It’s Not Just What, It’s Also How
If you’ve learned anything about Ayurveda, you probably understand that it is the original owner’s manual for the human body and the source for the idea that food is medicine also summed up by the phrase, you are what you eat. Since the body is over 50% water, that applies to beverages too. In fact, well-intended but counter-productive choices in drinks are major factors in the problems I find among my clients. So, let’s take a look at those problems and the solutions.
To be sure, it’s not just about the substance, but also how it’s consumed. This is because the digestive system is the backbone of a healthy physiology, which is tasked with transforming food and liquids into healthy tissues, Ojas (the finest product of digestion and source of strength, vitality, and immunity), and sustaining consciousness. Ayurveda teaches us that Agni is that transforming intelligence of nature manifest at the subtlest level of our being as our digestive “fire.” Health requires balance. If you’re feeling cold, a warm drink should help. A cool or cold one won’t. On the other hand, if you’re feeling hot from working outside in summer, something tepid or at room temperature will be welcomed by your body much more than ice-cold liquid. Why is that?
What do you think happens if we pour ice-cold beverages on our inner fire? That’s right, ice-cold beverages weaken it so it can’t do its job properly. If we don’t digest our food well, instead of healthy tissues and Ojas, we get yucky stuff called Ama. These toxins clog the fine channels of the body, attract imbalances of the Doshas, and sow the seeds of disease. The same thing happens if we drink too large a quantity of liquid, regardless of temperature, just before or during a meal. Effectively Agni gets diluted.
My Starbucks Story
I grew up in Seattle. In college, I was, for a short time, a customer of the original store in Pike Place Market, which was primarily a purveyor of coffee beans from around the world, not a café. Even so, they always had a flavor of the day freshly brewed and ready for tasting. One day, I not only tried that flavor, but took a pound of freshly ground coffee back to my room near the University of Washington campus. The heady aroma filled the bus. It wasn’t limburger cheese, but it made me self-conscious. Anyhow, when I got back, I felt compelled to brew some in the little drip pot I’d also purchased there. After those two cups, I found my fingers shaking for rest of the day. That night, I didn’t sleep too well.
From the Ayurveda perspective, coffee has the defect of being extremely Rajasic (see the Three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). That quality of Rajas stimulates undirected activity in the nervous system. That’s a problem that goes well beyond the observable side-effects, when the fundamental principle of health is to favor Sattva in all things. Moreover, coffee is extremely acidic, which aggravates Pitta, and bitter, which aggravates Vata. Aggravating both the Doshas that are most prone to getting out of balance is a losing proposition. From the modern medical perspective, I’ve never seen anyone resolve gastritis, esophagitis, or reflux who wasn’t willing to stop coffee, and as we’ll soon see, alcohol-containing beverages.
If this is an issue for you, remember the principle of making changes in a gradual way: a quarter-step at a time. See: Personal Change for more details. That would mean, for example, going from 4 cups a day, to 3, then 2, then 1 in the processes of quitting. Otherwise, you’ll be likely to get headaches or become very crabby.
Black tea isn’t acidic, but it has the added disadvantage of its fermentation processing, which makes it both Rajasic (stimulating) and Tamasic (dulling) to the nervous system. Moreover, like coffee, it’s often taken with milk—and that’s a recipe for corrupting the Sattvic qualities of milk and creating Ama.
Conventional Sophisticated Choices May Not Be Wise
In our day, when socializing, sophisticated adults gravitate towards fine wine or possibly craft beer. This is actually an ancient phenomenon. The Ayurvedic classics acknowledge the virtues of wine in promoting relaxation from the stresses of the world, witty conversation, and sexual desire. More than a little, however, can lead to problems with impulse control, and we’ve all seen people who get belligerent and red in the face when drinking, effects that can be easily connected to alcohol’s propensity to aggravate Pitta in the extreme along with Vata (ever had a hangover?). What is more, alcohol is the quintessential Tamasic substance and destroys Ojas. So, its potential virtues come at a steep price.
I also see a lot of clients who have been favoring smoothies. They seem like a simple solution for people who are attracted to internet health food fads. Just throw your protein powder, superfoods, banana, some kale or other greens, and some yogurt in your Vitamix, along with a little ice and let it rip. It’s an effortless means to a liquid meal. By now you should be able to see that it is, unfortunately, not healthful at all. Even if you skip the ice and have it at room temperature, you’ve mixed foods that don’t belong together. Yogurt (or milk) and banana when combined create Ama. Banana itself is a heavy food that is hard to digest in the morning when smoothies are often favored. The protein powder is Tamasic and generally qualifies as an ultra-processed food. Ultra-processed foods are now recognized by modern medicine as major contributors to obesity and other health issues. The mixture of fruits and vegetables diminishes the value of the fruits, which give maximum nourishment when taken alone.
Some are still into juicing. Compared to coffee, tea, alcohol, and your typical smoothie, juicing is not so bad especially if it doesn’t mix fruits and vegetables and is done in small batches that are promptly consumed. Here, we are ignoring commercial juices which aren’t fresh and often have added sugars or preservatives. The downside of juicing is simply that it wastes the part of nature’s packaging that has great value for the digestive system, namely the pulp, which is a good source of fiber and it makes the final product more calorie dense. For example, it takes about three oranges to make a cup of orange juice. When did you ever eat three oranges in one sitting? Thus, juicing is particularly bad for people who struggle with weight control.
Liquids for Health
Now that we’ve debunked the conventional wisdom, what’s the alternative? Actually, there are plenty of options including water, milk, diluted yogurt, herbal teas, and coffee alternatives.
Plain Water
Something as simple as water could lead to a nuanced discussion. The basic concept is that pure water when taken according to thirst at a suitable temperature is excellent for health. In summer and for balancing Pitta, room temperature is best. When the weather is cold and for balancing Vata and Kapha, it’s best if the water was boiled and if not taken then, kept warm in a good thermos.
In general, hard water, which has lots of trace minerals, is better for health than soft water. It’s common for those who have very hard water to get water softening systems. These rely on ion-exchange columns that substitute sodium chloride or potassium chloride for calcium, iron, manganese, and other cations. Soft water is nicer in the plumbing and for clothes washing, etc. These systems periodically waste a sizable volume of water to recharge the column and dump saline solution into sewer or septic.
To avoid drinking the resulting water that’s now high in sodium, many homeowners choose to install a reverse osmosis system for their drinking water. That results in water without any trace minerals. While it also removes any toxins that might be present, it wastes a gallon of water for every gallon consumed in the process. To make up for these lost minerals, you could rely on your choices of fruits and vegetable to maintain healthy body levels, put a mixer valve in the plumbing to add some of the source water to the reverse osmosis system, or supplement.
Regardless, if you are concerned about potential hazards in your water supply, a filter system with activated carbon cartridges like Everpure (under the sink) or Brita is a simple solution. Such an approach is less costly than bottled water. Single-use bottled water is an environmental nightmare that has yet to be addressed.
Milk
The word “milk” used to mean cow’s milk. Today, people are into all sorts of alternative milks, so the word has become ambiguous. All the alternative milks have potential benefits in individua situations along with limitations due to their processed nature, additives, and lack of freshness. Cow’s milk is one of the best substances for balancing both Vata and Pitta, and in moderation will be fine for Kapha. Besides water, it is the one food that can be enjoyed day or night. When sourced and consumed according to Ayurvedic principles, it is nourishing, easily digested, and rapidly converted to Ojas. Otherwise, it can be a potent source of Ama. Since Ayurveda has been forgotten, this potential for harm may be one major driver of the shift to alternative milks.
Milk needs to be boiled before drinking to become digestible. This means boiling to the point of foaming up the sides of the pot. A microwave is not appropriate for this purpose. Cinamon, cardamon, and fresh ginger are the most suitable spices for boiled milk. Chocolate is not Sattvic. Instead, try a little lightly roasted carob powder if you want a chocolate-like taste. Another option is Banyan’s Ashwagandha Latte Mix. They suggest 1.5 tsp. per cup. I find ½ tsp. is plenty.
See https://qatoqi.com/ayurveda/milk.htm for more details on how to get maximum benefit from cow’s milk and what to do if you have a history of lactose intolerance.
Yogurt
By itself, yogurt is heavy and sour, posing a problem for Pitta and Kapha or for anyone who takes it in the morning or evening. Nevertheless, when suitably diluted with lukewarm water and combined with some spices, it becomes nectar for the GI tract. In fact, dilute yogurt (as lassi or Ayurvedic buttermilk, aka Takra) is the number one therapy for bowel disorders, hemorrhoids, and many other conditions. Lassi is best consumed with lunch or as an afternoon drink. See https://qatoqi.com/ayurveda/yogurt.htm for recipes and instructions for making your own yogurt. If you don’t have time or interest in making your own yogurt, buy a container of good quality yogurt that you can finish within a week. I have found that many brands that look good on paper (organic, grass feed, etc.) are extremely sour. Avoid them. Also, don’t waste money on Greek yogurt which is thick because the whey has been drained off. You pay more for less! Whole Foods and Stonyfield Farms consistently produce a mild tasting yogurt.
Some clients ask about kefir. Classical kefir is made with yeast and, therefore, is not Sattvic. Most of the products I’ve seen in the market, however, feature lactobacillus and other good guys. So, kefir is basically lassi at a premium price. Save your money.
Herbal Teas
There are many options for making flavored water for drinking warm or at room temperature after brewing. Here, you can pretty much rely on your own taste buds to figure out what is most suitable for you. My main caution is that rooibos, ginger and hibiscus are Pitta-aggravating. Turmeric needs to be gently heated in a healthy oil or it can cause problems. So, avoid teas with turmeric. Use turmeric in cooking.
My M.O. is to make my daily tea in a 27-oz. stainless steel thermos. One tea bag is enough. I often prefer to buy my ingredients in bulk or use mint, etc. from my garden and use a skinny tea infuser that fits the thermos.
MAPI makes delicious teas for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha balance but they have been out-of-stock for a long time. The Kapha tea is very strong on clove and is too heating for many people. Be careful. For weight control, consider Be Trim tea. Have a cup or two a day between meals.
Banyan offers several teas including Joyful Heart tea and Mellow Mind tea. Both of these looseleaf teas have the defect of including cumin and coriander, which I think give too medicinal a flavor.
Coffee Substitutes
If you want something coffee-like, understanding that it is not coffee, then my favorite is Banyan’s Bitter and Bold Coffee Substitute. It’s a fine powder that can be mixed directly with hot water. They suggest 1 tablespoon per cup. I think that’s a ridiculous amount and use only ½ tsp. in my thermos! Add cardamom, cinnamon, or some star anise for variety.
MAPI offers Raja’s Cup both in tea bags and in a granular bulk pack form that needs an infuser. Raja’s cup is compatible with hot milk. You ‘ll find other products like Pero (made with roasted barley and chicory) that used to be sold in grocery stores available from online vendors.
