An Explorative Correlation among Body Constitution, Dietary Selection, and the Harmonious Balance of the Tridoshas, all Aimed at Disease Free Life - a Realm of Siddha Medicine

This review's objective is to offer comprehensive details on food and nutritional guidelines in accordance with Thegi (body constitution/physique) characteristics of Vali (Vatham), Azhal (Pitham), and Aiyam (Kapham) as described in Siddha literature. Siddha system of medicine (SSM) is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine, which has been originated from India and is practiced mostly in the southern part of this country for treating various diseases including even chronic conditions. However, it is relatively veiled to the scientific community as compared to other traditional systems such as Ayurveda (a popular Indian medicine), TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine). One of the ancient medical systems, the Siddha system uses a scientific and all-encompassing approach to provide health treatment that is preventative, curative, promotional, rejuvenating, and rehabilitative.Food and lifestyle are the cornerstones of Siddha medicine for good living. One of the fundamental tenets of Siddha medicine is that "food itself is medicine and medicine itself is food," which refines the eating process to be Thegi (bodyconstitution) friendly. Each Thegi should maintain compatibility with its own set of food for healthy life. Guidance has been given in the Siddha classics for identifying specific types of body constitution, various dietary recommendations and disease susceptibility. Foods like grains, cereals, vegetables, fruits, millets, meat, sea foods, milk and milk products, oils, spices are recommended for three types of constitution. Preference of food habits according to body constitution paves way for healthy and disease free life by maintaining equilibrium of vital factors Vali (Vatham), Azhal (Pitham) and Aiyam (Kabham).