The (Non)Dairy Veda

So, some friends of Ayurveda may have wondered by now... What's up with the vegan thing? Traditional Ayurveda arose in a culture where deep reverence was given to cows in part because of their contribution to human life in the form of cows milk. I also believe that there are many situations where raw organic milk (from cows who have been allowed to feed freely in green fields) can be a source of nourishment that certain body types thrive upon. In fact, milk procured in this way is said to nourish all the tissues of the body and to increase strength, immunity and contentment.

But the factory farm exploitation that most US dairy cows endure is cruel. Most yogis agree that the milk which comes from these cows is in no way beneficial to us, but is quite toxic. The growth hormones, antibiotics and unnatural diet that these cows are fed is not in harmony with nature. The energy behind factory milk (and even factory aka. BIG Organic) is one that is filled with fear and the memories of a truly sad existence; being robbed of one's children, artificially inseminated, milked by machines and so forth. This is a system that I choose not to be a part of.

Milk in its natural state is the essence of a mother's love for her child, it contains a very pure Satvic or life-supporting energy that is said to calm and quiet the mind, relax the body, and soothe the nervous system. About 3% of the milk that is purchased in the US today comes from raw organic pasture fed mothers. This is the only kind of dairy that we would want to put in our bodies.

The propaganda of the dairy industry also leads people to believe that they need much more milk in their diet than is really beneficial. In fact, in Ayurveda it is sometimes said that milk should be diluted with water in equal portions, mixed with warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, etc... taken warm and generally by itself. The enzymes that are needed to digest milk work best in warm conditions and many milk allergies have been alleviated by avoiding cold dairy products and favoring small amounts of raw warm dairy. Some Ayurvedic doctors recommend drinking up to a cup (8 oz) of cows milk in a day, which is a far cry from what the 'Got Milk?' commercials seem to be telling us.

As I mentioned in my first post, Ayurveda recognizes that each individual is unique. While some bodies really do thrive on a diet that includes dairy, others feel congested, sluggish, mucousy, or dull. Still, other people reject the use of dairy for ethical reasons, citing the exploitation of non-human animals as their primary reason, no matter how well loved and cared for these animals may be.

Choosing a balanced life without dairy can be a rewarding path but sometimes a nutritionally demanding one. An AyurVegan perspective seeks to allow health to flourish in the absence of milk, cheese, butter, and ghee. By tailoring our diets to acknowledge this omission, we can eat a vegan diet that is Ayurvedically appropriate and nutritionally rich... one that keeps the doshas in balance, the srotas clear, the nadis vibrant, and the mind at peace.

At least that's the idea.

Recipes will be purely vegan, whether or not you really are.