Eating beautifully according to Ayurveda
Our skin is the body's largest organ and it reflects our organism and our soul. If we are happy, content and healthy, our skin glows. On the other hand, if we add harmful substances to our body, smoke or sleep badly, our skin looks pale and less radiant.
Our skin shows how we feel, it reflects how we are feeling and it can also reveal our emotions. If we are stressed, we get hectic spots. If we are ashamed, a fine blush covers our face. If we laugh, smile or frown, so-called mimic wrinkles appear in the long term, which say a lot about our lives.
Why eating is more than just food intake
We eat every day to provide our bodies with energy. But is food really just food intake? No, our daily diet is much more than that. It is the basis for our health, for a radiant appearance and a body supplied with nutrients.
Skin and body need nutrients
It's not just our organs that need to be supplied with energy every day through our food. Our skin also needs important nutrients to remain full, elastic and healthy in the long term. Eating and sleeping beautifully according to Ayurveda therefore also means supplying the body with exactly those substances that it needs for itself and for beauty.
Many people, for example, have switched to eating their main meal in the evening due to the stress of everyday life. Although the body can get used to this, it is only a compromise. This is because a heavy meal in the evening is stressful and causes sleep, one of the most important recovery factors for the human body, to be disturbed and restless.
Eating and sleeping well according to Ayurveda therefore means that the most important meal of the day should be eaten at midday. There is a good reason for this. According to Ayurveda, the fire of digestion burns especially at midday. If food is consumed at this time, the positive effects of the fire can be used and transferred directly to the body and skin.
Not only when, but also what
However, Ayurvedic teachings are about more than just the right time to eat. The type of food consumed is also crucial. Ayurvedic cuisine is largely based on the choice of the right spices. The ancient healing teachings attribute numerous powers to spices, which have health benefits for the body and skin.
Ayurvedic cuisine knows ten royal spices:
- Ginger and cardamom
- Turmeric and cloves
- Saffron and cinnamon
- Pepper and nutmeg
- Coriander and cumin
Even in Western nutritional science, spices are highly valued for their bioactive substances. In particular, the secondary plant substances they contain are effective even in the smallest quantities and help the body to defend itself against fungi, viruses and bacteria. They also have a strengthening effect on the immune system.
If you eat, then eat
An old Buddhist saying goes: "If you eat, then eat". A piece of wisdom that we take to heart far too rarely today. We read the newspaper while eating, hold our smartphone in our hands, finish watching a series on TV. However, all this distraction ensures that our body only registers our food intake almost casually.
Eating and sleeping well according to Ayurveda also means perceiving food for what it is. A gift to the body. The supply of vital energy, of new strength, from the source of eternal youth and beauty.
Eating involves love, the atmosphere should be relaxed. Whenever possible, food should be eaten together with people we value. Ayurvedic eating also means not gulping down food lovelessly, but enjoying it slowly and with all the functions of the mouth.
Rasayana, the fountain of youth of Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, eating and sleeping well works through rejuvenation therapies known as Rasayana. They make it possible to prevent or slow down the ageing process of the cells and skin. Physical complaints of the joints and other areas of the body can also be prevented in this way.
Saffron, ghee, milk and honey are the four elementary foods for the regenerative Rasayana. Ayurvedic teachings, for example, recommend a sleep-inducing combination of milk, honey, ghee, ashwaganda, nutmeg and a little saffron. The restorative sleep that is induced allows the body to experience true recovery and prepare itself for the tasks of the coming day.
Ayurvedic foods for beautiful skin
Red peppers are an elementary component of Ayurvedic eating. It contains large amounts of vitamin C and is able to maintain the skin's immune function and protective barrier. Regular consumption of red peppers ensures a radiant, wrinkle-free complexion.
The beta-carotene in carrots, which the human body converts into vitamin A, also has a supporting effect. It is a real fighter, intercepting damaging free radicals and providing the skin with antioxidants.
Sun is wonderful and provides the body with vitamin D. Sunburn, on the other hand, is an injury to the skin and should be prevented wherever possible. Almonds and tomatoes have a protective effect here. Tomatoes contain lycopene as a colorant, which protects sensitive skin from the sun's rays.
Tonsils on the other hand, protects the face and the rest of the body from burns caused by excessive UV radiation. Avocados are the perfect food to keep the skin moisturized after sunbathing. The fatty southern vegetable helps the body to produce lipids and also provides the skin with valuable moisture.
For a restful sleep
Ayurvedic eating means that the body is always supplied with food when it actually needs it. The effect of food in the evening is minimal, so according to Ayurvedic teachings, no more food is eaten after 6 pm.
This allows the body to optimally prepare for the deep sleep phase, during which it takes care of the regeneration of human skin cells. During the night, skin cells can regenerate twice as fast, so the body should not be distracted by stressful aspects such as digestion.
Too little restful sleep causes both the body and the skin to age more quickly. To avoid disrupting your sleep, it is advisable to always go to sleep before midnight.
This is because the deep sleep phase begins between two and three o'clock and is the most regenerative phase for the body, mind and skin. Without deep sleep, the body begins to age much faster and the recovery phase does not take place.
Conclusion: Healthy body, healthy skin
The influence of our lifestyle on the appearance of our skin is greater than is often assumed. Ayurvedic teachings have recognized and incorporated precisely this aspect. Ayurveda not only stands for a healthy body and an alert mind, but also for radiant beauty and eternal youth! With a good feeling of doing something good for your own body.