How to Avoid Common Eating Mistakes?

Talk about a complete Indian meal, for most, it begins with salty starters and ends with a delicious dessert. Soup followed by biriyani complemented with a bowl of payasam or khichdi followed by hot jalebi. Sounds familiar? Well, Ayurvedic doctors say most people are making this common eating mistake.

Most people think dessert is the end game, but Ayurveda says it’s the best starter!

Sounds shocking?

According to Ayurveda, ending the meal with something sweet may wreak havoc on your tummy. Vedic science says one should start their meal with something sweet. It also says that you should end your meal with astringent or spicy. 

Also Read: Does eating late at night lead to weight gain?

Ayurvedic order of food

In Ayurveda, it’s not only the food that you eat that matters. The atmosphere, ambience, pattern and order of food matters too. All of these have a deep impact on your digestive system which is the core of your health.

Begin your meal with something sweet

Ayurveda suggests you start your meal with something sweet. 

The sweet taste acts quickly on the taste buds and saliva. Thus, eating sweet as the first item in your meal enables the flow of digestive secretions. And it’s not a gulab jamun or jalebi I am talking about. 

In Ayurveda, the concept of sweet is quite different than what most people comprehend. Foods that contain carbs have a sweet taste. So, you can go for rice or chapati or veggies or jaggery. This will help you absorb vitamins and nutrients better!

Move towards the sour and salty

Follow the sweet with something sour and salty. That brings on the dal, curries or chutneys. The sour and salty tastes in the middle help stimulate the digestive fire in the belly. This boosts your digestion and absorption!

End it with the spice

Finish off your meal with something spicy or astringent in nature. The pungent, bitter, and astringent taste helps subdue Kapha dosha. That makes buttermilk a perfect complement to end your meal. 

Spicy foods help the body to secrete digestive juices and acids. This enhances the digestive process in your body. Thus, eating spicy foods ensures that the digestion goes on smoothly.

Ending the meal with sweet is a common eating mistake

Ending a meal with something sweet is the most common eating mistake many people make. 

According to Ayurveda, ending your meal with a sweet dish slows down your digestive system.  It means putting empty calories and sugar that suppresses your digestive fire. This results in acid in the stomach causing fermentation and indigestion. 

This is the main cause of bloating and gas in most people!

Also, ending your meal with a sugary dessert adds extra load to your body. It piles up calories which turn into fat in your body. Also, sugar creates cravings in the body which makes you eat more of the dessert than intended!

Choosing your sweet right

In Ayurveda, sweets made with sugar is not considered healthy. 

White sugar is unhealthy, it increases your risk of obesity and several other health conditions. So, Ayurveda says choose your sweet right! You can go to jaggery which is a great digestive!

11 common eating mistakes you might be making

• Skipping breakfast is the most common eating mistake.
• Living on supplements is another unhealthy habit.
• Drinking milk at breakfast may not be the best idea for you.
• Eating too fast makes it hard for your digestive system.
• Milk and fruits do not go well. That makes your favourite milkshake unhealthy.
• Salt and milk is a bad idea. 
• Eating yoghurt at night is another common eating mistake.
• Caffeine after 6 pm can keep you awake all night.
• Banana at night gives you unwanted energy.
• Not eating before or after exercising is another common mistake.
• Eating distracted, watching T.V while eating, or eating while standing. 

Eat your food right

As I always say, it’s not only what you eat but how and when you eat. 

Try following this pattern for a month and see the difference your body feels.

Eat mindfully, chew well and remember the order!