How reliable are Ayurveda constitution tests?
Vata, Pitta or Kapha - which „Dosha type“ are you? Numerous online providers and print media attract interested parties with questions like these, using a questionnaire to identify health strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, inclinations and needs in just a few minutes. Is this even possible from a classical Ayurvedic point of view? How reliable are such constitution tests? And how can a layperson recognise professional tests [...]?
Hot water in Ayurveda
„I only drink hot water!“ Many people have incorporated this „Ayurveda tip“ into their lives and developed it to perfection: they don't leave the house without a thermos flask. Hot water is not just „hot water“. What kind of water at what temperature are we actually talking about? The fact is: water is our most important foodstuff! Depending on their age, humans [...]
Ayurvedic drinks: focus on fruit juice
When I squeezed my own orange juice from halved fruit at the breakfast buffet in a trade fair hotel a few days ago, I was surprised once again: to fill a 200ml glass with juice, I needed 6 halved oranges! I would never have eaten this amount as fruit, but I could certainly have drunk more glasses of the juice. Many people [...]
Salads and raw food from an Ayurvedic perspective
„In Ayurveda, food is always cooked softly and raw food is avoided“ is a widespread misconception. It is true that in Ayurveda an overload of the digestive system is seen as the cause of many diseases. In classical Ayurveda, leafy salads were hardly ever used. The food group „Haritavarga“ traditionally referred to fresh „greens“ and included fresh ginger, lime, radish, coriander leaves, carrots, onions [...].
Day-night rhythm in Ayurveda: sleep and wake times in check
„Go to bed before 10 p.m. and get up before 6 a.m.“ - this is a common recommendation from Ayurvedic doctors and therapists. This is well-intentioned and will help you achieve a deeper sleep and get out of bed more energised in the morning. But can this recommendation be applied equally all year round and is it really [...]?
Fact check: Is Ayurveda vegetarian?
India is the country with the most vegetarians in the world and hardly any Ayurvedic doctors there eat meat. This leads many to conclude that the consumption of meat is probably forbidden in Ayurveda - for health, ethical and spiritual reasons. Many Western authors of Ayurvedic books confirm this assumption. But does it actually correspond to classical Ayurvedic guidelines? The fact is: unfortunately [...]
Reheating meals in Ayurveda? An analysis
Life has become faster. More and more tasks, demands and obligations need to be dealt with in less and less time. The procurement and preparation of food is also becoming increasingly rationalised - there is often no time for relaxed shopping at the market and enjoyable preparation. The solution is to reheat convenience food or the last hot meal [...]