Right Amount of Food – Aharamatra Apeksha

One should always consume proper quantity of food. Right amount of food activates Agni – digestion power (which is compared to fire, in Ayurveda).
Food that are light to digest (laghu) and those that are hard to digest (Guru) both require a specified quantity for proper digestion.
As a general rule, if the food is heavy to digest (such as oily food, non veg, sweets etc), it should be consumed till half of the satiation level is achieved. (Ardha Sauhitya).
If the food is light to digest, it should be consumed till one is not overly satiated. (Na Ati Truptata).
The right amount of food is that, which undergoes digestion easily.

Effect of taking more or less amount of quantity of food

Consuming less quantity of food does not increase strength, ojus (immunity). The body will not be nourished properly. Over a period of time, it leads to Vata imbalance disorders. Excess quantity of food is again not desirable. It causes quick increase of Doshas.

Dushta Ashana – Bad Food habits

Consuming suitable and unsuitable foods mixed together is known as Samashana,
Consuming large quantity of food even before the previous meal is digested constitutes Adhyasana,
Consuming less or more quantity at improper time is Vishamashana,
All these three either cause death or dreaded diseases.

Ahara vidhi – regimen of diet

Kale Satmyam – Food should be consumed at the proper time,
Shuchi Hitam – it should be the accustomed, clean, suited to health,
Snigdha, Ushna, Laghu – unctuous, hot and easily digestible;
Tanmanaa – consuming food with due attention
Shadrasa, Madhurapraayam – should contain all the six tastes with predominance of sweet taste,
Na Atidruta, Vilambitam – partaken neither very quickly nor very slowly;
Snataha – after taking bath,
Kshut vaan – after having good hunger,
Viviktastha -sitting in solitude,
Dhauta Pada kara aananaha – after washing the feet, hands and face,
Tarpayitva pitrun, Devan, Atitheen, Balakaan, Guroon – after satisfying the Pitrus (manes), gods, guests, children and Guru.

After satisfying even the dependents maintained in the house (such as servants, horses and other animals for receiving service, parrots and other pets etc.),

After carefully considering one’s own constitution, likes and dislikes, without scolding / abusing the food, without too much of talk;
should partake more of liquid food, that which is liked, in the company of the liked persons, and served by those who are clean and faithful to him.
Food which is contaminated with grass, hairs etc; re-heated, which consists more of vegetables and undesirable grains, which is very hot and very salty should be rejected.

Ahara kala – proper time of meals

The ideal time for taking meals is after the elimination of faces and urine, when the mind is clean (devoid of emotions), when the Doshas are moving in their natural paths (functioning normally), when belching are pure without and foul smell or taste, when hunger is well manifest, when the flatus is moving downward easily, when the digestive activity is keen, when the sense organs are clear functioning, when the body is light. Food should be consumed observing the rules and procedures of taking food. That is the ideal time.

Food that should not be consumed habitually

Kilata (dairy product – sweet in taste),
Dadhi – Curds,
Kuchika (solid part of curds),
Kshara (alkalies),
Sukta (fermented gruel),
Ama Mulaka – Uncooked radish,
Meat of animals which are emaciated,
dry meat,
meat of the boar, sheep, cow, fish and buffalo,
Masha (black gram), Nishpava; Saluka, Bisa, Pista (powdery, starchy),
germinated grains, dried vegetables, Yavaka (small barley),
Phanita (half cooked molasses) – those should not be consumed habitually.

Pathya – food that can be consumed habitually (on daily basis, for a long time)

Shali (rice),
Godhuma (wheat),
Yava – Barley – Hordeum vulgare,
Shashtika (rice maturing in sixty days),
Jangala (meat of animals of desert like lands),
sunisannaka, Jivanti – Leptadenia reticulata,
Balamulaka (young radish),
Pathya (Haritaki)
Amalaka (Amla – Indian gooseberry),
Mridwika – dry grapes,
Mudga – green gram,
Sarkara (sugar),
Ghrita (ghee),
Divyodaka (rain water or pure water),
Ksheera (milk),
Kshoudra (honey),
Dadima – Pomegranate – Punica granatum
and Saindhava – Rock Salt (salt) can be consumed habitually.
Triphala along with honey and ghee should be consumed at nights daily for strengthening of eye sight.

Any other thing which is good for promoting/maintaining health and dispelling diseases can also be consumed habitually.

Food that should be consumed at the beginning of meal

Foods which are not easily digestible, which are unctuous – fatty, sweet, slow and hard such as Bisa, Ikshu (sugarcane), Mocha, Coca, Amra (mango), Modaka (sweet meat ball), Utkarika (sweet dish) etc., should be consumed at the commencement of the meal. foods of opposite qualities, at the end of the meal, and those which are predominantly sour and salt, in the middle of the meal.

Two parts of the stomach (half of its capacity) should be filled with solid foods, one part by liquids and the remaining one part should be kept vacant for accommodating air etc.

Anupana – (After – drink)

Cold water is the ideal after-drink (Anupana) – after meals containing/ prepared from Yava – (Barley) and Godhuma – wheat, after consuming Dadhi – Curds / yoghurt, wine, poison and honey.

Warm water is ideal after-drink for foods which are starchy,
Mastu – Supernatent liquid of curds (whey),
Takra (diluted buttermilk)
Amla kanjika (fermented gruel);
dishes prepared from vegetables and Mudga (green gram) and other legumes

Sura (beer) is the ideal after drink for lean person.
Honey mixed water is the ideal after drink for obese person.
Meat soup is good after drink for the emaciated,
Wines are ideal after a meal of meat and to those who have poor digestive capacity;
Milk is best suited just as nector for those who are debilitated by diseases, medicines (and therapies), walking long distances, speaking, sexual intercourse, fasting, exposure to sun and such other tiresome activities; for the emaciated, the aged, and children.

An ideal Anupana

An ideal Anupana ( after-drink) is that which has properties opposite of those of the foods but not incompatible with them; such an after- drink is always valuable.

Benefits of Anupana

Anupana or after–drink invigorates, gives contentment, helps proper movement of food inside, stability of the body parts; loosening of hard masses of food, their proper liquification (moistening) and digestion.

Contra indication for Anupana

It is not good in diseases of the organs above the shoulders (ear, nose, throat, eyes and brain related diseases), dyspnoea (COPD, Asthma), cough, injury to chest (lungs), rhinitis, for those engaged in singing and speaking and in hoarseness of voice.

Drinking liquids should be avoided by those who are over-hydrated, who are suffering from polyuria, diseases of the eyes and throat, and wounds (ulcers).
All persons – both healthy and sick should avoid speaking, walking long distances and sleeping immediately after consuming liquids; exposure to sun and fire, travel in vehicles, swimming and riding on animals soon after consuming food.