~Sonia Velarsan
An oft-heard comment about Ayurveda treatment is that it places too many restrictions on the type of foods one can consume. Indeed, if you are ill, your Ayurveda vaidya will give you a list of foods to avoid, as this approach will complement your recovery.
But what if you are healthy?
Ayurveda does not say no to most foods. In fact, Ayurveda recognizes that food is an essential part of maintaining health and well-being; one of three pillars (the other being sleep and self-discipline) that is required to support good health. What is unique, however, is its emphasis on choosing the right foods for one's individual constitution and needs. The Ayurveda framework describes an individual along three axes (or regulatory functional factors) that govern all aspects of our physical, mental, and emotional health. The three axes (doshas in Sanskrit) are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and each person has a unique combination of these factors.