Secrets of Longevity 4: Daily Rejuvenative Diet

So, I billed Secrets of Longevity as a three-part series, but here is part 4!

I’ve spent the past week doing an intensive with my students on Kitchen Herbs and Medicinal Foods and it put me in mind of a special food list compiled by Charak, one of the great sages of Ayurveda. You’ve heard of the Mediterranean Diet, the Paleo Diet and many others. Here, I proudly present, the Charak Longevity Diet! These are the foods Charak suggests we incorporate on a daily basis.

First, rice. For Charak, rice is a vital staple food that soothes vata disorders, balances all three doshas, relieves tiredness and strengthens the reproductive system. It is especially a good staple for children and the elderly. Try incorporating basmati rice, Bhutanese red rice and black Forbidden Rice into your diet. Sometimes I like to mix red and black rice together for an extra array of phytonutrients.

Second comes mung dal. You can enjoy both whole mung beans and split yellow mung dal as well sprouted mung. The most digestible of all legumes, mung beans are rich in essential amino acids, potassium, magnesium, folate and antioxidants.  They balance pitta and kapha, are beneficial for eyesight and bestow strength and energy. Combine mung and rice together by making kichari a dietary staple. You’ll also get the benefits of superfood spices like turmeric and cumin if you use the kichari recipes on our website.

 Third is rock salt. While this traditionally comes from the Himalayas, you can also use Utah salt, sold under the brand name Real Salt, for the same benefits. This is the most suitable salt for pitta to use in moderation. It has a cooling energy, unlike other types of salt, and can help balance all three doshas when used judiciously. It is beneficial to the eyes, improves the sense of taste, has an aphrodisiac effect, calms hiccups and benefits the heart.

Fourth, Amlaki, a stellar antioxidant and de-ageing herb. Many people guarantee that they incorporate the amazing rejuvenative power of amlaki in their daily diet by drinking a cup of triphala tea every day. Triphala is a combination of three special rejuvenative fruits, Haritaki, Amlaki and Bibhitaki. Others prefer to take a spoonful of Chyavanprash, an amlaki-based herbal rejuvenative jam, each morning on an empty stomach. Personally, I would not like to start my day without Chyavanprash.

The fifth special food is barley. This is particularly good for kapha. Add pearl barley to your soups or make a barley-based kichari. You can also prepare sattu by roasting and grinding barley. Cook the sattu with boiling water to make a porridge favoured by the Yogis—a great instant breakfast.

Sixth is water. Charak recommends rainwater, which would have been purer in his day than it is now. At Alandi we drink delicious Artesian water from Eldorado Springs. We also keep some water in a copper vessel overnight and drink a few ounces in the morning for extra rejuvenative benefits. Be sure to drink water daily and not just coffee or tea.

Seventh is ghee. Rich in medium chain and especially short chain fatty acids, especially butyrates, which support a healthy microbiome and shut off gene expression for cancer and inflammation, Ghee does not raise cholesterol, and is high in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), needed to build lean muscle mass and support weight loss. It is a good source of fat-soluble vitamins, including A, D, E, and K. Ghee does not contain casein or lactose. For daily use, ghee is taken with food for all who desire nourishment. It is of especial value for those affected with fatigue, loss of strength, anaemia, jaundice and eye diseases. However, wonderful as ghee is, not all people should consume it in large quantities. Children, and the elderly should have ghee only in modest amounts. Ghee should also be limited in those who have kapha-type indigestion, gastroenteritis, hangover, fever and loss of appetite.

Number eight, meat of wild animals. Wild animals get plenty of exercise and are eating their natural diet. Meat is one of the most nourishing and building foods, so wild meats such as venison and rabbit are beneficial additions to our daily food intake. One can also include here meat from range-fed cattle and bison as well as lamb from sheep that roam the hills. However, those who are practicing yoga should remain vegetarian, as this is the diet prescribed in the yogic texts.

And the magic number nine, honey. Much more than just another sweetener, honey contains B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, calcium, amino acids. Natural raw honey also contains valuable pollen and propolis constituents which benefit immunity. Honey balances all three doshas; however, fresh honey is best for pitta and older, crystallized honey is better as an expectorant, anti-fat and anti-kapha medicine.

Last but by no means least, natural unhomogenized organic milk. Milk is considered as ‘the best of all life-giving (jivaniya) substances’, since it is the pure essence of grass. Milk calms vata and pitta, increases longevity, is aphrodisiac and strengthens the bones. Drink warm milk at bedtime, spiced with cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper or saffron.

 Charak was of course limited by the foods available in India at the time he was writing. I am sure he would have added olive oil if he had access to this amazing healing food. And chocolate, of course!

   Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.

Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!