Eat well according to Ayurveda

Our skin is the body's largest organ and it reflects our organism and our soul. When we are happy, satisfied and healthy, our skin glows. On the other hand, if we add pollutants to our body, smoke, sleep poorly, the skin looks pale and not very radiant.

Our skin shows what we feel, it reflects how we are doing and it can also reveal our emotions. When we are stressed, we get hectic spots. If we are ashamed, a fine blush covers the face. If we laugh, if we smile, if we frown, so-called facial wrinkles will develop in the long term, which say a lot about our lives.

Why eating is more than just eating

We eat every day to fuel our bodies. But is food really just food intake? No, the daily diet is much more. It is the basis for our health, for a radiant appearance and for a body supplied with nutrients.

Skin and body need nutrients

Not only the organs have to be supplied with energy every day through our food. Our skin also needs important nutrients in order to remain full, elastic and healthy in the long term. Eating and sleeping well according to Ayurveda therefore also means supplying the body with exactly those substances that it needs for itself and for beauty.

For example, in the stress of everyday life, many people have switched to eating their main meal in the evening. The body can get used to it, but that's just a compromise. Because a heavy meal in the evening puts a strain on you and ensures that sleep, one of the most important recovery factors in the human body, is disturbed and restless.

According to Ayurveda, eating and sleeping well means that the most important meal of the day is to be eaten at midday. There's a good reason for that. According to Ayurveda, the fire of digestion burns mainly in the midday hours. If food is eaten 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

But Ayurvedic teaching is about more than just the right time to eat. The type of food consumed is also important. Ayurvedic cuisine is largely based on choosing the right spices. The old doctrine of salvation ascribes numerous powers to spices that have health effects on 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 dietetics, spices are highly valued for their bioactive substances. In particular, it is the secondary plant substances contained in it that have an effect even in the smallest amounts and support the body in defending itself against fungi, viruses and bacteria. Added to this is the strengthening effect on the immune system.

If you eat, then eat

An old Buddhist wisdom says: "If you eat, then eat". A piece of wisdom that we all too seldom take to heart these days. Read the newspaper while eating, hold the smartphone in your hands, watch a series on TV to the end. All this distraction, however, ensures that our body only registers the food intake in passing.

According to Ayurveda, eating and sleeping well also means perceiving food for what it is. A gift to the body. The supply of life energy, of new strength, from the source of eternal youth and beauty.

Love is part of eating, the atmosphere should be relaxed. Whenever possible, eating should be with people we value. Ayurvedic eating also means not wolfing down the food carelessly, but enjoying it slowly and with all the functions of the mouth.

Rasayana, the fountain of youth in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, eating and sleeping well works through rejuvenation therapies known as Rasayana. They make it possible to prevent or slow down the aging process of 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 elemental foods for regenerative Rasayana. Ayurvedic teachings, for example, recommend a sleep-inducing combination of milk, honey, ghee, ashwaganda, nutmeg and a little saffron. Through the restfully initiated sleep, the body experiences true relaxation and can prepare for the tasks of the coming day.

Ayurvedic foods for skin beauty

The red pepper is an elementary part of eating well according to Ayurveda. They contain large amounts of vitamin C and are able to maintain the immune function and the protective barrier of the skin. 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, intercepts damaging free radicals and supplies the skin with antioxidants.

The sun is wonderful and supplies the body with vitamin D. Sunburn, on the other hand, is an injury to the skin and should be avoided if possible. Almonds and tomatoes have a protective effect here. The tomato contains lycopene as a coloring agent, which protects sensitive skin from the sun's rays.

Almonds , on the other hand, protect the face but also the rest of the body from burns due to excessive UV radiation. To keep skin hydrated after sun exposure, avocados are the perfect food. The fatty southern vegetables support the body in lipid formation and also provide the skin with valuable moisture.

For a restful sleep

Ayurvedic food ensures that the body is always supplied with food when it actually needs it. The effect of eating in the evening is small, so that according to Ayurvedic teaching, people do not eat after 6 p.m.

In this way, the body can optimally prepare for the deep sleep phase, during which it takes care of the regeneration of human skin cells. Skin cells can regenerate twice as fast at night, so the body should not be distracted by stressful aspects such as digestion.

Too little restful sleep means that both the body and the skin age faster. In order not to disturb sleep, it is advisable to always induce sleep before midnight.

Because the deep sleep phase begins between two and three o'clock and is the most regenerative phase for 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 complexion is greater than is often assumed. Ayurvedic teaching has 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.