Abstract

DAILY DIETETICS IN AYURVEDA: UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF NITYA SEVANIYA DRAVYA

*Barinderjit Kaur, Monika Sharma

ABSTRACT

According to Ayurveda, Nitya Sevaniya food items are recommended for daily consumption while Nitya Asevaniya food items are considered unsuitable for regular intake due to their respective wholesome and unwholesome systemic effects after consumption. Nitya Sevaniya foods are regarded as essential for maintaining health and supporting normal bodily growth and development. Nitya Sevaniya Dravyas are systematically described in foundational Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, Ashtanga Samgraha and Kashyapa Samhita. These substances are recognized for their capacity to maintain physiological balance, enhance resistance to disease, and promote well-being through their specific qualities, flavors, and influence on the body's dosha equilibrium. This review aims to correlate the classical Ayurvedic concept of Nitya Sevaniya Dravyas with contemporary nutritional science by examining traditional literature alongside current scientific evidence. Relevant classical Ayurvedic texts and contemporary scientific literature were reviewed to analyze the nutritional, preventive, and therapeutic significance of Nitya Sevaniya Dravyas. The review highlights the potential relevance of Nitya Sevaniya Dravyas in promoting healthy dietary practices and suggests that integrating Ayurvedic dietary principles with evidence-based nutritional science may contribute to the prevention and management of lifestyle disorders.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Ahara, Dietetics, Functional foods, Nutraceuticals.