Digestion
Nutrition is not limited to what goes in our mouths. It involves being conscious of all the steps involved in nourishing ourselves. In the act of eating, we consume not only the calories, proteins, fats and carbohydrates of the food, we are also influenced by our emotional state while we eat, the environment in which we eat, and the manner in which the food is prepared. as we will learn in this segment, the same meal can be metabolized by our bodies in entirely different ways depending on how it is prepared, in what frame of mind it is consumed, and even what time of day it is eaten. We will learn tips for increasing our metabolism and how to choose foods with tastes that are balancing to our unique mind body composition.
The strength of our digestion is the most important factor in determining how well the food we eat will be digested, absorbed and utilized by our bodies. Some ancient healing traditions have likened our power of digestion to a fire, which in Ayurveda is called Agni, related to the English word “ignite”. Just like a fire in a fireplace, our digestive fire is capable of consuming even the heaviest fuel when it is burning brightly. When our Agni is strong and healthy, we are able to extract the greatest level of nourishment from our diet.
The by product of a strong digestive fire is Ojas. Ojas is the purest expression of metabolism. It is the subtlest life essence, which exists at the junction of consciousness and matter, giving strength and vitality.
When we have Ojas we:
Feel rested upon awakening
Skin has a healthy glow
Tongue is pink and clear
Body feels light, regardless of your weight
Feel centered throughout the day
Digestion is strong without bloating
Feel energized and enthusiastic
Mind is clear
Body has a pleasant smell
Rarely get sick
But when our digestive fire is weak or irregular, food may actually impair our health. Food that is not completely metabolized does not provide adequate energy and is stored as Ama. Ama is toxic residue which accumulates in the physiology due to undigested food, emotions or information.
When we have Ama we:
Have bad breath
Coated tongue
Dull appetite
Delicate digestion
Sluggish or irritable elimination
Generalized pain
Fatigue
Depression
Susceptibility to infections
Difficulty manifesting intentions
The strength of our appetite reflects the underlying state of our digestive fire. Cultivating strong digestion is essential to good nutrition and good health. There are a number of common sense principles that help our bodies to extract optimal nourishment from the food we eat.
Don’t eat unless you are hungry. Think of your capacity for food as an “appetite gauge” where 1 on the dial means you are famished and 10 means you are completely full. Eat when your appetite is at 2-3. Stop eating when you’re satisfied, or when your gauge is about a 7.
Pay attention to your internal signals so that you know when you are full. Engaging in other activities while you are eating, such as reading or watching TV provides a distraction that may encourage you to overeat. Instead, give your full attention to the act of eating.
Remember that food is for nutrition. Continuing to eat after the point of satiety creates an overload on the digestive system that results in the build up of toxicity in your physiology.
