The digestive system is an important part of the body and any problem related to it can cause a lot of discomfort. The concept of Agni, the Sanskrit word for ‘fire’, is rather essential to the Ayurvedic tradition. Agni (the fire element), in Ayurveda is responsible for all bodily transformations and is responsible for all metabolic processes such as digestion, absorption and assimilation which lead to the transforming of food into tissue layers. If digestion is not working optimally- energy, health and the ability of the body to heal and renew is impaired. Here are the top ayurvedic secrets for healthy digestion:
CONSUME EVERYTHING WARM
Make the switch from cold to warm water and from raw food to warm meals. Why is this? The digestive system is thought of as being similar to a fire in Ayurveda. Like any fire, the digestive system also gets “extinguished” when we toss cold substances into it. The digestive system is ignited by warm foods and beverages.
KNEEL DOWN AFTER MEALS
Sacred eating also means not immediately running around after eating. Yoga is the sister science of Ayurveda, so it’s highly beneficial to sit in Vajrasana – a yogic pose that involves sitting on your knees with your hips resting on your heels and toes ideally touching after meals for few minutes.
GINGER
Ginger stimulates digestive juices and the flow of enzymes that help you digest your food. This makes ginger an effective remedy for indigestion, especially when it is caused by overeating. In fact, as a preventive measure, you can sprinkle salt on some fresh ginger slices and chew it thoroughly after eating a heavy meal.
HAVE YOUR BIGGEST MEAL AT LUNCH
There’s an Ayurvedic principle- when the sun is at its highest point of the day, the digestive fire is strongest! We are a reflection of what’s happening in nature. Eat your biggest meal at lunch, giving your body plenty of time to fully digest before going to bed, which is when the digestive system effectively shuts down.
CONSUME TRIPHALA
This traditional Ayurvedic formula is comprised of three fruits (hence tri-phala), and balances vata, pitta, and kapha. It is revered for its unique ability to gently cleanse and detoxify the digestive tract, while replenishing, nourishing, and rejuvenating the tissues. About half an hour before bed, you can either take 2 Triphala Tablets with a glass of warm water or, if you prefer a powder, steep ½ teaspoon of Triphala Powder in a cup of freshly boiled water for 10 minutes, cool and drink.
PREFER COOKED FOODS OVER RAW
We believe that raw foods are rich in natural nutrients and enzymes and more beneficial for human body. Yet the Ayurvedic literatures recommends a cooked food diet which is assumed to be easily digestible as well as Prana (the vital life energy) energizing.
CUMIN SEEDS
Cumin has a long history of use as an Ayurvedic remedy for digestive problems including indigestion, nausea, diarrhoea, and flatulence. It stimulates the secretion of pancreatic enzymes that aid digestion. For heaviness in the stomach, add one-quarter teaspoon each of roasted cumin seed powder and black pepper to a glass of buttermilk and drink it two or three times a day for a few days.