Images

Restore your balance: 9 holistic health strategies to optimise digestion

Restore your balance: 9 holistic health strategies to optimise digestion

The foundation of optimal health, vibrancy and longevity is in fact the proper digestion and absorption of one's food
30 Jan, 2016

As a Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Energy Healer, I tend to naturally attract individuals with compromised digestion. I am frequently asked for ways people can heal their digestive systems naturally.

I decided to write this blog because I strongly believe that our digestive systems are truly our personal power centres.

Most modern day diseases correlate to diet and lifestyle behaviours that hamper digestion and are primary reasons for low self-esteem and powerlessness.

So for everyone who has ever wondered about the foundation to optimal health, vibrancy and longevity, yes, it is, in fact the proper digestion and absorption of one's food.

In other words, food that does not properly digest, accumulates in the body over time and causes toxicity — the root cause of various diseases.

Furthermore, the accumulation of toxins leads to heat imbalance, also known as inflammation. A good analogy is that the stomach is like a cooking pot, and energy from the spleen is like the flame that cooks the food in the stomach.

Essentially, a strong spleen equals strong digestion.

Here, I share some holistic strategies, that are inspired from eastern medicine to empower you to live in accordance and balance with the rhythm of nature and your own precious body to maintain health and most of all prevent disease.

1. Take a moment of mindfulness

When you sit down to the table, say a prayer over your food. Give yourself a moment of mindfulness before you dive in. This prayer will set you up to eat more slowly, enjoy the meal and be conscious of your food choices.

A suggested prayer, "Thank you, Universe [or God, or whatever you believe in], for reminding me to enjoy this meal. Thank you for helping me eat slowly, make conscious choices and stay in gratitude for all that I have."

2. Eat when truly hungry, drink when truly thirsty

A strong appetite signifies a strong digestive system, which is required to digest food completely. Eat when hungry (avoid social and emotional eating) and do not delay eating when hungry.

Furthermore, consumption of cold beverages with your meals can chill the stomach and put out the digestive fire, which is integral for optimal digestion.

3. Connect with your food

The simple tip is to chew your food well. That helps you become more present with your food and mindful of your meal.

Since digestion begins in the mouth, chew 30 times before you swallow and you will instantly feel more connected to your meal and you'll actually taste your food!

Make it a habit to eat in a relaxed and happy environment with people who love their food and grateful for it.

4. Eat a balance of foods in harmony with its energetic quality and the four seasons

Generally speaking, eat more cooling/alkaline foods (apples, lettuce, watermelon, cucumbers, seaweed, spinach, celery and buckwheat ) during the warm months and warming foods/spices (cayenne pepper, ginger, garlic, green peppers, walnuts, meats and coffee) during the cold months.

5. Incorporate fresh spices and foods

Ginger, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper enhance the digestive fire and aid with absorption and elimination processes.

Incorporate fresh foods in daily meals as opposed to frozen, processed, canned and microwavable because they are de-natured and lack energy/life force — the goodness of your body needs to come alive.

Whole foods are loaded with fiber — a must for food to move smoothly through the intestines without clogging them.

6. Improve bathroom posture

Research shows, squatting helps with "complete evacuation of the colon and digestive toxins…". It also improves digestion disturbances (as severe as hemorrhoids) that our modern day bathrooms can cause.

You can use a 'Squatty Potty' or if adding a bathroom furniture does not work for you, a regular stool will work beautifully.

7. Move more

Exercise is important on all levels and it certainly aids with proper digestion by helping food travel through the digestive system.

Walking and certain yoga poses (child's pose, knees hugged and twists) compresses the abdomen, massages the colon and aids with digestion.

8. Eat more fat!

For any society obsessed with low-fat, this can be a challenge. The truth is, there are healthy fats and unhealthy fats.

Good fats (like avocados, nuts, nut butters, cold-pressed coconut and olive oil, desi ghee, flax seeds) enable to heal the gut, improve digestion and restore balance.

9. Cook your food with love

Acknowledging the blessing it is to have access to healthy ingredients to prepare your food. Bless your meal, your body for the work it does for you and the planet for providing the goodies.

Most importantly, always enjoy what you eat as eating is one of life's greatest joys.

Happy digesting!

Comments

Abbas Ali Jan 30, 2016 10:27am
"Furthermore, consumption of cold beverages with your meals can chill the stomach and put out the digestive fire, which is integral for optimal digestion." Confusing. Should we or should we not have cold beverages? Otherwise pretty helpful article :)
Recommend
Ganesh Jan 30, 2016 11:27am
Pleasant to see such articles in Pakistani news paper.
Recommend
Ayaz khan Jan 30, 2016 12:48pm
@Abbas Ali we should not have cold beverages with meals as high digestive fire will quickly digest food
Recommend
No name required Jan 30, 2016 01:33pm
Buy halal, pure and fresh... Do as our ancestors did, i.e. Desi... You will have no problem.
Recommend
Manpreet Singh Jan 30, 2016 01:54pm
@Abbas Ali : In simple words - don't drink cold water, cold drink or any other beverages while taking breakfast, lunch or dinner.....let your body to fully digest your food properly...... :) :)
Recommend
James_Blonde Jan 30, 2016 03:44pm
I read somewhere that having husk (ispaghol) daily also helps. If you dont like its taste then you can mix it in a juice (I use tang)
Recommend
Tariq, Lahore Jan 30, 2016 07:00pm
As they say 'you are what you eat'!
Recommend
Ali Kamal Jan 30, 2016 07:42pm
@Abbas Ali : It means we should NOT have cold beverages with meals.
Recommend
Goga Nalaik Jan 30, 2016 07:44pm
If we look at the medical tips given by Imam Jafar Sadiq (as), he clearly said to drink a glass of water 40 minutes before taking a meal, never drink during a meal and drink (preferably boiled) again 40 minutes after finishing your meal. Chinese have been drinking hot green tea during meals for centuries (never cold water) and they don't suffer from any digestion problems.
Recommend
secular mind Jan 30, 2016 10:50pm
@Abbas Ali Don't drink chill water it shut down digestive fire which is important for digestion.
Recommend
Indian Jan 30, 2016 11:22pm
@Abbas Ali - Never have cold drinks with your meals. It is said that even water should be avoided while eating. Better to drink water after 30 minutes of meals.
Recommend
Siyalkotia Jan 30, 2016 11:38pm
@Abbas Ali---- Whatever you drink, it should be at room temperature.
Recommend
Annie Jan 31, 2016 12:04am
@Abbas Ali , we should not have beverages or for that matter, no liquids at least half an hour before, during and half an hour after meal.
Recommend
M. Farooq (USA) Jan 31, 2016 03:15am
Thank you Ms. Shroff for a very informative write-up. Most of the people in Pakistan do not take a moment before meal to thank for the food and source of food or Universe or God. I am glad that you have mentioned it in your write-up. We take it for granted that food is our right and God is obligated to deliver it to us.
Recommend
Farooq Khan Jan 31, 2016 07:13am
say Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim and then start eating.
Recommend
democrat Jan 31, 2016 10:28am
@Goga Nalaik This is what my late father advised. Drink water before starting your meal and never during the meals or immediately after finishing. I also do the same.
Recommend
cc Jan 31, 2016 11:38am
Great ideas based on common sense!
Recommend
T Sahayaraju Jan 31, 2016 06:50pm
In Lord's prayer in Holy Bible, Jesus taught the lines 'Give us our daily bread'. Hence, since God has offered us food, it is time to say thanks to the Almighty before we dip into food. A very good article starting with a very good first step. The mind and the body gets disciplined if we pray with thanksgiving before eating.
Recommend
T Sahayaraju Jan 31, 2016 06:59pm
@Abbas Ali Please do not take cold drinks during eating. This will hamper digestion. Water in room temperature can be had in minimum quantity. Excess quantity of water during meals will dilute the hydro chloric acid in the stomach which is meant for digestion.
Recommend
Uttamchand K Jain Jan 31, 2016 11:21pm
So precise, simple to follow and in with understandable vocabulary. I read a lot about nutrients and how they affect your overall health all the time. Your article is not very lengthy , and yet with good basic information. I am a vegetarian, you probably would know that from my last name. I was borne in India and came to the U. S. in 1970. The food here in the U.S. contains pesticides that are carcenages .
Recommend
Brij Sharma Jan 31, 2016 11:58pm
Always , we love your beneficial to humanity excellent articles. Keep up your GOOD work. THANX.
Recommend
amarnath Feb 01, 2016 02:19am
@Abbas Ali Should not have cold beverages as it will delay the digestion process
Recommend
Dexter Feb 01, 2016 10:56am
@Abbas Ali We should not have cold beverages.
Recommend