Changes

=== Role of diet in health and disease ===

=== Role of diet in health and disease ===

For over 4000 years, the [[Charak Samhita]] and its predecessor, the Agnivesha Tantra have provided a wealth of knowledge on managing life, not just health and disease management. Sages and practitioners passed on this distilled knowledge by word-to-mouth for centuries. Over the course of this period, the environment around us has changed significantly – affecting us and the living beings around us. Habitats have changed rendering some creatures extinct or endangered, while others have adapted themselves or evolved. Further, social traditions have dictated changes to our dietary habits. However, the fundamental principles governing food, in general, remain the same, e.g., the role of factors responsible for digestion ([[agni]]) , fundamental constitution ([[Prakriti]]), taste (rasa), properties (guna), potency (veerya), effects after metabolism (vipaka) and specific effect (prabhava) of various foods. These fundamental principles can be applied today for healthy living. Newer articles of food like paddy(dhanya), vegetables(shaka),  greens(harita), meat(mamsa), fruits(phala) and cooked food or drinks(kritanna) can be characterized and used by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. It is a herculean job to describe all the foods available all over the world and describe their characteristics. However a humble attempt have been made to enter the newer articles as per Ayurvedic perspective based on the fundamental principles described in this chapter.

For over 4000 years, the [[Charak Samhita]] and its predecessor, the Agnivesha Tantra have provided a wealth of knowledge on managing life, not just health and disease management. Sages and practitioners passed on this distilled knowledge by word-to-mouth for centuries. Over the course of this period, the environment around us has changed significantly – affecting us and the living beings around us. Habitats have changed rendering some creatures extinct or endangered, while others have adapted themselves or evolved. Further, social traditions have dictated changes to our dietary habits. However, the fundamental principles governing food, in general, remain the same, e.g., the role of factors responsible for digestion ([[agni]]) , fundamental constitution ([[Prakriti]]), taste (rasa), properties (guna), potency (veerya), effects after metabolism (vipaka) and specific effect (prabhava) of various foods. These fundamental principles can be applied today for healthy living. Newer articles of food like paddy(dhanya), vegetables(shaka),  greens(harita), meat(mamsa), fruits(phala) and cooked food or drinks(kritanna) can be characterized and used by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. It is a herculean job to describe all the foods available all over the world and describe their characteristics. However an humble attempt has been made to include newer food articles as per Ayurvedic perspective, based on the fundamental principles are described in this chapter.

=== Fourteen greens for healthy life ===

=== Fourteen greens for healthy life ===

To stay healthy and prevent diseases during a change of season, following “Fourteen Greens” are advised.  

To stay healthy and prevent diseases during a change of season, following “Fourteen Greens” are advised.  

#Surana(Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume) is effective for piles(arsha).  

#Suran or Elephant yam(Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume) is effective for piles(arsha).  

#Kebuka(Costus speciosus Koenig) prevents worm infestation.  

#Kebuka(Costus speciosus Koenig) prevents worm infestation.  

#Yavashakam(Chenopodium purpurascens) is a liver tonic.  

#Yavashakam(Chenopodium purpurascens) is a liver tonic.