Digestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into nutrients, which the body uses for energy, growth and cell repair needed to survive. The digestion process also involves creating waste to be eliminated.
The digestive tract (gastrointestinal tract) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food.
According to Ayurveda strong digestion is the key to good health.
Ayurveda consider Digestion as most important metabolism in the body. Ayurveda has described an important factor of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni or Digestive fire. Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by Agni. Agni is present not only in the gut but in all of the cells. It is responsible for digestion of food and experiences as well as the cellular intelligence.
Ayurvedic approach of explaining digestion is very simple and effective. The food we eat is digested by Agni or digestive fire it is very much similar to the way we cook the food. The Agni helps to digest the food which is consumed, much like the fire of a stove cooks the food kept on it.
In Ayurveda, weak digestion is known as Agnimandya—meaning weakened digestive fire- which is considered as the causative factor for all the diseases. In addition to being the causative factor in several diseases, weak digestion is a health problem in itself. When Agni is compromised, Ama or toxins begin to accumulate in body, blocking the flow of nutrients and energy and starting the disease process.
According to Ayurveda causes of gastric problem are inappropriate eating habits accompanied with certain poor lifestyle choices. Additionally, increasing age, certain infections, and other diseases of the GI tract (like tumors, absorption problems) are also responsible for gastrointestinal diseases.
Fullness, bloating, nausea, heart burn are other symptoms of Indigestion. Unhealthy lifestyle, poor nutrition, inactivity, food sensitivity and infection can cause poor digestion.
Causes of imbalance of Agni which lead to indigestion: –
1. Irregular food habits and sleeping patterns.
2. Overeating, quick eating
3. Fatty, greasy, Spicy foods, processed food, too much caffeine, tobacco and alcohol.
4. Diseases of pancreas, liver, gallbladder, intestinal infections etc.
5. During pregnancy, premenstrual period, menopausal period in women.
6. Emotional upset like anxiety, stress
7. Medications like pain killers, antibiotics, oral contraceptives and steroids.
8. Intestinal parasites
Types of Digestion based on Doshas
Irregular Digestion (Vata)
Sometimes you’re really hungry, other times you forget to eat. Sound familiar?
Vatas have a windy digestive fire that can easily be compromised. They often struggle with gas and constipation.
They should take warm, soft, soupy foods with healthy fats. Avoid, raw, cold, rough and crunchy foods.
Eat slowly and in a relaxed environment. Enjoy spices like fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, ajwan, fennel
Hot & Fast Digestion (Pitta)
Do you get hungry? Or prefer to eat more frequently and take large quantities of food?
Pittas have a fire that is too hot. The excess heat actually incinerates nutrients in the food, leading them to feel hungry most of the time. They struggle with acidity and diarrhea.
To balance pitta, focus on the bitter and astringent tastes – all the cooked green veggies. Avoid excess salty, sour, spicy and oily foods. Eat slowly, and relax after eating.
Favor cooling foods and spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, cilantro, cardamom, rose.
Slow Digestion (Kapha)
Not hungry for breakfast? Prefer hot and spicy foods?
Kapha have a cold and wet digestive fire, leading them to feel sluggish and not hungry in the mornings. They often prefer to consume their calories later in the day and snack into the night.
Kaphas struggle with bloating and sluggish metabolism.
To balance, fast on ginger tea when not hungry and get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Focus on cooked veggies and fresh foods. Make brunch or lunch your largest meal and have a lighter, early dinner. Enjoy heating spices such as ginger, cloves, fenugreek, black pepper, turmeric.
How to Stay in Balance
Check in with your signs – notice how you feel after eating, your bowel movements and any coating on the tongue.
If you feel heavy, bloated or tired, here’s how to balance yourself –
Ginger tea – sip on it throughout the day to clear ama (toxins) and boost your digestive fire.
Fresh air and exercise – bundle up and take walks outside or break a sweat. Exercise promotes digestion and the removal of wastes.
Ayurvedic treatment of gastric problem looks at finding out the root cause of the problem and correcting it. It also gives guidelines for maintaining Gastric health through simple changes in food, lifestyle and use of herbs
Ayurvedic Treatment of digestive problems is effective because it identifies the root-cause first, and then treats it with Ayurvedic herbs which is suitable for persons body constitution. It also gives guidelines for maintaining gastric health through simple changes in food and lifestyle.
Home Remedies for Indigestion
- Fasting completely for one day helps to normalize imbalanced Agni and digest ama.
- Consuming liquid foods, boiled vegetables or fruit juices for 2- 3 days also improves Agni and relieves indigestion.
- Avoid the causative factors.
- Mix a ½ tea spoon of lemon juice, ½ tea spoon ginger juice and little salt in a cup of water and consume thrice daily.
- Drinking ½ glass of warm water once in 2 hours increases Agni and digests ama.
- Abdominal Massage also helps to relieve indigestion. It loosens the tight muscles and increases the blood supply to digestive system.
- Consuming well balanced food to balances doshas and Agni and hence keeps the body healthy and free from diseases.
- Eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables like Beans, beets, broccoli celery, lettuce, spinach, apple, banana, oranges, berries
- Take probiotics: good bacteria help to keep the lining of the bowel healthy, maintains good stomach acid balance, and prevents harmful bacteria. Eg; – Yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese etc.
- Take enough fluids: You can maintain your digestive health by drinking plenty of water.
- Choose better lifestyle habits: Smoking, high-fat foods, alcohol, caffeine and stress has a negative impact on the digestive system. So, avoid these factors to manage your digestive health better.
Vaiswanara choornam, Ashta choornam, Hinguachadi choornam, Abhayarishtam, Mustarishtam, Amrudotharam Kashayam, Varanadi kashayam, Gandarvahastadi Kashayam
Here are some of the tips-
Eat sitting down without starting the TV.
Eat a fresh piece of ginger before a full meal.
Drink buttermilk at lunchtime.
Avoid ice-cold drinks.
Lunch must be the largest meal of the day.
Dinner should be lighter and eaten before 8:00 p.m
The way we eat has a significant impact on how our digestive system works. By changing a few of eating habits, may improve digestion effectively. So, focus on eating in a relaxed environment without any distraction. Try not to eat when we are in a bad mood. This is because brain and your digestive tract are interconnected. So, these feelings can impact the effectiveness of digestive system. Also, be sure to chew thoroughly before swallowing each mouthful of food to lessen the impact on your digestive system. It restores the balance of stomach acid and digestion naturally.
Daily meditation daily can positively affect your body and help improve digestion. Also, physical activities like yoga, running, or walking can make you feel energetic throughout the day and keep your digestive system active. Moreover, the key to healthy digestion depends on eating in moderation and not going overboard. So, avoid overeating. Along with the above, drink minimum 3-4 litres of water.
Digestive health in old age
The list of digestive problems increases as you age. Multiple medications, inactivity, dehydration, the sinking of the diaphragm, weakened sphincter muscle, and severe constipation can contribute to digestive troubles during old age. But simple lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding foods that trigger heartburn or reflux, taking balanced food, probiotics, checking side-effects of the medications and staying active can reduce the problems and enhance digestion.