Myths and Facts about Diet (Ahaar) in Today’s Era

Abstract

In Ayurveda, diet has been given a great importance and is referred as Mahabhaisjaya in Ayurveda classics. Bhaisjaya means medicine or any substance that cure body, means diet is not only to satisfy hunger of Ahaara, but it also acts as medicine i.e., build and cure the body. The distinction between health and disease is correlated with wholesome and unwholesome diet because both body and disease are the product of food. There is urgent need to have knowledge about real facts and burst myths about food items. Ayurveda has its own unique approach to Planning a daily diet for an individual. It is not based on conventional chemistry; rather, it is based on Panchmahabhautic chemistry and Tridoshic functions. In Ayurveda, Annapanavidhi can be correlated with dietetics. It incorporates the concept of Pathya-Apathya, the natural characteristics of different food items and the dietary guidelines which leads towards sound health. According to Ayurvedic classics One type of food can’t be benefited for different type of people. There are many variations like Prakriti, Desh, Kaal, Agni etc. Digestion of Ahara and Poshan by Ahara is based on many factors. It’s not like modern science reduced to calories or in term of carbohydrates, proteins, fats etc. only. Unhealthy diet practice is considered as one of the important reasons of disease. Hence the correction of diet itself is considered as treatment. Without this knowledge our food is worthless even after we consume a very high-quality food. So, there is an effort to put some light on facts and myths about food in today lifestyle by this paper.