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Spice Wise
Eating all the healthy wholesome foods in the world is of little use
if your body cannot absorb the nutrients and put them to use building
healthy body tissue. But it gets worse.
According to the ayurvedic "beej-bhoomi" theory of disease, poor
digestion is actually the root cause of most disorders. When the
food we eat is not digested properly, ama, the by-product of poor
digestion and metabolism, builds up in the body, clogging the micro
channels of the body. Not only does this further block the efficient
flow of nutrients to the different parts of the body, weakening the
immune system, it also hampers the unrestricted flow of wastes out of
the body so that a "fertile breeding-ground" is created for disease
and infection to take hold.
If you have a coated tongue when you wake up in the morning, an
unpleasant body odor, bad breath, discomfort in the joints or post-
lunch fatigue, you probably have some accumulated ama in your body.
Unfortunately, digestion problems are widespread in America. Some
digestive disorders, such as acid indigestion, are obvious.
Headaches, disorders in bowel movements such as diarrhea or
constipation, a feeling of discomfort in the stomach after a meal are
other symptoms that can be tied to poor digestion.
Powerful Ama-Fighters
Most spices enhance digestion, and that's one of the reasons spices
are revered in ayurvedic cuisine. Not only do they help enhance
digestion, they also help remove accumulated ama, so they are
valuable additions to your daily diet. Turmeric, cumin, coriander,
fennel, mint, asafetida (hing), black pepper, dried powdered ginger,
cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne are among the ayurvedic spices
that enhance digestion and metabolism, cleanse ama from the body and
prevent digestive disorders such as gas and bloating. If you are new
to ayurvedic cooking, try the Maharishi Ayurveda Churnas (ready-to-
use spice mixes) formulated especially to be Vata, Pitta or Kapha
balancing.
Spices contain a lipid-soluble portion and a water-soluble portion,
so ideally some should be sautéed in Ghee or a healthy oil such as
olive oil and added to dishes and some cooked in the liquid portions
of dishes such as by being added to soups, stews or sauces during the
cooking process. Ghee helps transport the therapeutic value of
spices to the different parts of the body, so ayurveda generally
recommends including a Ghee-spice mixture in at least one meal of the
day.
Spices are like herbs: they work gently and gradually, with the
benefits adding up over time and no dangerous side effects.
Ayurvedic physicians recommend resisting the temptation to take your
spices as nutraceuticals, where the so-called "active" ingredient is
isolated and put in a pill or a capsule. Take them as nature
intended, and you will reap the benefits for years to come.
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
please visit www.mapi.com
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