You’ve probably heard of it, and you may have tried it, but do you know exactly why we are recommended to eat a mono-diet of kitchari during an ayurvedic cleanse?
Let’s get to the bottom of it.
What is an ayurvedic cleanse and why should we do it? An Ayurvedic cleanse is a holistic healing practice rooted in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, aimed at restoring the body's natural balance and eliminating toxins. It involves a combination of dietary adjustments, herbal supplements, and lifestyle modifications tailored to an individual's unique constitution, or dosha. The cleanse focuses on nourishing the body with easily digestible foods, promoting healthy digestion, and rejuvenating the body's natural detoxification processes. By undergoing an Ayurvedic cleanse, individuals seek to support their overall health and well-being, improve energy levels, and promote mental clarity. This time-tested approach to detoxification is gentle yet effective, encouraging the body to release impurities and reestablish harmony within.
How do we do an ayurvedic cleanse? To do an Ayurvedic cleanse, start by consulting a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to determine your unique mind-body constitution (dosha) and any imbalances present. Based on this assessment, a personalized cleanse plan will be recommended, typically consisting of dietary adjustments, herbal supplements, and self-care practices. During the cleanse, focus on consuming warm, cooked foods and herbal teas that support detoxification and balance your doshas. Avoid processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol, and prioritize rest, gentle yoga, meditation, and self-massage to aid in the body's natural cleansing processes. If your constitution is strong enough, your ayurvedic practioner may recommend an oleation and laxative protocol to remove deep seated metabolic wastes. Additionally, consider practices like oil pulling and dry brushing to enhance the detoxification of the body. It's essential to approach the cleanse with mindfulness and patience, listening to your body's signals and adjusting the plan as needed. After the cleanse, gradually reintroduce foods while continuing to prioritize a diet and lifestyle that aligns with your unique constitution for sustained health and balance.
What is kitchari? Kitchari is a complete, one pot meal made of basmati rice, split mung beans, vegetables, spices, and ghee. Because it constitutes a complete protein, as well as including carbs, veggies, and fats while avoiding any inflammatory, processed, or heavy foods, its a perfect food to eat during a cleanse. The mung beans have a scraping effect on the digestive organs, so they assist with cleansing.
Something you may find surprising, though, is that an ayurvedic cleanse does not require a mono-diet of kitchari. The most important aspects of cleansing are simplification of diet and routines, combined with herbal formulas, teas, and protocols such as ghee and castor oil that promote detoxification. The reason we see kitchari so often recommended as a mono-diet is because it is an easy way to simplify the diet and avoid all the processed, triggering, inflammatory, and clogging foods many of us are used to eating. During an ayurvedic cleanse, many foods that most people are used to eating, such as bread, sugar, coffee, cheese, meat, and processed foods are cut out, and for some people that will make choosing what to eat difficult. But there are many more foods other than kitchari that are clean and safe to eat during a cleanse, including various grains, legumes, most veggies, broths, juices, fresh fruit, and lassi. For someone who is adept in the kitchen and enjoys trying new recipes, it may be exciting to learn that there are some more options to eat during an ayurvedic cleanse than just kitchari (which gets pretty tiring after a few days!)
There’s nothing wrong with eating a mono-diet of kitchari, but let’s be clear, it’s not the main action of detoxification. As my mentor, Ayurvedic Practitioner Amita Nathwani says, “eating three days of kitchari was just a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at my house.” The herbal formulas, hot water, teas, and final protocol of snehana (ingesting warm ghee) and virechana (purging with castor oil or other laxative) are where the deep detoxification happens.
Ayurvedic cleansing is not a one size fits all approach. Just as everyone is unique in their constitution, dietary needs, caloric needs, and toxin level, each Ayurvedic cleanse should be appropriate to the individual. Foods, spices, and herbs will be different for each person. Also, not everyone needs to cleanse. Some people will be aggravated by cleansing, and should instead focus on nourishment. To find out if and what kind of Ayurvedic cleanse is right for you, consult with an Ayurvedic Practitioner. I’d be happy to support you! You can learn more about Ayurvedic Wellness Consultations with me here.