How to improve digestion?

The food  we eat is acted upon by various digestive powers (Agni) , and is then converted into the bodily elements, resulting into growth, this is called as digestion. Proper digestion is the base of health and impaired digestion leads to aama (digestive toxins) formation,which is the root cause of diseases.  

The process of digestion starts as soon as we put food in mouth. We chew the food, salivary juices are mixed into it, making it soft. Then the bolus of food is swallowed and then further digestion takes place in stomach and intestine. Here the food is churned with peristaltic movements and further the particle size is reduced and more digestive juices are mixed. In intestines the nutrients are absorbed from the digestive juice and then the roughage is excreted out of the body.

The factors which play important role in proper digestion are called as Ahar parinamkar bhav . These factors lead to transformation of food from solid complex food to small digestible and absorbable form. They are:

• Ushma (Heat) : The way rice is cooked with heat, same way with our digestive agni the food is digested
• Vayu : All types of movements are caused by vayu(air). So the peristaltic movement, propulsion of food in colon and absorption of nutrients is facilitated by vayu.
• Kleda (Moisture) : The liquid part of food, water, saliva and digestive juices moist the food that we eat and and loosens it.
• Sneha (Oil, unctuousness) : The food we eat contains some amount of oil or ghee , which softens the food and also lubricates the colon from inside reducing inflammatory reaction and improve digestion.
• Kala (Time): Some time is required for digestion of food. The food you had in morning should digest completely by evening.
• Samyog ( The guidelines for having a meal) : There are certain guidelines which should be followed.

 Guidelines for having meal :

1. The food should be freshly prepared and served hot. It improves perception of tastes and digestive power. Reduces bloating and kapha.
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3. The food should be soft, with ghee added. Soft food is easy to digest, gives strength to body, prevents bloating and improves senses and complexion.
   
   
4. Moderate quantity food should be taken as it maintains equilibrium between vata-pitta-kapha doshas, and facilitates proper growth of body.
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6. You should eat only when you feel hungry, when your previous meal is completely digested.
7. Foods with opposite potency i.e. virya should be avoided. e.g. Milk is a coolant and some fruit like papaya,apple or orange which is hot for body, should not be taken together.
   
8. Have food at a pleasant place and and in a pleasant atmosphere. It makes you feel happy .
   
9. Do not eat too fast. Chew the food properly and let saliva mix well with food. 
10. Do not eat  too slowly. You don't feel satisfied with food and tend to at more. Food can get cold and digestion gets hampered.
11. Don't talk while eating and focus on the food completely. It is a very wrong practice of watching TV or phone while eating. Don't laugh when you are eating.
    
    
12. Eat according to your body needs and digestive power. Think wisely if this food is good for you or not before eating.

You are what you eat, so choose your food wisely. 
Don't ignore indigestion as the digestive power is the base of life!

Stay healthy!!!