Part 1: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Application
Ayurvedic Versus Western Medicine
A Spiritual and Medical System
Ayurveda’s Two Main Principles
The Eight Branches of Ayurveda
Digesting Food and Thoughts: Ojas and Ama
You May Be Practicing Ayurveda Already
Shad Darshan: The Six Philosophies of Life
The Three Doshas and the Five Elements That Create Them
Part 2: Your Unique Mind-Body Type
Understanding the Doshas as Qualities
Your Choices Affect Your Characteristics
6 The Best Foods for Each Dosha
Assessing Your Natural Tendencies
What Happens When Your Vata Is Excess?
What Happens When Your Pitta Is Excess?
What Happens When Your Kapha Is Excess?
8 Lifestyle Practices for Each Dosha
Part 3: Establishing an Everyday Routine
9 The Times According to Ayurveda
Why Follow an Ayurvedic Schedule?
Kapha Time (6 A.M. to 10 A.M.)
Pitta Time (10 A.M. to 2 P.M.)
Kapha Time (6 P.M. to 10 P.M.)
Pitta Time (10 P.M. to 2 A.M.)
Get Quality Sleep Before Midnight
The Veil Between Earth and Universe Is Lifted
10 Setting Up Your Morning Routine
The Importance of Your Morning Routine
How Your Mornings Set Your Day
The Benefits of a Morning Routine
What If You’re Not a Morning Person?
Scheduling Your Morning Routine
Digestion Begins on the Tongue
Hot Stimulates the Digestive Fire
The Benefits of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
The Importance of Your Internal Fire
Your Body Begins with Digestion
The Four Types of Digestive Fires
Vishama Agni (Vata, Irregular)
The Best Foods for Each Agni Type
13 The Ayurvedic Perspective on Nutrition
The Five Types of Nutritional Disorders
Quantitative Dietary Deficiency
Qualitative Dietary Deficiency
Quantitative and Qualitative Overnutrition
Foods Unstable for One’s Doshic Constitution
A Closer Look at Quantitative Deficiencies
Treating Quantitative Deficiencies
A Closer Look at Qualitative Deficiencies
Treating Qualitative Dietary Deficiencies
Quantitative and Qualitative Overnutrition
A Closer Look at Quantitative and Qualitative Overnutrition
Treating Quantitative and Qualitative Overnutrition
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone
Genetically Modified Organisms
Foods Unstable for One’s Doshic Constitution
How Ayurveda Sees Your Bodily Tissues
How Taste Determines Nutrition
Madhura Avastha Paka (Sweet Stage)
Amla Avastha Paka (Sour Stage)
Lavana Avastha Paka (Salty Stage)
Katu Avastha Paka (Pungent Stage)
Tikta Avastha Paka (Bitter Stage)
Kashaya Avastha Paka (Astringent Stage)
Don’t Snack Throughout the Day
Schedule Your Digestion According to Your Dosha
17 Ayurvedic Elemental Recipes
18 Common Ayurvedic Diet Questions
Questions About Ayurvedic Cooking
What If You Don’t Know How to Cook?
What If You Don’t Have the Money?
Do You Need to Buy Totally Organic?
What If You Don’t Have Time to Cook Every Day?
How Do You Cook for Your Family of Different Doshas?
How Can You Eat Ayurvedically at a Restaurant?
What Time Should Your Last Meal of the Day Be?
Questions About Preparing for an Ayurvedic Diet
What Cooking Equipment Do You Need?
Part 5: The Spiritual Side of Ayurveda
19 Cosmic Forces and Universal Qualities
Sattva: The Light of Consciousness
20 The Koshas: Your Five Layered Bodies
Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body)
Vijnanamaya Kosha (Intuitive Body)
Beyond the Koshas People Are One
Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
Shirodhara (Third Eye Therapy)
Nabhi Basti (Digestion Therapy)
Netra Basti (Eye Rejuvenation Therapy)
Hrid Basti (Heart Opening Therapy)
Udvartanam (Dry Powder Massage)