MAPI Staff Writers
Feeling heavy, lethargic, fatigued, worried or a little down?
According to Maharishi Ayurveda, irregular elimination (known commonly
as occasional constipation) can cause you to feel off-balance mentally
and physically. You may think it’s not a big deal to skip a morning, yet
regular elimination makes a huge difference in how you feel during the
day.
Here’s why:
Like all living organisms, your body has a natural rhythm. At night,
the body focuses on repairing, cleansing and 
rejuvenating itself, from
its individual cells to its organ systems. At the end of this cycle,
your body wants to unload the toxins that have been cleansed from the
tissues and metabolized by your digestive system while you slept. It
does this by evacuating the bowel and bladder first thing in the
morning.
During the day, on the other hand, your body is in an active
absorption phase, dominated by agni, the digestive fire. If you don’t
have proper bowel and bladder elimination in the morning, the toxins
that were cleansed from the tissues during the night get reabsorbed
into the body. These reabsorbed toxins can result in lethargy, fatigue,
feelings of sadness and, over time, weakened immunity. Regular
elimination also supports cholesterol health.
Since elimination affects your entire physiology (mind, body and
emotions), you can’t neglect or ignore it. With a few changes in your
diet and routine, you can get in tune with your body’s natural rhythm
and make regular elimination a part of your daily routine.
How to Support Regular Elimination
- For proper absorption, you’ll want to cultivate the friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
Chemicals and processed foods destroy these probiotics, so you’ll
want to avoid those. To boost probiotic health, drink a digestive lassi, made with organic yogurt, after your noon meal.
- To increase natural, water-soluble fiber in your diet, try whole
grains such as quinoa and different kinds of fresh, cooked squash,
vegetables and fruit.
- To promote the secretion of enzymes and support digestion, flavor
your food with spices such as cumin, turmeric, and coriander, or use
Maharishi Ayurveda Spice Mixes (Churnas).
- Try to eat three main meals a day. Start with a lighter breakfast.
Eating cooked apples and raisins seasoned with cinnamon or cardamom
helps rekindle your agni (digestive fire) and promotes regular
elimination. Eat your biggest meal at noon, when agni is strongest.
Dinner should be light and eaten before 7 p.m.
- Relax when you are eating. Try to not hurry or eat while watching T.V. Eat in a harmonious, settled environment.
- Regular exercise, such as taking a walk after lunch and dinner, helps improve digestion.
(Cover Photo By shinealight, Flickr Creative Commons)