Ayurvedic cooking is good for the body and mind
We chat with Ayurvedic cooking professional Kaushani Desai to learn about the health benefits of this type of cooking
“Ayurveda is the science of life and Ayurvedic cooking helps to improve the quality of life through good health and food,” says Kaushani Desai, an expert in Ayurvedic cooking. Her journey with Ayurveda started from a young age. Her father used to practice organic farming as a hobby. His interest in growing pesticide and chemical-free vegetables and fruits ignited in her a keen passion to cook and learn about healthy food. She went on to pursue a degree in nutrition in Mumbai, and as part of her training, she had to interact with patients who were suffering from various ailments. This motivated her even further and led her to take up Ayurvedic cooking.
According to Kaushani, Ayurvedic cooking is based on your body constitution or Prakriti.
“As per Ayurveda, there are three Prakritis or constitutions – Vata, Pita and Kapha. So, in Ayurveda you consume foods which pacify your own body constitution. Retaining the maximum nutritive value in the food that we cook and eat is also a very important part of Ayurvedic cooking. Besides the food, Ayurveda also describes the Dincharya or daily routine habits for a healthy life,” Kaushani explains.
Ayurvedic cooking is a concept that may be new to many. People will have misconceptions about it, right off the bat and Kaushani agrees.
“Generally, the biggest misconception is that good and healthy food is not palatable. Another misbelief is that the food is made with bitter herbs and the like. In reality, Ayurvedic cooking preserves and enhances the natural flavour of food,” she says.
Kaushani has held many workshops over the years in different countries like Spain Germany, South Africa, India and the UAE to name a few. She has even published two cookbooks and has featured on shows across many television channels.
Why does Kaushani feel so strongly about making people aware about Ayurveda? She believes that knowledge about this kind of cooking is “the need of the hour”.
“We have stopped taking care about what we eat and thus we lack discipline in our lifestyles. As a result, health problems like cancer, thyroid, high BP and so on have become very common.
“Ayurvedic cooking can prevent and cure most lifestyle diseases. Through Ayurveda, one can definitely be benefitted because it is a holistic approach to healing.”
She elucidates on the benefits of Ayurvedic cooking. “Understanding our body constitution and eating accordingly will definitely help us improve health, increase energy levels and prevent imbalance and diseases,” she says.
“Ayurvedic food doesn’t focus only on the physical body but also the mental health of the individual. Following an Ayurvedic diet will help nurture a balanced mental state.”
Kaushani advises that before one takes up this kind of approach to cooking, one’s state of mind must be taken into consideration. One must remain in a calm and content condition. Using organic and natural ingredients is absolutely necessary and making sure whether the combination of ingredients is appropriate is also important.
Moderation is key for the Ayurvedic cooking expert. She feels that ghee, oils and other heavy add-ons are good for health but only when their use is regulated.
She also believes that Ayurveda is the backbone of Indian cooking. “Most Indian cooking has roots in Ayurveda but today we have lost the wisdom behind our traditional practices,” Kaushani concludes.
Most Indian cooking has roots in Ayurveda but today we have lost the wisdom behind our traditional practices.”
Kaushani Desai