Literature study of mansa aahar ( non-vegetarian diet ) from bruhatrayi .

A common assumption is that Ayurveda is a vegetarian system. That is simply not the case. A non-vegetarian diet has its own medicinal significance in Ayurveda. But it does not mean that everybody should have a nan-vegetarian diet. One who is accustomed to it, can have it and one who is not, may not have it. In Ayurveda text each animal product is defined by quality and is recommended as a therapy for many ailments. Of course there are guidelines for eating it. Key word: Mansa aahar, Ayurveda, Pathya-apathya.


INTRODUCTION
There are two schools of thought regarding our eating habits. Some say that vegetarianism is good for the health of the human beings and some others say that non-vegetarianism is good for the health of the human beings. Those who eat rice, wheat and vegetables are not physically as strong and mentally as alert as those who are non-vegetarian, it is said. Nonvegetarian food is protein-rich food. Animal protein contributes to our health, it is said. Vegetables and rice or wheat are not rich resources of protein. Protein is very essential for our healthy growth and resistance power. The practice of nonvegetarianism is based mainly on the fact that vegetarian food is poor in protein.

Aim:
To understand the utility of mansa-aahar according to Ayurveda.

1.
To compile the literature regarding mansa-aahar from bhruhatrayi 2. To study the properties of mansaaahar and pathya-apathya which are commonly consumed in present days. 3. To conclude the utility of mansaaahar and explain the way of consuming the mansa-aahar.

MATERIALS
 Charak samhita, Sushruta samhita and astangh rudaya  Previous work done (Related to mansa-aahar).  Time to time publish journals and net surfing etc.

METHODS
Literature search of mansa-aahar and elaborate the concept in detail. Properly understand that what exactly has to say by the aacharya from this concept.
Presenting this in such way that it becomes more understandable and adoptable to everyone.

Literature Review:
All over the world most of the people are non-vegetarian. They eat, beef, pork, chicken, fish and even fried, large worms. Some even drink snake-soup. Some in the west do not know what vegetarianism is. They scoff at those who take only rice or wheat and vegetables.
They ask the vegetarians how they live having eaten only rice, wheat and vegetables. But those who advocate vegetarianism say that the vegetables, rice and wheat have all kinds of nutrient properties and they are sufficient for a human being to live in good health. Green leafy vegetables are said to contain many nutrients. Soya beans are a rich source of protein. The advocates of vegetarianism say that a human being's teeth are not meant to eat the flesh of animals. Research reveals that the human beings teeth are meant only to eat vegetarian food. It is a sign to kill birds and animals for our food. The Jains are vegetarians. They believe in not causing harm to any living creature. The main contention against non-vegetarianism is that a non-vegetarian eats fatty food. As the fatty substance increases in the blood it may cause heart attack and other deadly diseases. Food of excessive fat should be avoided, the vegetarians advocate.
There have been some misconceptions about non-vegetarian food, and the role of non-vegetarianism in an Ayurvedic diet. Some authors have even claimed that Ayurveda is based on vegetarianism due to religious reasons, rather than any biological or health grounds. It is accurate to say that original Ayurvedic principles included eating meat infrequently, and that Charaka mentions that meat is nourishing when prepared and eaten under certain circumstances. However, this was under vastly different conditions. Meat formed a small proportion of the overall diet. So it is the need to study the non-vegetarian diet(mansa-ahara) in ayurvedic point of view. Astringent sweet eliminates pitta and kapha and potency is moderate for vata.

Goat meat
Not excessively cool, heavy and demulcent. It increases pitta and kapha slightly. Not hydrating and cures coryza.

Sheep meat
Nourishing, increases pitta and kapha, heavy, spermatogenic similar to that of goat in its properties.

River fish meat
It is sweet and heavy, pacifies vata, causes haemorrhagic disorders, it is hot in potency, spermatogenic,demulcent, and increases faces quantity.

Sea fishes meat
It is heavy, demulcent, sweet, not excessively increases pitta, hot in potency, pacifies vata, are spermatogenic, and increases kapha and faecus.