Digestion

> Based on Ayurvedic principles, digestion is the key to good health

other vital pathways. They are then released into the bloodstream, and accumulate in weaker parts of the body where they create blockages and manifest as diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis and more. inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle is tied to a weak digestive fire. With a lack of activity in our daily lives, our metabolism naturally slows down.

According to Ayurvedic physician Dr CD Siby, a surefire way to rekindle one’s digestive fire is to exercise daily and the good news is it doesn’t have to be a strenuous workout. “If all you can handle is one hour on a treadmill at a seven degree incline, (if that is your limit) then just do half of that. But you have to do it every day, without fail.” The reason for aiming to achieve only half of one’s limit is because there is a downside of taking it to the extreme, which will affect the body in the long run.

Naturally, food also affects our digestive fire. It is important to the health of our digestive system and strength that the food we eat promotes its health instead of aggravating it. Besides considering the usual aspects of food such as quality and preparation, according to Ayurveda, bad food combinations can affect our digestive health and impede its strength. The principles of Ayurveda states that every food has a heating or cooling property and a digestive effect.

Hence, when two or three food combinations of different properties and effects are combined, they can affect the digestive fire. It can be overloaded and not digest the food properly, resulting in the production of toxins. Yet, when taken separately, these same foods might stimulate the digestive fire, be digested quickly and even help to burn toxins. Although consuming foods of poor combinations may not have immediate adverse effects, in time, this can cause indigestion, fermentation, putrefaction and gas formation.