Hindu mythology instructs man to live a long and disease free life attaining the four Purusharthas - Dharma, Ardha, Kama and Mokha. Ayurveda Shastra begins with suggesting different ways to attain these Purusharthas. So, everyone holds a myth that Ayurveda instructs we people to eat vegetarian food only. Also, when a patient approaches an Ayurveda physician for treatment of any disease, the first instruction given will be to reduce or abandon non-vegetarian food completely. This makes everyone believe that Ayurveda means strict vegetarian food. But it’s not the case. Through this article I am giving a brief description of non-vegetarian food suggested by Ayurveda. If some non-vegetarian food is included in our diet with control, it gives a lot of advantages to the body and acts as a medicine too – says Ayurveda.

Is non-vegetarian food really harmful?

Most recently, all headlines of Kerala newspapers were closing of many leading hotels due to the supply of bad food and food poisoning. A few cases have been reported where young people died after eating Shawarma and other non-vegetarian food from restaurants. Seeing those headings people began to think, ‘Are they harmful?’ Truth is that any food, vegetarian or non-vegetarian if used after 3 or 4 days of its preparation is harmful to the body, even if it’s stored in refrigerator. We should kindly avoid any old preserved food if we want to keep ourselves healthy and free of new generation diseases. When we eat food from outside, we can’t find if the served food is fresh or not. That’s the main reason why doctors strictly instruct not to depend on restaurant and fast foods. Instead be familiar with homely food.

Classification of food according to Ayurveda

In all classical books of Ayurveda, importance is given to our food and food habits. Also, a classification is given. Dhaanya varga (whole grains), Shaaka varga (leaves), Maamsa varga (flesh), Phala varga (fruits), Kantha varga (tubers), Lavana varga, Krithanna varga (prepared food) and Aushada varga (medicines) – it’s really interesting to categorize foods into different types. It’s informative too! Of these categories, some of them should be taken on a regular basis to get good body and health. Rice, wheat, gooseberry, white guard, peas, spinach and flesh of animals living on dry surface can be used daily according to Ayurveda.

Eight categories of animals are edible according to Ayurveda

In Ayurveda notes, it’s seen that 8 groups of animals can be used as food.

1. Mrig – Those animals which eat grass
2. Vishkiram – Those birds which scratch soil to eat something
3. Pradusham – Those birds which use their beaks to eat food
4. Vilesayam – Those animals living in holes and burrows
5. Prasaham – Those carnivorous birds or animals which bend forward their necks to eat something
6. Mahamrigam – Animals of good body size
7. Apcharam – Those swim in water
8. Malsyam – fishes

These categories are normally found in dry places known as ‘Jaangatha’ in Ayurveda. Their meat contains cool characteristics and simplicity. They can also be used for Tridosha – Vatha, Pitha and Kafa. Deers and rabbits come under ‘mrig’ category.  Streaked weaver, bat, forest hen, red-wattled lapwing, kada hen, greater coucal, peacock etc fall under ‘vishkiram’ category. Cuckoo, owl, parrot, dove etc come under pradusham. All the above mentioned birds and animals are less fatty ones and can be used everyday in limited proportions. But, only hen is available everywhere, on which people depends most.

Hens are of two types

Those hens which grow in forest and those which are seen at homes are those two categories. A small type of hens known as ‘kada’ seen in forests has high medicinal value as it eats medicinal grass and herbs of forest. Since its food is natural, including this type of hen in our regular food makes us more strong and healthy. Also, it’s told that one kada egg is equal to four normal eggs. But it’s 1/5th of the size of normal eggs. Nowadays, kada hen and eggs we get from markets are grown at homes and poultry firms. So they don’t hold those medicinal values.
Hens found in forests can keep us young, healthy and good for both eyes and ears. Meat from hens grown in homes can increase ‘kafa’ – one of those thridoshams given in Ayurveda. Also, it takes more time to digest. Yet it’s safe to eat hen grown at homes than buying from market.

How should we eat non-vegetarian food?

Though it’s told in Ayurveda that we can eat meat daily, it clearly instructs to prepare fresh meat without much spices and artificial ingredients. Also, eat it in minimum quantity. It indirectly implies we should not use other meats regularly. Beef, mutton, pork etc are such non-vegetarian items. Beef can include cow, buffalo, ox etc. That means a person who eats beef from outside can’t know which animal he is taking as food. Such meats are instructed for some diseases and weak body. Buffalo’s meat doesn’t own any cool characteristics and takes more time to digest. It helps to make body strong and solve many sleeping disorders. According to Ayurveda pork is good to reduce body tiredness and provide it with strength. Among fishes, red fish is considered as the best. But as prawns indicate ‘thidosham’ Ayurveda instructs not to include it in our daily diet.

Since mineral contents of goat’s body are similar to man’s, it is told in Ayurveda to be the best. Also sheetha-guru-shigdha characteristic of goat’s meat is low. Hence it doesn’t invite thidosham, but increases body weight. Sheep can increase body weight and its characteristics are just opposite to goat. Hence it should never be used on a regular basis.

Seasons of non-vegetarians

Except monsoon, we can use both meat and fish with some control. Those persons having obesity problems should reduce its quantity as much as possible while slim people can use it on a regular basis. Though it can be used as fried or curry, avoid deep fried items to maintain body health. But less fatty fishes like netholi can be used by over-weight persons as well. But, avoid frying items. Since we are not doing any physical work at night, it’s better to avoid non-vegetarian items for supper.
Avoid fish and meat during rainy season. Rain water drains every impurity and when it reaches sea and rivers, water is polluted and fish might intake such harmful substances. Hence it’s better to avoid them during monsoons. But Ayurveda instructs ‘soups’ during monsoons. Ingredients used in soups can detoxify many harmful substances of our body and they are easily digested as well. It’s a good energizer and for those slim people, Ayurveda suggests non-vegetarian soups.

Always use fresh meat

Now it’s the market of grilled and Arabian meat. No one is caring about its health hazards. For those people, a few points to remember. Meat we eat should be fresh and cleaned well. We can’t assure that the fast food items we buy from restaurants are fresh and prepared in healthy conditions. They add many spices, oils and artificial colours to get a good appearance and taste as well. But they are very harmful to human body that can even cause deaths. In Ashtangahridayam, it’s told that we should eat only young animals which are just killed, that implies only fresh meat to be used. That is, we should avoid aged, unhealthy and diseased animals and never go for those, which died due to some disease or old age. Also, you should be aware of which meat you are including.

Never use meat with milk

Ayurveda says, if meat combines with milk or milk products, it acts as poison. So avoid milk, curd, butter, butter milk etc along with non-vegetarian items. Also, never use them just before or after taking meat as well. That’s why curd, butter, butter milk etc are often considered as a part of vegetarian meal from early days itself.

Never mix different items or heat it again

Never heat cooked meat again – Ayurveda instructs! Also never eat more than one meat item at the same time.

Yes, everything has both good and bad effects. If we are able to control those bad effects and wisely use those good ones, it gives a lot of benefits to we people. So, today onwards, try to keep these Ayurveda principles in your diet for a healthy tomorrow.