Principle of nutrition and dietetics in sowa rigpa

Abstract

All living beings need food to live. It is a means of good life, health, and wellness. Inappropriate food will cause diseases and at the same time, food is the first medication against diseases. Just like anything in the universe, food is made of five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. A balanced diet should contain all of the five elements. Although all plants contain these five elements, the varying ratios found in different plants make the six tastes: Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter, Pungent, and Astringent. A different taste has different functions in our body. Deficiency or an excess of a particular taste in food results in an imbalance of the three humours, causing diseases. As we have different nature of body constitution:
Wind, Bile and Phlegm, the requirement for food varies from individual to individual.