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Ayurveda for gut health
According to the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda, the poor condition of the gut is the root of all diseases. You may already know that bad gut health causes many other symptoms, including constipation, acne, and fatigue. It is also a major contributor to the onset of menstrual irregularities. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of Ayurveda for gut health, as well as foods to avoid.
The gut-brain connection in Ayurveda
The Ayurvedic tradition has long recognized a connection between psychological health and digestive well-being. The GI system is particularly sensitive to stress and is the site of increased activity of the HPA axis, which releases hormones known as corticosteroids. These hormones can disrupt the balance of gut microbial communities. Fortunately, there are ways to combat the negative impact of stress on the body.
One of the most prominent studies on the brain-gut axis has focused on the link between mental health and digestion. Inappropriate secretion of digestive juices during mental stress etc may effect the gut badly. This is the reason why patients suffering Fibromyalgia conditions usually have IBS associated with it. Modern research has demonstrated that the gut is responsible for both mental and physical health. For example, many patients suffering from depression and anxiety often see significant improvement with a wholesome diet. Unfortunately, processed foods contain high levels of sugar, salt, and other unhealthy additives that affect gut flora. In Ayurveda, a healthy diet is a major component of overall health.
Benefits of following Ayurveda for Gut health
Ayurvedic practitioners recognize the importance of ensuring a healthy gut and digestive system. The digestive fire in the body is a vitally important process, allowing food to be broken down and transformed into essential nutrients and by-products. Proper digestion helps the body build stronger immunity and faster tissue repair. Many chronic ailments are not treatable without addressing the digestive system. The Ayurvedic diet aims to improve gut health naturally and maintain the gut microbiome in a healthy state.
Usually GIT problems are associated with aggravation of Pitta dosha in the Body, So medicines given in Gut disorders generally Pacify or eliminate aggravated Pitta dosha. Along with Pitta management, reliving of inflammation pertaining to GIT and improving Appetite and digestion really helps in Gut Health.
Along with internal Ayurvedic medicines, it may be necessary to incorporate external Ayurvedic Therapies in the treatment. Treatments like Vamana and Virechana are usually done to patients according to the condition. In some cases implementing different kinds of Langhana procedures like fasting etc may also help.
As discussed in most cases GIT disorders are often linked with Mind related conditions, in such conditions its necessary to include external ayurvedic therapies like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Shiro basthi which will help to calm down the mind and improve the sleep quality. In many conditions counselling the patient becomes unavoidable. As a proven age old Science for gut disorders, following Ayurveda for gut health really helps those who suffers from gut related problems.
Food recommendation in Ayurveda for gut health
Diet recommendations in Ayurveda for gut health advises that one should include food items with all the six tastes in equal proportion for healthy living, especially excess intake of Sour, Spicy food items may result in GIT disorders. Other than this one should not intake too much of egg, fish or meat if they have GIT disorders. Intake of Alcohol or fermented items is forbidden if your gut is in a bad state. One should also avoid excess intake of fried items and oily food. Eating according to the seasons is another way to support gut health, as well as improve digestion.
The Ayurvedic diet emphasizes digestion. This means foods are simple to digest and nourishing. Rice and mung beans, for example, are common Ayurvedic foods. Rice provides complete protein while mung beans are astrfingent, which loosens toxic buildup in the digestive tract. Ayurveda also recommends that a cup of warm lemon water is drunk in the morning, which helps the digestive process.
The Diet recommendations in Ayurveda for gut health includes a list of foods to favor and avoid. The inflammatory foods are wheat, gluten, and dairy. Avoid alcohol, sugary drinks, and artificial sweeteners. This diet is known to improve overall health. Limit the number of tea or coffee consumed per day.
Herbal remedies for gut health
The Ayurveda system has long used herbs to improve gut health. These herbs act as prebiotics, a beneficial flora that feeds the good bacteria. The good bacteria in the gut include Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides. The bad bacteria, on the other hand, include Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter freundii. In a study conducted by Peterson et. al., the study revealed that the herbs had been used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, acidity, and inflammatory conditions of the intestinal tract.
Herbs mentioned in Ayurveda for gut health have the potential to help the gut function better. Ginger, for example, has been known to be an excellent digestive herb and is used in Ayurvedic treatment programs. Another important ingredient is Triphala, a combination of three fruits that are used to boost the digestive system. Triphala supports the immune system and helps the body eliminate waste products. It also has inherent biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and adaptogenic.
Several herbs in Ayurveda for gut health have beneficial effects, acting as prebiotics to feed the good bacteria. Olive leaf extract is rich in key phenols, which give it its many beneficial properties. Olive leaf is especially beneficial for a gut bacteria imbalance caused by Candida or other unfriendly bacteria. Ginger root is increasingly popular in Western cultures, and is a proven remedy for a variety of ailments.