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By: commander selvam siddhar

Natural Cooking- Siddha Cooking- Ayurvedic Cooking

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which is actually a linking of two words: ayur means life and veda means knowledge. So Ayurveda is a system of knowledge, not just medical knowledge but knowledge about life and knowledge of the self. Ayurveda has survived to this day because it has been continuously in practice for the last 5,000 years. It guides a person toward a life style, a choice of foods and how to cook them.

According to Ayurveda we are made up of the same five elements as the universe (Water, Fire, Air, Earth and Space) when we are close to these elements or at one with them and nature, then there is perfect balance in the energies (the Doshas) within us and we enjoy good health.

All the complex factors that influence our health can be simplified into three fundamental constitutional types called Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water) these are called the “three Doshas”. The main purpose of all Ayurvedic treatments is to establish balance in these three elemental constitutional types, as an imbalance leads to the direct causes of physical diseases. When you are in balance you experience a zest for life. Your appetite is good, your bodily tissues and processes are functioning normally and your body, mind and senses remain full of bliss. In the physical universe around us these three natural influences or Doshas are also active and found in our environment, in ourselves and in the food we eat. Both the physical body and food are made up of the five essential elements; Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Ayurvedic food creates a natural balance between these essential elements within the body when prepared using the correct amount of the six Ayurvedic tastes ; Sweet, Salty, Sour, Pungent, Astringent and Bitter. The six tastes have their own unique elemental compositions giving them special healing properties. A balanced diet will have healthy combinations of these.

Sweet Taste (Earth and Water elements)
Sweet taste food is considered the most nourishing.
They provide valuable vitamins and minerals to the body that are needed to assimilate the sugars. Food that falls under these categories is whole grain cereal, breads, pasta, rice, seeds and nuts. Many fruit and vegetable are also sweet as well. Eating something sweet satisfies our immediate hunger; it increases the energy level in our body and also has a calming effect. But excessive use of sweet food unbalances the cycle, and leads to obesity and diabetes.


Sour Taste (Earth and Fire elements)
Sour taste food that falls into these categories are buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt and cottage cheese.
Most half ripe fruit are also sour. Consumption of sour food increases your appetite; it also increases your saliva flow and digestive juices. Over eating sour food will render our body more prone to aches and cramps.

Salty Taste (Water and Fire elements)
naturally salty food such as kelp and seaweed helps cleanse the body and tone the adrenal glands, kidneys, prostate and thyroid gland. It contains potassium, iodine that helps balance sodium. Process salt which is devoid of its natural balancing elements increases retention of fluids in the body, thus affecting the kidneys, and putting pressure on the blood vessels and all organ systems. Overall it can cause toxins to be retained in the body.

Pungent Taste (Fire and Air elements)
Foods that are pungent include onion, Brussels sprouts, horseradish, ginger, mustard, chilli powder and rosemary. Pungent foods have high healing properties; they have the opposite effect from salty foods. It reduces the fluid content of tissues, improves breathing and improves concentrating power. Pungent herbs stimulate the mind and promote circulation in the brain. Over consumption of pungent taste food can aggravate insomnia, restlessness and anxiety.

Bitter Taste (Air and Ether elements)
Bitter foods are normally associate will green leaf vegetable, tea. Bitter taste food helps digestion and increases metabolic rate.

Astringent Taste (Air and Earth elements)
Astringent foods that come under this category are celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mushroom. Fruit like apple, avocados, berries, grapes and pear are also astringent. Astringent Taste fruit are often associated with cleansing of body fluids, blood, lymph and sweat. It also prevents capillary leakage; helps heal skin and mucus membranes and nerve tissue.
Foods can be of three types - Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Ayurveda emphasizes a Sattvic diet for healthy living and support a blissful state in both the mind and body. Sattvic diet was originally devised for the practice of yoga and the development of higher consciousness. Rajasic foods have an unsettling influence on the mind by disturbing or dulling the mind. Rajasic food is excessively spicy, salty and sour like onions, chillies, wines garlic, red meats and hot peppers. Tamasic foods cause hyperactivity, lethargy and excess sleep; they dull the senses and keep the emotions heavy and resistant. Tamasic food is stale, old, re cooked, artificial, overly fried, greasy or heavy foods. It includes all “dead” food such as meat and fish and fermented foods and alcoholic substances. Both Rajasic and Tamasic foods are lacking in their ability to support a balanced, harmonious mind-body experience.

About the author:
Dr. Commander Selvam (Swamiji Sri.Selvam Siddhar) is the most learned Atharva Veda scholar. He has researched the Atharva Veda and has brought out a lot of hidden things. For more information please visit our website: http://www.drcommanderselvam-nutrition.org Dr.commander selvam

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