How To Address Bloating With Ayurveda
We all know what it’s like when you have a fun night planned with a cute outfit to match, then after dinner, you can barely recognize your figure. The dreaded bloat has kicked in. You wish you were back home in your sweatpants without a waistband in sight. Trust me, ive been there.
My name is Sahara Rose and I’m the best-selling author ofIdiot’s Guide to Ayurveda and the upcomingEat Feel Fresh and what got me into Ayurveda is that I was a chronic bloat sufferer. Luckily, Ayurveda has many tips and tricks to ease bloat. Ayurveda is the world’s oldest health system that offers wisdom to bring vitality and health to the mind-body balance. According to Ayurveda, there is not just one type of bloat, but three, related to the Doshas (mind-body types.)
There are three Doshas in Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. To discover your Dosha, take my free quiz here which separates the results of the Dosha in your mind and body. Follow the bloating suggestions for the Dosha of your body.
Vatas tend to suffer from bloating, gas and constipation as a result of excess air in their systems.
Pittas tend to suffer from hyperacidity, acid reflux, and irritated gut lining as a result of excess fire in their systems.
Kaphas tend to suffer from lethargy, water retention and heaviness as a result of excess Earth in their systems.
Here are a few Ayurvedic tips for each Dosha’s bloating:
Vata
Vata is composed of air and ether elements, so it’s safe to say this dosha experiences the most amount of bloating as those are the elements gas is comprised of. Here are a couple of ways vata types can avoid bloating:
- If you suffer from regular bloating, try sipping warm cumin seed water before meals to help stimulate digestion. Add about ½ a teaspoon to steep in hot water for 10 minutes.
- After a meal, either chew on about ½ a teaspoon of fennel seeds or go for a hot cup of fennel tea to alleviate gas build up.
Pitta
Pitta is composed of the fire and water elements and may not bloat often due to having high digestive fire, but when they do, being proactive to bring down inflammation should be noted. A few ways pitta types can can alleviate these symptoms is by:
- Adding turmeric to meals or taking capsules to bring down inflammation which will simultaneously ease bloating.
- Chewing on about ½ a teaspoon caraway seeds or a hot cup of caraway tea is another excellent way for pitta to reduce bloating after a meal.
Kapha
Kapha is composed of earth and water elements adding an extra bit of heaviness to their bloating discomfort. Not only will they want to ease the gas, but they’ll also want to turn up the heat as they break down the heaviness of a gas producing meal. Proactively, Kapha types should:
- Add a kick of spice to their food, such as cayenne pepper, to help raise the digestive fire.
- Ginger is an excellent choice to bring spice to a dish and alleviate bloat. A little bit can be chewed fresh or brewed into a tea to help reduce any additional post-meal bloat.
A few extra tips to note for all Doshas, is to be present when you eat—enjoy your food mindfully and chew thoroughly. Often we are so rushed through meals we don’t take the time to chew completely, allowing the enzymatic breakdown within the mouth.
People often forget that the mouth is the first site of the digestion process where precious digestive enzymes are produced! And eat slowly, with ease and gratitude. Often it’s not as much about what you eat, but how you eat. Being mindful and thankful for your food will aid your digestion and the overall experience of a delicious meal.
So whether you’re dining in or out, simply slow down, be mindful and have a few spiced teas, seeds, or supplements on hand so you can digest your food with ease!
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