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In summary, the characteristics of food and drinks, twelve classifications of articles of diet (along with with the foremost of them), post-prandial drinks with their characteristics and the statement in brief regarding heaviness and lightness of the articles of diet- all these have been described in this chapter on diet and dietetics. [351-352]
 
In summary, the characteristics of food and drinks, twelve classifications of articles of diet (along with with the foremost of them), post-prandial drinks with their characteristics and the statement in brief regarding heaviness and lightness of the articles of diet- all these have been described in this chapter on diet and dietetics. [351-352]
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Thus, in the Section on General Principles in the treatise compiled by Agnivesha and revised by Charaka, the twenty-seventh chapter entitled ‘The Regimen of food and beverages” stands completed.
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Thus, in the Section on General Principles in the treatise compiled by Agnivesha and revised by Charak, the twenty-seventh chapter entitled ‘The Regimen of food and beverages” stands completed.
    
===''Tattva Vimarsha'' ===
 
===''Tattva Vimarsha'' ===
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===''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===
 
===''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===
 
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<div style="text-align:justify;">
For over 4000 years, the [[Charaka Samhita]] and its predecessor, the Agnivesha Tantra have provided a wealth of knowledge on managing life, not just health and disease management. Sages and practitioners passed on this distilled knowledge by word-to-mouth for centuries. Over the course of this period, the environment around us has changed significantly – affecting us and the living beings around us. Habitats have changed rendering some creatures extinct or endangered, while others have adapted themselves or evolved. Further, social traditions have dictated changes to our dietary habits. However, the fundamental principles governing food, in general, remain the same, e.g., the role of ''agni'' (digestive fire), ''Prakriti'' (body constitution), ''rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka'' and ''prabhava'' (characteristics) of various foods. These fundamental principles can be applied today for healthy living. Newer articles of food like dhanya (paddy), shaka (vegetables), harita (greens), mamsa (meat), phala (fruits) and kritanna (cooked food or drinks) can be characterized and used by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. It is a herculean job to describe all the foods available all over the world and describe their ''rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka'' and ''prabhava'' (characteristics) but we have made a humble attempt to take the skeleton of the Chapter [[Annapanavidhi Adhyaya]] as it is and try to enter the newer articles as per Ayurvedic perspective.
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For over 4000 years, the [[Charak Samhita]] and its predecessor, the Agnivesha Tantra have provided a wealth of knowledge on managing life, not just health and disease management. Sages and practitioners passed on this distilled knowledge by word-to-mouth for centuries. Over the course of this period, the environment around us has changed significantly – affecting us and the living beings around us. Habitats have changed rendering some creatures extinct or endangered, while others have adapted themselves or evolved. Further, social traditions have dictated changes to our dietary habits. However, the fundamental principles governing food, in general, remain the same, e.g., the role of ''agni'' (digestive fire), ''Prakriti'' (body constitution), ''rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka'' and ''prabhava'' (characteristics) of various foods. These fundamental principles can be applied today for healthy living. Newer articles of food like dhanya (paddy), shaka (vegetables), harita (greens), mamsa (meat), phala (fruits) and kritanna (cooked food or drinks) can be characterized and used by an experienced Ayurvedic physician. It is a herculean job to describe all the foods available all over the world and describe their ''rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka'' and ''prabhava'' (characteristics) but we have made a humble attempt to take the skeleton of the Chapter [[Annapanavidhi Adhyaya]] as it is and try to enter the newer articles as per Ayurvedic perspective.
    
An old saying states "if you took fourteen greens (greens means not only the leaf, also flower, fruits, ''nala'', tuber, and fungi) then you may survive from the strain of ''Kartika''" (the month of October and November). During this period, there is increased incidence of seasonal diseases. Though this chapter maintains chronological order according to the dietetic code, it has a special aspect for the alleviation of three ''doshas'', to achieve excellent ''dhatus'' (body tissues), and clear the micro and macro channels of the body.  
 
An old saying states "if you took fourteen greens (greens means not only the leaf, also flower, fruits, ''nala'', tuber, and fungi) then you may survive from the strain of ''Kartika''" (the month of October and November). During this period, there is increased incidence of seasonal diseases. Though this chapter maintains chronological order according to the dietetic code, it has a special aspect for the alleviation of three ''doshas'', to achieve excellent ''dhatus'' (body tissues), and clear the micro and macro channels of the body.