Ayurveda for Digestive Health

What we eat and the quality of our digestion is central to Ayurveda.

What we eat and drink and how it is converted into essential nourishment for the body combined with the process of eliminating waste products is an essential part of our health and wellbeing.

Agni and Ama

If the digestive fire (agni) is weak, then toxins (ama) are created. This can then spread throughout the body’s tissues. Some initial signs of ama being present are:

• Bloating
• Nasal congestion
• Feeling lethargic
• Stubborn weight gain.

If we don’t correct our digestive fire then over time the build up of ama can manifest into disease and the longer it is allowed to remain in the body, the more ‘sticky’ it gets; making it more difficult to remove.

If we eat foods that are unsuitable for our body type or eat an excess of particular types of foods, then imbalances through the digestive system can be created.

We sometimes associate healthy eating with depriving ourselves of food that tastes good and that we enjoy. This doesn’t have to be the case - obviously we don’t want to be consuming excess sugar (or excess anything!) but eating healthily in an Ayurvedic way isn’t about deprivation or sacrifice; it’s about creating a healthy ecosystem in our gut.

Poor digestive health can also have an affect on us mentally as well as physically. We should take pleasure from the food that we consume without worrying about how we are going to feel later.

Tips to Improve Digestion

Some general steps to help improve digestion are:

• Eat warm food
• Eat a varied and balanced diet
• Drink warm drinks, such as herbal teas
• Only eat when hungry

General things to avoid to improve digestion:

• Raw or cold food
• Cold drinks
• Having dairy with fruit, meat or fish

Ayurveda can also provide relief from digestive ailments, such as:

• IBS
• Acid Reflux
• Heartburn
• Colitis
• Crohns
• Constipation

If you feel that you would benefit from advice on the best food for you and a therapy plan to target a particular illness or imbalance then I offer regular one hour consultations on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday daytimes as well as on Wednesday evenings.