Maintaining Digestive Health During the Holidays
The holiday season can be a time for comfort foods, but it can be challenging to maintain a steady Ayurvedic diet during this time. No worries, here are a few tips to help with the fatty (but so delicious!) holiday foods:
- Try to plan your holiday meals during lunchtime or afternoon when your Agni (digestive fire) is strongest, and are able to digest more efficiently.
- Cutting up some fresh ginger slices, drizzled with lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt 15 minutes before eating will prepare your digestive fires for your holiday meal.
- If you can, add some Ayurvedic spices to your traditional recipes such as fennel, turmeric coriander and cumin.
- Sip warm or hot water throughout the day to replenish your cells from the saltiness of holiday foods. Try to not consume beverages that are extremely cold or iced, as they disrupt digestion.
- Try to use ghee instead of butter. Ghee is clarified butter, which is the rendered fat from organic, unsalted, cultured butter. It helps increase your Agni , to better digest the heavy holiday foods.
- Avoid eating leftovers. Food begins to lose its prana (life force) more rapidly after cooking, and it takes more energy from our digestive systems to process.
- Practice mindful eating. With all of the bustle of family, friends, gifts, and cooking it can be difficult to take a moment and consciously appreciate the food you are about to eat. Digestion begins in the mouth, so be sure sure to chew your food well to help out your stomach.
Keep in mind that the Autumn and Winter seasons are a time where we typically gain a little weight, don’t stress yourself out if you have a few post holiday pounds!
References:
- “The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies” by Vasant Lad
- https://www.mapi.com/ayurvedic-knowledge/healthy-eating-habits/ayurvedic-holiday-health-tips.html
- https://www.yogajournal.com/food-diet/lifeless-leftovers
- https://santacruzayurveda.com/power-mindful-eating/
- https://santacruzayurveda.com/ghee-the-healing-elixir/