Healing Through Taste
The Five Tastes
Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent
The Effect of Tastes on the Body
The Effect of Tastes on the Doshas
Eating For Your Dosha
An Overview
Food Lists for the Doshas
Eating to Balance Vata
Eating to Balance Pitta
Eating to Balance Kapha
Habits for Improving Digestion
Mindful Eating Habits
Eat in a Calm, Clean, and Beautiful Environment
A peaceful setting enhances digestion and fosters a positive relationship with food.
Use Words or Intentions to Shift Your State Before Eating
Expressing gratitude or setting an intention before meals prepares your mind and body for nourishment.
Eat with Confidence and a Proper Frame of Mind
Approach your meals with trust in your food’s ability to nourish you, rather than fear or stress.
Give Your Eating Experience Your Full Attention
Eating without distractions (TV, phone, or work) helps you digest and absorb nutrients optimally.
Chew Slowly and Breathe Mindfully
Proper chewing activates digestive enzymes and prevents overeating.
Liquids & Meal Timing
Avoid Cold Liquids
Cold drinks weaken digestive fire (Agni); opt for warm or room-temperature beverages instead.
Drink Only a Half Cup of Liquids with Meals
Too much liquid dilutes digestive enzymes, but a small amount can aid digestion.
Wait at Least Three Hours Between Meals
Allowing full digestion of one meal before the next prevents bloating and toxin buildup.
Don’t Eat Within Three Hours of Falling Asleep
Late-night eating disrupts digestion and can lead to sluggish metabolism and poor sleep.
Portion Control & Meal Structure
Stop Eating When You Are 75% Full
Overeating weakens digestion; leaving space aids in proper breakdown and absorption.
Rest Briefly After Meals Before the Next Activity
A few moments of stillness (not immediate exercise or work) allow digestion to initiate properly.
Eat Your Largest Meal at Noon
Digestive fire is strongest at midday, making lunch the best time for heavier foods.
Other Key Ayurvedic Eating Principles
Eat Seasonally & Align with Nature
Choosing seasonal foods helps balance the body with external environmental shifts.
Include All Six Tastes (Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Pungent, Astringent) in Meals
This ensures full nutritional balance and prevents cravings or deficiencies.
Eat Freshly Cooked Meals
Fresh foods are more vibrant and nourishing than leftovers or processed items.
Basic Food Combining Principles
When crafting meals, keep them as simple as possible—different foods digest at different rates and require different enzymes, and overloading the system can weaken Agni (digestive fire). Poor food combinations lead to bloating, sluggishness, and toxin buildup (Ama), making digestion more difficult. Instead of mixing too many ingredients, focus on a few well-paired foods that your body can break down with ease. Then, use spices to bring the meal to life—they activate digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and add depth and flavor. Small, mindful changes can transform digestion and overall well-being. Simplicity nourishes, and spices transform.
5 Food Combinations to Do Less
🚫 1. Fruit + Dairy = Fermentation & Mucus Buildup
Examples of Bad Combos:
Strawberry yogurt parfait (fruit + milk)
Banana smoothie with milk
Ice cream with fruit toppings (banana splits, berry sundaes)
Cheese and fruit platters (grapes with brie, apples with cheddar)
Why It’s Harmful:
Fruit digests quickly, while dairy is heavy and slow to break down. When eaten together, the fruit ferments in the stomach, leading to:
❌ Gas and bloating
❌ Mucus buildup
❌ Weakened digestive fire (Agni)
🚫 2. Multiple Animal Proteins = Heavy, Sluggish Digestion
Examples of Bad Combos:
Steak with shrimp (surf & turf)
Sausage and eggs in the same meal
Bacon-wrapped scallops
Why It’s Harmful:
Each animal protein requires different digestive enzymes and takes a unique amount of time to break down. Mixing them confuses digestion, leading to:
❌ Sluggish metabolism
❌ Undigested food lingering in the gut
❌ Toxin accumulation
🚫 3. Milk + Meat, Eggs, or Fish = Stomach Chaos
Examples of Bad Combos:
Eggs and cheese (e.g., omelets, breakfast sandwiches)
Chicken Alfredo (chicken + creamy cheese sauce)
Cheeseburger (beef + melted cheese)
Lobster bisque (lobster + heavy cream)
Tuna melt (tuna + melted cheese)
Why It’s Harmful:
Milk is cooling and heavy, while meat, eggs, and fish are heating and require strong digestive fire. This contrast curdles the milk in the stomach, leading to:
❌ Indigestion and bloating
❌ Toxin buildup
❌ Excess mucus production and sluggish digestion
🚫 4. Beans + Dairy = Gas & Digestive Slowdown
Examples of Bad Combos:
Cheese and bean burrito
Chili with cheese and sour cream
Why It’s Harmful:
Both beans and dairy require different enzymes and take a long time to digest. When combined, they create:
❌ Gas and bloating
❌ Heaviness and sluggish digestion
❌ Mucus buildup from dairy slowing gut function
Better Alternative: Pair beans with warming spices like cumin, ginger, and asafoetida to aid digestion.
🚫 5. Starches + Protein = Digestive Confusion
Examples of Bad Combos:
Meat sandwiches like burgers (bread + meat)
Steak with potatoes
Pasta with chicken or cheese
Why It’s Harmful:
Proteins require acidic digestive juices, while starches need alkaline enzymes. When eaten together, they neutralize each other, leading to:
❌ Fermentation in the gut
❌ Bloating and sluggish metabolism
❌ Nutrient malabsorption