Ayurveda considers bananas, cold water, ice-cream, sugar all sweet edibles and fluids like sugarcane juice, `Cold'. Such foods or drinks should be avoided in cases of common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, itching and other cough-related ailments.

Spices, meats, milk, onions, honey, wheat, millet, jaggery etc. are supposed to be `Hot'. These foods increase strength and help in the development of the body. If one suffers from problem related to bowel-movement, insomnia, gas, or even piles and sinuses, one should refrain from eating such `Hot' foods. People suffering from excessive tension and those who lose their temper very often should also avoid such edibles.

Food-stuff like sea-food (fish, shrimps and the likes), egg-yolk, edibles containing cocoa (chocolates, ice-creams, coffee), green-peas, peanut, brinjal, lady's finger and potato, often give rise to allergies or `Pitta' (Acid) related problems. If one is allergic to either of the above mentioned food-stuff, one should by all means avoid these types of food. The sort of allergies that can occur due to the consumption of such edibles are : prickly-heat, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, itching, bronchial asthma, pimples, acne and neurodermatitis (inflammation of skin).

Eat only when you are completely famished, and never eat stomach-full. There should be a gap of at least 6 hours between two major meals. Otherwise, proper digestion is prevented and Indigestion takes place, and if one eats another major meal before the previous one is digested suitably, it leads to the formation of poisonous elements within the body, which in its turn leads to digestive disorders and acidity.

Make it a point to eat fresh fruits like bananas, apples, grapes etc. which are rich in minerals and vitamins, after meals. Fruits, when chewed properly are digested easier, as the enzyme of the saliva break up the sugar in the fruits and make it easily digestible. Having cloves, cardamoms or aniseeds after meals, aids digestion too.

Each meal should be made up of 35% protein, 35% carbohydrates, 5% oil and 10-15% salad. This means that it is not necessary to have a number of dishes on the menu, what is important is to have a few select foods. A single protein-enriched dish, 1 or 2 dishes rich in carbohydrates, some green salad, and some fresh chutney made out of green coriander leaves, coconut and garlic, is enough.

Take one type of protein at a time. Never include two animal-proteins in the same meal. Milk and milk-products, fish, meat and eggs are also considered to be animal-proteins.

Animal-proteins such as milk and curds can be consumed with sprouted grains or vegetables, as these proteins are easily digestible.

One should pay attention to the acidic and alkaline attributes of foods. Attention should also be paid to the question of how and what to eat, according to the changing seasons. Regular consumption of mangoes during summer can keep you strong all year. It also helps to have rice, `dal', salad, butter-milk, lime-juice, coconut-water and sour fruits like oranges and sweet-limes during the hot season. One should refrain from or at least avoid having meats, fried and spicy foods, tea-coffee etc. during summer. Fenugreek-candies and horse-bean dishes, if taken regularly during winter, improve the body's immune system and strengthen the body. One should however refrain from having more than 25 gms daily. Seasonal fruits (apples, cherries, strawberries etc.) do the body a lot of good during summer.