How do you cope with cravings?
This one is tough….its mainly an emotional response to change and habit.
Remember cravings have 3 aspects:
- Biological – driven by our own innate intelligence or intuition
- Emotional – driven by fear, anger, worry, sadness, anxiety
- Habitual – Driven by habitual unconscious patterns around food
If you are truly hungry, then eat some foods that are part of your cleanse. Whenever you change a habit, it feels uncomfortable in the beginning, because you’re doing something different…in this case how and what you are eating. Most of our eating patterns are unconscious…this cleanse is a new practice. Your adding new foods and practices and your habitual way of eating is removed. Which means that until the new practice becomes familiar you may feel uncomfortable. I know that I do…I have this low grade hunger…an emptiness….it takes me about a week to get comfortable with this feeling. Please know that Im aware of my energy levels and blood sugar….they are steady and I have good quality energy. My personal take and experience of cravings is that they are reminding me of my new practice to which Im committed. Over time I get used to this new way of eating and feeling light and the old feelings fall away!. without effort. All change requires patience, practice and a commitment
What drinks can you have?
Lots of water, herbal teas, green juices as they are cleansing…fruit juices are more building and good for Vata and Pitta
If you need caffeine..have some green tea…no more than 2 cups per day
Do you need to follow the recipes religiously?
No you don’t, they are merely guidelines to support you on your journey.
Easiest way is to use the dosha seasonal shopping list
You can cook whichever foods work for you as long as they fit certain guidelines.
Fresh, seasonal, whole grains and legumes, fresh vegetables, good quality fats ( ghee, coconut, olive oil) some fruit and nuts
If y
How can you organise for food?
Create a shopping list and stock your pantry with the essentials. I stock up on a few grains, beans, legumes, seeds and fresh vegetables and fruit.
Ive created a simple pantry list..to which you can add or subtract depending on your preferences
Grains: Basmati rice ( white or brown), Quinoa, Barley, Millet
Beans: mung beans whole or mung dahl, adzuki beans, lentils ( green red, dahl)black beans, chick peas, white beans, split peas( green or yellow)
Oils: Olive oil, ghee, coconut oil
Seeds: Sunflower, sesame, peppitas
Vegetables: All green veggies in season and according to your taste…Vata and Pitta can add some root veggies like pumpkin, sweet potato for added heaviness and grounding aspects. Kapha stick to more greens as they are light and more cleansing
Fresh herbs: Parsley, basil, oregano
Pantry essentials: organic coconut milk, shredded coconut, tomato paste or sauce
Fresh fruit: of choice
Create a bowl:
Vata and Pitta start with your base of a grain and beans( combined its a protein) to which you add veggies, dressing + seeds and fresh or dried herbs of choice.
Vata choose more root veggies and some greens all cooked
Pitta choose more green veggies( may be raw or cooked) and some heavier cooked root veggies
Kapha start with a base of green veggies, add some cooked beans for protein and a few tablespoons of rice + spices and herbs of choice…small amounts of oil
Can you eat left-overs?
In an ideal world all food would be freshly cooked and eaten….it contains more life force and vitality which is transferred to you. In the real world, we need to be practical…my personal rule is that I only keep food for 24-48hours. Ive learnt to cook less food and simple meals so that I don’t have leftovers. Just so you know when I first started on my journey, I cooked 1x per week and stored my food in the freezer, which was then reheated in the microwave. Ive progressed since then.
I know we are all busy and cooking doesn’t take priority in our lives….Just remember that cooking should be simple, easy and take 30-40 minutes from preparation to eating. When you reheat food, make sure to only reheat, what you are going to eat for that meal. Don”t keep reheating the same pot of food
What is the difference between mineral salt and regular table salt
I think Ill let the Mayo clinic answer this one
Sea salt vs. table salt: What’s the difference? – Mayo Clinic
Is Snacking allowed in Ayurveda?
It depends on? Ideally you should eat enough at your meals that you don’t need to snack.
If you so snack then follow these guidelines:
Allow at least 2-3 hours between meals….the larger the meal, say lunc, wait for 3 hours.
Snack only on fruit…..its ok to have heavier fruit between breakfast and lunch and lighter fruits like apples after lunch
Wait for 2 hours before eating again.
Eat fruit on its own…it doesn’t mix well with other foods.
Don’t snack after dinner. Allow at least 3 hours without food after dinner.
If your hungry, drink some herbal tea with 1/2 tsp raw honey
When should you take the herbs?
Take your chitsu in the morning before food
Take your trikatu capsules 1/2 before your meals to stimulate digestive fire
Take 1 triphala capsule after lunch and 1 after dinner
Can eating a lot of rice lead to stomach bloating?
Whilst rice is ‘medicine for vatas’, some people don’t tolerate rice well. If you experience bloating, try increasing the Trikatu to provide more digestive support, and increase the proportion of Mung .Don’t forget to soak Mung long enough or this can also cause bloating!
What does Trikatu do?
Trikatu is designed to improve digestive fire. Have it before each meal.This can be taken once you return to normal eating.
What does Triphala do?
Triphala is a cleansing herb, cleanses out toxins through the bowel, can be taken in the morning or night. This can be taken once you return to normal eating.