Is it possible to improve digestion naturally without medicines ? Yes it is Ayurveda the science of life lays a lot of emphasis on digestion (Agni) for maintaining good health. In fact it is believed that most of the diseases in humans are caused due to weak digestion. Therefore it is very important to maintain healthy digestion. Adopting Ayurvedic remedies for healthy digestion helps in getting maximum nutrition and keeping yourself healthy. These simple but effective Ayurvedic remedies will help you get rid of digestive problems such as bloating, heartburn, gases and constipation.
Eat warm foor to improve digestion naturally
Always try to eat when food is warm because warm food is delicious and is easy to digest. It is safe and hygienic. Hot foods help to increase your metabolism by raising your heart rate and producing more heat in the body. This helps you to burn more calories, through improved metabolism. It does not cause bloating. On the other hand cold and refrigerated food are dry in nature and reduces the metabolic process. Your digestive system needs to work harder to digest cold and dry food. As a result of this causes bloating and gases. This is very easy way to improve digestion naturally.
Eat food in right quantity
How eating food in right quantity helps to improve digestion naturally . Let’s understand, In Ayurveda it is said that make three parts of your stomach fill one part with food, one part with water and one part should be left empty for digestion. Food taken in proper quantity helps balance all the three doshas and provides proper nutrition. When you overeat it makes your digestive system to work more. This makes your digestive system weak and it is unable to digest the food. This leads to indigestion and later on ama formation. Aside from the obvious consequence of weight gain, overeating increases free radical production in the body, which in turn speeds the aging process. By setting down the fork when you are satisfied, but not stuffed, you avoid overeating and the body receives the nourishment that it needs without the added burden of digesting, and oftentimes storing, unnecessary calories.
Eat only when you feel hungry
Hunger is sign that your previous eaten food is digested. Body needs food for energy and nutrition. Eating food without previous meal is digested leads to indigestion and ama formation. Ama according to Ayurveda is cause of most of the diseases. So you should always take food when your digestive fire is optimum, you are hungry, your body feels lightness and there is no feeling of bloating. The best time to take food is 10 am to 1 pm in the afternoon and by 7 pm in the evening. A latest research found that eating meals after 7 pm slows down the metabolism and weight gain.
Improve digestion naturally by avoid Incompatible food
Always avoid mixing of food item that opposite in nature because mixing of these food leads to many diseases. In Ayurveda it is known as Virrudhha Ahar. This is very unique concept of ayurveda. Wrong food combinations or viruddha ahara (mismatch of Vipaka, Guna, Virya, Prabhava) may lead to disturbance of agni, poor digestion, ama accumulation, vitiation of dhatus, and channels obstruction. This does not allow you to gain adequate nourishment.
Avoid food combinations, including:
- Milk is not compatible with fruits, melons, sour fruits, and bananas. It should not be consumed with salty items such as samosa/paratha/khichadi. Don’t boil it with tea.
- Grains should not be consumed with Tapioca and Fruits.
- One should not consume fruits and milk with vegetables.
- Beans are the wrong combination with eggs, milk, fish, fruits, yogurt, and meat.
- Yogurt is to be avoided with cheese, hot drinks, sour fruits, milk, mangoes, nightshades, beans, eggs, fish.
- Fat and proteins are mismatched foods as they need different digestive juices.
- Cheese cannot be paired with eggs, fruits, hot drinks, milk, beans, yogurt.
- Proteins are not compatible with starches and their collective consumption may result in delayed digestion.
- Nightshades (tomato, potato, etc) are not compatible with fruits like cucumber, melon, and dairy products.
- Milk, yogurt, tomatoes, and cucumber are incompatible with lemons.
Eat in good Ambience
Anger, fear, greed, stress are the factors which hampers your digestion. Always take your food in a neat and clean place with good surrounding and relaxed atmosphere. This helps in calming mind which helps in digestion process.
Chew your food properly
Always eat in relaxed manner don’t eat in hurry. Digestion process starts as soon as food is put into the mouth. Chewing thoroughly not only makes it easier to swallow food, but also brings various benefits that promote your health, such as making food more tasty and helping with digestion and absorption. If saliva doesn’t get mixed in to your food properly it affects your digestion. Saliva contains special enzymes that help digest the starches in your food. An enzyme called amylase breaks down starches (complex carbohydrates) into sugars, which your body can more easily absorb. Saliva also contains an enzyme called lingual lipase, which breaks down fats.
Don't watch television or mobile while eating
Always eat in silence and peacefully without talking, without watching television or on mobile. Watching these things have a negative impact on your digestion. So keep sometime for your lunch and dinner when there is least disturbance. Watching television or mobile the brain is distracted and sends out the wrong signals and does not process the taste and satisfaction.
One tends to eat more while watching television as our attention is diverted into watching.
Watching Television or mobile while reducing the metabolic rate at which you should ideally digest the food.
Studies claim as you are disturbed by television while having a meal , your body does not register the act and makes you feel hungry soon. Because of this you gain weight.
Always take a walk after dinner
Don’t lie down or sit in front of T.V immediately after lunch or dinner take a mild walk for about 10-15 min you can do that indoors or go to a near by park for a stroll. Walking after eating can aid in digestion. A study in PLOS One found that walking stimulates the stomach and intestines. This can help food move through the digestive system more rapidly. It can also help reduce bloating, especially for those with irritable bowel syndrome. Bloating occurs when gas builds up in the digestive tract as undigested food is broken down. Bloating also occurs when you swallow air as you eat or drink. Physical activity, such as walking, can help move some of that excess gas through the digestive tract.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that digestion is one the key aspect of healthy living . Ayurveda the ancient science of life says that food, sleep and lifestyle are three pillars of life. Among the three food is the most important. Therefore the food we eat and digest makes us what we are. So as we give a lot of emphasis on what we should eat similarly we should focus on how well we digest the food. Practising the above ayurvedic remedies in your lifestyle will help you digest what you eat and get maximum nutrition from your food.
This Article is written by Dr. Ashutosh Tiwari B.A.M.S, PGDCR Director of Risha’s Health And Ayurvedaa Solutions.He is having more than 20 years of experience in field of Ayurvedic medicine.
The information in this article is intended for your educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programs.
