar cane and “drumsticks” or murungai. As we bring food to our mouth in kangulah mudra, the palm of the hand faces upward, evoking the spirit of consciousness as we touch upon Nature. This mudra cultivates a gentle reverence for Nature’s precious gifts. The first mudra, Ghronikah, activates and balances the element of earth within the body. The earth element controls our sense of smell and gives us added vision to “smell our way,” that is, to be keenly aware of our connection to Mother Nature.

Kadambah mudra crouches the five fingers around firm, solid food. This mudra is reserved for eating round-shaped fresh fruits that fit neatly in the palm of the hand, such as apple, pear, mango or peach. You may also use it to eat sweets like ladhu. The mudra is named after the famed kadamba tree, which is said to put forth buds at the roaring of thunder-clouds, and which produces hard, inedible fruits. When Mother Nature is mistreated and taken for granted, she roars her thunder and makes rare her fruits. Practicing this mudra helps us to remember to be grateful for every speck of Nature’s food.

Mukulah mudra is eating with all five fingers tightly knitted together. In this mudra a minimal quantity of food is taken at a time, for example, ten grains of cooked rice. The mudra is used in annaprashanam, or the ceremony of first feeding, one of the 16 samskaras, usually performed in the fifth or sixth month of a child’s life. Mukulah mudra is a reminder that we are forever in the bud of life, continually regenerating the on-rushing flow of awareness. Every bite of food must serve to awaken cosmic memory of the first food we, as conscious human beings, imbibe from the Mother’s nectary.

Khatakamukhah mudra is tasting or sampling food with forefinger, mid-finger and thumb tightly pinched. This mudra measures the equivalent of a half-teaspoon. It is used to mete out spices and condiments in cooking. We may also use it as a pinch-measure for medicines. Food is the most potent form of medicine. We need to exercise caution. Keeping our hearts open but our hands half-closed when receiving food is a good policy to maintain. Khatakamukhah mudra helps us to exercise firm discretion around food.

As In Indian Culture, Eat With Your Hands – It is Healthy!
In India, people use their hands to eat their food or meal. It is an Indian culture we practice from ancient times. Perhaps, it may not be good manners or etiquette to you, but there are reasons behind this habit. There are several benefits of eating with hands, which include improving digestion and the prevention of diabetes.

Where Western countries use cutleries and Eastern countries use chopsticks, here in India, by habit we eat with our bare hands. According to our Indian culture, there is a deep significance of eating with hands.

The eating with hands culture is an Ayurvedic (the Hindu medical system) teaching and originated in Vedic times. The Vedic people used to believe that our bodies are in sync with the elements of nature and our hands hold a certain power. Each finger is an extension of one of the five elements (Space, Air, Water, Fire, and Earth).

Indians believe that the custom of eating food with hands shows respect towards God.

When we eat we not only feed our body but also feed our mind and spirit. The process of eating with hand improves our consciousness of the taste of the food.

So, when you use your fingers to pick up food, millions of nerves in your fingers deliver the message that you are about to eat. And the stomach releases digestive juices and enzymes to help you to digest.

Try having food with your bare hands and enjoy the meal. And experience the Indian custom & its many benefits while eating your food like never before.

Why not eat with your Hands?
There is a funny saying; “we are digging our graveyards with a fork and knife”. Every day we are using a sharp knife and pointed fork for our food.

Can’t we eat without any weapon? Why don’t we try to use our biological tools for eating?

The ancient science of Ayurveda advocates eating with our bare hands and fingers. This may be called unsocial in our modern lifestyle but eating with our hands is considered to be an auspicious, social and healthy act.

Eating with our hands has numerous and surprising health benefits

Balance your vital life energy

Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is made up of five primary elements or energies. These energies correspond to each finger according to its location. Your thumb indicates fire, the index finger is related to air, the middle finger indicates sky, the ring finger stands for earth and the little finger indicates water. The cause of disease is the imbalance of any one or more of these elements.

While eating with our hands, we join our fingers and thumb; this is an example of a mudra (finger alignment). Therefore eating with our hands balances our basic elements and mudras impart healing powers on our body.

Prevent many illnesses:

Eating with forks, knives and spoons creates faster eating, which has been linked to poor digestion and blood-sugar imbalances in the body — contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes and many auto immune diseases. If you suspect that you may be eating too quickly, consciously slow down and see how you feel when eating with your hands.

Improved digestion

Did you know that there are some bacteria, known as normal flora found on the palm and fingers of the hand. It is not harmful to humans, in fact it protects us from many harmful microbes in the environment. The flora on the fingers is swallowed while eating with the hands and thus promotes healthy digestion. Other benefits include –

Handling food with your hands helps to release digestive enzymes and juices.
The millions of tiny nerve endings on your fingers relay the message to your brain and digestive system about the temperature of your food, the level of spiciness, the nature of the food, and the texture. This allows the stomach to prepare for digestion.
Develop Spiritually

Hindu philosophy counts eating as an auspicious act, as eating our food is considered to be a prayer to our inner being and soul. It is a great act of meditation and being connected. Furthermore, eating with your hands makes you connect deeper to the act of eating.

Balance your digestive fire

Multitasking while eating is common in these modern times. Watching TV and eating at the same time may actually keep you hungry and unsatisfied. Researchers concluded that eating by hand promotes a sense of fullness and satiety as compared to eating with utensils.

Mindful eating

Ayurveda suggests using all the five sense organs while eating. Let’s look at our food, smell it well, chew it and taste it. Chew it well so that you produce an inspirational sound, and the fifth sense is touch – that means to touch your food. Eating with your hands is not only for your body but is also a diet for your sense of touch.

Note: While eating with your hands, clean up your hand very well before and after food. Also be sure to trim your nails to maintain food hygiene.

The Vedic Science Behind Eating With Your Hands?
We often wonder why do we eat with our hands. Why not chopsticks, or forks? But there is a Vedic science behind Eating With Your Hands. According to Ayurveda, we use our hands because of the five elements within the fingers. Eating with hands transforms food and makes it digestible even before it reaches the mouth. Eating with hands feeds both body and mind. According to the Taittiriya Upanishad, food represents the last of the five vestures in which the soul passes from body to body. Vedic science states that we eat food to assimilate the universe’s elements and not just to sustain the body. We utilize energies within our body and nourish the greater, spiritual self-using food. The Taittiriya Upanishad states: “The essence of all things here is the Earth. The essence of the Earth is water. Of water is the plant. And of the plant is a person.”

In Vedic science, our hands are said to be the source of the five elements. These are space, air, fire, water, and Earth. Furthermore, in Ayurveda one of the five elements courses through each finger. The thumb(angushtha) represents space. The forefinger(tarjani) represents air. The mid finger(madhyama) represents fire. The ring finger(Anamika) represents water and the little finger(kanishtha) represents the Earth. Here are the six major mudras that we engage in while eating with our hands.

Ghronikah Mudra
According to Ayurveda, the five fingertips form a petal, around a lump of food of the size of an apricot. Moreover, in Vedic science, it is one of the two main mudras used for eating solid food like grains and vegetables with chapati or bread.

Annabhakshana Mudra
According to Vedic science, in this mudra, we use the fingertips to pick up a small amount of food. The amount is sufficient to fit on the base of the four fingers. And then the thumb is used to advance the food forward and into the mouth. In Ayurveda, this is the second of the two main mudras for eating any solid food. Furthermore, in Vedic tradition, we use only the right hand for eating. While eating with hands, Annabhakshana mudra practice cultivates all five elements into a digestible form.

Kangulah Mudra
According to Ayurveda, this mudra involves taking food with the thumb, forefinger, and mid-finger. We use this while eating food with hands. When we have to consume long pieces of food. For example, asparagus, carrots, celery, sugar cane and “drumsticks”. As we bring food to our mouth, the palm of the hand faces upward. Moreover, in Vedic science, this evokes the spirit of consciousness as we touch upon Nature. This mudra cultivates a gentle reverence for Nature’s precious gifts. The Earth, according to Vedic tradition, controls our sense of smell and makes us keenly aware of our connection to Mother Nature.

Khatakamukhah Mudra
Ayurveda uses this mudra to measure out spices and condiments in cooking. We may also use it as a pinch-measure for medicines. It is the tasting or sampling food with the forefinger, mid-finger, and thumb. This mudra measures the equivalent of a half-teaspoon. Furthermore, Food is the most powerful form of medicine. We need to exercise caution. This mudra helps us to exercise firm discretion around food.

Kadambah Mudra
In Vedic Science, this mudra is named after the Kadamba tree. Kadamba puts forth buds at the roaring of thunder-clouds. It produces hard, inedible fruits. However, when Mother Nature is mistreated and taken for granted, she roars her thunder. In Ayurveda, the practice of this mudra helps us to remember to be grateful for each particle of Nature’s food.

Mukulah Mudra
Ayurveda is a reminder that we are forever in the bud of life. There is a continuous regeneration of the flow of awareness. It is eating with all five fingers tightly knitted together. Furthermore, in this mudra, a minimal quantity of food is used at a time.

Eating with hands while practicing all these mudras, reduces anger. Moreover, these mudras in Ayurveda, are a solution to most of the digestive problems. Eating with hands gives the energy of the subtle fire of creation. This is responsible for cellular and nuclear metabolism within and without. We immediately feel oneness with the Divine.

Is it bad to eat with your hands?
According to Ayurveda, we use our hands because of the five elements within the fingers. Eating with hands transforms food and makes it digestible even before it reaches the mouth.

Who eats with their hands?
Human Being…In Vedic science, our hands are said to be the source of the five elements. These are space, air, fire, water, and Earth. Furthermore, in Ayurveda one of the five elements courses through each finger.

Why do Indians eat with their hands?
Eating with hands while practicing all these mudras, reduces anger. Moreover, these mudras in Ayurveda, are a solution to most of the digestive problems. Eating with hands gives the energy of the subtle fire of creation.

Why does eating with your hands taste better?
Ayurveda is a reminder that we are forever in the bud of life. There is a continuous regeneration of the flow of awareness. It is eating with all five fingers tightly knitted together. Furthermore, in this mudra, a minimal quantity of food is used at a time.

12 Reasons Why Indians Eat with their hands

Hand-eating has many health benefits over eating using a fork and spoons. Eating using your hands is part of the tradition in India and other regions. What can be natural or more primal? 

While many might think this is a sinister practice, it isn’t as simple as it might appear. There is an art and a set of rules to adhere to. There are numerous advantages to eating using your hands, like improving Digestion, preventing diabetes, and more. Even more significant to eating, using your hands is crucial in Indian tradition.

1. Improves Digestion

When we touch food using our fingers, the nerve endings in the fingers signal to our brain that we are getting ready to take a bite, and the call is transferred to the stomach, which starts to prepare itself to digest by exchanging digestive enzymes and juices needed to ensure proper Digestion. 

Additionally, the nerve endings on the fingers aid in determining the temperature and texture of the food we are about to eat and preparing our brain to release digestive juices before food is even on our lips.

This is one of the essential reasons Why Indians eat with their hands.

2. Engages All Senses

If a person is using cutlery for eating, he could be restricting the experience to food texture that is felt in the mouth. However, eating with hands adds a tangible dimension to your dining experience by stimulating your senses.

The other reason is that you can feel the food and separate any complex objects that may have mistakenly fallen into the food. This is also the reason why Indians eat with their hands.

3. Benifits Our Chakras

When fingers put food into the mouth, they can be curved into a yogic mudra that increases sensory organs’ activity, which keeps balance in the prana balance. As per Vedas, fingertips are linked to the third eye, the heart, the throat, and the solar plexus.

They also have sexual chakras and root chakras. Also, when we eat food with our hands, the action and touch stimulate our chakras and satisfy us.

4. It is Natural

Hand-eating is a typical habit in various cultures, especially in India, as Indian food is so delicious that it is the most natural way to eat. Imagine eating Dal and Roti with a fork and knife or trying to eat non-vegetarian food made of bones using a spoon. It’s very unpractical. Therefore, hand-held tools are preferred over high-quality cutlery.

5. Betters Blood Circulation

Eating with hands is healthy because it could be an excellent exercise for muscles, aiding blood circulation. Hand movements can help improve blood circulation, positively impacting the overall health of the human body.

6. Believed To Help Lose Weight

According to a study published by the magazine Appetite, when people ate with their hands while reading a newspaper or watching a television show, they felt less hungry during snack time and preferred a light snack. 

Researchers concluded that eating with a hand creates a feeling of being full and satisfied instead of eating with a fork and spoon. This can, in turn, aid in losing weight.

7. Sensor for temperature:

After eating your fingers, the nerves in your fingers detect what temperature the food is. It helps your brain prepare for the food you’re about to consume. Ayurveda’s research shows that our body reacts to food contact by producing necessary digestive juices and enzymes.

8. Food is now easier to tear

This is not just true of Indian foods like dosas and rotis. It is also true of Western food items like pancakes and bread too. The way fingers are placed, and their flexibility make it simpler to cut food into smaller pieces that can be eaten. 

In contrast to rigid cutlery, hands can mold, shape and cut, soften, and roll food items, which makes it ideal for Digestion and chewing.

9. It’s a clean and hygienic habit.

Hand-eating your food is cleaner than eating using forks and spoons. Washing your hands several times daily is recommended, but not with dishes. Therefore, eating using hand helps prevent hygienic issues. Hands are more hygiene-conscious in comparison to spoons and other kitchen utensils.

10. It Might help to be able to prevent Type-2 diabetes

Research has shown that people with diabetes with type 2 tend to be those who eat food with cutlery. This causes an imbalance of blood sugar levels in the body. Therefore, to avoid that, eliminate the food utensils and prefer eating with your hands, which can help slow down.

11. It is a good source of bacteria for your gut

We have a few bacteria, referred to as normal flora. It is what we find in our bodies on the skin. These aren’t harmful to us humans. They protect us from harmful bacteria in our environment. It is essential to create normal flora in different parts of our bodies, such as the mouth, throat, intestine, stomach, etc. To improve our health.

This is another crucial reason why Indians eat with their hands

12. The Vedic Reason

Ayurveda plays a vital role and is a part of our daily existence. There are many reasons why Ayurveda that hands are among the most valuable. They are the organs that perform. Each Finger holds a spiritual significance, specifically Fire, Air, Space, Earth, and Water. i.e., Agni, Varun, Akash, Prithvi, Jal.

Each Finger has its Vedic elements,

The thumb finger connects to Agni (Fire).
The index finger connects with Varun (Air).
The middle Finger connects with the Akash (Space).
The ring finger is connected to Prithvi (Earth).
The little Finger connects Jal (Water).

Is it Normal for Indians to eat with their hands?

All across India, you will find Indians prefer eating with their Hands. It has many scientific and health reasons for this. It improves Digestion, helps us lose weight, and helps engage our chakras.

It also protects us from harmful bacteria and promotes the growth of good bacteria.

The thumb finger connects to Agni (Fire).
The index finger connects with Varun (Air).
The middle Finger connects with the Akash (Space).
The ring finger is connected to Prithvi (Earth).
The little Finger connects Jal (Water).

Which country eats with their hands?

Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India are some countries in Southeast Asia where eating with your hands is a common practice. Although it might seem odd to Westerners, who use utensils all the time, many visitors enjoy “hand eating” and think it tastes better.

Conclusion – Why do Indians eat with their hands

It is usual for Indians to eat by hand, which is taught to kids early. The benifits of eating food by hand are numerous. Many people wash and use feces and spoons, and are more unhygienic, whereas your hands are part of you. Of course, exceptional care is to ensure hands are washed clean before eating; otherwise, it will defeat the benefit of eating with hands.

Ayurvedic Healthy Eating

Ayurvedic Healthy Eating Tips

The ancient and holistic practice of Ayurveda touches on every aspect of the mind, body and spirit. Ayurveda has been around for thousands of years, spreading the message and importance of balance in our lives in order to be mentally and physically well. With so many processed foods and high quantities of sugar available to us at the click of a finger, the need for balance has never been greater. Healthy eating has therefore never been more important.

Eating for your Dosha

When our dosha is unbalanced, we can feel it through emotional and physical changes. By looking at the foods we are eating and eliminating those that do not support our dosha, we can help to bring the body back into balance by eating healthy meals.

Vata’s for example tend to have very sensitive digestive systems due to the two air elements governing them. It is important for Vata’s to eat hydrating foods such as warm broths and soups that also heat up this dosha.

For Pitta’s, avoiding spicy foods is crucial. Remembering that ‘like increases like’, this dosha needs cooling and creamy foods to contrast the fire element that rules them. Raw foods provide sufficient nutrition in a form that will balance this dosha due to their strong digestive system that can easily digest raw foods.

The Kapha dosha needs to avoid creamy foods and opt for bitter tasting and rough textured nourishment. Kapha’s tend to be lethargic and slow when out of balance so fuelling the body on healthy food types that are of opposite nature to this will provide contrast and help to bring the dosha back into balance.

Whether you choose to eat a diet influenced by your dosha or you simply want to embrace a holistic way of eating that is flexible enough to fit with your lifestyle, these Ayurvedic guidelines for healthy eating will help you look and feel good without restricting the foods you can eat:

Be Mindful About The Foods You Eat

Choose organic and locally grown produce wherever possible and prepare the food you eat from scratch. As ancient Ayurvedic teachings say “food is medicine when consumed properly,” so eating fresh foods prepared at home will contain all the important nutrients we need to maintain good health.

Prepare And Eat With Your Senses

Take the time to be present when you prepare and eat your meals. Think about the different textures and flavours of different foods and try to incorporate the six Ayurvedic tastes of sweet, salt, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent. The preparation process of making a meal is a vital part of the digestive system as the aroma’s the ingredients emit ignite the digestive system in preparation of the food.

Eat Two Handfuls Of Food

Overeating is common nowadays and we often eat purely through boredom. Try scooping rice from one bowl to another in your cupped hands, then repeat. This is the amount of food you should eat at every meal.

Eat Only When You’re Hungry

Eating the Avuyredic way is all about being fully in touch with your body and your digestion. It teaches that we should only eat when we truly feel hungry. What feels like hunger could be dehydration so try drinking a herbal tea to establish true hunger.

Enjoy A Calm Environment

Being present as we eat is so important. This helps digestion and helps us to appreciate our food, increasing satisfaction and therefore decreasing overeating. Remove all electronic devices from the table and create a calming atmosphere in which to enjoy your meal. Letting your body extract all the healing, healthy nutrients from the foods you eat.