Digestion no.2

Part 2: Eating Well

Let me say this as loud as I can. A LOT of health food trends are based in Ayurveda. Yes, you read that right. Let's dive into the whole foods trend, and why it's one that I'm able to get behind. Here's why. 

Digesting food from an Ayurvedic perspective actually takes a lot of effort and work. Eating has become such a random act and just a "to-do" in our life, that we've sort of taken it for granted. And even if we get digestive discomfort, unless it's really bad, we often pay no heed to it. 

But in Ayurveda, what we eat AND how it digests is so key to our whole health, vitality, and ultimately the joy and bliss we feel. 

In Ayurveda, we say that one meal takes a total of 6 hours to digest from start to finish. Bodily processes already take a ton of energy, but the harder our food is to digest, the more energy it takes, the more digestive capacity it takes to get through our system. 

This is important, because how we digest and then ultimately absorb our food dictates how our tissue systems are supported. We eat good protein (and actually break it down into usable material), then our muscles are supported. We eat the leafy greens (digest, absorb, and assimilate), then our livers and blood tissue is supported. So on and so forth. 

However, more often than not, most of the time our bodies aren't really ready to digest the things we're eating. If you ever experience any of these things: pain, bloating, distention, gas, heart burn, lethargy, fatigue, etc. etc. --these are all signs that our digestion or our agni isn't where it should be. After we eat, we should feel vibrant, energetic, and ready to take on more. 

The first step is to eat well. The beautiful part about all of this, is that if we are actually eating Ayurvedically, we're not restricting, but rather we are intentionally eating for our bodies to strengthen our digestive capacity, then we never have to restrict ourselves. What does it mean to eat well? 

1. Eat appropriate to your body constitution. Go ahead and put both of your hands together to make a cup. This is more or less the correct portion size for you. Often times, we are way overeating (especially if you live in the United States). Think about how big your stomach actually is. Not huge my friends. Eat appropriate to your body. Start with small portions. You can always go back for more. 
2. Eat whole(r) foods to the best of your ability. I'm not going to use words like processed and ultra processed. First, most of the foods we eat ARE processed (hello bread, cheese, yogurt--MANY of the things that are good for us!), but also because food scarcity is a real thing, and to feel guilty about the food you're eating doesn't help the matter. BUT, I will say the more whole foods we can eat, it does help our bodies out. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, whole dairy products, good quality meat, etc. These are way easier to digest then things that have a ton of fillers. Simple foods are easier to absorb. 
3. Eat well-cooked foods. Guess what? Raw foods are hard to digest, and often times chewing isn't enough to help the pre-digestion process. Cooking our foods prior to eating helps the initial breakdown. Remember, we are aiming for absorption & assimilation. Think of the long-term goal we are aiming for. Another added thing you can do is to spice your foods well. They don't just help with flavor. Most spices actually help keep our digestive fires strong AND support the tough job of digesting food by breaking down some of the qualities of fiber that may give gas for example. 
4. Eat with joy. This is and always will be my number one rule. We are whole body humans. What we eat impacts how we think, and what we think impacts how we digest. If you don't love the food that's in front of you, if you aren't excited to eat, if you've had a tough day and you're still angry or sad, all of these things will negatively impact the digestion portion of it. It's no wonder why so many diseases in the gut are actually caused by stress and various other emotions. Think about it. All of that is interconnected. Take time to reset and be grateful for what is in front of you. 

I don't love starting off with a million rules. Start with simple things. My teacher often says that simplicity is divinity. So, let's stick with that. 

Understanding our digestion is one step in the right direction of understanding our bodies and what they are not only seeking, but also what they are trying to tell us. If we can begin to create a more sensitive relationship with our agni, we're well on our way of unlocking the secrets of this beautiful life we have been given! 

See you next time on our Digestion Chats!