In Ayurveda, digestion plays a central role in our health and well being. It is said that our digestion is governed by agni (a sacred fire), which also encompasses mental transformation. Our agni is responsible for digesting food but also all of life (including what we feel and what we perceive).
“All diseases begin in the gut” – Ayurveda holds that improper digestion often results in metabolic waste (toxins), which ferments and stagnates in the digestive tract until it enters the bloodstream through the gut membranes, travels until it finds the weak spots in our bodies, where it finally settles resulting in various physical symptoms. And that is not the scenario we are hoping for over here…
In a nutshell, we want to keep our digestion in top shape if we want to feel (and think!) like healthy human beings. So how do we evaluate this process? First things first, we need to become aware of our body’s messages.
Signs of improper digestion may include:
- Gas and bloating
- A white coating on the tongue
- Bad breath
- Poorly formed stools (elimination effort required; sensation of incomplete elimination)
- Stools sticking to the wall of the toilet
- Undigested food matter in the stools
- Feeling heavy after a meal
If you are noticing one or more of these signs, it might be timely to give your digestion some tender love and care! Ayurveda has plenty of tools to remedy unhappy gut.
If you would like some support in figuring this out in order to meet the needs of your body and feel your best, I would love to guide you with some Ayurvedic perspective! You can get in touch by using the contact form here.