Ayurvedic Tips for food intake

1. Half heated food should not be consumed.

2. Be cautious in taking food items which are not fully Ripe or overripe or which have had any unusual change.

3. Never take food when you haven't urinated, during lack of appetite or prolonged fasting.

4. In order to stimulate appetite, one can chew and eat half teaspoonful of freshly grated ginger with a pinch of rock salt 10 to 15 minutes be- fore each meal.

5. The diet, especially hard food substances, should be properly chewed.

6. Wherever possible, intake of curd or whey should follow eating of food.

7. The food should be tasty, fresh and good in appearance.

8. It should neither be hot nor absolutely cold. Avoid taking water at least 15 minutes before having food. The quan- tity of water taken after eating food should be little. Instead, drink often.

9. Heavy food should be taken in a limited quantity.

10. Never take food in a crowded place.

11. Heavy food should not be taken at night. The proper time for taking your dinner is approximately two to three hours before going to bed.

12. After dinner, go for a short walk.

13. After meals, heavy mental or physical work should be avoided. Some rest is advisable for proper digestion of food.

14. While eating, only one-third of the capacity of the stomach should be filled with food, one-third with liquid and one-third should be left empty. This aids in proper digestion, gives room for air circulation in stomach and also promotes mental clarity.

15. While eating, one should properly chew the food in order to soften it, and ensure that it is thoroughly mixed with saliva.

16. Ayurveda insists that iced water should not be drunk during or after a meal as it slows agni and digestion. Small sips of warm water taken during the meal help in digestion.

17. If desired, one can finish a meal by drinking a cup of lassi or butter- milk along with ginger and coriander.