8 Day Yoga Retreat in Balapitiya

Food Overview

Properties of an Ayurveda meal, herbs, and Spice

Ayurveda meal is a balanced diet depending on one’s body constitution. It depends on the taste of the food and the strength of one’s digestion power (Agni). According to Ayurveda science, food (Ahara) is anything that you take in to nourish the body and mind. It has mentioned a lot of importance of food (Ahara) in Ayurveda.

1. Food provides building blocks to create new Dhatus. Dhatus are the reservoir of energy in different forms. Dhatus are constantly broken down to utilize energy. So replenishing good quality Dhatu is essential. For this, balanced food is important.
2. In Ayurveda, eating food is considered a ritual as food not only nourishes the body but also nurtures the soul and mind. Food is called “Poornabrahma”.
3. Food energizes the mind. It is Sattvic, Rajasic, or Tamasic Gunas (properties) that depend on the food you consume.
4. Let your food be your medicine. Your health depends solely on the food you intake.
5. Strength, health, and your life depend on Agni. But Agni is also constantly replenished from the food you eat. So to maintain “Sama Agni” eating balanced food is essential.
6. Strength, energy, clarity of mind, the radiance of skin, immunity, and sharpness of senses depends on the food you eat.
7. Diet is very critical in disease states also. Many times wrong foods become the cause of the disease and the right foods are the treatment of the disease. So in health or in sickness, eating the right diet is very critical.
8. It is said that no disease can be cured unless supplemented by the right diet. About 90% of diseases can be prevented by the right diet alone.

The body does not utilize all foods in the same manner and they need to be transformed into physical form to build new tissues. The energy responsible for this discrimination and transformation is called Agni. Agni can:

1. Digest food
2. Nourishes the doshas (a. Balanced Vata creates energy | b. Balanced pitta creates radiance | c. Balance Kapha creates strength)
3. Nourishes Body tissues and improves immunity
4. Clears mind, thoughts, and ideas
5. Maintains life force

The following meals are included:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Drinks

The following drinks are included:

• Water
• Coffee
• Tea
• Detox juices

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

• Ayurvedic