The importance of including salt, oil, sugar and spices in your diet

Salt, oil, sugar and spices occupy an important role in our daily diet and are consumed in one form or another. While an excess of these ingredients is indeed bad for health, our bodies need them in small quantities for a number of reasons. Before mindlessly believing that salt, sugar and fat is bad for your body, read this article and understand how having these food items in moderate quantities can help you.

Ayurveda teaches that salt is essential for growth, maintaining water-electrolyte balance, and proper digestion, absorption and elimination of wastes. It creates flexibility in the joints, stimulates the appetite and helps digest natural toxins, clearing the subtle channels of the body. Salt balances Vata and can imbalance Pitta and Kapha when used excessively, causing premature wrinkles, thirst, skin problems and weakness.

Throughout time, salt has been an irreplaceable part of our kitchens and is used to flavour up every other dish. However, excessive salt consumption could result in serious health problems as it directly impacts the energy levels in one body. Salt is typically made up of fire and water elements and a small amount regulates moisture level in the body. This promotes better absorption of nutrients from food, regulates blood pressure and is vital for the functioning of the brain and nervous system.

Eating too much salt can have a range of effects. In the short term, it may cause bloating, severe thirst and a temporary rise in blood pressure. In the long term, it may also lead to hypernatremia, which, if left untreated, can be fatal. In Ayurveda, from a holistic perspective anything overused, misused or used in a high amount leads to an imbalance in the body.

Similarly, Ayurveda teaches that the sweet taste nourishes and invigorates the mind, relieves hunger and thirst, increases tissues and improves the immune system. Importantly, it is associated with the positive emotions of happiness, contentment, calmness, cheerfulness, love and satisfaction when eaten in appropriate amounts. But again, it has to be taken in moderation. From an Ayurvedic perspective, we need to consider long-term moderation combined with well-timed and precise restraint. In order to ditch white sugar and switch to a healthier version, brown sugar, jaggery and natural fruits are used as an alternative to refined sugar. Natural sources of sugar are digested slower and help you feel full for longer. It also helps keep your metabolism stable.

‘Ati sevanam’ as per Ayurveda might lead to high blood pressure or hypertension. Whereas high amounts of fat intake can cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries, on the other hand too many spices may give acute gastritis and stomach ulcers. But if consumed in moderation these spices help in combating heart diseases, inflammation and keep the body warm especially in winters.

Hence the key is to keep consuming everything in moderation and avoid Atikriya (overdoing) of everything, be it food, lifestyle, indulgence or any activity. Here are some things you need to eliminate from your daily routine-

• Avoid suppression of natural urges like that of urine.
• Avoid sleeping for long hours during the day. You can nap for a max of 10-15 minutes.
• Avoid excessive stress and anger on trivial issues.
• Avoid staying up late at night and have at least 6-8 hours of sleep.

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