Food, eaten according to Ayurvedic dietary guidelines, provides energy and good health. The same food eaten in contradiction to these principles can cause discomfort and ill health. The most significant of these guidelines are:

Appropriate quantities

The amount of food eaten at any one meal is crucial for proper nutrition and complete digestion. Eating too much or too little is equally hazardous to health. The proper amount of food is essential to maintaining good health and attaining longevity. According to Caraka Samhita, the stomach is divided into three equal parts. When eating, one part of the stomach should be filled with solid foods (vegetables, rice, grains, breads), the second part should be filled with liquids (juices, soups, water) and the third part of the stomach should be left empty for the movement of air and the tridosha.

If you are unsure, a simple rule is that it is better to stop when you feel you still have some capacity, as eating less than your maximum ability is always preferable to eating more. Consistently under-eating can produce a gradual disturbance to the vata dosha, but over-eating produces an immediate disturbance to all dohsas.

Overeating causes obesity and related disorders such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, strain on internal systems and organs and ama production. A person eating much less food than required eventually loses strength and has less energy and vitality. Functions of the mind, such as concentration, memory and intelligence, become impaired and ojas and sensory power are diminished.

People often complain that after meals they feel discomfort, lethargy and heaviness. This is due to either eating an improper quantity of food, or improper types and combinations of foods. Caraka Samhita lists the symptoms of eating improperly as:

• Feeling of heaviness in the stomach;

• Disturbance or change in the heart-beat;

• Pain in the back or stomach;

• Discomfort in walking, breathing, talking and/or laughing;

• Laziness or drowsiness;

• Dissatisfaction of any of the senses.

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