The Importance Of Ayurvedic Spices
According to Ayurveda, food plays an important role in prevention.Proper intake of nutritious food according to body constitution is neccessary for good health. Also the right combination of foods and the amount ingested play an importantrole in preserving health.
Ayurveda also advises that most diseases ocur from improper eating habits and poor nutrition. By using spices at every meal , your agni (digestive fire ) and digestion are enhanced, therefore leading to health and wellbeing. Spices also have a therapeutic effect.
The ‘’spice- box’’ or seven spices are considered the magic of Indian cooking. The exotic colors and aromas can stimulate your olfactory sensory organ and taste buds that aids in digestion and balance your mind and body.
General Tips For Cooking With Spices
Most Spices are potent, so you need only a little amount.
These seven combinations of spices are suitable for each body type, but you can blend them as per your taste. These are combinations of sattvic, rajasic and tamasic spices.
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SPICES
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TASTE
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QUALITY
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DHATU AFFECTED
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Cumin Seeds
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Bitter
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Heating
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Plasma / Rasa
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Tumeric
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Bitter, Pungent, Astringent
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Heating
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Blood / Rakta
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Mustard Seeds
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Pungent
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Heating
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Muscles / Meda
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Coriender
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Bitter, Pungent
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Cooling
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Fat / Mansa
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Fenugreek Seeds
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Bitter , Astringent
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Heating
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Bones / Ashti
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Asafoetida
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Pungent
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Heating
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Nerves / Majja
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Ginger Powder
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Pungent, Bitter, Sweet
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Heating
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Reproductive / Shukra
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**This text is taken from the book of Ayurveda a Quick Reference Handbook written by Dr. Manisha Kshirsagar and Ana Cristina R. Magno