Why Ayurvedic physicians do not eat tomatoes |
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One famous Ayurvedic physician said: "If people stopped eating tomatoes, I would lose my job”!
Shocking! What has poor tomato ever done wrong?
According to modern nutritionists, tomato is a very healthy food. It is a rich source of vitamins A, B6, C, E, K, thiamin, niacin, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and dietary fiber.
The tomato is also known as a food that contains lots of lycopene - antioxidant which prevents cancer.
But according to Ayurveda, tomato is a food which causes disease. How is this possible?
The answer to this question is found by researching Ayurvedic nutrition science - the ancient science of nutrition.
A modern view on nutrition
Nutritionism is the science of nutrition – supply of the body with all the necessary materials, called nutrients, for maintaining life and health.
Modern nutritionism distinguishes the following nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, water, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
According to modern nutritionism, our health and life depends on adequate intake of these nutrients.
To determine which nutrients a food item contains, nutritionists "separate" food items according to their ingredients. The value of all food items is determined by this composition.
The more vitamins and minerals a food contain, its value becomes higher.
This view, unfortunately, is not perfect because it does not take into account the overall effect of foods on our health nor does it take the diversity of humans into account.
Ayurvedic view on nutrition
According to Ayurveda - the ancient science of nutrition and health - the same is not true for all. This is an aspect that modern nutrition is not able to apply or explain.
Ayurveda says that each of us is different. "What is the cure for one, is a poison for another" say the Ayurvedic texts.
In Ayurveda, food choices are based on the physical constitution of humans - prakriti, which is individual.
Prakriti, our body type, consists of a combination of three doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Ayurveda distinguishes 10 major combination of doshas - ten body types:
- Vata-Pitta-Kapha: all three dosha are equally dominant
- Vata: Vata dominates
- Pitta: Pitta dominates
- Kapha: Kapha dominates
- Vata-Pitta: Pitta and Vata dominate but Vata is slightly stronger than Pitta
- Vata-Pitta: Pitta and Vata dominate, but Pitta is slightly stronger than Vata
- Vata-Kapha: Vata and Kapha dominate, but Vata is slightly stronger than Kapha
- Vata-Kapha: Kapha and Vata dominate, but Kapha is slightly stronger than Vata
- Pitta-Kapha: Pitta and Kapha dominate, but Pitta is slightly stronger than Kapha
- Kapha-Pitta: Kapha and Pitta dominate, but Kapha is slightly stronger than Pitta
However, depending on the percentage of each dosha in the body, there are a myriad of such combinations. Each of us has a unique combination of three doshas, a unique body type.
Our body type is already determined before birth. To stay healthy, we have to maintain the natural balance in the body throughout life. If this balance is disturbed, we start losing our health.
That is why every body type should consume food that suits it. Food which has a favorable effect on certain body type will help maintain the natural balance.
Unfortunately, the tomato is the only food that can disrupt all three doshas in the body. It has an adverse affect on all doshas. Tomato does not match any body type.
Because of this Ayurvedic physicians recommend that you avoid this food as much as you can. It is not necessary to completely remove it from the menu - it would be very difficult - but it is best to reduce its intake to a minimum.
In our time tomato is one of the most popular vegetables. Every day it is consumed in the raw and cooked form in soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, etc.
But Ayurveda says: do not consume too much tomato. This food can disrupt the natural balance of doshas, and that balance is important for your health.
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