Ayurveda Festive Digestive Tips – Part 2

The Doshas and Digestion

Tend your digestive fire to minimize or avoid holiday digestive blues of bloat, burps, burn, and bulge.

The three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) each play an important role in your digestive process. They are the Ayurvedic body-mind types, made-up of the Universal five elements – space, air, fire, water, and earth. Knowing your primary dosha, can help you navigate holiday parties and buffet tables, so to avoid common indigestion disturbances.

The Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha

Vata (space and air elements) governs movement in digestive and intestinal tract. When movement is regular and rhythmic, ones appetite, digestion, and elimination are regular.

Pitta (fire and water), the transformational force, is digestive enzymes and bile. Its hot, sharp, and oily qualities kindle digestive fire, helping stomach to digest heavy, cold foods like meat, casseroles, and desserts. When pitta’s fire is right temperature, food is transformed into nourishment and waste products are eliminated.

Kapha (water and earth), due to its cool, liquid, and stable nature, protects delicate tissue membranes in stomach and digestive tract.

When the doshas in digestive system become stressed due to erratic eating habits, improper food combining, or overeating, digestive issues eventually manifest. If warning bells of bloat, burp, burn, or bulge are ignored, chronic digestive issues like heartburn, ulcers, colitis, and IBS may occur.

Understanding how each dosha is affected by foods or eating lifestyle, helps you support digestive balance for each dosha.

What A Relief It Is!

Below is how each dosha can become disturbed. And, an easy, effective Ayurvedic remedy.

Vata – The Bloat and Burps

Irregular, on-the-go, or late meals increases vata’s air element. If ignored, burping, bloating, and constipation can occur due to extra mobile and dry qualities in digestive system. Regular mealtimes during holiday travel and child’s pose supports vata in digestive system, specifically in colon.

Remedy

About half-hour before meal or party time, make an Ayurvedic digestive hors d'oeuvre to help kindle digestive fire. On teaspoon, put ¼ tsp fresh chopped ginger and juice of small lime wedge. Sprinkle with dash of Himalayan salt. Drizzle with honey. Drink ½ cup warm water to help body assimilate.

Pitta – The Burn

Indulging in libations and eating excessive oily, sweet, or rich foods causes digestive fire to burst into flames. Holiday road trips, last minute shopping, and a houseful of relatives create extra stress. Stress increases stomach acidity. Keep stomach and liver merry and light by following this pitta-pacifying tip.

Remedy

A calm reclining spinal twist helps cool pitta dosha. For occasional heartburn and acid indigestion, use Pitta Digest. Take 1-2 tablets an hour before cocktail party or holiday dinner.

Kapha – The Bulge

Excess carbs, sweets, meats, and cheese, creates heaviness and lethargy. The sinuses are one of kapha’s main sites. Over indulging in these kapha foods can cause one to get congested or gain the festive five.

Remedy

Stuff stockings, not stomach. Minimize sweets and heavy foods at night. After a heavy meal or an appetizer-munching marathon, take 20-minute walk to boost metabolism and avoid holiday weight gain.

All Is Calm, All Is Right

Weave a few of these Ayurveda self-care remedies into your daily routine. They’re an easy, effective ways to support digestion and doshas during the holidays. And as you celebrate this season of light, give daily thanks to your digestive fire.

Note: For part one of Ayurvedic tips for digestive well-being during holidays, read here

Shared by Kellen Brugman. Kellen is a Certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Counselor, Holistic Wellness Coach and yoga teacher. She shares her valuable knowledge by consulting, guiding and inspiring others to create holistic well-Being plans that provide lifelong health and happiness returns.