Ayurvedam

Welcome to the second blog of the Ayurvedam series. Link to the first part – https://foxfoster.com/ayurvedam-complete-knowledge-of-food-and-life/ In 19th century, around 80 percent of people in Bharat were vegetarians. Today, nearly 71 percent are non-vegetarians, 28 percent are vegetarians and 1 percent vegans. In this blog we’ll try to figure out that which of them is most suitable and healthy for body. We’ll be discussing it with references of modern science researches and Ayurvedic scriptures. Of course, there is a lot more than just facts including societal issues, history of hunting from Ramayan era, logics presented in debates by all three of them, impact on environment, cow slaughtering etc. So, make sure to read it till end and get educated on this topic completely. Non-vegetarian If animal consumption is stopped then their population will rise rampantly. Trees also have life in them but we’re bound to eat them so even ethically non-veg consumption is not wrong. Milk products, honey, other animal products or even while breathing air we’re consuming lots of micro-organism then how can be consumption of other life forms be unethical. All doctors recommend to eat non-veg so it’s completely healthy. These were some points or logics which non-vegetarians present in a debate. Let us dig deeper and understand the views of modern and ancient science on it. Modern science says that meat is a complete source of protein because all 9 amino acids are present in it. RDI (Reference Daily Intake) says that a person who sits idle for most of the time should consume 0.8g per kg (body weight) of protein daily and the one who has to build muscles needs to consume 1.5g per kg (body weight) of protein every day. Many researches claim that processed meat causes cancer and red meat is safe. After some time, researches claimed that red meat also causes cancer and white meat extracted from calves is safe. Gradually, these claims also got questioned and new researches claimed that all sort of meat may cause heart disease and cancer. Dr. T. Colin Campbell said that protein derived from animal causes cancer. It was also found that animal protein doesn’t get absorbed in the body properly and is thrown out as it is. The views of modern science on non-veg keeps on changing, so, its not reliable. Ayurved on the other hand says that food doesn’t only provide nourishment to the body but mind also gets affected. On its basis food has classified into three categories i.e. Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Sattvic food is positive pranic or increases prana into the body leading to positive thoughts, emotions, energy etc. These foods include fresh organic fruits, vegetables, grains, millets, dairy products etc. Rajasic food is zero pranic leading to dullness within the system. These foods include potatoes, tomatoes and over-spicy food. Tamasic food is negative pranic or has negative impact on body, mind and energy levels. Such food leads to anger, lust, fear, lethargy or procrastination etc. These foods include onion, garlic, asafetida or heeng, nervous stimulants (like tea, coffee, alcohol), stale or over-cooked items(includes all cooked packed items of market) and all sort of non-veg including egg. Each and every emotion of ours is just a by-product of the chemicals being produced by the body. Animal knows that it will be killed so same reverberation is spread along its whole body. They are kept in congested packed rooms due to which stress hormones are released within them. When someone eats it, he/she feels anger, lethargy, depression, ignorance etc. Though, Ayurved never recommends to eat flesh of any animal and is also strictly against violence under normal situations still Maharshi Vagbhatta in his Ashtanga Hridayam(Ch.-6) describes about different types of meat and their usage as medicines in different diseases. He also describes that meat should be wild and fresh. Vegetarian Vegetarian food is considered excellent by both modern science and Ayurved. Though, Ayurved recommends that every person should eat according to their body type. In a separate blog we’ll discuss about identifying your body type and creating a diet plan accordingly. Vegan The concept of vegan food was first proposed in 1944 but in recent times it has gained popularity in our nation too. Vegan diet includes only plant-based food. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals including dairy products and egg. Modern science considers it to be healthy but we must understand that this concept arose in west because most of their food is derived from animals which is hard to digest. Overtime, their body started showing side-effects because of it and they had to adapt a diet which was easy to digest yet nutritious and i.e., plant-based diet. So, it is not necessary that whatever comes from west is suitable for us too. Consuming food items in raw form or oil-less diet causes Vata imbalance in the body which may cause hundred types of different diseases. Ayurved has a different system for intoxicating the body and that is fasting. It says “LANGHANAM PARAM AUSHADHAM” which means fasting is the best medicine. Modern science also emphasizes on it and the most popular fasting is intermittent fasting which nothing but a type of Ekadashi fasting. Milk products are considered heavy to digest in Ayurved. Yet it is considered sattvic and extremely nutritious. Environmental effect Few absolute facts are that 80 percent of farmlands are used to feed the animals, nearly 15-25 percent of greenhouse emissions (which is more than the emissions by automobiles) are because of slaughter houses, to get one kg of beef 70kgs of carbon dioxide is released into the environment, for getting one kg of lamb meat 40kgs of carbon dioxide is released and for poultry contributes 10kg of CO2 per kg of meat. So, clearly meat consumption is a major contributor in climate change leading to natural calamities. Moreover, farming on one acre land can complete all needs of twenty two people round the year but this much land can only feed two animals. On the