Digestion
How To Improve Your Digestion Naturally
Improve Your Digestion Naturally ( Agni Tea. Photo by Emma Eckert www.radiantmoonchild.com ) In Ayurveda digestion is referred to as agni. Agni is your digestive fire and it is the first line of defense against illness. So tending to it properly is crucial to overall health. When you first light a fire, you don’t smother it with large logs, but slowly add kindling until it starts going. Then when it comes time to put it out, you let it burn out on its own. Digestion works in this same way. Ayurvedic Supplements For Digestion Good health depends on strong and efficient digestion. When you first wake up, you should begin your day with a lighter meal, slowly building up your agni. Then around noon, it should be working at its hottest. This is when you should eat your largest, hea...
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Gut Health & “Ama” [Toxins]
Gut Health & “Ama” Over the course of a lifetime, we ingest roughly 50 tons of nutrients and our ability to properly digest these nutrients determines to a large extent the state of our health. “Ama” is a concept of Ayurveda which can be best understood as the accumulation of toxic metabolic by-products at various levels of physiology. More simply, ama is the by-product of poor digestion and according to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda – ama is the root cause of nearly all diseases. Ayurveda states that proper diet and optimal digestion are the major pillars of good health. Similarly, optimal function of the GI tract requires proper mucosal integrity and a balanced microbial ecosystem in the gut. In essence, “gut health” relies on “good bacteria”. Any compromise...
Simple Tips For Healthy Digestion
Simple Tips For Healthy Digestion In Ayurveda, the oldest system of holistic medicine, perfect health begins with perfect digestion. Ayurveda speaks of Jatharagni (digestive fire), located in the stomach, as being the primary location where either health begins or disease. According to Ayurveda mostly all diseases start in the digestive system; this includes mind since the mind is transforming information by nature. The digestive fire is like the furnace in a house. If it’s not properly working then the house will suffer its consequences. Linked to digestion, according to Ayurveda, are all the other organs that are part of a sequential process that digests food and takes in the essence of food that nurtures every cell on every level, not just physical. 11 Simple Tips: 1. Eat 2-3 meals a da...
Emotional Eating – An Ayurvedic Perspective + Tips To Cheat Your Cravings
Emotional Eating – An Ayurvedic Perspective “Food nourishes the body; love nourishes the Soul.” – Dr. Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Physician “Emotional Eating”… Overeating may occur occasionally and often due to various reasons. However, overeating often takes place because of emotional factors. From an Ayurvedic perspective, when there is undue stress or other emotional factors this can increase the uncoordinated movement of ‘prana vata’ within the mind. This increased movement of prana can then stimulate the gastric fire [Agni] – which produces the “experience of hunger”. However, this experience of hunger may not actually be real but rather an emotional craving for nourishment [i.e. love]. What Am I Hungry For? In a recent book, ‘What Are You ...
Improve Digestion Naturally + Ayurvedic Remedies For Indigestion
Improve Your Digestion Naturally According to the most ancient and revered textbook of Ayurveda, the Charak Samhita, “the distinction between health and disease arises as the result of the difference between wholesome and unwholesome diet.” Similarly, Hippocrates [the father of modern medicine] has said, “leave your drugs in the pot at the pharmacy if you can’t cure your patient with food.” “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates Food As Medicine We have all heard the saying, “you are what you eat”. Though true, it would be more accurate to say, “you are what you eat, digest, absorb, and assimilate”. With that in mind, let us now introduce the most fundamental principle according to the science of Ayurveda. This principle is “Agni” – The Diges...
How To Easily Make Delicious Kitchari
How To Make Kitchari For its easy digestibility and flavored simplicity, kitchari has long been valued in nearly every indian household. Despite its name in hindi, which means “a mess” or “all mixed up”, India’s traditional science of Ayurveda considers this dish to be nourishing and is often used as part of its seasonal cleansing programs [i.e. Panchakarma]. Not only is kitchadi nourishing but with certain spice combinations, kitchadi can also greatly help to improve digestion. Kitchari Kit This kit provides all the basic supplies you need to make Kitchari for 7 days. The Spice Of Life Spiced generously or by adding extra ginger you can make kitchari a simple lunch on a cool autumn or winter afternoon. Likewise, the addition of ghee [clarified butter] garnished with fresh cilantro and a ...
The Root Cause Of All Disease – An Ayurvedic Perspective + Practical Tips To Improve Digestion
The Root Cause Of All Disease Ever get that heavy feeling with unclear thinking and tiredness especially after a meal? According to the science of Ayurveda [“The Science Of Life”] this lack of vitality is often due to the formation of toxins [“ama”] – which arises due to poorly digested food material and is considerered unsuitable to the body. After all, if we eat food to gain energy – why then should we feel deprived of energy after the consumption food? The answer is quite simple as we shall see below. Respect Your Digestive Flame In most ancient cultures fire was revered because it provided light, warmth and the ability to cook food. In some cultures [i.e. vedic culture], fire is considered sacred as it represents the transformation between the mortal world and the heavens a...
The Six Tastes Of Food – An Ayurvedic Perspective + 5 Quick Tips For Digestion
The Six Tastes Of Food Have you ever wondered why when we are sick we often lose our sense of taste and even have a diminished appetite? The science of Ayurveda explains an interesting relationship between taste, appetite, and the power of digestion. Often we simply connect tastes and flavor with enjoyment value rather than connecting tastes with its corresponding therapeutic value. Ayurveda has a simple yet elegant explanation for all of this and even provides a correlation which considers the natural order of these six tastes and the corresponding stages of digestion, as we shall discuss below. The Six Tastes: Although food should most certainly should be flavorful and delightful – we should also consider the therapeutic effects which food has upon both the body and mind. The six t...
Lassi – A Refreshing Drink And Digestive Aid
Lassi – A Refreshing Drink And Digestive Aid Lassi is a popular indian drink that is refreshing and helps aid digestion. It is made with fresh yogurt and water and is generally produced with 3 parts water to 1 part yogurt ratio. However this can be changed according to one’s constitution and balance – a more watery lassi is easier to digest. The benefits of lassi include boosting immunity as it provides a great source of acidophilus and vitamin B12. It is best made with fresh yogurt and certain spices add to the taste and enhance the digestive effect. Simple Lassi Recipe Ingredients: · ½ cup fresh plain yogurt · 3 cups water 1. Simply blend the yogurt and water together until smooth. 2. Put into glasses and serve immediately. Other Considerations: ~ a pinch of...
Food As Medicine: The Eight Important Aspects Of Food ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective
Food As Medicine: The Eight Important Aspects Of Food According to Ayurveda, food is considered to be the best medicine. Of equal importance is the consideration, according to Ayurveda, that poor digestion [koshtha] is the primary origin or causative factor for nearly all diseases. “Ahara Vidhi Visheshayatana” The Eight Important Aspects Of Food: Let’s discuss the basic principles of food. The eight important aspects of food are called ‘ahara vidhi visheshayatana’ and they are as follows: 1. Prakruti 2. Karana 3. Samayoga 4. Rashi 5. Desha 6. Kala 7. Upayoga Samasth 8. Upbhokta A Closer Look: 1. Prakruti – or the nature of food Depending on whether the food is easily digestible or not, food can be classified as heavy or light in quality. Meat is heavy for digestion ...
10 Simple Considerations For Optimal Digestion
DIGESTION ~ THE CORNERSTONE OF HEALTH According to ayurveda, digestion is the cornerstone of health. Even further, ayurveda has long recognized the importance of environment to one’s health and goes on to explain that what you see, hear, taste, smell, feel and think are all important for your overall well-being and health. Interestingly, it has been estimated that nearly 6 million people in the U.S. experience indigestion annually. Indigestion, heaviness in the body, retention of flatus and constipation, and/or loose bowel movements are the common signs and symptoms of indigestion [ajirna], as described in the classical texts. Below are simple considerations to help improve one’s digestion, overall health and well-being. 10 Simple Considerations For Optimal Digestion 1. Eat who...
Fasting Therapy ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective
Fasting Therapy ~ An Ayurvedic Perspective The word fasting though denotes complete abstinence from food, Ayurveda does not advocate complete abstinence in general with certain exceptions to the rule as in the case of post-shodhana therapy. At one instance Chakrapani in his commentary states the following as the meaning of “upavasa” – उपवास: क्रोधादिपरित्यागः सत्याद्युपादानं च, वचनं हि– “उपावृत्तस्य पापेभ्यः सहवासो गुणे हि यः|उपवासः स विज्ञेयोन शरीरस्य शोषणम्” इति; || १. दीर्घञ्जीवितीयोऽध्यायः ६|| This echoes the disassociation of the krodha [anger], lobha [greed], moha [illusion], iccha [desire], dvesha [hatred] etc. from the mind and following truth is “upavasa”. By doing so, one negates his sinful activities. However, for that to happen a well fed physique ...
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