Digestive Process in Ayurveda

All about Ayurveda and the Digestive Process

Digestion is a crucial part for one’s good health. We all know ‘we are what we eat’. In Ayurveda, digestive process is not just breaking down of food particles and nutrients and carrying the energy to cells. There are two digestion process happening in our body we can name it.

• gross digestion
• subtle digestion

Gross digestion :

Gross digestion is the digestion that we understand on a physical level. It takes about 4-6 hours depending upon the person’s Agni and Constitution. It takes place in three stages

Stage 1

• Mouth and upper stomach
• The food taken mixes with saliva and blended and made moist anf foamy easy to digest.
• Associated dosha – Kapha – earth andwatery element
• Time – 1 ½ -2 hours
• Disorders in this stage causes lethargy even after an hour of consuming food

Stage 2

• Lower stomach and small intestine
• Pancreatic secretions further breaks down the food
• Associated dosha – Pitta – fire and water element
• Time – 2-3 hours
• Disorders at this stage is indicated by reflux acid and heartburn

Stage 3

• Large intestine
• Nutrient fluid removed from waste products
• Associated dosha – Vata – air and space elements
• Time 1 ½ -2 hours
• Bloating, gas are some illness resulting from disorder at this stage

Subtle Digestion :

Unlike Gross digestion, We are not aware of the subtle digestion that takes place to nourish our organs. The ahara rasa or the nutrient fluid that ensues from the food consumed flows through the various tissue layers. The hierarchical order in which the nourishment flows –

Meru Dandam:

• Rasa – Lymphs/plasma
• Rakta – blood
• Mamsa – Muscle
• Meda – Fat
• Asthi – Bone
• Majja – Bone marrow /nerve
• shukra – Reproductive

The flow can be compared to irrigation (once the row is full with water, the remaining flows to the next row). Similar manner each tissue is nourished before passing to next. But when there is an ultimate necessity – that is nourished first skipping the normal order.

The function of Agni-

The word Agni – means fire. Agni is the gatekeeper of good health. It drives may process like digestion, absorption, awareness, intelligence etc. It’s responsible for – luster that our body shows (Varna & Tejas)

• plumpness of body (Upachaya)
• strength(Bala)
• good health(Swasthya)
• energy (Utsaha)
• vital breath (Prana)
• immunity – resistance to disease (Ojas)

Ayurvedic tips for good digestion:

• The act of eating is to be considered life-giving. We need to give it ultimate respect and eat in a calm, undisturbed place.
• We must be aware of the taste, smell and texture of the food.
• Avoid over-eating, cold drinks
• Cleanse the system, from within once in a while
• Follow a routine
• Make lunch the biggest meal of the day.
• Be in harmony with our inner connections with Nature.
• Take a mild – moderate form of physical exertion
• Meditate
• Take only freshly cooked satvik foods.
• Kindly your agni with herbal tea

So obviously, you are what you digest!

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