In Ayurveda, good digestion is considered the key to good health. The digestive and metabolic systems in Ayurveda are known as Agni, which translates as ‘fire’. Many things can contribute to an unhealthy digestive Agni including: a poor diet, an accumulation of toxins from environmental chemicals, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
A weak Agni means we cannot properly digest the food we eat, with the result that we do not get the full benefit of the nutrients it contains. Additionally, undigested food remains in the gut and causes a toxic build up, which in Ayurveda is called Ama. Ama will initially accumulate in the gut, but if not dealt with, this toxic build up it can begin to affect the entire system causing problems in the whole of the body. Ama is considered in Ayurveda to be at the root of all illness.
Symptoms of a build up of ama include:
• A lack of physical energy and motivation
• Depression and lack of focus
• Unpleasant smelling bodily excretions
• A fuzzy or coated tongue, especially on waking
• A sweet or unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Feeling bloated and windy
• Aches and pains, especially in the hips and back
Fortunately, it is relatively easy to perform an Ayurvedic detox to flush away Ama and restore the body to good health. This detox can be done periodically, whenever symptoms occur and will need to be done more or less frequently depending on the quality of diet and lifestyle in between detoxes.
In order to detox, you must give your body a break from hard to digest foods to allow it to deal with the toxic Ama. To do this you should avoid all Ama-increasing foods and choose those that reduce Ama instead. As a general rule, avoid heavy and rich foods that are hard to digest and choose light, simple food instead. Avoid eating large meals and allow food to be properly digested before eating again. Drinking plenty of warm water will also help to flush out toxins.
Ama-producing foods to avoid
Since cleansing is done to clear Ama out of the body, you’ll want to stay away from foods that build more Ama in the body. For this reason, avoid the following types of food
• Processed foods, especially refined sugars, processed meats and fatty foods.
• Conventionally grown foods , which may contain residues of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Choose organic food where possible instead.
• Other difficult to digest foods, including: hard cheeses, deep fried food, raw foods, yeasted breads, dry foods and sugary foods.
Ama reducing foods to choose
The easiest foods for your body to digest, and those that produce less ama, are those that are in their natural state. So choose fresh organic fruits and vegetables and unprocessed grains. The following foods are particularly good choices for reducing ama.
• Cooked sweet fruits
• Cooked vegetables, especially leafy greens
• Light soups and dhal
• Light grains such as quinoa, amaranth and rice
• Spices such as ginger, turmeric, coriander, mint and fennel, which are good for the digestion
• Hot lemon water and herbal teas
If you feel you need a more intense detox, stick to a diet of simple, vegetarian soups, steamed green leafy veg, and lemon water or herbal teas, for two or three days. This intense detox should rid your body of Ama while still being nourishing and satisfying.
Choosing to eat only life-enhancing foods that are fresh, natural and uncontaminated can drastically improve your health and well-being. After completing a detox, continue to pay attention to your diet and ensure you get the majority of nutrients from these health supporting foods while still enjoying occasional treats.
