Brief Answer:
Explanations below...
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting Ayurveda with your health concern and following is/are necessary guidance to healthy eating.
1. Reason for not taking proteins and starch [carbohydrates] together is that while proteins requires an acidic medium for its digestion, starch requires alkaline medium for the same, and consuming both together will result in neither the proteins nor the starches getting absorbed, and body will get depreciated of necessary nutrients and end result will be digestive and health problems like;
indigestion, bloating,
flatulence, fatigue,
high cholesterol, weight gain, and more
2. You can consume OLD brown rice or rice XXXXXXX with bamboo shoots, spirulina and since chlorella has 55 times more protein than rice, you can take it as a supplement or eat it as a whole.
3. Regarding intake of fruits following points are worth mentioning:
. fruit are considered to be carbohydrate because of their high sugar content; but they are not starch because of their high water content, i.e., the higher the water content in food the easier it is to digest.
. since fruits are alkaline forming thus starchy diet can be taken.
. because the sugar and other nutrients in melons are in a less stable form than the nutrients of other fruits thus, if it is taken along with other fruits, it has to wait or keep waiting the digestion
of other foods, resulting in fermentation and gastric problems.
. since digestion of fruits is/are rapid, it is possible to eat fruit before any other food, and time period of 5-10 minutes is good, [again you are the best judge in this issue]
4. I usually tell my patients and ask them to follow the said guidelines.
i. Anything you do, go low and go slow and make changes gradually, as your small changes become habit, you can continue to ADD more healthy choices.
ii. Eat a variety of nutrient rich food but which have some added advantage like:
. Cabbage (cholesterol lowering benefits),
. carrot (helps in liver
detoxification), cauliflower (ideal against
abdominal problems),
. dates - (best for muscle development),
. onions ( contains flavinoids which protect against
cardiovascular disease),
. garlic ( has broad spectrum antibiotic properties)
iii. Daily regime : Don’t skip breakfast;Take your lunch between 12 - 1 PM which is the peak period of Pitta (responsible for digestion); have your dinner 2 hours before sleeping.
ii. Make sure you do not travel long, do strenuous exercise, or indulge in sexual activities within one hour after meal
iii. Proper sleep with proper diet is the key to healthy living in Ayurveda.
iv. Avoid smoking, alcohol, caffeine, eating late at night, stress, drink water instead of colas
v. Practice Yoga,
Meditation and go for an exercise regime..
vi. Walk a while after meal to help digestion
vii. Remember good food leads to noble thoughts with sound memory
helping in mental health and social well being
IMMUNOMODULATION (Immunity)
Rasayana drugs (Rejuvenation/Immunomodulators) should be instituted in your management as part of XXXXXXX (palliative) therapy i.e. which corrects the dysfunction of tissues without disturbing the functions of normal tissues, also Rasayana drugs potentiates humoral
antibodies by increasing serum Immunoglobulin’s such as IgA, IgG and IgM.
i.Proteins are essential for antibodies production so milk, egg (white), beans, yogurt, soyamilk, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, peanuts, almonds.
ii. Vitamin A: helps to maintain Thymus gland which is a powerful antiviral gland : thus mango, carrots, cantaloupe, egg yolk, apricots, pumpkin, papaya are ideal
iii. V itamin C: is needed for proper functioning of immune system: amla is best
iv. Vitamin E: is a powerful anti oxidant which helps to stimulate antibody production: peanuts, dried apricots, cooked spinach, taro root can be taken
v. Vitamin B is important for the activity of phagocytes: eggs, cheese, pistachio, raw garlic, sunflower and sesame oil.
Please revert back for any clarifications and your suggestions
Dr. Munish Sood
Consultant & Physician