Proper digestion and absorption of food and water are
essential to maintain good health. Weak digestion takes longer to process the
food and accumulates toxins in the body.
Improper elimination of toxins from the body can lead to
various health problems. Again mixing of
foods which are incompatible, insufficient water intake, a diet low in fiber,
excessive meat consumption and lack of exercise can lead to constipation and
other digestive problems. It is
therefore, important to maintain a healthy digestion.
Here are some simple and natural ways which Ayurveda
provides to improve our digestion, have proper elimination, detox our body and
is one of the best ways to lose weight.
Triphala (combination of three fruits - Amalaki, Bhibitaki
and Haritaki) is probably one of the best Ayurvedic herbal formulas for detox,
rejuvenation and constipation. Triphala
is a rejuvenative for the whole body. It
balances the whole body.
Psyllium husk can also be used with 1 cup of warm water
before bedtime to help with constipation and removal of waste products from the
GI system.
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga exercises help improve
circulation, remove waste from tissues, stimulate internal organs and improve
mental clarity. Specific Yoga poses that
help improve the health of the digestive system and promote proper elimination
- spinal twists, boat, bow, cow, bridge,
peacock, locust, forward bend and camel pose.
Meditation can help calm the body and mind and relieve
stress. Stress management
is very important for proper functioning of the
digestive system and the whole body.
Drinking 2-3 cups of warm water first thing in the morning
helps to flush the kidneys, removes toxins and promotes proper bowel
movement. It also hydrates the body and
after a whole nightemet’s sleep. It is also
recommended in eastern medicine to drink warm water during the day to improve
digestion and metabolism.
One should promote better habits by sitting on the toilet
upon wakening. This helps to train the
nervous system and gastro-intestinal system to have a regular bowel movement
first thing in the morning.
Squatting can be very helpful to help promote proper bowel
movement by opening the pelvic diaphram.
The pressure from the thighs on the stomach also helps evacuation.
Try to eat foods in season and locally grown. Avoid processed, heavy, fried, oil, frozen,
pre-packaged and canned foods. Try to
eat fresh food cooked daily.
