The Eastern Indian medical and nutritional system is known as Ayurveda. Ayurveda literally means "life science" and is growing in popularity in the United States. It is the sister science of yoga, with one of its oldest texts, the Sushruta Samhita being dated as far back as 1900 BC. Its approach is holistic, taking into consideration your environment, diet and lifestyle. Ayurvedic treatments include herbal formulas, lifestyle adjustments and massage therapy.
Determining Your Constitution
Knowing your body type is key when working from an Ayurvedic perspective. Ayurveda recognizes that people have different body types and healthy weight spectra. Becoming familiar with your personal pattern of daily cycles, stress, eating, sleeping and breathing: this is the beginning of your program. Understanding your personal constitution is like having an instruction manual for life; you'll know what activities and foods keep you balanced and healthy for years to come.
Ayurvedic Constitutions
An Ayurvedic practitioner is trained to recognize certain traits in each individual that give clues as to what his constitution may be. In Ayurveda there are three main doshas, or categories, of body types: vata, pitta and kapha. Within these three categories there are up to ten different possible combinations. Of course Ayurveda also recognizes that two people with a similar dominating dosha can have it expressed in different ways, based on their unique individuality and personal experience. Determining your body type is key before adjusting your diet or your lifestyle or adding any herbal supplements.
Understanding the Cause of Weight Gain
Ayurveda recognizes weight gain as a result of stagnation in one or more systems of the body. Lymphatic stagnation, digestive stagnation or even emotional stagnation can cause your body to clog up and slow down its metabolic processes. Once you have discovered your natural body type, the causes for weight gain can become more clear, which will lead you to the treatment best for you. For example, someone might have a vigorous workout regimen, be easily stressed and constantly on the go, yet holding onto a stubborn 15 to 20 extra pounds. This person may need to learn to incorporate stress reducing activities into her lifestyle to reduce the pressure that is keeping the weight on.
Diet and Lifestyle
If your goal is to lose weight, Ayurveda advises to look at your lifestyle as well as your eating habits. Gentle exercise, such as walking, cycling and yoga are recommended, along with eating three meals a day. Drinking warm water upon rising gives your metabolism and lymphatic system a boost. A light workout or walk in the morning before breakfast kicks your body into fat-burning mode. Then follow with your larger meal eaten earlier in the day, with between-meal snacks kept to a minimum. Dr. Vasant Lad, founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, recommends avoiding iced or cold foods and beverages, such as iced teas and frozen yogurt, to keep your digestive fire strong.
Herbal Recommendations
Before adding any new supplements or dietary changes, first consult your doctor. Generally the herbs that are recommended are to help stimulate the systems that are stagnated. "The Ayurvedic Encyclopedia" suggests digestive herbs such as ginger or triphala help stimulate the metabolic process. "The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs" by Michael Tierra and Karta Khalsa recommends dandelion and milk thistle tea to help promote better liver function, which is your fat metabolizing center. A tea made of cumin, coriander and fennel stimulates the kidneys as well as being a great general digestive tea. Because Ayurveda is big on food and digestives, a lot can be done in your kitchen, right from your spice cabinet.
Diet Recommendations
Ayurveda follows a seasonal lifestyle pattern. Foods that are best for your constitution and the season at hand are always recommended. However, there are certain things you can avoid to encourage the weight loss process. Dr. John Douillard of Lifespa in Boulder, Colorado, suggests lying down on your left side for 10 minutes after eating. Rushing through your meal or eating on the run or in the car can also throw off your digestion and help you hold onto unwanted weight. Raw foods such as salads may be low in fat but may not be the easiest foods for your system to digest. Keep with soups and well- or slow-cooked foods and vegetables.
When to Seek Help
Weight loss can be a complex issue with many contributing factors. Ayurveda can be an easy and intuitive system to have in your back pocket once you understand the principals. However, when a serious imbalance is present, it is helpful to have a trained perspective on the situation. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association has a practitioner directory to help you find one in your area. As with any major changes to your diet, consult your doctor to be the Ayurvedic alternatves are right for you.
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