Paneer and Ayurveda: Health Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects. A topic that is slowly getting popular with more and more people inclining towards natural and traditional food. Paneer which is a form of fresh Indian cottage cheese is used in our daily meals. In Ayurveda, it's not only about food being nutritive but how well it suits the digestive capacity of your body type (dosha). Knowing the relevance of paneer in Ayurveda will help you eat it with ease and not gain any adverse effects.
Paneer in Ayurveda: General properties
Paneer is a product that is derived from milk and in Ayurveda, it is considered to have the following properties:
Guru:Heavy to digest
Sheeta: Cool nature
Snigdha: Unctuous and nourishing
These are properties that aid in the strengthening and building of tissues of the body and may have a rather disturbing affect on those with poor digestion. In Ayurveda even "good foods" if not suitable for your body-type or if they don't get digested easily can cause harm.
Paneer benefits in dosha balance
It is important for all those who consume paneer benefits in dosha and are into the Ayurvedic way of life to know of its affect on your respective doshas.
Vata Dosha: It is good for Vata as it balances its cooling and dry properties but it's better if cooked along with digestive spices such as cumin and ginger.
Pitta Dosha: As Paneer is cooling, it can aid with burning sensation, acidity, Pitta related irritations etc.
Kapha Dosha: With it being heavy, it increases Kapha so one must be very moderate about consuming paneer if one has a Kapha dominated constitution and should ensure that it is always consumed with warming digestive spices.
Paneer benefits in Ayurveda
Below are a few benefits of paneer in Ayurveda:
Builds the body tissues: The proteins and calcium in paneer aid in the building up of muscle tissue in our body.
Lasting energy: Due to the proteins in paneer, it gives lasting energy to the body and this makes it a good alternative for anyone who is physically active.
Supports reproductive tissues: Ayurveda recommends milk products including paneer to be good for enhancing the Shukra which are the reproductive tissues in the body thus enhancing vitality.
Has a cooling effect on the body: Due to its cooling properties paneer is considered beneficial for conditions which are related to excess body heat like burning sensation in eyes or acidity.
Promotes body mass for underweight people: For individuals who are looking to gain weight, paneer can be used as it promotes body mass.
Uses of paneer in Ayurveda
Paneer is used in various ways in Ayurveda:
Is incorporated into a strength building diet.
Is used in sattvic food when fresh and not heavily cooked.
Is included for patients in recovery from illness, weakness or fatigue.
It can be used as a substitute for protein in a vegetarian meal.
However, when used in Ayurveda, Paneer is always encouraged to be freshly made, and not something that has been kept in a refrigerator for a long time.
Side effects of paneer in Ayurveda
There are certain conditions under which paneer is not good for you if eaten wrongly. Paneer and Ayurveda will explain these reasons behind why certain conditions are considered harmful.
Causes in digetion:Due to its heavy nature, paneer becomes difficult to digest if taken at the end of the day and thus leads to a bloating feeling.
Increases Kapha (Mucus Formation): The consumption of paneer at regular intervals, may result in cold, congestion and other sinus related problems.
Causes weight gain: Although paneer has proteins and calcium, overconsumption can lead to unwanted weight gain.
Creates Ama (Toxins): If one's digestion is not that great, paneer, if taken regularly, may increase the formation of ama which are toxins in the body.
Best time to eat paneer in Ayurveda
The timing with which you eat paneer also matters a great deal according to Ayurveda.
During Lunch when digestion capacity is maximum. Only when it's fresh and warm
And definitely should be eaten neither at night as it slows digestion or any meal before the first meal of the day.
How to eat paneer the ayurvedic way
Some basic tips to include benefits of paneer in ayurveda way in your diet.
It's best cooked with spices such as Turmeric, black pepper, ginger and cumin to assist digestion.
It is not a good food to mix with fruit, fish or yogurt. These are considered incompatible foods and should be eaten separately.
Portions must always be kept in check.
Homemade paneer is preferable over the processed and readymade one as they often contain more preservatives.
Paneer in Sattvic diet
Paneer can indeed form a part of a sattvic lifestyle. Ayurveda advocates Sattvic food for the enhancement of clarity, lightness and also mental balance. Paneer can be taken in a sattvic diet if it is fresh and light on spices and cooking oil.
Who should avoid paneer
There are certain situations where one must be very careful when considering the consumption of paneer.:
Those with Kapha dosha.
Those with poor digestion and Agni.
People prone to sinus infections, cough, cold or breathing issues.
Lactose intolerance is another reason not to include paneer in the diet.
Conclusion
Paneer and Ayurveda: the relation clearly proves that every food cannot be labeled good or bad as its consumption solely depends on how it is eating and what are your particular body type (doshas) are. It comes with a lot of healthy benefits that not only strengthens you but also has a cooling affect on the body if it is eaten correctly, however the incorrect ways of consuming paneer will only result in digestive disturbances and imbalance in the body.
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