The initiative taken by the Ayush Ministry to promote Ayush Aahar is likely to bring a major impact on the Ayurveda industry
In a recent initiative to promote Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahar) Regulations 2021, the Ministry of Ayush has made a new beginning on January 3, 2022, by making ‘Ayush Aahar’ available at its canteen at Ayush Bhawan.
Ayurveda Aahar means a food prepared in accordance with the recipes or ingredients and/or processes as per methods described in the authoritative books of Ayurveda listed under ‘Schedule A’ of the regulations.
Started as a pilot project, the ‘Ayush Aahar’ includes Vegetable Poha, Bhajani Vada, Gajar Ka Halwa and Kokum Drink. Officials said that all the dishes are very popular among the masses and have high nutritional value.
Sharing her opinion on this new development, Dr Smita Naram, Co-Founder, Ayushakti said, “With the news coming in on FSSAI is soon finalising the draft on Ayurveda Aahar is an absolutely crucial and positive decision for our Ayurveda industry. High-quality recipes and ingredients with a structured format for Ayurveda have become the need of the hour.”
She added, “In the concept of Ayurveda, it is said that we are what we eat, food is called ’mahabhaisajya’ which means medicine that is natural to which our body responds. As we know everybody has tridoshas, Kapha, pitta, and Vata, to maintain it one needs to have a good balanced Aahar.”
Aahar plays a vital role in the maintenance of good health and in the prevention and cure of disease. The right kind of food is the most important single factor in the promotion of health; and the wrong kind of food is the most important single factor in the promotion of disease. The initiative taken by the Ayush Ministry to promote Ayush Aahar, is likely to bring a major impact on the Ayurveda industry.
Commenting on the same, Vikas Chawla, Founder and Director, Vedas Cure said, “The food items/menu selected for Ayush Aahar is very much appreciative because they not only provide proper nutrients to the body but also, they can be appropriately utilised by the body for its several functions be it metabolic, hormonal, mental, physical or chemical. This decision has potential to bring a substantial recognition to the Ayurveda industry, this move will indeed be an inspiration to the masses, as the leaders themselves are making such a prominent move of changing their entire day diets altogether.”
FSSAI is in the process of finalising the draft regulations on Ayurveda Aahar and is taking help of the Aayush ministry in finalising the regulations.
As per the draft regulation, the Ministry of Ayush is establishing an Expert Committee for providing recommendation to Food Authority on approval of claims and products.
Pooja Yadav