Digestion transforms the sun’s energy in food into the nutrients that fuel the body.
In Ayurveda, metabolic transformation is known as Agni. There are 13 Agnis in the body that govern digestion and metabolism. The primary one, the gastro fire, is in the stomach.
In a balanced unstressed body, this primary Agni sustains longevity, vitality, and good health. But, in today’s stressed lives, we often chew less and swallow quickly. The doshas become unbalanced and the Agni functions less well, which can lead to discomfort or illness.
Good eating habits are central to Ayurveda, and can help rekindle the Agni and improve the quality of digestion.
Ayurveda advises that lunch should be the most calorie-dense meal, so the Agni is powered by the peak of the sun. A lighter meal should be consumed in the evening to aid good sleep and provide a boost of morning energy.
All too often, we move around soon after eating. This is as negative as bad nourishment, and Ayurveda tells us, the more we rest after a meal, the better our digestion.
Ayurveda also suggests not to drink cold fluids whilst eating. Cold drinks extinguish the flames of the digestive fire. We are advised to pair meals with drinks at room temperature, and only have cold fluids between meals.
Chewing is the all-important start of the digestive process. As we chew, we grind food into smaller pieces that mix with saliva to form a ‘bolus’. Saliva contains the first essential enzymes that kick-start the digestive process. And chewing stimulates gastric juices, digestive enzymes, and even hormones in the digestive system.
But, if we don’t chew our food thoroughly, the digestive process is suboptimal. We swallow larger pieces of unchewed food, which may lead to discomfort or complaints like IBS, bloating, indigestion, and acid reflux.
In Ayurveda, the importance of chewing in good digestive health is well recognised. Traditionally, to aid digestion, and freshen the mouth, aromatic herb and seed mixes are chewed after eating. (7)
When we discovered herb and seed mixes used in this way, we were inspired to launch our own proprietary blend as a natural digestive aid. We think it’s a revolutionary product, you can find out more about our Ayurvedic Digestif Mix here and buy it here.
I hope you have enjoyed my introduction to the wonderful healing system of Ayurveda. The links mentioned in the text are below if you are interested to read more.
