We probably all know someone who eats only the best foods, takes plenty of supplements, are into all the latest health fads, but still look pasty-faded unhealthy. Conversely, we probably know someone else who has an appalling diet but always seem to be in the best of health.

While what you eat is important, how you digest what you eat is more important! In Ayurveda, we say: you are what you digest NOT what you eat.

Why is that? Simply put, when you eat good food and digest it well, you build good, nutrient rich blood that feeds your vital organs properly.  

🌱 If your digestion is weak, you could be taking in the most nutritionally rich food (think raw kale, cold-press green juice, brown rice etc.) but get little advantage from it. A weak digestion does not have the strength to extract nutrients and properly nourish your body. 

🌱 A strong digestion will have the power to extract the maximum nutrients even from poor quality food — it will get the most out of whatever nutrients are available.

🌱 How to know if you’re not digesting a food? If you’re experiencing gas, bloating, headache and fatigue after eating the food = not for you (at least until your strengthen you digestion)

TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR DIGESTION

1. Eat protein first: Try to eat protein before anything else. The stomach only produces a certain amount of hydrochloric acid at a time. Protein is the only food that requires hydrochloric to digest, so it’s best eaten first while you have an abundant supply.

2. Eat easy-to-digest foods: that will nourish your body while giving your gut the time it needs to reset naturally. Think soups, stews, bone broth, Kitchari, roasted veggies & warm grain cereal for breakfast

3. Look at your food combos: Combining foods can help you digest your meal. E.g. Protein is drying, so eat it with healthy fats like ghee, coconut oil or avocado; avoid eating fruit or milk with/after your meals etc. Read more

4. Cooked is better than raw: the body finds it easier to assimilate nutrients from cooked food. No more than 25% of your meal should be raw food.

5. Eat guilt-free! You’ve no doubt noticed that your emotions influence your digestion. You may get heartburn when you’re under stress or lose your appetite when you feel sad. A growing body of research is finding that the stress associated with unprocessed negative emotions like anger or guilt can inhibit the natural digestive process and lead to chronic digestive issues.

6. Regular meal times: Eat all 3 meals at the same time every day. If your body gets used to a regular routine, the digestive enzymes will prepare themselves before the meal, and will be more efficient in digesting. If you eat at different times, your digestion will be thrown off.

7. Cook with spices: just sprinkle ginger, cumin, coriander, fennel seeds in any and everything you cook. They will add wonderful flavors to your food while helping you digest your meal.