Most people live a harried life. They are confused with information overload. They try to coordinate a frenzied schedule while working full time in their offices or shops. They rush about at frantic pace and eat fast foods. They deprive themselves of sound and sufficient sleep. They have no time for rest and exercise. Some people derive a sense of importance from their fast, frenzied and insane pace of work. This kind of life is not optimum living. It gets you to your grave faster.

If you wish to live a happy and healthy life, you should eat vegetarian food. A vegetarian diet is a natural diet and promotes weight loss, beauty and vitality.

A vegetarian diet is just one component of healthy life style. It   can work wonders for your health and wellbeing. The components of a healthy life style are: plenty of fresh air, sun light, vegetarian food, regular exercise particularly yoga, adequate sleep, ample intake of pure water, spirituality, meditation and above all moderation in your thoughts and actions.

India is a birthplace of vegetarian cooking and the science of healthy living. Ayurveda, the ancient Vedic scripture, is the oldest known work on the science of biology, medicine, hygiene and nutrition. It was written thousands of years ago. ‘Ayur’ means life and ‘veda’ means knowledge. So Ayrveda means the knowledge or the science of life. The Vedas consider human body as a divine gift. The human body provides the soul an opportunity to escape the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

The aim of Ayurveda is to provide knowledge for attaining optimum health and well being by creating a balance between the body and mind. Illness results when our system goes out of balance. This balance affects our life style, occupation, recreation, emotional and mental states.

Ayurveda also teaches that we should cure the disease rather than its symptoms. According to its teaching, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”  It further teaches that all matter is composed of five elements, air, earth, fire, water and ether. These elements manifest themselves as three basic constituents of human body and are called doshas.

The first dosha is ‘vat which means air and ether. Vata relates to movement which includes expansion, contraction, pulsation, movements in muscles and tissues, respiration, nerve impulses and pains. The primary site of Vata is colon.

The second dosha is Pitta which means fire and water. Pitta relates to transformation which includes digestion, assimilation, absorption, metabolism, body temperature, skin pigmentation, intelligence and understanding. The primary site for Pitta is the small intestine.

The third dosha is Kapha which means water and earth. This includes lubrication, building, healing, memory, immunity, strength and stability. The primary site for Kapha is the lungs.

These three doshas regulate every biological, psychological and physiological aspect of the body, mind and spirit. When they are in balance, good health manifests; when they are out of balance, disease results. Everyone is born with a unique combination of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. By understanding your unique constitution, Ayurveda can help clarify those aspects of your life that are causing imbalance and illness. You can identify symptoms of imbalance early and create balance and well-being with appropriate herbs, spices, foods and changes in lifestyle.