Ayurvedic Detox Diet for Optimal Health + Fertility
The truth is that most of us, as hard as we try to be healthy, live lifestyles and work in environments that leave us with compromised digestion. In Ayurveda, compromised digestion is described as an imbalanced digestive fire, or agni. If left unchecked, as in, without ever periods of rest and detoxification for our digestive system, causes accumulation of undigested food waste in the gut and subsequent buildup of toxins, or ama.
In addition to ama being produced by the body as part of our metabolic and digestive processes, environmental toxins constantly enter our body through the skin, lungs or through our foods and drinks. Let’s first take a look at some signs of ama, or toxin build-up in your system..
Some Signs of Accumulated Ama Include
Heaviness
Morning sluggishness
Stiffness
Poor concentration
Poor appetite
Acidity
Bloating or heaviness after meals
Sticky bowel movements
Bad breath
Toxins Accumulate Over Time
Conditions such as chronic joint pain, cough, cold, allergies, sinusitis and high blood sugar, hormonal imbalance, infertility and skin conditions don’t develop overnight. From an Ayurvedic perspective, ama accumulates in the gut before moving into the channels and eventually as a catalyst for the development of disease.
Dietary Habits that Contribute to Poor Digestion and ama Include
Regularly eating heavy foods such as meat, eggs, cheese or cold milk
Overeating
Eating excessive amounts of raw food
Eating before the previous meal is properly digested
Eating too late at night
Incompatible food combinations
Eating too fast
Eating when stressed or on the run
Times that agni is adversely affected
The change of seasons is one such natural transition that can negatively affect the strength of our digestion, and therefore create ama formation. At these times throughout the year it’s highly beneficial to give your digestion a rest by following an ayurvedic detox diet.
Traditionally in Ayurveda, cleansing is carefully and systematically carried out on a seasonal basis depending on age and stength, as a major part of the prevention of serious or chronic illness. This is where ayurvedic panchakarma cleansing is ideal to support health maintenance, for longevity.
When time or cost is a factor, this simple ayurvedic detox diet is a very gentle, precise process that involves straight-forward guidelines to facilitate the cleansing of accumulated ama, or toxins from the gut as well as those that have accumulated in the deeper tissues.
Benefits of Doing an Ayurvedic Detox Diet
Improved energy
Better digestion
Less fluid retention & bloating
Easier eliminations (bowel motions, menstruation)
Stabilised weight
Stabilise blood sugar
Improved mood & mental clarity
Ayurvedic Detox Diet Guidelines
These simplified diet & lifestyle guidelines should only be followed for 5 days unless prescribed for a longer period by your Ayurveda Practitioner and not recommended time and are not intended for long term use.
YES
Cooked veggies
Carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, fennel, spinach, rocket, green beans and other leafy green vegetables + cooked garlic and onion
Fruits
Bitter melon & papaya, as well as small amounts of fresh berries such as blueberries or strawberries and cooked apples
NOTE that fruit should only be eaten at least 1 hour apart from other foods
Pulses, Legumes & Grains
Whole mung beans (as a soup), split mung beans (as a soup or kitchari), red lentils (as a soup or kitchari), mung bean flour (as pancakes), basmati white rice
Spices
Incorporate spices in your cooking such as cumin, ginger, fennel and small amounts of cinnamon, black pepper and salt, as well as use fresh herbs such as coriander and parsley as garnishes.
Drinks
Warm herbal teas - especially Ginger & Fennel, or Cumin, Coriander & Fennel tea, Hot Water or Black Tea (without milk), Pomegranate Juice & room temperature water.
NO
Milk or milk substitutes, Coffee or alcohol, Wheat, Bread, Pasta, All Meat, Chicken & Fish, Sweets & Biscuits, Deep fried food, Leftover food, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Potato, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Cucumber, Raw salads, All pulses except Mung beans and Red lentils, Fermented foods like Yogurt, Vinegar, Soy Sauce / Tamari, Miso etc. & sour foods like Pickles
You can use this information to craft your own dietary guidelines for an at home 5 Day Ayurvedic Detox, however if you would like more guidance on Ayurvedic cooking, recipes and lifestyle and herbal medicine support, work with Asher 1-1 for a personalised treatment plan.