Viruddha Ahara Different Types And Ayurvedic Concepts

Introduction

Consuming wrong or opposite food combinations is called Viruddha Ahara. The word meaning of Viruddha is 'Opposite'. Viruddha Ahara can be described as taking incorrect food combinations, incorrect doses of foods, consuming at an incorrect time of the day, or consuming in an incorrect season. Viruddha Ahara leads to various metabolic issues. Wrong diet combinations can interrupt the metabolism of tissue. We need to understand how incorrect food combinations interact with each other and create diseases.

When we are taking proper food with the right combinations at the time is called a balanced diet. A balanced diet can maintain a balance between doshas.

Consuming Viruddha Ahara leads to imbalances of doshas like Vata, Pitta, Kapha, and such a situation causes various disorders.

Features Of Viruddha Ahara

The combinations of certain foods include:

• Wrong combinations of certain foods cause harmful effects to the body.
• Certain food combinations include opposite properties.
• Opposite activities of Dhatus may include some food combinations.
• Consuming food at the wrong time causes harmful effects to the body.
• If we process foods in a certain form sometimes it causes harmful effects.
• Certain food combinations show effects like food poisoning.

Types Of Viruddha Ahara

Viruddha Ahara can be classified into various types.

• Desha Viruddha

  Taking food that has properties corresponding to opposite Desha (place) is called Desha Viruddha Ahara. Eg

  To have dry substances in a dry region.

• Kala Viruddha

  Consuming foods that have properties similar to the particular season are called Kala Viruddha. Eg

  Consuming ice-creams in the winter season.

• Agni Viruddha

  Consuming food without the awareness of one's Agni (digestive fire). Eg

  Consuming heavy foods when digestive power is very low.

• Matra Viruddha

  When some foods get mixed in equal proportion it will become a Viruddha Ahara. Eg

  Consuming honey and ghee is an example for Viruddha Ahara.

• Satmya Viruddha

  Consuming food items that an individual is supposed not to do. Eg. Chinese food by Indians.

• Dosha Viruddha

  Dosha Viruddha can be described as food items having similar properties to Doshas which leads to Dosha dushti. .

• Sanskar Viruddha

  Preparing food in the wrong method is called Sanskar Viruddha. Eg

  Reheating of oil that is already used.

• Veerya Viruddha

  Veerya Viruddha means consuming food items opposite Veerya. Eg

  Substances having cold potency in combination with those of hot potency. .

• Parihar Viruddha

  Consuming cold food items after having hot food items. Eg

  Consuming ice-cream after having a hot samosa.

• Avastha Viruddha

  Avastha Viruddha means consuming foods without awareness of the health conditions of a person. Eg

  Consuming Kapha aggravating food after a long sleep.

• Koshtha Viruddha

  Consuming foods without exact knowledge of the contents of the food eg

  Barbeque foods, .

• Krama Viruddha

  Consumption of foods in the wrong sequence. Eg

  sweet items after a heavy meal.

• Paak Viruddha

  Consuming not properly cooked foods. Eg

  half-cooked foods, half-baked foods, etc. .

• Samyoga Viruddha

  Consuming non-consumable food items after a specific treatment. Eg

  drinking cold water after a steam bath.

• Hriday Viruddha

  Taking unpleasant food items known as Hriday Viruddha. Eg

  decoctions for children.

• Vidhi Viruddha

  Consuming food items without following the rules as per Ayurveda known as Vidhi Viruddha. eg

  Consuming foods that are not fresh.

• Sampat Viruddha

  Food items prepared with unhealthy ingredients are known as Sampat Viruddha. eg, over ripped.

Conclusion

All the information provided was collected from various Ayurvedic resources. Always seek the opinion of your Ayurvedic practitioner before self-practising.

References

• Charaka Samhita.
• Sushruta Samhita.