Ayurveda is a preventative health care system that promotes our connection with nature’s laws for optimal wellness and longevity. Ayurveda considers all aspects of life and applies various healing modalities to balance, regain and maintain health physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
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Building a Foundation
#1 Stimulate Your Digestive System Before You Eat
There are many simple ways to stimulate digestive fire before we eat. It is important to kindle agni so that it is reliable and can efficiently process food. A few key things to encourage better digestion:
- Take a short walk before eating.
- Drink a large glass of warm or room temperature water 20–30 minutes before the meal—this aids in buffering our stomach so that it is less sensitive when digestive juices are added.
- Yoga poses that twist our body help to stimulate digestion.
- Take a deep breath, slow down and be grateful for the food that is about to be eaten.
- Notice emotions that are present. Relax and eat.
The digestive process begins before our first taste of food.
More information on digestion – You Tube Links – Eat This! Nutrition from the Ayurvedic Perspective, Digest This!, SUPPORTING DIGESTION AND DIGESTIVE FIRE
#2 Switch Your Cold and Icy Drinks to room temperature or Warm Tea
Drinking cold water or iced drinks with a meal is considered an Ayurvedic nightmare. It is unfavorable by ‘extinguishes’ your digestive fire and makes digestion much more challenging.
It is more effective for digestion to sip hot or warm herbal tea during your meal. Warm fluids kindle the digestive fire, supporting elimination and reducing other post-meal effects like bloating, belching, and gas.
Ginger tea is also a great option, along with other spice tea options like cumin, coriander, and fennel. You may enjoy warm water or herbal tea any time of the day to keep your digestive fire efficient and healthy.
#3 Eat Your Biggest Meal at Lunch
Ayurveda believes that our digestive fire is at its strongest in the middle of the day. Eating our biggest meal at lunchtime gives our body plenty of time to digest before going to bed. In the evening, the digestive system shuts down and begins the cellular detoxification process.
Studies have also found that our digestive system secretes the highest concentration of digestive juices around noon. If we eat a heavy meal in the evening, it can affect our sleep, and often in the morning, we will wake up feeling full and sluggish.
Prepare a meal the night before if you can’t cook a healthy and satisfying meal at noon.
#4 Baby Step to a Daily Routine: Rise with the Sun
We have an opportunity everyday to enjoy nature and get outside as it comes to life.
Wake up with the sunrise. Morning is a great time to connect with nature and take in the energy of the day (even if it’s simply ten minutes), breathe in the fresh air, and expose your eyes to the beneficial morning light.
When you take time to move your body in the morning, you relieve sluggish, heavy feelings, boost energy, and reset your internal clock (circadian clock).
#5 Baby Step to a Daily Springtime Routine: Body brushing or Garshana
Body brushing and garshana (raw silk gloves) intend to remove dead skin cells, increase blood circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, and improves your energy in the morning.