ABSTRACT

Every civilization in the world has its own culinary culture using locally available items of plant and animal origin. Traditional cuisines evolve over centuries and become an important part of a culture. Local communities possess the knowledge of identifying, collecting, and cooking ecosystem-specic food resources. The communities are also largely aware of the biological effects of the food items on the human body, with different perspectives on the importance of food, nutrition, and their impact on health. This chapter focuses on certain unique Ayurvedic principles that provide an Indian perspective on health and healing through food. It also looks at Ayurvedic classication of foods and related aspects that are essential for healthy living.