Eating
Ayurvedically: Grains -- Vegetarian Powerhouses
According to
modern methods of nutrition analysis, grains provide carbohydrates,
protein, iron, calcium, potassium, and important B vitamins
necessary for a balanced diet. According to the traditional
wisdom of ayurveda, grains help to build bone tissue and muscle
and give bodily strength and endurance. Adequate quantities
of grains are particularly important for growing children
on a vegetarian diet. Grains are useful to vegetarians because
they help in creating whole proteins when combined with legumes,
beans or milk products. Ayurveda recommends having grains
at each meal if you are a vegetarian to provide adequate energy
for the body.
There are a
variety of different grains and each grain has a specific
influence on each ayurvedic dosha. Therefore, depending on
whether the diet you are following is geared towards balancing
vata, pitta, or kapha, you should choose the right grains
that will help balance and nourish your physiology. Vata and
pitta types can consume high quantities of grains while kapha
types should have smaller amounts to avoid weight gain. The
following is a list of grains and their effect on the doshas:
Wheat products
such as bulghur, farina, cous cous, semolina, pasta, and bread
are the best grains for balancing vata. They help with lubrication,
boost energy, and enhance physical strength and endurance.
Wheat should be eaten often by people trying to balance vata.
People with a kapha imbalance should reduce but not totally
avoid wheat. Too much wheat can cause weight gain and increase
the amount of mucous in the body if you have a cold or allergies.
Barley products
are the best grain for balancing kapha and are good for pitta
as well. Barley is relatively lighter to digest and it does
not produce excess mocous in the body. The better kind of
barley to use is the organic raw barley instead of the white
pearl barley. Organic barley can be found at most health food
stores. Barley is also made into flour and can be used in
baking and making flat breads. Barley water is highly beneficial
for balancing weight and for kidney balance. Take 14 parts
water and 1 part barley and boil for 1 1/2 hours. Mix and
strain barley. Keep in a thermos and drink throughout the
day.
Basmati Rice
balances all three doshas. It is the best grain for balancing
pitta. It is cooling and a little heavy so it is not recommended
to eat everyday. Three to four servings per week are ideal.
Basmati rice is also made into flour, which can be used for
baking.
Puffed rice
is light and dry and people with a kapha imbalance may enjoy
puffed rice as a snack with some spices sautéed in
ghee drizzled over it.
Brown Rice
is more heating and dry and is better for kapha and less optimal
for pitta and vata.
Quinoa is a
seed that provides an excellent source of protein. Quinoa
is good for all the doshas. People trying to balance vata
can eat it with a little olive oil or ghee.
Buckwheat groats
are best for kapha and less balancing for vata.
Oats are aggravating
for kapha, however dry baked oats in granola are fine.
Millet is dry
and aggravates vata and balances kapha. Rye is dry and aggravates
vata and balances kapha.
Corn is both
dry and heating and should be avoided if you are trying to
balance vata or pitta. It is good for kapha.
Grains for
a kapha balancing breakfast may include one of the following:
- A chapati
made with wheat flour and barley flour. You can top the
chapati with honey and cinnamon to further balance kapha.
- 1/2 cup
of granola served with warm milk or rice cakes with honey
and cinnamon.
Grains for
lunch may include barley, quinoa, corn, millet, or brown rice.
For dinner vegetable barley soup is ideal.
Grains for
a pitta and vata balancing breakfast may include cream of
wheat, cous cous with warm milk and a sweetener, rice pudding,
tapioca or oatmeal. Grains for lunch may include pasta, cous
cous, quinoa, rice with ghee, or chapati bread. Grains for
dinner may include the same as lunch with smaller portions.
