Ayurveda for Weight Loss

Weight management isn't a one size fits all and in Ayurveda, it is understood that each person is different and needs the correct approach for their situation and body constitution.

Fat or adipose tissue is one of the seven essential tissues or Dhatus in the body. It is necessary to have the right amount in the body for balanced health.

Reasons for Weight Gain

There can be a number of reasons for weight gain, such as:

• Unsuitable diet
• Weak Agni (digestive fire)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Boredom eating
• Emotional eating
• Post pregnancy

Because weight gain can be triggered by different things, the method of weight loss needs to reflect this.

How Ayurveda Tackles Weight Gain

Ayurveda isn’t a ‘diet’ so sometimes people are surprised by the advice I give particularly if they have tried different types of currently popular diets. It is also not a new fad - this health system has been around for thousands of years.

In Ayurveda we don’t just look at the symptoms; in this case weight gain. When trying to lose weight, it is important to work with the cause to ensure long term results. When I do a consultation, I take a look at the tongue as this is a map of the body. Also, if there is a coating (usually white but can have a hint of yellow, grey or pink) this is a good indication of there being Ama (toxins) in the body. If there is an indication of toxins, then the first step is to work on removing them from the body. This is usually with a combination of diet suggestions and herbs. The aim is to increase digestive fire, to remove the ama.

I also ask A LOT of questions and check the pulse of the client. The pulse is amazing and tells an Ayurveda Practitioner so many things about the client’s health. However, I mostly use the pulse to check the body type of my client (this is determined at conception) as well as the current imbalance.

The combination of the questions and the pulse helps reveal each client as an individual. It means that I can ascertain the cause of the weight gain and provide a manageable plan for them to follow within their budget and available time. This plan is designed, not only to lose the excess weight but also to understand the cause of it so that the weight stays off.

White Coating on Tongue?

If you are now looking at your tongue in the mirror and noticed a coating over it and wondering what you can do to work towards removing it, here are a few tips:

• Drink a cup of warm to hot water (drink straight down - don’t sip)
• Have a little Ginger Pickle about 30mins before meals to stimulate your digestive fire
• Avoid the following food combos:
  • Fruit and dairy
  • Fish and dairy
  • Meat and dairy

If you are looking to lose weight in a healthy way and learn how to keep it off long-term then I offer one hour consultations in Reigate, Surrey which has good train connections to London and the M25