ENHANCING DIGESTION

Digestion is the most important process as it helps to derive nutrients from the food we eat. If the digestion in the body is going on smoothly, we can enjoy a good health. In our day to day life, if we follow some dietary and lifestyle modifications, we can improve our digestion very well.

• Drink plenty of warm water to flush out the toxins from the body. 
• Consume high fiber diet.
• One can go for warm oil massage daily by applying gentle pressure over the abdominal area in clockwise manner. It improves digestion. 
• Take warm glass of water every morning with some honey and lemon in it. Follow with warm breakfast.
• Set your meal timings according to the biological clock. Take largest meal of the day between 12 noon to 2 p.m.
• Eat slowly. Do not eat in a rush. Take some time out to enjoy your meals.
• Take rest for sometime after finishing your meal.
• Chew the food properly.
• Consume dahi (yogurt) as it provides friendly bacteria to gut.
• Do not eat leftovers and foods which contain preservatives. 
• Avoid alcohol.  
• Do no watch TV, read or work while you’re eating. 
• Engage in light and pleasant conversation while you are eating to support good digestion.
• Last meal of the day should be light and consumed at least 2 hours before bedtime. 
• Drink a warm glass of milk before bedtime. Spice the milk according to your doshas (biological humours): Pittaj (fire element) should spice with nutmeg while cardamom is best for Vataj (air element). Kaphaj (water element) should spice with ginger.
• Avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs as they cause gastritis. If you want to take them, then consume on full stomach.
• In the morning, sleep on your left side as this position facilitates the movement of toxins and waste through our system.
• Try to go to bed by 10 p.m. So, our body can have rest during 10pm to 2 a.m. ( peak time of body’s internal cleansing )
• Sprinkle Trikatu powder (sonth, marich and pippali) on the food as it enhances digestion and lowers excess cholesterol too.
• Consume triphla (amla, harar and bahera) at bedtime as it works as very good laxative and expels toxins out of the body.
• Garlic, old petha (ash gourd), unripened banana, brinjal, neem should be taken. 
• Spices like kali mirch (black pepper), dhaniya (coriander), jeera (cumin), ajwain (carom seeds), methi powder (fenugreek) are beneficial in improving digestive system.
• Amla (Indian gooseberry), orange, lemon are good.
• Honey acts like a buffer in the body and is very useful for digestive system.
• Sip warm water throughout the day as it aids digestion. 
• Vajrasana (diamond pose), Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana), ardhmatseyendra asana (half spinal twist), pawanmuktasana (Wind releasing pose) are very helpful to boost digestive fire. They should be performed on regular basis.
• We should follow pranayamas like Agnisaar pranayama, Kapalbhati (Shining Skull), Surya Bhedan (Right Nostril Breathing), Bhastrika as they are helpful to cleanse all the toxins in the digestive system.