Boost Your Belly Fire

According to Ayurveda, digestion is the foundation of good health. It's not just about the food you eat, but everything that your senses take in - what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.

Your digestive fire, or agni, plays a critical role in how well you assimilate and utilize these inputs. A strong agni means a stronger and healthier you. Read on for simple ideas to support your health.

Eating.

  • Boost your metabolism and gut enzymes by eating freshly sliced ginger with a squirt of lemon and a pinch of salt before or with your meals.

  • Make medicinal spices your best friends: turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, fennel, and black pepper.

  • Improve the digestibility and assimilation of your food by chewing it to an even consistency and paying attention to the process.

  • Stop eating when you feel about 75% full. Your first small burp is an indication of just-right fullness. You should feel satiated, not hungry or overly full.

Drinking.

  • Drink milk alone or with sweet things like grains and honey. Hot and spiced milk is the best for digestion.

  • Room temperature or warm water is better for your digestive fire than cold or ice, which can dampen and destroy it.

  • Avoid drinking too much liquid with your meals. Typically, 1/2 a cup or slightly more for drier foods is enough.

Rethink Routine.

  • Take 15-20 minutes to relax and digest your food. You can even sit leaning towards the left to help aid digestion.

  • Have your heaviest meal during the middle of the day when digestion is at its strongest.

  • Allow enough time for your last meal to be fully digested before eating again (the length of time varies depending on your energy type).

  • Eat light at night. Soups and herbal teas with milk or spices can soothe the stomach and facilitate digestion.

Intention.

  • Prepare and eat your food with love. Avoid cooking or eating when you're angry, fearful, or upset. Remember, the energy of the cook goes into the meal!

  • Avoid distractions like TV, reading, or using the computer. If possible, eat in or near nature or in a peaceful environment with a beautiful view.

  • Consider eating as a form of meditation or celebration. It's not just about what you eat, but also how you eat. Connect with the sacred aspect of eating - you are literally taking in atoms and molecules of other living forms and asking them to integrate into your body and help you serve your destiny. Very spiritual stuff, this eating thing!

  • Try starting meals with a few deep breaths and a personal prayer to set a positive intention for your food and nourishment.