We spend, on average, one third of our lives asleep. Everything from the day's events to  where we sleep can effect the quality of sleep we get. In Ayurveda, there are several key things to remember when wanting a good night of rest.

• The body must be calm. In order to have this happen, all food should be digested before laying down for bed. Eat 4 hours before sleep. If you get hungry, a piece of fruit 2 hours before bed will be okay.
• To help fall asleep, a glass of warm milk with tumeric helps to sooth and relax by releasing hormones that aid with sleep.
• The mind must be calm. Meditating right before bed can consciously calm the mind and body to prepare for sleep.
• Be in bed before 10. 10 PM to 2 AM is when the most valuable time of sleep occurs. Trying to fall asleep during this time may also be difficult, as it is considered Pitta time.
• The bedroom is not the place for a TV, as hard as that can be for some.
• Sleeping more than 8 hours can cause drowsiness the next day.
• The environment should be cooling and relaxing, with earth tones. Mirrors and images of water are thought to drain energy (see info. on vaastu), so they should be eliminated. Mirrors are only okay if not seen from laying in the bed.  
• The best direction to sleep is with the head towards the south. The body has polarites, just like the earth. Sleep to recharge!
  

It's another late-night run to the kitchen for a snack. What is it this time? A chocolate chip cookie? A couple (or a lot) of potato chips? According to Ayurveda, what we crave coincides with what is going on in our consciousness. In simple terms, the ego has a craving, and we try to satisfy it with our taste buds. 

The six specific tastes are sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent. The sanskrit names for the tastes are in parenthases.

Sweet (madura)= love
  Included in this category are alchoholic beverages and narcotics, as a concetrated sweetness. 
            In moderation, it gives tissues the chance to be built.
            In excess, sweetness leads to dullness and greed.

Salty (labina)=greed
           The body holds onto salt, which adds excess water. It is easy to see the connection. 
            In moderation, it aids by increasing the digestive fire.
            In excess, it leads to hastened aging, irritability, and a dehydrated body, yet holding excess water.

Sour (amla)= jealousy
           Sour flavors provide alertness and give a refreshed feeling.
            In moderation, it adds minerals to the body, and also aids with digestion.
            In excess, it leads to increased envy, jealousy, and can cause irritability.

Pungent (katu)= anger
        Coffee is a popular pungent staple of many diets. Pungent flavors stimulate awareness. 
            In moderation, it increases digestion and circulation, and helps to decrease weight. 
            In excess, it increases aggression and anger, and is known to dry vata and anger pitta.

Bitter (tikta)= sorrow
           Common Ayurvedic examples are neem and dandelion. It is known as one of the best purifiers.
             In moderation, it brings balance, decreases desire for and balances out sweets, and purifies the liver. 
            In excess, it has an over-cooling effect that can cause grief or depression.

Astringent (cashaya)= fear
          Astringent flavors such as black tea, sprouts and cranberry can be very purifying.
            In moderation, it acts as an anti-inflammitory, and decreases fear.
            In excess, it causes fear and dryness.

If all of this was a little much to try and keep track of, stick with a few good tips to try and implement:
    1. Sweet + Bitter = great combination. They help to balance each other out.
    2. Bitter + Pungent = cleanses ama from the body. Ama is the cause of all sickness. 
    3. Bitter + Astringent = best for purifying the body. 
    and the hard one for me to follow...
    4. Salty + Sweet = no good. The body creates different enzymes to digest food, and when two opposite ones are created, so they are counteracting themselves according to Ayurveda.

Most importantly, all of these flavors are needed in the body, in balance and moderation. The best Ayurvedic meals incorporate all six flavors in every meal. Listening to your body and seeing how it feels can often give clues as to what to add or subtract from your diet.