Summer & Digestive Trouble: Why Digestion Worsens & Tips to Improve
News Topical, Digital Desk : You can’t seem to get rid of bloating, acidity, and indigestion this summer. Well, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all the possible reasons for this and simple yet effective solutions to restore your digestive health through food, yoga, and other season-specific habits.
The temperatures are rising and with that is an unwelcome addition of summer acidity, bloat, indigestion, a loss of appetite, and generally poor gut health for many.
You might be finding that your gut feels…well, uncomfortable. But the answer to why the Summer is taking a toll on your digestion can be traced back to some fundamental principles of Ayurveda - our body’s “digestive fire”, or Agni. The extremely hot temperatures, dehydration, changes in daily routines, and overall lifestyle shifts throughout the hot summer days can all compromise the strength of Agni and negatively influence our digestion. Ayurveda believes in treating issues holistically and according to the seasons.
Ayurveda's Grishma Ritu or summer season is naturally associated with weakened digestion.
An excessive amount of sweat causes dehydration and the lack of sleep and the accumulation of a toxins in the stomach is a big reason behind improper digestion during summer. Eating irregularly and high temperature is a another common reason for weak digestion during summer time. "Improper digestion can lead to accumulation of a type of toxin called Ama in the body that's responsible for fatigue, low immunity, obesity, bad metabolism, acidity, digestive issues," said Acharya Manish Ji, Ayurveda expert at Chandigarh Ayurved.
What actually happens when food isn't properly digested?
“Because the digestive fire is weakened during this season, the body fails to digest the food consumed properly. This leads to incomplete digestion and incomplete absorption of nutrients.
The body will start producing toxins (Ama),” explained Acharya Manish Ji.
In simple terms, incomplete digestion of food in the summer will not only make us feel heavy and sluggish but also the body will start producing a kind of toxin known as ‘Ama’ which could be blamed for low immunity, obesity and bad metabolism. According to the experts from modern science as well, hydration is crucial to prevent loss of appetite this summer and so is avoiding a heavy diet during extreme heat. Consuming unhealthy food during the summer days will add more work for your already weak digestive system. Eating hot food, processed foods, fried foods, packaged juices, cold drinks, tea and coffee should be stopped and meal time should be fixed,” suggests health experts.
Here's what you can do to boost your summer digestion: The diet – Eat Light: It is often said that you are what you eat, which rings true especially in summer.
Eat fresh, freshly cooked and easily digestible meals. Hydrate Smart: Dehydration reduces appetite and slows down the digestive process, but on a hot day, the last thing you want to do is drink a glass of cold water which would put stress on your digestive fire, instead have a glass of coconut water or buttermilk or lemon water at room temperature to keep you hydrated and to keep your gut healthy. Avoid Spicy & Fried Foods: Spicy food can burn and irritate the stomach.
The less we eat oily and fried things the better our stomach would be during summer. Also stay away from carbonated and cold beverages as it leads to bloating and gas. Enjoy the fruits and vegetables: Plenty of fruits and vegetables naturally help in flushing out the toxins from our body.
Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and pomegranate are very good sources of water and nutrients, that would help in proper digestion this summer.
Avoid Over-eating: Avoid filling your stomach. Listen to your body – eat in moderation and don’t ever overeat, especially when the body itself is already weak and stressed from the heat. The yoga and pranayama: For people suffering from digestive problems in the summer, some calming yoga exercises can be quite beneficial. Apart from it cooling pranayamas such as Sheetali or Bhramari can be practice along with your morning routine and brisk walks.
These can provide support for metabolism.
Natural Cooling Elements: To maintain optimal balance this summer Ayurveda traditionally advises on using several natural cooling ingredients. They include rose water, Vetiver, Gulkand, aloe vera, sandalwood and gond katira to pacify Pitta, the energy that governs heat and transformation in the body. Summer, as expected, poses the greatest challenge to digestion but it is essential to address issues like bloating, indigestion and reduced appetite with the right diet, habits, and lifestyle choices guided by ancient healing science and expert advice.
