Agni: Digestive Fire
You probably know that Ayurveda preaches strong digestion as the key to good health.
Your agni or digestive fire is present not only in the gut but in all of your cells. It is responsible for your digestion (of food and experiences) as well as the cellular intelligence.
When agni is compromised, ama or toxins begin to accumulate, blocking the flow of nutrients and energy and starting the disease process.
Each of the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha has a distinct agni type. Your type tells you about the state of your digestion and your doshas. Read on to learn about each type and how to balance yourself.
Vata: Irregular Digestion
Sometimes you’re really hungry, other times you forget to eat. Sound familiar? Vatas have a windy digestive fire that can easily be compromised. They often struggle with gas and constipation.
They should take warm, soft, soupy foods with healthy fats. Avoid, raw, cold, rough and crunchy foods.
Eat slowly and in a relaxed environment. Enjoy spices like fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, ajwan, fennel
Pitta: Hot & Fast Digestion
Do you get hangry?! Or prefer to eat more frequently and take large quantities of food? Pittas have a fire that is too hot. The excess heat actually incinerates nutrients in the food, leading them to feel hungry most of the time. They struggle with acidity and diarrhea.
To balance pitta, focus on the bitter and astringent tastes - all the cooked green veggies. Avoid excess salty, sour, spicy and oily foods. Eat slowly, and relax after eating.
Favor cooling foods and spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, cilantro, cardamom, rose.
Kapha: Slow Digestion
Not hungry for breakfast? Prefer hot and spicy foods? Kaphas have a cold and wet digestive fire, leading them to feel sluggish and not hungry in the mornings. They often prefer to consume their calories later in the day and snack into the night.
Kaphas struggle with bloating and sluggish metabolism.
To balance, fast on ginger tea when not hungry and get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Focus on cooked veggies and fresh foods. Make brunch or lunch your largest meal and have a lighter, early dinner.
Enjoy heating spices such as ginger, cloves, fenugreek, black pepper, turmeric.
How to Stay in Balance
Pay attention to your digestion as we approach the holidays. Chances are, your imbalances will show up more as your digestive fire gets tested by irregular schedules and heavy meals.
Check in with your signs - notice how you feel after eating, your bowel movements and any coating on the tongue.
If you feel heavy, bloated or tired, here's how to balance yourself -
Ginger tea - sip on it throughout the day to clear ama (toxins) and boost your digestive fire.
Fresh air and exercise - bundle up and take walks outside or break a sweat. Exercise promotes digestion and the removal of wastes.
Dry brushing or gasrshana - use vigorous strokes upward towards the heart to stimulate excess kapha and promote lymphatic circulation.
If you're still feeling low, fast on herbal tea until a strong appetite returns 🔥
Which of these tips will you try? Tell me in the comments below!
