Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing [Paperback]

Usha Lad (Author), Vasant Lad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1994 | ISBN-10: 1883725003 | ISBN-13: 978-1883725006

Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India, teaches that food plays an essential part in one's health and sense of well-being. Here is an authentic guide of the Ayurvedic approach to food and tasty vegetarian cooking. The recipes are formulated using herbs and spices to help balance the constitution of each person. The effects of the foods on individual constitution is included with every recipe together with the medicinal properties of many of the foods. <P>This is a cookbook and much more. Included in this book are chapters on: the principles of Ayurveda and individual constitution; maintaining one's health, digestion and constitutional balance; the importance of proper food combining for optimal well-being; setting up an Ayurvedic kitchen and planning menus inclusive of every member of your family and more than 100 recipes of delicious Ayurvedic cuisine. <P> These important sections include even more benefits from Ayurveda: nearly 300 simple remedies for everything from the common cold and skin problems to stabilizing blood sugar in diabetics, all using familiar household herbs, fruits and vegetables! A chart for determining your individual constitution. Comprehensive food guidelines for basic constitutional types. A listing of the qualities of foods and their affects on the doshas.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a tasty, loving rendition of favorite Indian foods. The food guidelines and explanations of food's healing properties are indispensable. --Rebecca Withers, Yoga International, Sept. 1998<br /><br />...a tasty, loving rendition of favorite Indian foods. The food guidelines and explanations of foodÂ’s healing properties are indispensable. --Rebecca Withers, Yoga International, Sept. 1998 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

During and after my internship, I worked as a house physician in the departments of medicine, surgery, gynecology and pediatrics at the Ayurvedic Hospital in Pune. At that time I observed repeatedly how correct diet, combined with proper herbal medicine and lifestyle, can play a vital role in healing. I became increasingly aware that illness provides an "invitation" to change one’s habitual patterns.

As my awareness grew about the role of food as medicine, I observed that many health problems seemed intertwined with the stresses of daily life. These include worries about one’s job or money, tension and even the stress created by eating the wrong kinds of food and improper food combining. In the last twenty years I have seen many problems, sometimes culminating in serious illness, that were the result of poor food choices and ignorance of the art of proper cooking for oneself and for the family.

In this book you will find simple, practical approaches to food and specific recipes from the Ayurvedic art of cooking to help restore the body’s healthful balance. Though there is much helpful information within these covers, this book is not proposed as a treatment plan for any disease. This, of course, you must obtain from your own doctor.

I met my wife Usha at the Ayurvedic Hospital in Pune where she was a student of Ayurvedic nursing. After we were married, Usha began using her knowledge and love of Ayurveda as her guiding light in preparing our meals. She always brings great love and respect to every stage of food preparation, and she cooks each meal with all of her heart.

My wish is that you will discover in these pages a creative program for better health for yourself and your family. These recipes and healing ways are meant to enter your life as a natural method of healing without any side effects or reactions. Enjoy your Ayurvedic cooking for health, happiness and the healing of family and friends.

God bless you with love and light.

Dr. Vasant Lad --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Ayurvedic Pr (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883725003
• ISBN-13: 978-1883725006
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,948,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best!, January 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing (Paperback)

This Ayurvedic cookbook is well suited for the beginner as well as an experienced cook. There is an introduction to Ayurveda and dosha specific eating presented in the beginning of the book. This will help you receive full benefit of the receipies and suggestions given. However if you do not care about Ayurveda the book still provides you with some of the most interesting and tasy Indian receipies (of course all vegetarian) I have had. Mrs. Lad's easy to follow instructions and down to earth approach to Indian cooking makes for an easy and succesful outcome of the cooking adventure. Great book, definitely a must in any Indian-food lover's collection.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful ayurveda book but just average cookbook., September 28, 2006

By 

PanchaSila (Wichita, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing (Paperback)

I was excited to get this book. Read it attentively and tried two of the recipies. Kitchari for Vata and Spicy Vegetable Fried Rice. The explaination by Vasant Lad was good and detail. I like it very much. As for the recipies, they smells superb but are tasteless. I still recomend this book for those who like to learn to cook a ayurvedic balanced food. But if you are looking into cooking a delicious mouth watering meal. This is not the book. Still an excellent ayurvedic book.

38 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, basic book, March 13, 2003

By 

N.N. (Albuquerque, NM, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing (Paperback)

This is a good, very basic intro to Ayurvedic cooking, but if you're looking for a book that gives a clear and precise program for tackling real health problems through Ayurvedic principles of nutrition, I would strongly recommend the cookbook put out by Ayurvedic educator, Maya Tiwari's center in Asheville, NC, instead.