Ayurveda describes food and diet as an essential part of life, it’s survival and wellness. The food intake is converted into essential nutrients which are transported throughout the body. This transportation helps to resist illness and create harmony within each cell of the body. Furthermore, nutrition is only a way to body growth and longevity.
Tridoshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the physiological components of the body and are involved in circulation of blood, nutrients and oxygen to all the body parts – upto cellular level. Scientifically, arteries carry blood, nutrients and oxygen to all the body parts, originating from the heart; whilst, veins being back impure blood back to heart for its purification. The oxygen we breathe is left in air in its derivative form i.e carbon dioxide which is brought from peripheral tissues for expulsion. This exchange of gases takes place via lungs. Thus, we get oxygenated blood transported in the entire body. Nutrition which has been derived from the food intake and its digestion is absorbed by the intestine which reaches the heart and gets distributed in the entire body during the pumping of blood. This entire process goes on repeatedly within the body and throughout life. Thus, the heart, blood vessels and lungs can be regarded as an integrated and close network which works in coordination with each other to provide the body with oxygen for metabolism and nutrition for its growth. It is considered as a single unit.
Two of the seven Dhatus – Rakta Dhatu and Rasa Dhatu can be compared to the blood tissue. Vata Dosha, which brings about movement in the body, is responsible for the heart functions of pumping of blood and also its circulation. The circulation of Rakta is brought in by collective functioning and coordination of –
1.Vyana vayu – It is the subtype of Vayu which is responsible for distribution of essential nutrients in the body.
2.Ranjaka Pitta – It is the subtype of Pitta Dosha which is responsible for formation and maintenance of Rakta and Rasa Dhatu.
3.Avalambaka Kapha – It is the subtype of Kapha Dosha which is located in the chest and is responsible for lubrication of heart and lungs.
4. Udana Vata – It is the subtype of Vata Dosha
Vyana vata circulates blood all over the body. Its primary task is to distribute nutrients, oxygen and essential components to every cell of the body. Thus, it circulates blood from and back to the heart. The other two, Avalambaka Kapha, udana Vata help in providing necessary environment in which heart may effortlessly pump blood and receive the same. Udana Vata primarily helps in movement away from the heart. Vyana vayu further promotes the blood along with the nutrients in it to periphery overcoming the periphery resistance. Thus, the blood gets circulated in the body.
Ranjaka Pitta brings in thrust and propulsion that is required for the movement of blood around the body, imparts heat into the blood. Its intense nature, hot property, slimy nature, lightness and liquidity gives uninterrupted circulation of blood.
Avalambaka Kapha supports the heart in its contractions and relaxation processes and forms the buffer against “stress and strain” on the heart and its musculature. It also provides lubrication to blood vessels. Avalambaka Kapha helps Vyana vayu while incoming blood and not while outgoing.
Rasa Dhatu carries food and nutrients which are formed after the metabolic process. It transports nutrients to every part of the body. Since it is full of nutrients, it is known as the essential part of the organism. It acts as a protector which contains white blood cells and
antibodies. It also helps in ejection of waste from the body by transporting carbon dioxide to lungs and waste products to the kidney.
Breast milk and menstrual blood are by-products of the metabolic process of Rasa Dhatu. Rasa Dhatu is the only source of nutrition to the fetus during pregnancy. Rasa contains 91% of water and the rest are proteins, nutrients, ions, some wastes and gases. It holds all the blood cells in suspension. It transports nutrients to all parts of the body, maintains blood volume and also balances electrolytes that are necessary for the functioning of the nervous system.
Thus, what we eat is utilized by our body to perform various functions. All the Doshas work in sync to provide proper nutrition to the body. Every moment of the body is associated with the energy which is transported by Vayu and gained by ingested food after the metabolic process. In order to keep your body healthy, it’s essential to eat healthy – to get proper Nutrition.
