five ayurvedic tips for a happier (digestive) holiday
the food.
So much of the holidays center around food. Between holiday parties and New Year celebrations, we’re eating foods that aren’t our typical, at times the don’t jive with the Āyurvedic clock. We may be tempted to overeat because of the novelty of novelty or frequency of meals. Some holiday meals may last all day; from the Christmas brunch, to the family dinner, snacking in-between, and the dessert course at the end of the evening.
Delicious? Yes. Friendly to Agni (our digestive fire)? No.
This holiday season I’ve compiled my top five Āyurvedic tips to keep your Agni happy, and you enjoying whatever culinary traditions or experiments you’re conducting.
1. prime your digestion.
Stoking your digestive fire before a meal is key. This approach helps the body prepare the necessary components of digestion - so that when the food hits your GI tract is as ready as it can be.
Ginger Pickle is a favorite way to stoke Agni. To prepare ginger pickle, grate fresh ginger root, add a squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of himalayan salt.
Take 1/2 - 1 tsp of this pickle 20-30 minutes before your main holiday meal.
Alternatively have a cup of lemon-ginger tea or Kapha Bright Fire tea before your meal.
2. don’t hydrate during your meal.
While hydration is important, hydration at meal time disturbs the balance of digestive juices the body has prepared. Sipping on hot water during a meal is fine, but avoid guzzling. Drink ~ 12oz hot water 30-45 minutes before your meal, and then wait ~ 45 minutes after a meal to start taking larger amounts of water again.
3. over did it? drink a cup of 8 spice digestive tea after your meal.
Add hot water to 1/4 tsp of 8 Spice Digestive and drink as a tea. This spice blend helps keep gas and bloating from overwhelmed digestion at bay. This also makes a great agni kindler before the meal as well.
4. Give the body time to digest
Snacking (or grazing) between meals interrupts the digestive process, your body will be happiest if you give yourself at least 4 hours before you eat again.
Having your last meal (or course) 3 hours before bed, will also ensure the body has had time to complete the first stages of digestion before sleep, which will mean you digest better and have less indigestion and undigested byproducts (ama) in the system.
5. eat lightly the next day.
Your Agni should be able to take the occasional hit, and bounce back, but making the next day a day of light and more digestible foods will help ensure that happens. Simple soups, kitchari, and plant based foods will support the strength of your digestive fire. Skip the salad; the cold, raw qualities of salad are actually tough on digestion and will further slow things down.
Happy Holidays! May these tips lead to happier digestion on this holiday and all days.
~ Kara & the Ayurvedic Wellness Center team
from the apothecary:
This traditional formulation of 8 spices + mineral salt is an ideal match for Vata dosha imbalances or Vata-type digestive symptoms, like gas, bloating, and constipation. It’s heating, grounding, and oily qualities counter the cold, light, and dry qualities of Vata.
A must for every Ayurvedic kitchen, this spice blend supports the function of Agni. Use 8 Spice Digestive to spice Vata provoking foods (like beans and lentils) when cooking, or use it to add flavor at the table. One of the most Vata provoking foods, popcorn, is made much more digestible by cooking it with ghee and 8 Spice.
2.5oz
One of the traditional processes of making ghee involves culturing the cream before churning it into butter and then clarifying it into ghee. Our Grass-fed Organic Cultured Ghee is made by following this age-old and time-honored practice. The result is a delightfully aromatic ghee with a slight tangy flavor characteristic of naturally cultured foods. And as always, Pure Indian Foods ghee is made from milk obtained only during the spring thru fall when the cows are on the pasture eating fresh, green grass.
When the classical texts refer to the revered medicinal qualities of ghee, they are referring to ghee made in this method, what we call as “cultured”.
Ghee is one of the most sacred and healing foods described by the ancient Ayurvedic texts. It is made by a simple process of gently simmering cultured butter to remove potential allergens such as casein and lactose. What remains is the pure delicious butter oil, described as conferring good health and longevity.
Use in place of oil or butter for cooking. It's ideal for sautes, stir-fries and sauces.
Put it in a ghee pot and ladle it; it's delicious on rice, toast, pancakes, scones, or biscuits.
14oz
vata root down tea
Root Down Tea is formulated to counter the light, dry, airy qualities of Vata Dosha. When you need to feel grounded, present, and steady of mind brew a daily cup of Root Down. This blend contains Ayurvedic Herbs that support the nervous system, strength of digestion, and the adrenals.
Boil 2-4 tsp for 10-20 minutes and strain. Add milk/mylk and sugar for an extra cozy cup. If adding milk, be sure to boil for an additional minute or two. Do not boil mylk.
In a pinch, steep 1-2tsp in hot water for 10 minutes.
pitta cool refresh tea
When Pitta get overheated and cranky, Cool Refresh is a lovely support. Cooling, blood nourishing, and a little sweet - this blend makes a Pitta pacifying and delicious cup.
Steep 2-4 tsp in hot water for 3-5 minutes. Let cool completely (for most effectiveness), or drink warm.
Alternatively, brew at room temperature or under the light of the moon for 8-12 hours. Discard herbs and refrigerate.
kapha bright fire tea
Bright Fire tea is a warming antidote to slow, sluggish Kapha-type digestive fire. A cup of this tea 20-30 minutes before a meal supports strong digestion, and lessens the physical accumulations Kapha brings.
Boil 1-2 tsp in water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and enjoy! In a pinch, try steeping 1-2 tsp in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
2oz + 5oz
Our favorite Āyurvedic Herbs, by the ounce. Unless otherwise noted, these herbs are in churna (powder) form. Non-powdered herbs are cut & sifted (c&s) or whole. Please consult your Āyurvedic Practitioner for recommended use.
At this point we are unable to dispense more than 4oz per herb. Please keep per herb quantities at or under 4oz per individual herb.
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