Page 25 - June 2022

the covid pandemic has caused even cheese, eggs, yogurt, beans, lentils, nuts,
more people to steer away from animal seeds) and healthy starches (quinoa,

product consumption toward eating whole grains, basmati rice, red rice,
plant-based foods. potatoes, non-GMO corn). Eat seasonal

fruits and vegetables in a variety of
Changing from a mostly animal-based colors for the richest source of vitamins,
standard American diet (nicknamed minerals, and nourishment and to create

‘SAD’) to a plant-based vegetarian diet a healthy gut microbiome.
can be challenging to our system and

requires a slow and steady approach Find recipes that are balanced and
to be successful. Ayurveda provides that you enjoy eating. There are many
many recommendations on how to good cookbooks to consider, as well as

make a healthy transition to becoming online options, such as: ‘The Ayurvedic
vegetarian. A good approach is to use a Vegan Kitchen: Finding Harmony

step-wise approach of first cutting out Through Food’ by Talya Lutzker and
red meat, then removing poultry, and ‘The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook:
lastly seafood over a two-to-three-month A Seasonal Guide to Eating’ by Kate

time period. As you remove meats, be O’Donnell. As you eat less meat, your
sure to replace them with plant-based body will undergo a detoxification, so

options that have adequate amounts of drinking adequate amounts of fluid is
protein. For example, steak tacos could critical to flush out your system.
be replaced with bean tacos. Start adding

filling plant foods such as yams, legumes Ayurveda is an ancient, holistic healing
(adzuki, pinto, black and garbanzo beans system which strives to balance the

and chickpeas), nuts, seeds, and grains to 5 elements (space, air, fire, earth
your diet. and water) in our bodies with our
surroundings and universe. A basic

There is a tendency to overeat certain tenet of Ayurveda is improving digestion
food items such as carbohydrates or eliminating toxins in the body by, which

dairy as you transition over to a plant- is considered the root cause of disease in
based diet. So, it’s important to be aware our body-minds. Below are other ways to
of the number of proteins, carbohydrates improve your digestion and nourishment

and fats you are consuming and make of your body as you transition over to
sure you’re eating a balanced diet. A being a vegetarian:

good rule of thumb is: each meal should
consist of about two-thirds of veggies . Begin each day by drinking 1 or 2 cups
plus one-third of proteins (cottage of warm water. You can add a splash of

myindigosun.com 25