The Complete Ayurvedic Cookbook - The Eumundi Medicine Man

3. WHOLESOMENESS
‘That food which nurtures all the tissue of the body, and which puts the body into
balance, is wholesome’.
Wholesome food nurtures the plasma, blood, fat, muscle, bone, nerve and
reproductive system and establishes the body in equilibrium as simple as that.
Wholesome food in order to fulfil these goals needs to be digested and metabolised,
Ayurveda states, ‘Most diseases are cause by mandagni (slow digestion) and the
creation of ama (undigested particles).’ So for the sake of modern times here is a
definition of wholesomeness,
‘That food which is fully digested and also nurtures all the tissue of the body, and which
puts the body into balance, is wholesome’.
In other words a raw organic carrot from the fridge chewed incompletely can be said
to be unwholesome whereas a cooked carrot with digestive spices could be considered
wholesome if fully digested.
The most fabulous smoothie in the world with fresh organic Alaskan ice, and all
health goo in the world is considered unwholesome if not fully digested. If the tongue
is coated the brew has a negative effect by taxing the metabolic fire. Basically it can
be concluded, ‘Nectar turns to poison if not digested’!
4. DRINKING WITH MEALS
I was surprised to find Ayurvedic books on the merits of drinking with meals.
Actually many verses glorify liquids with meals. Of course the Western argument is
that liquids dilute digestive juices and cause indigestion! This of course is a partial
truth.
If it were totally true that one should not drink with meals, then logically, eating dry
powder would have to be the healthiest food!
Yet everyone from Grandma to Aunti knows soup is the best food when illness
strikes. Mother Nature on the other hand has made a huge blunder and has stationed
liquid channels in the mouth generating saliva. Therefore the Ayurvedic view is to sip
a digestive warm or room temperature drink between morsels of food to stimulate
and cleanse the pallet. Warm ginger tea, mild apple cider vinegar in water or salt and
peppered buttermilk, or simply hot, warm or room temperature water depending on
season, time of day and digestive capacity can be taken to enhance digestion and
therefore health.
Of course iced or cold drinks, soft drinks and cold milk or over drinking are harmful
at mealtime and will cause disorders to manifest overtime. According to Ayurveda by
disturbing digestion and the elements of the body, namely vata, pitta and kapha,
diseases are generated overtime by constant accumulation of those elements.
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