5 Ayurvedic Secrets for a Good Digestion

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Having a strong digestion is incredibly important for breaking down  & metabolising foods efficiently… and importantly - keeps us healthy, and prevents illness and disease.
 
Knowing how, what and when to eat can be extremely confusing especially with so much information out there. So instead of being guided by books, website and social media, you have an even better resource … YOU and your super intelligent body !

Below are some simple guidelines which help you develop more connection and intuition around food and eating. Try these tips out and see if they ring true for you.  Remember, nothing replaces your own body's instinct and intuition about what is best for you to eat and when.
 

Rest & Digest

• Opposite to fight and flight: When the body is stressed, it is focused on survival not digestion.
• The mind and body needs to focus on eating and digesting. Taking a quiet moment before eating helps to ‘fire up’ your digestion.
• Eating at the same time everyday helps to trigger our “rest & digest” response and therefore, regulates our digestion particularly if it is irregular.

Eating Mindfully

• Begin your meal with gratitude, using a prayer or giving thanks in some way.
• Eat when calm, relaxed and certainly not when feeling angry, upset or even too excited
• Don’t eat in front of the computer or television
• DONT RUSH - Chew your food slowly and until fully broken down (around 20 – 30 times).
• Keep conversation to a minimum so that your thoughts can be focused on the food

 
Listen to your stomach

• Smell your food or sample a taste if you are not sure. Do not eat stale, old or rotten food. Think about who cooked your food and what energy they put into the food.
• What does your body need right now? Warm or cool, food or drink, moist or dry etc.
• How much food do you really need? Listen to your body and it will tell you when it has had enough
• Fill your stomach with ½ food, ¼ with liquid and leave ¼ empty.

 
Keeping the Digestive Fire alive

• Ayurveda calls our Digestive Fire "Agni"
• Eating foods and drinks that enhance digestion – avoid cold drinks or ice, especially while eating.
• Do not eat food straight out of the refrigerator. Check it is still fresh and only eat when it reaches room temperature or has been gently heated
• Use herbs and spices appropriately. Salt, pepper, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, onion, garlic and red wine all act as digestives and stoke your digestive fire.
• A healthy “Appetite for Life” will enhance our digestion, as well as staying active & exercising regularly

 
 
Eat According to Seasons and time of Day

• When the weather or climate is cold, you may mostly need cooked and warm foods. Although, If your digestive fire is very strong you may still need raw fruit and veg.
• When the climate is hot you may desire salads and fruit. However, if your digestion is slow, you may still need cooked food.
• Morning – Eat foods that are light, easy to digest and energising to wake you up
• Midday – Eat your biggest meal of the day as digestion is high. Raw foods tolerated.
• Evening – Eat a small dinner that is digestible. Eat at least 3 hours before sleep.

 
For more information on this article or Ayurveda go to:

 https://www.redtentyoga.com.au/ayurveda.html

https://www.redtentyoga.com.au/love-your-body.html

Or contact Emma Grant at emma@redtentyoga.com.au or 0410 576 267
 
 

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