Maintaining an ideal weight is not just about looking good, but it is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, offers simple yet effective guidelines for attaining your ideal weight naturally. In this article, we will discuss some of the Ayurvedic weight management tips for suggestions for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Don’t Practice Deprivation
The first and foremost suggestion from Ayurveda is to avoid any form of deprivation, whether it is fasting, skipping meals, or denying your cravings. Deprivation is the quickest way to start a vicious cycle of weight gain. Instead, Ayurveda recommends eating three meals a day – a small breakfast and dinner and a more hearty lunch, and adding a healthy mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack if you feel hungry. Portion control is also recommended, and the quantity of food consumed at a meal should be no more than what can be held in two cupped palms.
Work with Your Digestion Rhythms, Not Against Them
The next suggestion is to work with your digestion rhythms, not against them. Ayurveda suggests that the largest or heaviest meal of the day should be lunch as your digestive system is most active around noon. A typical Ayurvedic vegetarian lunch includes two or three servings of cooked veggies, a lentil dish, a whole grain, a chutney, and lassi, a beverage made by blending fresh yogurt and pure water. Breakfast and dinner should consist of more easily digested foods such as sweet juicy fruit, warm cooked cereal, light one-dish meals, or vegetable or lentil soups.
Keep Your Internal Machinery Clean
Just like a car engine needs an oil change and a lawn mower needs sharpening, the systems of your body need regular attention too. Ayurveda suggests incorporating a regular cleansing routine to keep the internal machinery clean. This can be done through natural methods such as drinking warm water with lemon juice in the morning, performing self-massage with sesame oil, and taking Triphala, a herbal supplement that promotes healthy digestion.
Exercise
The importance of exercise cannot be emphasized enough when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight. Ayurveda recommends choosing an exercise activity according to your natural constitution/build and your tendency to gain weight. While walking is universally beneficial, Pitta individuals might also gravitate towards water sports while Kapha individuals need to add something really energetic such as racquetball.
Get Enough Sleep Each Night
Research studies have connected sleep deprivation to obesity, poor eating habits, sluggish metabolism, and depression. Ayurveda recognizes the connection between sleep and digestion and recommends a daily routine that urges you to be in bed before 10 p.m. and wake up before 6 a.m. for the best quality and quantity of sleep. Eating a lighter meal at night and finishing the meal at least two hours before bedtime will help you fall asleep quicker.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ayurveda provides natural weight management techniques to attain and maintain your ideal weight effectively. By avoiding deprivation, working with your digestion rhythms, follow habits like eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough. Ayurvedic weight management techniques can include the use of herbs, such as ginger and turmeric, and the consumption of foods that are tailored to your dosha, or body type. Remember that small changes in your daily routine can lead to big improvements in your overall health and well-being, and incorporating ayurvedic weight management techniques can be a helpful addition to your health journey.