Ayurveda teaches us that you are what you digest rather than what you eat. When food is not properly digested, it turns into toxins (or ama) – and this is the root of disease.⁠ What we do digest forms the tissues and materiality of our body - so we want to make sure we are optimally absorbing and assimilating high-quality foods to suit our needs and constitution.

To help our digestive system run smoothly - so we can be healthy - we need to understand how our agni (the digestive fires in our body) work. 

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Digestion

Before we learn how to achieve better digestive function, let's take a step back and discuss what healthy digestion looks like – and how it compares to unhealthy digestion.

What Healthy Digestion Looks Like:

• Normal appetite
• Clean tongue (no coating)
• Proper appreciation of taste
• Balanced metabolism
• Steady weight
• Normal blood pressure
• Good immunity
• Sound sleep
• Calm mind
• Clear perception
• Positive attitude
• Longevity

What Improper Digestion Looks Like:

• Indigestion: gas, bloating, constipation, nausea, hyperacidity, loose stools, a sense of heaviness, feeling tired or mentally foggy after meals
• Constipation: backed-up, blocked feces and hard stools 
• Emotional disturbances, with an increased tendency toward fear, anxiety, anger, confusion, lethargy, or depression
• Low energy or fatigue
• Suppressed or overactive appetite
• A tendency toward congestion in the sinuses, lymph, and even the mind

Why Agni Matters

Agni is the Sanskrit word for fire. In Ayurveda, there are 13 agni in each of our bodies. These are the fires that promote digestion and transformation. They determine which substances enter our cells and tissues and which substances should be removed as waste. In this way, agni is the gatekeeper, the maintainer, and the regulator of our life. 

Ayurveda identifies a vast range of functions for which agni is directly responsible, but it also teaches us that impaired agni is at the root of all imbalances and diseases. We should always strive to keep our agni at a balanced level. If it's too hot or fiery, nourishment makes a hasty exit, and we easily burn out. On the other hand, when agni is too cool and not working properly, we will experience slow and sluggish digestion, along with symptoms like constipation, gas, and bloating.

How Do We Maintain Healthy Agni? 

First off: we need to know our current state of Agni health. We can diagnose this by means of our waste materials. Are your stools fast, loose, and erratic? This means that your agni is fast and hot; it needs to be brought into homeostasis by being cooled down.

On the other extreme is a slow, weak agni. This shows up as constipation, abdominal pain, anxiety, and blockage. In this case, the agni needs to be rebooted, fired up, and coaxed into doing its job properly. I recommend seeing a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to diagnose your current state of health and get your agni into alignment so you can ensure optimal digestion.

9 Ayurvedic Tips for Better Digestion

Digestion is essential to good health. When we take good care of our digestion, we keep our body running optimally and prevent toxic buildup. Here are some ways you can use Ayurvedic medicine for better digestion.

1. Eat Your Largest Meal at Lunchtime

Your digestion follows the rhythm of the sun. So your agni or digestive fire is strongest when the sun is strongest. Make lunch or brunch your largest meal and enjoy an earlier, lighter dinner. This not only helps prevent afternoon snack attacks, but it helps your sleep! That's right: eating an earlier, lighter dinner allows digestion to complete before you hit the pillow.

2. Chew, Chew, Chew

50% of digestion takes place in your mouth, so it's important to chew your food well. Slow down and savor each bite. This helps to break down the food into smaller pieces (your stomach doesn't have teeth). And allows the food to properly mix with your saliva. Aim for 20-30 chews per mouthful. You'll feel more satiated and avoid overeating. If you're drinking your calories as a smoothie, chew it too!

3. Enjoy Food and Beverages at Room Temperature or Warmer

Even in summertime, try to limit any cold beverages, especially with meals. You wouldn't pour coconut oil down your drain because it clogs. Drinking iced beverages with a meal has the same effect! Cold food and drinks will coagulate fats and denature your digestive enzymes, halting your digestion. If you must have something cool (I'm looking at you, ice cream), enjoy it at mid-day when your digestion is strongest.

4. Space Your Meals

We all like a little space to breathe. Your digestion is no different! Meals and snacks should be spaced at least three hours apart for proper digestion. When we constantly add new food to the system, the previously un-digested meal will sit for longer. It may even begin to rot or ferment, leading to gas, bloating, and toxins. Spacing your meals also allows your body to burn fat for fuel rather than relying on blood sugar.

5. Follow Food Combining Rules

If you suffer from gas or bloating, the Ayurvedic practice of food combining might bring you some relief. In short, food combining involves eating the right combinations of foods (and avoiding others) for optimal digestion. For example, Ayurveda advises eating proteins with green non-starchy vegetables – and not mixing them with other proteins or starchy veggies.

6. Practice Yoga for Digestion

Certain yoga poses – including sirsasana (headstand) – are thought to aid in digestion. Twists can also help create warmth in your abdominal area, helping stoke your digestive fire. When using yoga for digestion, pay attention to how it makes you feel. If you experience distress, pause your practice and seek guidance from your Ayurvedic practitioner.

7. Try Ayurvedic Remedies

There are some Ayurvedic formulations that have been proven to support digestive fire. For example, Chyawanprash is an ancient herbal jam with numerous benefits – including kindling agni and improving gut health. Similarly, Ghruta stimulates agni for better digestive function (among many other benefits). 

Dietary supplements like PIOR Living Digestion are another great way to boost digestion. This comprehensive supplement contains a blend of 32 organic and wild-harvested herbs, including neem, amla, ginger, turmeric, and cardamom, which work together to support better gut health, food assimilation, metabolism, and digestion. 

Consider also taking a pinch of high-quality salt (like Bamboo Salt) at the start of every meal to activate salivary enzymes.

8. Create Good Eating Habits

How you eat is just as important as what you eat. So, if you're texting, scrolling, or stressed while scarfing down your meal, hold the fork. Your body needs to be in 'rest and digest' mode for digestion to occur. You can ensure good digestion with a few simple habits:

• Eat in a calm, peaceful environment with good company
• Take a few deep belly breaths or try alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana)
• Offer gratitude for your food
• Only eat - don't walk, talk, or scroll
• Engage all of your senses - enjoy the sights, smells, textures, and flavors in each bite
• Avoid eating late at night 
• Aim to stop eating when you feel 75-80% full
• Only eat when you feel genuinely hungry 

9. Eat the Right Foods

To optimize digestion, a person should be eating the right foods for their:

• Prakruti (birth constitution) - Understanding your dosha can help you learn which foods make you feel your best and which foods may cause imbalance
• Vikruti (current state) - Understanding your current doshic state (which may be different than your birth constitution) can help you learn which foods can help correct imbalances
• Ritu (the season) - Seasonal, local produce will always be easier for your body to digest than non-seasonal foods