ayurveda smoothie

Once upon a time we used to combine foods randomly but then we came across the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda. After an in-depth study, we decided to adopt some of its principles, starting with strict smoothie rules. We stopped combining milk and fruit for example, especially milk and banana.

This combination generates a lot of ama in the body which is considered an underlying cause for illness and other health issues. Ama is a Sanskrit word meaning “unripe,” “uncooked,” “raw,” “immature,” or “undigested” or simply put, this is the sticky smelly toxic byproduct of undigested food which clogs the body, poisons its systems and provokes acute immune response. Wherever ama accumulates, illness occurs. Too much ama in the joints may cause rheumatoid arthritis. In the digestive tract, it may lead to malabsorption, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bloating, gas and so on.

If ama is what makes us tired, unhappy and sick, agni is its opposite. Agni is the inner fire that energises the body, facilitates digestion and nutrient absorption, and maintains health. The whole process of eating is therefore a way for us to keep agni well and alive, and to get rid of ama.

Back to the smoothie topic now. The main thing is to avoid incompatible foods and ingredients overload. When we say a diet or food is Sattvic, we refer to the Ayurvedic (and Yogic) quality of increased energy. Tamasic, on the other hand, describes everything that depletes energy. Different foods have different qualities so we aim to avoid mismatched combos. When we consume bananas and milk together, their opposing qualities (requiring opposing digestive enzymes) tend to smother the digestive fire and disrupt the balance of intestinal flora, creating toxins and causing congestion, colds, allergies or coughs.

It took me a lot of emotional strength to ditch all those wonderful dishes I have been used to since childhood (most of them terribly un-yogic) but the good news is that the Ayurvedic journey reveals even more exciting landscapes and not only on the culinary horizon.