For safe and healthy weight loss, the profound sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda form a powerful combination. Yoga providing a system of exercises which help to burn fat, increase metabolism and promote fitness, while Ayurveda providing the guidelines for proper diet and nutrition. In this article I will explore Ayurveda, which is the science of self-healing and longevity.
A key concept in Ayurveda is that of the 3 Doshas (humours): Vata, Pitta & Kapha. A combination of these 3 bodily humours are responsible for the makeup of our human body. This article is focused on the Kapha Dosha, which is responsible for fat and is the prevalent dosha in those who are overweight and obese. Thus, from a Yogic and Ayurvedic point on view, in order to burn fat and lose weight one must reduce Kapha in the body.
As a quick review the following 3 most important points about Ayurveda need to be remembered:
1. The qualities of Kapha Dosha are: Wet, Cold, Heavy, Dull, Soft, Sticky & Fixed
2. Ayurvedic healing is based on the following 2 principles
* Like Increases Like
* Opposites Decrease Each Other
3. There are many treatment methods in Ayurveda and of these we are focusing on Diet for weight loss in this article. In future posts I will detail other Ayruvedic recommendations to reduce weight, burn fat and get fit.
So keeping the above in mind here are Ayurveda's dietary recommendations for how to combat obesity, reduce fat and promote healthy weight loss.
General Diet Composition to Burn Fat:
* 30-40% of your diet should be whole grains.
* 20-30% protein (from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian sources)
* 40-50% mostly vegetables and some fruit.
Specific Dietary Recommendations to Lose Weight:
* Since like increases like, the qualities of Kapha should be a guide to help you choose the right type of foods to eat. So looking at it from that perspective one should reduce fatty foods, dairy, ice cream, meats (specially red meat) etc.
* For drinks, stick to hot drinks instead of cold ones. Again use Kapha qualities as a road map to help you choose. Drink teas, hot water, instead of cold sodas and milk shakes.
* Since opposites decrease each other, use more hot spices in your food. Ginger, cinnamon, coriander and other hot spices will all work to help you reduce Kapha, which is the key to reducing weight. The tastes you should shoot for in your diet are pungent, bitter and astringent. Foods with these tastes are all anti-Kapha and will assist in burning fat. The tastes you should generally avoid are sweet, sour and salty.
* Similarly increase salads, beans, dry cereals and cooked grains in your diet. Eating foods with Vata and Pitta qualities will increase those doshas in your body and will work against increasing Kapha.
* Eat one big meal a day and make it either your lunch or your breakfast.
* To avoid snacking, have a glass of hot lemonade made with honey. This will help burn fat and keep away the hunger.
Conclusion:
I hope what you begin to see with Ayurveda is that it gives you the knowledge and framework within which you can then customize the treatments you need using your intelligence. That's why I call Ayurveda the science of Self Healing. Once you know the basic concepts, you can readily apply them to deal with any health situation that life throws at you.
Specifically for weight loss understand the qualities of Kapha Dosha and tailor your diet and life style to reduce it. When you reduce Kapha you reduce fat. From a dietary perspective, simply reduce intake of food with the same qualities and increase intake of food with opposite qualities.
Almost everyone who goes on drastic diets ends up going off the diet sooner rather than later. And even if you do lose some weight with crash and fad diets, you quickly regain that weight back again the moment you get off the diet. The key to losing weight lies in healthy weight loss, where the weight you lose stays off for good, and where your weight loss tactics are not severe enough for you to chuck them at the first given opportunity. Healthy weight loss involves simple diet and lifestyle changes.
Some tips that will help you lose weight for good, whether you are on a weight loss plan or not are:
Set Attainable Goals: The first thing that you need to do when you plan to lose weight is to set attainable goals. Very fast weight loss will not only take its toll on your health, but is generally temporary. So instead of planning to lose 30 pounds, plan to lose 6 pounds a month. This way, you will keep getting an incentive to lose weight with every pound that you shed instead of getting discouraged by the fact that you still have 29 pounds more to go.
Eat Slowly And Patiently: Most diets involve some kind of portion control, but if you are used to eating more, you will keep on feeling empty even after having your meals. Your brain gets to know that your stomach is full only after 20 minutes of eating. So in order to avoid over eating, eat slowly. Chew each bite at least 20 to 30 times and do not eat in front of the television. By following this simple diet tip, you will start feeling satisfied even with smaller portions.
Don't Get All Emotional With Food: A large number of over weight people cannot control their eating because they use it as a means of emoting. If you are one of those people who pick up a chocolate, dessert or a pack of wafers every time you feel angry, lonely, sad, happy or just plain bored, then you need to control this consciously. When you feel hungry out of turn, drink a glass of water and indulge in an activity that has nothing to do with eating. Go for a walk, chat with your neighbour, call up your friends, watch television or clean up your room. By the time you finish, you will have forgotten about your hunger pangs.
Do Not Starve Yourself: Most popular diet programs nowadays will advise you to have at least 5 to 8 meals a day, which is a good thing not just because it boosts your metabolism, but because it also keeps you feeling full and energetic. Most self help dieters still believe that starving will help them lose weight, when all it does is exactly the opposite the moment you get back to regular life. Each and every sensible diet guide will advise you to eat more meals for weight loss, as this is the new secret to fast, healthy weight loss.
Both Anmolmehta & Nick Preston1 are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Anmolmehta has sinced written about articles on various topics from Ayurveda Treatment, Yoga Practice and Guided Meditation. Anmol Mehta is a Yoga Teacher & Zen Expert. See and explore. Anmolmehta's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Nick Preston1 has sinced written about articles on various topics from Ayurveda Treatment, Metabolism. Nick has been involved in the business for several years and has personal experiences on how difficult losing weight can be. This is why Ii felt responsi. Nick Preston1's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.