Debunking the myths related to Ayurveda-1
"Top ayurvedic remedies for hair fall" or "10 best Ayurvedic tips for weight loss"...sounds familiar..isn't it?
Google keywords like 'weight loss' or 'skin glow' and these web pages will pop on your screen. But are these tips which claim to be 'Ayurvedic' are really so?
The folks in India are particularly inclined to stuff which they perceive to be natural and there is a common misconception that everything natural is 'Ayurvedic'.
As an Ayurvedic student writing this and supposedly an Ayurvedic student reading this, I want to make it very clear that 'not all the natural remedies are Ayurvedic'
For example, 'application of aloe vera gel on your face is a remedy for pimples' .Here, although aloe vera gel is a plant extract and is natural, still has nothing to do with Ayurveda.
So, I am stating in this place remedies and things which are stated as 'Ayurvedic' all over the net and are also widely believed by the people to be in accordance with the Ayurvedic principles but are nowhere near to Ayurveda.
Myth no.1-Curd or 'dahi' is cooling in nature and should be consumed in summers.
Myth buster-
"Beta, dahi roz khaya karo, paet ko thanda rakhta hai"
I grew up believing and hearing this by my grandmother who would make sure every single day that all the family members consume an ample amount of curd with our meals.
Moreover, the numerous articles over the Internet chanting the benefits and the 'probiotic' nature of curds added to my love for this so called 'super food'.
Enters Ayurveda and all my views were shattered in a second.Here I came to know that what I have perceived throughout my childhood and through the best years of my adolescence as a 'hero' is nowhere near to one.
Well, curd according to Ayurveda is of hot potency or say 'ushna veerya' and is not at all cooling in nature as has been believed by our entire generation of dadis and nanis.
To add to its villainous nature, curd is nowhere good for the stomach except in cases of loose motions.
Contrary to the popular belief, curd is not at all good for patients with indigestion and is a bane for people with constipation.
Due to its probiotic nature which is believed by the modern science, curd has detrimental effects on those with a weak intestine or say in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
P.S-And for the crowd who still believes curd to be of cooling nature, keep paneer curry in your refrigerator for 2 hours and it will be as cooling as curd. By that, I mean that the cooling nature which you apprehend is only due to the refrigeration of curd.
As a better choice, one can consume 'takra' which in layman's language is buttermilk or chaas which again is though not cooling in nature but is still far better for the digestive system than curd.
Myth no.2-Honey alone with warm water and lemon is great for weight loss.
Myth buster-
Admit it, we all have been victims to this. Ask anyone, old or young, who may or may not have lost weight and they would confidently advice you the consumption of this 'magical decoction' for weight loss.
Myth buster-
"Beta, dahi roz khaya karo, paet ko thanda rakhta hai"
I grew up believing and hearing this by my grandmother who would make sure every single day that all the family members consume an ample amount of curd with our meals.
Moreover, the numerous articles over the Internet chanting the benefits and the 'probiotic' nature of curds added to my love for this so called 'super food'.
Enters Ayurveda and all my views were shattered in a second.Here I came to know that what I have perceived throughout my childhood and through the best years of my adolescence as a 'hero' is nowhere near to one.
Well, curd according to Ayurveda is of hot potency or say 'ushna veerya' and is not at all cooling in nature as has been believed by our entire generation of dadis and nanis.
To add to its villainous nature, curd is nowhere good for the stomach except in cases of loose motions.
Contrary to the popular belief, curd is not at all good for patients with indigestion and is a bane for people with constipation.
Due to its probiotic nature which is believed by the modern science, curd has detrimental effects on those with a weak intestine or say in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
P.S-And for the crowd who still believes curd to be of cooling nature, keep paneer curry in your refrigerator for 2 hours and it will be as cooling as curd. By that, I mean that the cooling nature which you apprehend is only due to the refrigeration of curd.
As a better choice, one can consume 'takra' which in layman's language is buttermilk or chaas which again is though not cooling in nature but is still far better for the digestive system than curd.
Myth no.2-Honey alone with warm water and lemon is great for weight loss.
Myth buster-
Admit it, we all have been victims to this. Ask anyone, old or young, who may or may not have lost weight and they would confidently advice you the consumption of this 'magical decoction' for weight loss.
This myth is immensely popular, widespread to an extent that even the kids believe this to be the possible reason behind the perfect figure of the bollywood actresses.
I have seen this on numerous websites, every web page on the planet which apparently provides 'valuable' weight loss advice, lists this on the top and it is widely believed by the common folks that is remedy has popped out from the house of Ayurveda.
If you have been doing/ believing this, stop it now.
According to the Ayurvedic principles, honey is one of those things (along with curd) which should never be heated.
A mention of honey-water i.e the consumption of honey along with normal water is mentioned as a remedy for weight loss in Charak Samhita but nowhere is the consumption of honey with warm water is cited.
Myth no.3- Watermelon is cold in nature.
Myth no.3- Watermelon is cold in nature.
Myth buster-
This fallacy has originated out of nowhere and is widely believed to be 'Ayurvedic'.
Watermelon, for an instance, is believed by the people all over the world to be cooling in nature attributing to its high water content.
My folks, the water content of the watermelon fruit has nothing to do with its cold nature.Ripe watermelon is in fact, warm in potency or of 'ushna veerya' as believed by Ayurveda.
(However raw watermelon is said to be cold in nature)
I am hereby winding up this post. Hope this was helpful to not only those related to Ayurvedic medicine but also to the ones who have fallen prey to any of the myths stated above. I would cover more such misconceptions in posts to come. Until then, Live Ayurveda, love Ayurveda.
"Eat fruits like watermelon in summer as it is cold in nature, according to Ayurveda."
This fallacy has originated out of nowhere and is widely believed to be 'Ayurvedic'.
Watermelon, for an instance, is believed by the people all over the world to be cooling in nature attributing to its high water content.
My folks, the water content of the watermelon fruit has nothing to do with its cold nature.Ripe watermelon is in fact, warm in potency or of 'ushna veerya' as believed by Ayurveda.
(However raw watermelon is said to be cold in nature)
I am hereby winding up this post. Hope this was helpful to not only those related to Ayurvedic medicine but also to the ones who have fallen prey to any of the myths stated above. I would cover more such misconceptions in posts to come. Until then, Live Ayurveda, love Ayurveda.
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