What Moves Or Doesn't Move You - A Perspective on Digestion

Guest post graciously contributed by Minta Davis, AHC.

Have you ever wondered why some days your elimination happens smoothly, and yet other days it does not? Well, let’s take a closer look at the digestive system, and perhaps better understand what is needed to avoid the digestive roller coaster. From birth through adulthood we have developed a notion that we can eat anything and our bodies will function as it needs to. This way of thinking does not change until something happens in the body, and we are forced to give it medicine to feel better.  The reality is the body begins to slow down or even crawl to survive, as we continue to eat and drink those things that disrupt the normal digestive process. The body needs a variety of foods, and water daily in order to eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body. Our body is very complex, yet delicate. It knows what nutrients are required to keep the body operating at peak performance, and it knows that the organs (i.e., kidneys, bladder, and liver) will not work at their peak if there is a lack of sufficient nutrients for it to process. This leads to deficiencies and the body beings its fight to survive.

According to the Ayurvedic principles, we should eat balanced meals daily that match our Dosha, select seasonal vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and good fat like olive oil, or Ghee. The principles do not suggest that you can never, ever have your favorite food or drink. For starters those items will keep the digestive system from moving properly. For example, I used to eat cold foods and beverages, never linking my digestive problems to the types of food and beverages I was consuming. Once I incorporated subtle changes in what I ate, my digestive system returned to a normal state, and I began to lose weight. Another thing I noticed was foods that were high calories, or excessive fried foods affected my digestion. Habits are hard to break, but change was necessary in order to keep my digestive system and the entire body moving. If you are experiencing digestive problems, take a closer look at the types of food and beverages you are consuming, and make small changes at first. Ensure the meals are cooked, have a variety of items throughout the day.  For instance, if you like fruit, try eating it at 10am or 4pm, and not with food. Drink hot water to help the digestive system maintain peak performance.

As you try these strategies, remember real change takes time and patience. Don’t be discouraged if you fall back on old habits since they are hard to break. Take baby steps to get things moving in the right direction and have patience that time and persistence will bring the results you seek