Howdy folks.. We’re just back from Night Riders at Bolton. Gabe had a good night up there. He won a pair of goggles. I’ve really come to love these snowy Wednesday nights up there. I was glad to be there tonight. I was still planning on being down in New York.. but decided to drive back last nigth because of the snow storm. It turned out to have been a good idea. I’m sure I could have driven this evening.. But I’m sure I’d still be driving now. The meeting wasn’t to have gotten over until 5.. and with the roads as they are.. I’ll bet I wouldn’t have been home till 2 or 3 AM .
It even worked out for my meeting. I did the whole day meeting by phone.. and actually was able to hear and participate better remotely than in the room down there.. Alls well that ends well.
Hmmm.. what else to report. The big thing on my radar right now is diet. Our friend Marci… our massage/reiki therapist suggested that I might benefit from a consultation with her mom, Sharon, an Ayurvedic practitioner. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian health care system. Most of it is based on diet and herbs. We saw a ton of it as we traveled in India last fall, The basic premise of Ayurveda is that all folks are a combination of one of three doshas” Vata, Pita, and Kapha. Wikipedia describes them as:
- Vata is the impulse principle necessary to mobilize the function of the nervous system
- Pitta is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and hence metabolism into the venous system.
- Kapha is the body fluid principle which relates to mucous, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients into the arterial system.
A generally Vata person is generally skinny, energetic, nervous and quick, a Pita person can be muscular, powerful, easy to anger, acerbic and a kapha person can be big. slow and sensuous. .. Those are my recollections.. I may be off base.. Anyway.. I’ve been interested in this stuff peripherally for years.. I’ve always been pretty hard over to Vata. Since Sam’s passing I’ve picked up more Pitacharacteristics. .. That makes me Vata-Pita. Sharon is giveing me some herbs to take daily to see if that can bring me back in balance. .. Here balance would mean.. more peace of mind.. less anger..
Sharon is also recommending a strict ayurvedic diet for awhile.. She just sent me the following list of goods and bads.. Some of this is going to be reallllllly hard for me. I can’t imagine life without cayenne pepper.. or wine.. or peanuts.. or snow peas. I’m stating in a week or so.. I’ll let you know how it goes..
OK.. gotta sleep now.. More tomorrow.. Ayruvedicly yours, Sam..
-me
Grains
It is best to eat these as cooked grain or as unyeasted bread.
Best: Wheat, cooked oats, white basmati rice.
Small Amounts: Amaranth, barley, rice (brown or white, short or long grain), millet, quinoa, rye.
Avoid: Buckwheat, corn flour products, dry oats.
Dairy
It is best to use raw or organic milk. Milk should be taken warm with a small amount of spices such as ginger and cardamom.
Best: Butter, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ghee, milk (whole), paneer cheese.
Small Amounts: Buttermilk, hard non-salted cheeses, kefir, sour cream, yogurt.
Avoid: Ice cream, frozen yogurt.
Sweeteners
Over use of any sweetener will eventually cause an imbalance.
Best: Honey (fresh), maltose, maple syrup, maple sugar, rice syrup.
Small Amounts: Date sugar, dextrose, fructose, grape sugar, molasses, succanat, jaggery.
Avoid: White table sugar.
Oils
Oils are very important and should be used abundantly if the skin is dry. They alleviate dryness and are generally heavy and nourishing.
Best: Avocado, coconut, ghee, olive oil, sunflower
Small Amounts: Sesame, almond, castor, flaxseed, corn, soy.
Avoid: Safflower, margarine, mustard, peanut, lard, canola.
Fruits
Fruits are best when they are well ripened and sweet. These will bring balance to both doshas. In general, due to their lightness, their intake should be consumed in moderation.
Best: Apricots, avocado, bananas (very well ripened), blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, coconut, dates, figs, grapes, lemons, limes, mango, nectarines, oranges (sweet), papaya, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums (sweet), pomegranate, prunes, raspberries, raisins, strawberries.
Small Amounts: Apples, cranberries, grapefruit, sweet, pineapple, tangerines, watermelon.
Avoid: All sour and dry fruit.
Vegetables
Cooked vegetables are best as they are more nourishing and easier to digest. Only leafy greens may be eaten raw with dressing. More raw salads may be eaten in the hot summer if digestion is strong and there is little gas or constipation.
Best: Artichoke (with oil dressing), avocado, bean sprouts, bell peppers, cauliflower, cilantro, corn, Jerusalem artichoke, leeks, okra, onion (cooked), peas, potato, pumpkin, seaweed, squash, (acorn, winter, crookneck, zucchini, etc.) sunflower sprouts, tomato (sweet vine ripened).
Small Amounts: Alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, beets, bell pepper, bitter melon, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, kale, mushrooms, mustard greens, parsley, spinach, sweet potato, turnips.
Avoid: Chilies, hot peppers, radishes, raw onion, tomato paste and sauce, snow peas.
Nuts and Seeds
These should be eaten lightly dry roasted to assist digestion an d only very lightly salted, if at all. Nut butters, except for peanut, may also be eaten.
Best: Coconut, pine nuts, sunflower seeds.
Small Amounts: Almonds,
Avoid: Peanuts.
Meats
Repeated research shows that plant-based diets are healthier than meat-based diets and prevent many diseases. Ayurveda and Yoga emphasize a vegetarian diet primarily for spiritual reasons. Hence, omnivores should limit meat consumption if possible. Weak patients should take them as a soup broth.
Best: Chicken (white meat), egg, fresh water fish, pork, turkey (white meat).
Small Amounts: Duck, venison, beef, seafood, lamb.
Avoid: Shellfish, dark meat of chicken or turkey.
Legumes
Those listed in “Small Amounts” are best as a dal or spread with spices added. When digestion is weak or constipation present, even those beans listed under “Small Amounts” should be avoided.
Best: mung beans, tofu.
Small Amounts: Aduki, black gram, chickpeas, kidney, black lentils, navy, pinto, soybeans, split peas.
Avoid: Fava, red and yellow lentils.
Spices
Spices aid the digestion and absorption of nutrients and improve the flavor. Food should have an overall spicing effect of being warming but not hot. It is the overall effect of spicing that is most important and not the individual spice used. You may use large amounts of the best spices and even very small amounts of the avoid spices. Food should never be bland.
Best: Bay leaf, caraway, catnip, chamomile, cardamom, cilantro, cumin, coriander, dill, fennel, lemon verbena, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, spearmint, turmeric.
Small Amounts: Anis, basil, cinnamon, coconut, fenugreek, ginger (fresh), marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, poppy seeds, sage, salt, star anise, thyme.
Avoid: Asafoetida, black pepper, cayenne, calamus, cloves, garlic (raw), ginger (dry), horseradish, hot mustard, hyssop.
Condiments
Best: None
Small Amounts: Carob, mayonnaise.
Avoid: Catsup, chocolate, tamari, vinegar.
Beverages
Best: chamomile tea, licorice tea (only if blood pressure is normal), mild spice teas (Chai), mint teas, milk, water.
Small Amounts: Carrot juice (diluted), fruit juices (diluted), naturally flavored soda and juice beverages, black or green tea.
Avoid: Alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, very spicy tea, tomato juice, vegetable juices (green).