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You are what you eat, and if you are to remain healthy, you have to eat healthy. That is just the way it is! And it is not just about what you eat, the way you eat your food is also very important. Food is considered a medicine in Ayurveda in the sense that it sustains the microbial population in the human gut that protects the person from diseases. 

The following are the dietetic practices recommended by Ayurveda to safeguard yourself from diseases. 

Have the food served hot - According to Ayurveda, food should be served hot because warm food is easier to digest as it increases the body's digestive fire or agni. It boosts metabolism and blood circulation. Eating food hot can also help pacify your doshas.

Have food that is Unctuous - The food you should eat should be reasonably oily or creamy, that is, it should include healthy fats like ghee, coconut, nuts and seeds. It improves taste and also helps in the movement of the food in the body and thus improving the nourishment. 

Have food in proper quantity - Eating an ideal quantity of food is necessary to sustain your digestive fire or agni, and thus enable proper digestion. It is also important that you should eat a proper quantity of food during every meal and not just during one meal.

Have food only after digestion of previously taken food - According to Ayurveda, having food before the digestion of the previously eaten food will result in the release of toxins, which can lead to ill health. 

Have food at a comfortable and pleasant place - This affects your digestion process. Having food in a tranquil state will enable good digestion. 

Have food in appropriate crockery/utensils - This improves immunity, enables better digestion and reduces inflammation. This also paves the way for improved cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of respiratory diseases.

Do not eat hurriedly - Eating too fast can cause ingestion, bloating, gas and abdominal pain. It can cause the food to enter the wrong passage in the body. Eating food too fast also prevents you from detecting foreign objects that may be present in the food which can give rise to dangerous consequences. 

Do not eat too slow - Eating too slow will devalue your food and result in the formation of toxins. This can affect your digestion. 

Do not speak or laugh while having food -  This causes problems comparable to eating too fast, like indigestion, bloating and pain in the abdomen. 

Have food which is suitable to your body and mind - This is important to maintain your physical, mental and emotional health. Ayurveda considers food medicine and to ensure good health, it is important to have food that is suited to your ‘Prakriti’. 

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