Is it true that Ayurveda discourages Non-vegetarianism and the use of spices?
This is again another fallacy. Ayurveda as a rule does not prohibit the intake of non-vegetarian food or spices. It is a well-known fact that spicy and non-vegetarian food is not as easily digestible as vegetarian food. Heavy spices also tend to irritate the digestive system, more so when the body is sick. In such a condition, in order not to tax the system, and ensure a speedy recovery, it is advisable to follow an easily digestible diet and that which does not aggravate the diseased condition. It is also important to take the right kind of food in the right quantity at the right times. Lately, it has been accepted that the human body is designed to ingest vegetarian food rather than non-vegetarian food.
