Highlights
You know, if someone’s eating good, healthy food, why would they even need medicine? Food is really the best medicine we’ve got. But if you’re eating junk or foodthat isn’t good for you, then medicine might not do much because your body’s already having a hard time.
An old Ayurvedic expert, Vaidya Lolimba Raja, talked about this a long time ago. He said food is super important for how well we feel and heal. That’s why Ayurveda cares about the food we eat, especially stuff that’s grown naturally.
So, it’s not just about avoiding harmful things; it’s about feeding your body pure, natural goodness. When you do that, you’re helping your body, mind, and overall health, which is what Ayurveda is all about. It emphasizes organically grown produce.
What Ancient Texts Say About Food and Health?
Ayurveda has always said that good health begins with what you eat. Way before “organic” became a buzzword, ancient Ayurvedic texts were already talking about the importance of eating food that’s natural, clean, and truly nourishing.
One of the big names in Ayurveda, Master Charaka, talked a lot about this in the Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthana 28/3 and 27/349). He explained that eating wholesome, nutritious food isn’t just about filling your stomach; it actually does so much more for your body and mind.
According to him, eating food full of good stuff and made with care can really help you feel your best in so many ways. Here's what he said it can do:
- Shareera Upachaya: Nourish your body and help it grow strong
- Bala Varna Sukha Ayusha: Give you strength, a healthy glow, and a sense of happiness
- Shareera Dhatu Urjayathi: Support the healthy growth of your body’s tissues
- Varna Prasadah: Improve your skin tone and bring clarity to your appearance
- Sausvaryam: Help you maintain a pleasant, steady voice
- Jivitham: Support a longer, healthier life
- Prathibha: Boost your creativity and thinking abilities
Charaka also reminded us that health is the base for everything else we do. Only when we feel well can we take care of others, contribute to our community, and enjoy life fully. And to feel well, we need to eat well.
Ayurveda has always been all about eating food that’s natural and simple, has no chemicals, is full of natural energy, and is easy for your body to handle. That’s pretty much what organic food is. These ancient principles are still full of wisdom, but how our food is grown today often tells an entirely different story.
The Problem with Today’s Farming and Food
When it comes to food, the quality of the ingredients really depends on how good they are for our health. For food to be truly healthy, it needs to be grown naturally without chemicals or artificial fertilizers. That’s been the Ayurvedic way all along.
Back in the day, farming was all natural, using what the earth gave us, so there weren’t worries about harmful chemicals. But these days, it’s different. Most crops are grown with pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals. Even when storing food, lots of chemical preservatives are added to make it last longer.
The problem is that these chemicals don’t just mess with the natural goodness of food; they can actually be bad for our health. Instead of making us feel better, they might cause problems over time.
That’s why Ayurveda’s focus on organic, natural growing and storage methods is more important than ever. It reminds us to get back to basics and choose foods that truly support our health without hidden risks.
It’s not just about how good the food looks or how much of it we can grow; what’s really happening behind the scenes in farming has a huge impact on what actually ends up on our plates.
The Hidden Dangers of Modern Farming
These days, farming looks very different from how it used to be. Most farms use chemicals, pesticides, and genetically modified seeds to keep pests away and grow bigger crops. But all those chemicals are actually pretty harmful, not just for the environment but also for our health.
Normal farming uses pesticides that can cause a bunch of problems like headaches, allergies, rashes & other skin issues, infertility in both males & females, vomiting, diarrhea, asthma, ADHD, and even more serious things like cancer and problems with how our brains work.
Studies from groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have found that these chemicals and pesticides can even cross over to babies before they’re born, causing problems like low birth weight, birth defects, and issues with behavior and brain development. They can also mess with hormones and have been linked to things like autism and cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also pointed out that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have changed genes that could be passed on to humans, and this might have negative effects we don’t fully understand yet.
The solution to these problems is organic farming.
What is Organic Farming?
Organic farming is basically about using natural stuff like compost, manure, and farm waste to keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients. It’s about feeding plants and improving the soil over time.
Besides making the soil richer, organic farming does a bunch of good things:
- Reduces pollution: Cuts down on pollution by avoiding harmful chemicals.
- Saves water: Saves water using natural methods that moisten the soil.
- Prevents erosion: Stops soil from washing away by keeping plants and roots healthy.
- Lower energy use: Uses less energy compared to regular farming practices.
- Protects wildlife: Safer for birds and animals that live around the farms.
Scientists have found that the soil on organic farms is full of helpful bacteria and fungi that break down natural materials better than chemicals. That means organic farms usually grow healthier, bigger crops.
For example, organic onions have more antioxidants and good stuff than regular ones. Eating organic food can give you more vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
Organic farming also encourages a mix of plants and animals that help naturally keep pests and diseases away. That’s good for the farm and for everyone eating the food grown there.
Once you understand organic farming, it’s easier to see how Ayurveda approaches it from a different perspective.
Why Does Organic Farming Matter According to Ayurveda?
Good health starts with good food, but not just any food. Ayurveda stresses that the food we eat should be pure, natural, and free from harmful substances. The quality of ingredients matters a lot, whether it’s for cooking meals or preparing medicines, because better ingredients mean better results for your body and mind.
This is exactly why organic farming matters so much in Ayurveda. When food is grown without synthetic chemicals, it stays natural and keeps its healing energy intact. That makes the food safer, healthier, and more effective at nourishing your whole self.
By supporting organic farming, Ayurveda encourages you to connect with nature in the purest way possible. It allows you to choose foods that protect your health and respect the environment at the same time.
At Kerala Ayurveda, we ensure every herb comes from farmers who grow them naturally using organic and eco-friendly methods. That way, only the purest and most potent plants make it into our products.
When it comes to Ayurveda, the why behind organic farming runs deeper than health; it’s about where and how food is grown to support balance and well-being truly.
Where Does Ayurveda Recommend Growing Organic Food?
Organic food is food grown naturally without chemicals, pesticides, or artificial ingredients. It’s food that remains as nature intended, preserving its natural energy and healing properties.
Ayurveda has always said that good health starts with good food. But it’s not just about what you eat; it’s also about where your food comes from. The place where food grows greatly affects how nourishing and healing it can be.
According to Ayurveda, food should come from places that are natural, clean, and free from any kind of contamination. Here are the main points Ayurveda suggests when choosing the right place to grow food:
- Clean, even land: The land should be free of ant-hills, holes, pits, and gravel
- Away from unclean sites: It shouldn’t be near graveyards, temples, or sandy and alkaline soil
- Nutrient-rich soil: The soil should be soft, moist, rich, and close to a water source like a pond
- Stable ground cover: The area should have grass, and the soil should feel firm and stable
- Preferred soil colors: Soil colors can be black, white, or red
- Unploughed land: Ideally, the land shouldn’t have been ploughed before
- Avoid polluted areas: Avoid places near wells, dirty spots, marshy land, roadsides, worms, or toxins
- Balanced environment: The spot shouldn’t get too much sunlight, strong winds, or excess water
- Ideal seasonal timing: It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold, and the ingredients should be picked during the right season
These guidelines show how Ayurveda really cares about growing food in pure, natural conditions because that’s how you get food that truly nourishes and heals.
The next step is figuring out how to keep those herbs and ingredients fresh and packed with all their natural benefits.
How to Preserve the Collected Food Ingredients and Herbs?
Once you’ve got your good-quality herbs and food ingredients, the next step is to store them properly. Ayurveda says it’s really important to keep them in the right conditions so they don’t lose their natural goodness and healing power.
If you don’t store them correctly, they can spoil or lose their strength, which nobody wants. Here are some simple tips Ayurveda suggests for keeping your herbs and ingredients fresh and effective:
- Clean, dry storage: Keep them in a clean, dry place where they’re safe and fresh
- Avoid sunlight/moisture: Make sure they’re not sitting in direct sunlight, or getting wet from wind or moisture
- Fumigate if needed: It’s a good idea to do a little fumigation or cleansing of the storage area to keep germs away
- Protect from damage: Keep the storage spot safe from things like fire, water leaks, rodents, dust, smoke, or animals
- Utilize airtight jars: Use airtight containers so the herbs don’t get exposed to air and lose their potency
- Store separately: Don’t mix different herbs or ingredients together; keep them separate
- Use within a year: Try to use your ingredients within a year to ensure they’re still fresh, except for grains, jaggery, and honey, which last longer.
Following these easy steps helps keep your ingredients just as powerful as when you first got them, which means better health and better results from your food and medicine.
Once you know how to preserve those fresh herbs and ingredients, seeing how organic food products fit into Ayurveda’s bigger picture is interesting. .
Organic Food Products and Ayurveda
Ayurveda is all about living close to nature and choosing what’s best for both our body and the world around us. That’s why eating organic food fits perfectly with Ayurvedic principles. Organic foods are grown without harmful chemicals, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers, so they’re better quality and much kinder to the soil, water, and the environment.
When we eat organic, we avoid putting toxic chemicals into our bodies, which can build up over time and cause health problems. Instead, we get natural nourishment that supports our body’s natural healing abilities.
Plus, organic farming helps keep the land healthy and full of life, which means the plants grow stronger and more nutritious. This makes organic food a natural partner for Ayurveda because it supports our health and the balance of nature.
So, by choosing organic, you’re not just eating clean food; you’re also helping your Ayurvedic treatment work better, since your body is fueled with the purest ingredients possible. But how can organic food and Ayurveda work together in a way that makes a real difference?
How to Bring Organic Food and Ayurveda Together?
Ayurveda and organic food go really well together because they both focus on keeping things natural and good for our health. But to make organic food a regular part of our lives, we must do a few things.
First, farmers need a little help switching to organic farming. That means showing them why it’s better for their health and the planet and giving them the tools and support to make it easier.
At the same time, we need to help people understand why eating organic food and using herbal products matter. When people get why it’s important, they’re more likely to choose these natural options in their daily meals.
By supporting both farmers and consumers, we can bring Ayurveda and organic food closer together and make healthy living easier for everyone.
Conclusion
Eating clean, natural food is one of the best ways to support your health. That’s why Ayurveda emphasizes not just what you eat, but how it’s grown. Organic food isn’t just a fancy label; it’s about returning to how food was always meant to be pure, nourishing, and close to nature.
When you eat this way, you’re not just filling your stomach. You’re giving your body the support it needs to stay strong, feel balanced, and heal on its own. And that’s really the heart of Ayurveda. It’s about living in tune with nature, making mindful choices, and caring for yourself in a way that lasts.
Looking to bring more purity into your daily wellness? At Kerala Ayurveda, we use organically grown herbs in our classical Ayurvedic formulations. Explore our range of products created with time-tested ingredients that support your health naturally.
FAQs
1. Why does Ayurveda prefer organically grown produce?
Ayurveda values food that’s pure, fresh, and close to nature. Organically grown produce is free from harmful chemicals and pesticides, making it gentle on the body and easier to digest. It also holds more prana and life energy, which helps support overall health and balance.
2. Why is it important to use organic food products?
People choose organic food mainly for three key reasons: health, environmental care, and growing social awareness. Organic products are free from harmful chemicals, making them safer for long-term health. They’re also better for the planet, as they support cleaner soil, water, and farming practices. Plus, more and more people are becoming conscious about what they eat and where it comes from, making organic choices a part of mindful living.
3. Is it always possible to eat fully organic according to Ayurveda?
While Ayurveda encourages organic whenever possible, it also recognizes practical limits. The focus is on choosing the cleanest, freshest food available and being mindful of quality to best support your health.
