Indigestion Ajeerna : Ayurveda's Wise way to Improve Gut Health
In a world filled with gastronomic delights, it's no surprise that many of us occasionally suffer from the discomforts of indigestion. Indigestion (Ajeerna Roga in ayurveda) more than just a tummy ache, is an uninvited guest that often shows up at our dinner tables, leaving us feeling heavy, lazy, and uncomfortable. It's a state of illness that arises when our digestive fire(Agni), is weakened and unable to properly digest the food we consume. A common ailment that affects people of all ages, from infants to the elderly for centuries. Let's explore this fiery topic with a dash of wit and practical wisdom!
FOODYUKTI KATHANA
Signs of Indigestion:
Imagine waking up one morning feeling heavy, sluggish, and devoid of enthusiasm. You experience random swelling in various parts of your body, and an annoying belch occasionally escapes your lips, leaving a sour taste in your mouth. Nausea flits in and out, threatening to make you lose your appetite altogether. It's like our body's way of telling us that something is off with our digestion. Changes in bowel habits, like constipation, often tag along too. The simple pleasure of taste is lost, headaches and dizziness, and you find yourself reaching for water constantly due to unquenchable thirst. A constant, internal burning sensation adds to the discomfort. Welcome to the world of Ajeerna!
Causes of Indigestion: The Culprits
Indigestion usually arises due to our day-to-day mistakes in eating and lifestyle habits. Let's uncover some of the common culprits:
1. Overeating or Binge Eating: Ever heard the idiom, "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach"? That's precisely what happens when we indulge in excessive eating. Our poor digestive fire struggles to handle the abundance of food. One of the major causes which taxes the digestive fire to work more than its capacity
2. Under Eating or Excess Fasting: Leads to extinguishing of the digestive fire in the absence of the fuel (food), depriving of food for prolonged periods can leave it weak and ineffective.
3. Untimely Food: Our digestive system loves eating intuitively. Irregular eating habits confuse our digestive system with not listening to your body's natural hunger signals, making it challenging for the body to produce the necessary enzymes at the right time
4. Frequent Night Outs: Late-night parties and irregular sleep patterns put our nerves on edge, adding in a state of constant stress that negatively impacts digestion.
5. Eating under the influence of intense emotions: Emotions like anger, fear, guilt, jealousy adversely affect the enteric system (that part of the nervous system supplying to your guts) affecting gut health.
6. Suppression of urges: Forcefully controlling the natural urges like hunger, thirst, burps, gas, urine and stools also upsets the gut’s delicate balance leading to indigestion.
"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need."
Furthermore, the foods we consume play a crucial role in the health of our digestive system.
Let's explore some specific food choices that can aggravate indigestion:
a. Unsuitable food choices:
1. Eating contrary to the seasons
2. Excessively dry foods that increase Vata dosha specially in ectomorphs.
3. Heavy-to-digest items
4. Foods which are high in trans fats or fats that don't suit our constitution can spell trouble.
5. Exotic fruits and vegetables may be enticing, but they can upset our stomach's delicate balance.
6. Raw sprouts and raw salads; using cruciferous veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage etc)
b. Acidic foods: Like Alcohol, Packed: Vinegar, Sauces, Ketchups.
c. Inflammatory foods: Processed white items are best consumed in Moderation.
“The Four Big Whites!”
1. White flour (Maida)
2. White sugar (table sugar/refined sugar)
3. White salt (table salt)
4. White of the egg
d. Nightshade Fruits and Vegetables: Nightshade veggies like potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, brinjal, blueberries; contain a plant alkaloid "SOLANINE," a compound that can irritate the stomach lining and cause indigestion.
e. Excess Dairy Products: Too much raw milk, cheese, Cottage cheese (paneer) and curds can overload the digestive system.
f. Wrong Food Combinations: Combining incompatible foods, like Mixing sour fruits with milk, namkeen with dairy products, heating curds, mixing eggs or green leafy vegetables with milk etc
g. Excessive Water Intake: It is a myth that the more you drink water, the more healthy you will be! Typically 2 litres of water/day; Refrain drinking water especially when you are not thirsty, which can interfere with digestion. (Always drink water when you are thirsty).
In conclusion, Ajeerna, a common digestive issue, can significantly disrupt our daily lives if not addressed. Good digestion forms the foundation of good health and vitality, as it prevents the build-up of toxins that cause discomfort and diseases. In our busy modern lifestyles, prioritizing digestion through positive lifestyle choices allows us to feel our best and perform at our peak every day. These benefits extend to all aspects of our lives. Ayurvedic principles can help ignite the fire within and bid farewell to indigestion. Your gut will thank you, and so will your overall well-being!
Happy Reading
Dr. Sripritha R. BAMS, MD.