Feeling heavy, lethargic, fatigued, worried, or a little down? According to Maharishi AyurVeda, irregular elimination (known commonly as occasional constipation) can cause you to feel off-balance mentally and physically. You may think it’s not a big deal to skip a morning, yet regular elimination makes a huge difference in how you feel during the day.
Why regular elimination is important
Like all living organisms, your body has a natural rhythm. At night, the body focuses on repairing, cleansing, and rejuvenating itself, from its individual cells to its organ systems.
At the end of this cycle, your body wants to unload the toxins that have been cleansed from the tissues and metabolized by your digestive system while you slept. It does this by evacuating the bowel and bladder first thing in the morning.
During the day, on the other hand, your body is in an active absorption phase, dominated by agni, the digestive fire. If you don’t have proper bowel and bladder elimination in the morning, the toxins that were cleansed from the tissues during the night get reabsorbed into the body.
These reabsorbed toxins can result in lethargy, fatigue, feelings of sadness, and, over time, weakened immunity. Regular elimination also supports cholesterol health.
How to support regular elimination with Ayurveda
Since elimination affects your entire physiology (mind, body, and emotions), you can’t neglect or ignore it. With a few changes in your diet and routine, you can get in tune with your body’s natural rhythm and make regular elimination a part of your daily routine.
- For proper absorption, you’ll want to cultivate the friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Chemicals and processed foods destroy these probiotics, so you’ll want to avoid those. To boost probiotic health, drink a digestive lassi, made with organic yogurt, after your noon meal.
- To increase natural, water-soluble fiber in your diet, try whole grains such as quinoa and different kinds of fresh, cooked squash, vegetables, and fruit.
- To promote the secretion of enzymes and support digestion, flavor your food with spices such as cumin, turmeric, and coriander, or use Maharishi AyurVeda Spice Mixes (Churnas).
- Try to eat three main meals a day. Start with a lighter breakfast. Eating cooked apples and raisins seasoned with cinnamon or cardamom helps rekindle your agni (digestive fire) and promotes regular elimination. Eat your biggest meal at noon, when agni is strongest. Dinner should be light and eaten before 7 p.m.
- Relax when you are eating. Try to not hurry or eat while watching T.V. Eat in a harmonious, settled environment.
- Regular exercise, such as taking a walk after lunch and dinner, helps improve digestion.
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