It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, some of us would love to lose a couple of pounds. Whether we’re getting our bodies ready for summer or simply looking to feel more confident in ourselves, losing weight is always worth considering.
From a health perspective, the World Health Organisation statistics show that 1.9 billion adults in the world are classed as obese, That’s over 30% of the world population. This will put strains on healthcare systems around the world and cost governments billions.
So, if you’re looking for a new lease of life but not sure where to start, here’s an option for you. Today, we’re going to explore five traditional and natural Ayurveda treatments and tips to help you reach your goals of losing weight and becoming a happier, healthier you.
Set Your Sleeping Pattern
One of the most important and universal Ayurveda tips you can follow is organising and managing your sleeping pattern. As human beings, it’s in our nature, and always has been, to sleep when it’s dark and to be active when it’s daytime.
Researchers have proven time and time again that a poor sleeping pattern can contribute dramatically to weight gain. This is because sleeping allows our bodies to process food and regulate our digestive system. Poor sleep means poor digestion. Following Ayurveda guidelines, try to turn off screens around 1-2 hours before you go to bed, be in bed by ten and awake at sunrise.
Drinking Enough Hot Water
There are many pollutants in our lifestyles that can contribute to weight gain, more commonly known as Ama. These include pollution (air), poorly processed foods, greasy, oily foods, pesticides and fatty foods.
By Ayurveda nature, these ama pollutants are sticky and need to be dissolved by drinking hot water. When it comes to drinking hot water, it’s not about the quantity, but the frequency in which you drink it. Try sipping hot water, a bit every half an hour, and you’ll see instant wonders in your everyday life.
Exercising in the Morning
After you’ve been asleep for a set number of hours, your body is at its most rested, making it the ideal time to exercise. Ayurveda guidelines suggest exercising between 6am and 10am to be the most effective and most beneficial times for your body.
As a rule of thumb, try exercising for about 30-45 minutes during this time. You could for a run, practice yoga, enjoy a gym session, or whatever kind of exercise you enjoy the most. This will help you to burn fat and lose weight efficiently.
Practice Meditation
Another primary cause for weight gain is stress, anger and anxiety. These all can prevent our bodies from losing weight and can cause side effects, such as comfort eating. Since you want to start your day in the best possible way, try practising meditation for 20 minutes every single morning, and you’ll notice the benefits almost immediately.
Biggest Meals at Midday
Typically, society has conditioned us to have our biggest meals in the evening for dinner. However, this isn’t in line with how our digestive systems work, and it’s a sure-fire way to put on weight. According to Ayurveda studies, noon is the time where our digestive system is at its strongest, and therefore the best time to eat the largest meal.
For dinner, it’s recommended that you have something light, a minimum of 2-3 hours before you go to bed. So, if you’re going to bed at 10 o’clock, the latest you want to be eating is 7pm. This allows your body to process your food properly, so you’re healthier and won’t gain unnecessary weight.
