Actress explores Ayurveda, contrasting scientific skepticism with holistic claims

Actress Sanne Vogel embarks on a journey to India and Bali for the KRO-NCRV series "From Kale to Turmeric," seeking to understand the principles of Ayurveda. A self-proclaimed "fan of Western science," Vogel, who proactively underwent preventative surgeries due to carrying an aggressive cancer gene, approaches the ancient Indian healing system with a degree of skepticism.

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That is karma.

Vogel questions the Ayurvedic notion that serious illnesses like cancer can be prevented through specific diets, such as cooked lentils, and practices like "Indian variants of astro-TV." She expresses discomfort with the idea that all diseases are preventable, particularly when confronted with the concept of karma. An Ayurvedic doctor explains that having a cancer gene could be a consequence of an "imbalance in a previous life."

The series also introduces "The Ayurveda Podcast," hosted by Cielke Sijben and Marleen Dijkhoff, two women from Amsterdam who have embraced Ayurvedic lifestyle changes. Marleen shares her personal transformation, attributing her previous issues, including 20 years of insomnia, lack of menstruation, intense workouts, and a raw food diet, to "a very high pitta." After adopting Ayurvedic practices like tongue scraping and eating cooked food, she felt remarkably better.

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just for fun

Marleen now approaches everyday frustrations, like someone cutting in line at the supermarket, with a more understanding perspective, attributing the behavior to a "high pitta." The podcast hosts express a belief that widespread adoption of Ayurvedic eating could lead to "world peace."

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a very high pitta

In contrast to the focus on Ayurveda, the article briefly mentions the documentary "Kabul, between prayers," which explores the life of a 23-year-old Taliban fighter named Samim. His struggles with fundamentalist Islam, daily life, and his desire to kill infidels are depicted, highlighting a starkly different worldview from the wellness-focused approach of Ayurveda.

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World peace