Ayurveda and food

Psycholog: Food, Digestion & Mind — An Ayurvedic Perspective

What It Is

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from India that links the body, mind, food, and environment into one connected whole. One of its core ideas is that what we eat — and how we digest — directly shapes how we feel, think, and heal.

What It’s Not

It’s not just about herbs and rituals — it’s a practical daily science of balance. It doesn’t replace medical advice for serious conditions — but it can guide everyday choices about food and routine.

Key Principles

• Digestion is Central: In Ayurveda, digestion (agni) is the main driver of health. If digestion is weak, toxins build up; if it’s strong, the mind and body stay clear.
  
  

• Food is Medicine: Foods have qualities (warm/cool, heavy/light) that can soothe or aggravate the mind and body.
  
  

• Balance is Individual: What calms one person may agitate another — so you adjust food choices to match your needs, seasons, and symptoms.

Simple Case Study: Food & Doshas

Ayurveda describes three doshas — Vata, Pitta and Kapha — which shape our body, mind, and how we react to food. Each person has a unique mix, but sometimes one dosha can dominate too much.

Example:

• Person: Ella — often anxious, cold hands and feet, light sleeper, bloating when stressed.
  
  

• Dominant Dosha: Vata — light, dry, cold, and quick-moving.
  
  

• What Unbalances Ella: Too much raw salad, iced drinks, irregular eating.
  
  

• What Helps Ella: Warm, moist, gently spiced meals (like cooked grains, stews, ginger tea). Regular meals at steady times. Warmth, grounding routines.
  
  

How to Tell: You notice patterns — dry skin, variable appetite, sensitive digestion, mind racing.

How to Fix It: Eat warm, oily, nourishing foods. Rest. Create steady daily rhythms. Herbs like ginger, fennel, cumin can help strengthen digestion and calm Vata.

How It Connects to Mood

An upset gut can cloud the mind — irritability, fogginess, worry. A calm gut helps the mind stay steady. So Ayurveda says: Strengthen digestion, settle the mind.

Practical Takeaway

• Eat warm, easy-to-digest meals when stressed or run down.
  
  

• Favour gentle spices like ginger, cumin, fennel to support digestion.
  
  

• Eat mindfully, chew well, rest after meals.
  
  

• Be cautious: when you’re sick (cold, flu, or stomach bug), simple bland foods are safest — always listen to your body.
  
  

See also: Ayurveda — a practical eastern perspective on food and medicine.

Inspired by traditional principles explored by Gananath Obeyesekere and others.