Ayurveda Festive Digestive Tips - Pt. 1
Updated: Dec 3, 2022
Enjoy festive treats and meals without heartburn or sinus congestion grinching your holidays.
Thanksgiving launched the holiday travel and parties season. Traditional meals and comforting foods make for festive times. However, they can also cause digestive issues. Tempted by delicious treats, folks tend to overindulge in foods, libations, and sweets.
Are you feeling indigestion, heartburn, bloating, and acid reflux rolling into town like the Grinch who stole Christmas? From a nationwide survey by the National Heartburn Alliance, two out of three people experience stress in G.I. tract between Thanksgiving and New Years.
According to Ayurveda, health begins in the digestive system. About 80% of your immune system resides there. A few upper respiratory viruses are circulating, so it’s important to know how to modify food choices, and, use these Ayurvedic Festive Digestive Tips to support immunity, digestion, and sinuses.
How to enjoy holiday foods and treats AND support optimal digestion and immunity?
Stoke your digestive fire. Healthy digestion, just like a well-made campfire, burns steady and efficiently. If you’ve ever built a campfire, you know adding one log at a time, versus a big bunch all at once, is the best tactic for the efficient and complete burning of fuel. The same strategy works with your digestive system (campfire) and eating holiday foods (fuel).
The two most important lifestyle strategies for healthy digestion are: 1. Eat slower and pay attention to the smells and taste of your food. Eating one bite at a time, versus chowing down, decreases an overeating habit. 2. Eat your largest meal around noon, when digestion is strongest and burns more efficiently.
Note: Next week’s article addresses food guidelines, spices, and digestive tips for each dosha.
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. Connect with Kellen at her upcoming workshops at The Space.