Modern research validates what Ayurveda has known for thousands of years:
Our gut health is crucial to your overall well-being.
More than 60% of our serotonin (happiness chemicals) get's produced in our gut. In fact, we have a nerve ,called the Vagus nerve, that connects our brain and our gut and studies have shown that it's the gut that is pulling the strings.
This gets even deeper. We have more micro biome bacteria (vast colonies of microorganisms that live within us) than cells in our body! Therefore, we are a temple to a whole population of living beings. Stress, synthetic drugs and negativity is literally a natural disaster to them. Taking care of ourselves means taking care of our microbiome.
The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in your digestive strength and immunity. A healthy microbiome means:
A strong and stable immune system
Optimal creation and absorption of vital nutrients
Prevention of chronic illnesses
Optimal hormone regulation
These microbes are responsible for helping you break down food and nutrients, and maintaining the integrity of the gut wall. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of your immune system resides in the lining of your gut, and your microbiome is in constant communication with it.
When your digestive fire is strong: you turn poison into nectar. When your digestive fire is weak: it turns nectar into poison. - Vedic Saying.
So, what exactly is a good digestion? It's one that:
1) Extracts the right nutritions
2) Eliminates waste
It is the process of bringing things in, digesting them inside, extracting what we require, and discarding what we do not.
Everything we ingest is processed through all of our senses—the sounds we hear, the textures we feel, the sights we see, and the fragrances we inhale. However, digestion is frequently linked to the meals we consume.
Researchers have been studying food digestion and the nutrients we extract from it for decades. Organs, fluids, and cells have evolved into a complicated system in our bodies.
Modern research validates what Ayurveda has known for thousands of years.
Your gut health is crucial to your overall well-being.
Digestion: Ayurvedic Perspective:
Agni (ah-gnee)
The ability to break down food and other information taken in from the environment is known as digestive fire.
Agni's fire quality turns raw materials into a form that the body can absorb and convert into functional tissues. It can be found in two areas of metabolism:
-Catabolism is the process of a material being broken down into smaller components.
-Anabolism is the process of creating or constructing tissue from smaller components.
A strong agni, then creates ojas.
Ojas (oh-jes)
When digestion is strong, a subtle life essence and sustenance is created.
Ojas is the radiance of well health, glowing skin, and powerful eyes. This Ayurvedic notion has been connected to optimal neurotransmitter activity, proper hormone action, and overall physiology balance in recent study.
Ama (Ah-mah)
When digestion is weak, or compromised, foods and experiences cannot be fully absorbed. Therefore toxic residue is left behind.
Fatigue, generalised pain throughout the body, depression, susceptibility to infections, a low appetite, and oversensitive digestion are all symptoms of Ama accumulation.
Both your Prakruti and Vikruti have an impact on your current levels of Ojas and Ama.
Here are the 2 Steps to Optimal Digestion
1. Understand Where Your Agni,Ojas and Ama is At
Different Doshas have variable rates of Agni, and if you guessed it right PITTAS tend to have the strongest digestion. If you would like to find out more about your Dosha please feel free to check out this blog article.
VATTA's digestion tends to be very sensitive and variable, therefore they need more support than other Dohas.
Kapha's on the other hand have a very slow and steady digestion, as well as a strong appetite.
2. Flame Your Fire or Put it out
Foods and experiences associated with the element of fire can help keep your agni strong.
But too much heat and fire can cause digestive problems like heartburn or acid reflux. Paying attention to your body and keeping your doshas in balance will help you enjoy digestive health.
In order to improve your digestive fire you can:
1. Drink Warm Water with a Cup of Lemon Juice
-Detoxifies the liver and stimulates peristalsis
2. Avoid Ice Cold Beverages with Meals
-They reduce Agni
3. Make lunch your biggest meal of the day
-It’s when your agni/digestive fire is strongest
4. Eat a light dinner before bed
-In the evening your Agni is weakened
5. Opt for warm/raw foods
-Foods are easier to digest when cooked
6. Cook with digestion-stimulating herbs + spices
-cinnamon, ginger root and fennel seeds
7. Exercise daily
-this helps stimulate your metabolism and digestion
What can weaken your digestive fire/Agni, leading too weaker immune system, absorption of nutrients and fatigue
1. Overeating, irregular eating, excessive fasting
2. Eating Heavy, Cold or contaminated foods
3. Excessive sleep or inactivity
4. Inappropriate adaptation to your location/time/season
5. Eating foods that are not suited for your Dosha Type
If you need my help figuring out your Dosha Type or state of Angi, then please join my waiting list here. Together we can find the right strategy in order to improve your heath, digestion and state of being. Health is not just the absence of illness, so let's flourish in a world of endless possibilities!
