Use fresh, seasonal, and organic ingredients: Ayurvedic cooking emphasizes the use of fresh, seasonal, and organic ingredients to ensure maximum nutrient content and to minimize the intake of toxins and chemicals.
Use spices and herbs: Ayurvedic cooking incorporates a variety of spices and herbs, which not only add flavor but also have medicinal properties. These include turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, fennel, and cinnamon.
Use cooking techniques that preserve nutrients: Ayurvedic cooking uses cooking techniques that preserve the nutrients in food, such as steaming, sautéing, and roasting.
Create balanced meals: Ayurvedic cooking emphasizes the importance of creating balanced meals that include all six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent) and all six food groups (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and fats).
Consider your dosha: Ayurveda recognizes three doshas or body types (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and recommends different foods and cooking techniques for each dosha. It is important to consider your dosha when preparing and eating Ayurvedic meals.
Eat mindfully: Ayurvedic cooking emphasizes the importance of eating mindfully, with gratitude and awareness of the food’s impact on the body and mind. Overall, Ayurvedic cooking aims to promote balance and harmony within the body and mind through the use of whole foods, spices, and cooking techniques that preserve the nutrients in food.
