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Eight important rules are involved in the intake of a
proper diet. These are called Asta Ahara Vidhi
Visesayatana (Eight Factors of Diet and Dietetics). All
these eight factors are complementary to each other and
denote wholesomeness of diet. Their consideration is
essential.
- Prakruti
-Nature of food articles.
- Karana
-Method involved in the processing of
the food articles.
- Samyoga
-Combination of food articles.
- Rasi
-Quantity of food articles.
- Desa
-Habitat or climate
- Kala
-Time i.e. state of disease and or
state of an individual.
- Upayoga samstha -Rules
governing the intake of food.
- Upayokta
-Wholesomeness of individual who
takes it.
These factors give rise to good as well as bad
effects and at the same time are helpful to one another.
It is essential to know these factors in order to intake
the right diet.
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| Prakruti (Nature of food articles) |
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Natural qualities are the innate
properties of the substances. The presence of qualities
like heaviness is the natural property of substances
used in our diet or in the preparation of drugs.
Heaviness for e.g. is the natural property of black
gram, pork etc.
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| Karana (Method of processing) |
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Preparation is the process performed to
modify the natural properties of substances. This
modification is brought about by
- Dilution,
- Application of heat (vaporization, distillation
and sublimation),
- Clarification,
- Emulsification,
- Storing,
- Maturing,
- Flavouring,
- Impregnation,
- Preservation.
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| Samyoga (Combination) |
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| Combination is the combining together
of two or more substances. This chemical combination
exhibits special properties which none of the substances
ever possessed. The new property thus formed could be
useful or in some cases harmful to the body.
Example:
- The combination of honey and ghee; honey or ghee
taken alone is very good for our system but if they
are combined together, they become toxic.
- Similarly, the combination of honey, fish and milk
has a toxic effect.
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| Rasi (Quantum) |
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The rasi (quantum) is the measure of
the total mass of each constituent, which helps in
determining the effects of the right and wrong doses of
our diet. The measure of the entire meal as a whole is
the total measurement of the diet. On the other hand
measuring of each and every article of diet is called
detailed measurement. Similarly measuring the parts
separately is also known as detailed measurement.
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| Desa (Habitat/climate) |
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Habitat is a geographic region. It
indicates variations in equalities of substances due to
difference in soil, use and climate.
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| Kala (Time) |
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Time is used in two senses time in the
general sense and time in the sense of a stage. Stage is
used in relation to disease whereas time in the general
sense is used in relation to seasonal wholesomeness.
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| Upayoga samstha (Rules governing the
intake of food) |
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There are certain dietetic rules, which
need to be followed by one and all, and these are
usually determined by the strength of digestion of a
person.
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| Upayoka (Wholesomeness of individual
who takes it) |
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The user is the one who makes use of
food and habituation depends upon him.
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Healthy
Living
