Ayurveda: Fire up your Digestion.

In Ayurveda, good digestion is considered the key to good health.  The digestive fire is called “agni” a Sanskrit word meaning, “fire.”  Ayurveda believes that strong agni will protect you from disease.  If your agni is weak, ama will be produced.  Ama is a sticky substance that clogs the body’s channels and blocks the entry of nutrients into the tissues and the release of toxins.  Built-up ama can result in disease. 

While the quality of the food you eat is important, the best foods in the world won’t do much good if you are unable to digest them properly.  First, eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full.  Second, choose your diet according to your constitution (see blog entry on the doshas, Oct. 22, 2010).  For instance, if you are a Vata type you may require heavier foods to feel more grounded.  Your diet will also depend on the strength of your digestion.  Stimulating your digestion is important.  Ayurveda does this through the use of spices in cooking.  Other ways to ensure that your digestive fire is strong include:

(1)  Eat sitting and relax and enjoy your food.

(2)  Eat cooked food, as it is easier to digest than raw.

(3)  Avoid ice-cold foods and drinks as they weaken the digestion.

(4)  Be mindful of the quality and types of foods you eat and how they affect your body and mind.

(5)  Eat with the season.