5 expert tips for taking care of your Agni, the Ayurvedic digestive centre.
How to balance Agni, your digestive fire
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The Sanskrit term meaning ‘fire’, picture Agni like a flame inside that needs to stay alight to keep a healthy digestive system, and in turn a healthy emotional state. Bloating, IBS, constipation and acid reflux are all symptoms of an impaired Agni. Try Ayurvedic practitioner Claire Paphitis’ top five intuitive lifestyle tweaks for keeping your Agni burning bright… |
"The ancient Ayurvedic texts state that an impaired Agni is the root cause of all disorders" |
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1. Avoid raw vegetables and cold meals |
Though fruit is fine to be eaten as it is, raw vegetables and cold meals cause the body to overproduce toxins, which overworks the Agni. Cooked food has already completed part of the digestive process which aids the Agni further still, so swapping salads for soups, stews and cooked fresh produce is a great place to start. |
2. Be mindful about when and how you eat |
Regularly stop and tune into your digestive fire, asking yourself, “Do I feel hungry?”. If no, avoid dampening your digestive fire by eating anyway. If yes, eat something, even if small – it means your Agni is rising up and calling out for food. Try getting into your own a rhythm of 2 or 3 meals a day, with your largest meal at lunchtime when your Agni is at its strongest. |
"The connection between our gut, the mind and the rest of the body is something that Ayurveda was talking about thousands of years ago" |
3. Only eat when you feel calm |
Ayurveda tells us that we shouldn’t sit down to eat if we’re upset, frustrated, or following an argument. It’s important that we have space to experience gratitude before our meal, and tune into every mouthful. |
"Close your eyes, place your hands over your tummy, and ask yourself, “How is my digestion, how are you feeling?” The connection you’ve made is with your Agni – essentially, your gut feeling." |
4. Cut out ice and cold drinks |
Ice cold drinks or anything frozen, like ice cream, will completely extinguish your Agni. Particularly detrimental before or after a meal, cold drinks sit heavily on the digestive system, which slows down its entire process. Instead, opt for warm or room temperature drinks. |
5. Use more herbs and spices |
Herbs and spices, when added to food and drink, aid our digestive process. From fresh rosemary, mint, basil or thyme used to garnish meals and drinks to spices like turmeric, fennel, cumin, coriander and fenugreek used in cooking, incorporating that little bit more into your meals will help support your Agni. |
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