Ayurvedic Nutrition - Is Prep Time An Issue?

With the pace of modern life we often feel we don't have time to prepare meals so we may go for quick options of pre-prepared foods or meals. One of the main comments I hear is - "I don't have time to prepare my own food".

What if I said to you "You don't need much time". It's all about planning and preparation.

I know that Ayurveda recommends cooking over a wood fire, if possible. Since for most of us this is not a viable option, a gas stove is also fine since it is also close to natural fire. An electric stove is also an acceptable option. We want to be cooking over a slow lower heat for a longer period of time, especially if we have digestive issues (low agni - see article in last issue). The food will then be in a form that allows us to assimilate its life force or prana.

I also get asked my opinion about using a microwave oven as a way to speed up food prep. The microwave oven has become part of the modern kitchen because of our desire for convenience and speed. When I was growing up, my mother used her oven to reheat food but many people also use it to cook their dishes. Microwaves cook the food from the inside out by vibrating the molecules in the food against one another with force. Most natural health experts recommend avoiding the use of a microwave oven because the energy/life force of the food is reduced or destroyed. This opinion is supported by scientific studies such as the one by Swiss researcher, Dr Hans Hertel, who found that microwave cooking changes food nutrients significantly and reduced haemoglobin levels in people eating it.

Since using a microwave oven to save time reduces the life force in the food and thus that which is available for us to assimilate, we'll see a reduction in our intrinsic life force, which can lead to physical and psychological issues in the long run.

Rapid food preparation does not require a microwave oven, it just requires a minimum of planning and preparation. If you do re-heat food, your cooker or an electric toaster is almost as quick for many dishes. But for fuller health now and in the future it's important to enjoy a diet of fresh whole foods that have been processed as little as possible and are freshly prepared. So, how about taking a little more time now and letting 2009 be the year when you get on track for fuller health with Ayurvedic Nutrition?nn(c) 2009 Janet Gomez