Ayurveda Article - Ten Ways For Everyone To Prevent Build-up Of Impurities (Ama)

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Ten ways to prevent ama build-up over the holidays

 

 

Ama, the toxic waste-product of digestion, can accumulate any time of

the year. But there is no better time for this malicious substance to

grow than during the holidays, when we tend to overeat, consume a lot

of sweets, and eat at irregular times. Ama clogs the channels of the

body and weakens the immune system. If you experience stiffness in

your

joints, constipation, cold, flu or weight gain, ama is the most likely

culprit. Fortunately, ayurveda has a very powerful tool for conquering

ama: agni. If you keep your agni, or digestive fire strong, your body

will be able to digest the food you eat without creating waste

products. The following advice from Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra will help

you stay healthy over the holidays.

 

1. EAT YOUR MAIN MEAL AT NOON

 

Instead of a big afternoon meal or a heavy dinner, try to have you

main

meal between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m., when the digestive fire is the

strongest. Eating a big dinner will not only tax your digestive system

but can disrupt your sleep. To avoid the discomfort of dinner sitting

in your stomach still undigested by the time you go to sleep, eat a

light dinner three hours before your bedtime.

 

2. KEEP YOUR MEALTIMES REGULAR

 

Don¹t try to correct your overeating by missing a meal. Skipping meals

will disrupt and weaken your agni. Eat at least three times a day

around the same time of the day. Also avoid eating when your previous

meal is not digested. Give your body at least three hours to finish

digesting, before you eat again. An afternoon snack is O.K as long as

you keep it small and light. A piece of fresh fruit or a couple of

dried fruits and nuts are enough to give you energy until dinner.

 

3. DON¹T OVEREAT

 

This advice might be the hardest to follow, but it is a very important

one. Always eat according you your hunger level. Your body knows how

much food it can digest, you just have to listen to it. Take smaller

portions and don¹t go for seconds if you are not hungry any more. Eat

only to 3/4 of your capacity. ³Even good food can create ama in bad

quantities,² warns Vaidya Mishra.

 

4. USE NATURAL DIGESTIVE AIDS

 

If you happen to violate any of the above rules, there are other ways

to improve your agni. ³If you are not hungry, increase your appetite

by

sipping warm water, ginger water or cumin tea,² says Vaidya Mishra.

You

can also get your gastric juices flowing by eating a thin slice of

fresh ginger with a pinch of salt. These digestive aids may not be

available when you are not eating at home so carry Maharishi Ayurveda

Herbal Digest supplement with you and take one or two before meals.

 

5. AVOID AGNI-DESTROYING FOODS

 

Some people say certain foods taste better the next day, which is not

a

good excuse to eat leftovers. Ayurveda recommends eating freshly

prepared foods because they are easier to digest and contain more

prana

or life. In addition to leftovers, stay away from heavy, deep-fried

foods, and cold foods and drinks. They diminish your agni and

contribute to the accumulation of ama.

 

6. WATCH THE SWEETS

 

This is another area where moderation will save you from stomach aches

and weight gain. If you have a sweet tooth, eat home made pies and

cookies instead of junk sweets. The latter usually contain

preservatives, artificial flavors and colors which are toxins for the

body and will turn into ama right away. They also lack nutrients and

prana, and are heavy to digest. Commercial pastries and cakes also

tend

to contain more sugar and fat than what your body needs.

 

7. EAT ALL SIX TASTES

 

Sweet might be your favorite taste but don¹t eat just sweets. Every

meal should contain all six tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter,

pungent, astringent. Use spices to include all the tastes and to

enhance flavor. When your meal contains all six tastes, you will feel

more satisfied and crave less sweets. The Maharishi Ayurveda Churnas

are excellent spice mixes that include all the six tastes and also

improve digestion.

 

8. BALANCE YOUR MEALS

 

In addition to all the tastes, your meals need to include a balanced

combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat. If you only eat

carbohydrates, your blood sugar will rise quickly but will leave you

fatigued later. Leaving out fats is also a common mistake. Healthy

fats

such as olive oil and ghee are essential for carrying the nutrients to

your cells.

 

9. EXERCISE

 

Winter is a good time to nourish you body and to exercise. Regular

exercise,at least half an hour a day, will not only keep the extra

pounds off but will improve your agni and reduce ama. A short walk

after lunch is a great way to get your digestion going.

 

10. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR ROUTINE

 

Being regular is not only important for mealtimes but for your daily

routine as well. Your elimination, bed time and working habits should

all be consistent in order to keep your immune system strong and your

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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