Eight Ways to Lose Weight Naturally with Ayurveda
Ayurveda, a 5000-year-old science of self-healing, or integrative lifestyle approach to whole health has a different perspective to weight loss than the Western view. One of the key differences of east to west is the way the body is understood. The allopathic approach( western) sees the body as the sum total of parts. If a part needs fixing it gets replaced. Weight loss is narrowed down to calorie deprivation, overexercising, or fad diets that we know don’t last. The eastern approach, Ayurveda and TCM ( traditional Chinese medicine), sees the body as a superhighway of channels, meridians or nadis, that connect body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Almost like the internet of our own being. Energy healing such as Marma and acupuncture seek to unblock energy pathways that may be affecting the thyroid, the digestive area, elimination and so on while addressing the emotional causes of overeating. Some are stress, anxiety, depression, grief loss, hormonal imbalance, past and present trauma. Without addressing the root cause whether it’s overweight or underweight one cannot truly heal, but only temporarily reach a goal that is not maintained. So what can the wisdom of Ayurveda impart about losing weight naturally?
Here are eight ways to lose weight naturally with Ayurveda:
- Learn your Ayurvedic energy type. Ayurveda provides a unique map for the psychological and physiological makeup of an individual. It is not a one size fits all approach. Each of the energy types is balanced with various tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. For example- A Kapha type person who is mainly having the sweet taste may be prone to gaining weight but while introducing bitter, pungent and astringent tastes are more likely to reduce weight. To find your energy type take the quiz on my services page www.gedaliahealingarts.com/services. Provide the answers based on how you have been your whole life. To learn more after the quiz schedule your Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consult with Gedalia.
- Sipping hot water throughout the day can break up fat cells and induce weight loss. It’s such an easy practice and one you might start enjoying year round. You might want to add a bit of Neem honey ( which is anti-inflammatory ) to taste just before you sip the hot water. If you are Kapha type please omit.
- Aim to eat seasonal foods. By eating with the seasons you are harmonizing yourself with nature- both within and without. By creating that kind of balance you will naturally lose weight. For example: Don’t eat watermelon in winter. Select the fruits and vegetables that are local and in season in your region. Having a CSA delivered to your home is one of the best ways to accomplish this.
Your grandmother was right: In the summer, you should eat lighter fare, like salads, and leave the heartier stews and soups for winter. Doing so could help us lead healthier lives – and possibly also lose a few pounds, a top expert says.
“We should be eating according to the seasons. We’ve known this since Paleolithic times, but over the past 60 years, we lost sight of it,” John Douillard tells Newsmax Health.
“The season of summer is the best season to transition to a healthier diet,” says Douillard, author of the book, “The Three Season Diet.”https://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/Seasonal-Eating-Diet-Weight/2017/08/23/id/809345/
- Eat at regular times and don’t skip meals. The regular habit of eating the same time creates a rhythm in your biology that it can depend on. Skipping meals can lower blood sugar and increase calorie consumption at the next meal. In the following article from Health Site, it says:https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/7-reasons-you-should-not-skip-meals-ever/
#1. Changes in your blood sugar levels
Sugar — obtained from the breakdown of carbohydrates — acts as our body’s fuel, which is required for its normal functioning. So if you skip a meal, your blood sugar levels drop which in turn affects the functioning of your organs.
#2. Affects your mood and concentration
Do you know that glucose (obtained through food) is the main source of energy for your brain? Hence, if you skip a meal, your brain will receive less glucose (energy). As a result, it experiences a shortage and you will feel tired, sluggish, moody and irritable. This also interferes with your ability to concentrate, thereby leading to a decrease in your performance at work or school.
#3. Alters your metabolism
According to Dr Neha, ‘Skipping meals on a regular basis shifts your system into starvation mode. This is an effort by the body to store energy. However, not eating your breakfast or dinner, decreases your overall metabolism and slows down the weight loss process.
5. Find ways to reduce stress. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation daily is a good start. Everyone can meditate. Just as sleep is natural to our bodies, meditation flows freely when you allow the mind to unwind in its true nature- peace. Discover various meditation styles in my book guide ” Enough Drugs I am A Woman and Can Heal Naturally- a practical guide to feeling your best. You can be sure to find something there that will resonate with your style.https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Drugs-Woman-Heal-Naturally/dp/0692811613
6. Avoid snacking. By eating three meals and not snacking in between you give your body ample time to digest the previous meal. Aim to have your last meal by 6pm.
7. Develop a regular daily exercise approach. Walking, swimming, biking, bouncing on a rebounder all practical ways to increase your metabolism.
8. Receive Marma therapy, Ayurveda’s energy healing. By unblocking energy pathways, you are increasing energy flow and circulation throughout your entire being- body, mind, and spirit. Stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss melt away leaving you feeling lighter, more grounded, focused and able to meet daily life with increased vitality. Marma is anti-aging and increases blood flow to the skin making you look younger and more refreshed. By removing stuck energy you are optimizing your weight loss goals.
My website has details of where I offer Marma and for client testimonials.http://www.gedaliahealinggarts.com
Check out my upcoming interview on energy healing in the April Natural Awakenings magazine in Atlanta.
with warm regards,
Gedalia