Weight Management with Ayurveda Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

There is a popular saying “Beauty is subjective”, but is it true? “Weight” is something that plays a huge role in people’s lives. We are living in 2023, and talking about body positivity is in trend but everyone knows that everyone wants to shed those extra kilos that make us look bad. That’s where healthy weight management comes in.

Weight management is something that should be taken seriously as being overweight not only affects a person’s body outwardly but also inwardly. Being overweight or obese can pose serious threats to your health mentally and physically.

How Being Overweight Affects Your Body Physically

Being overweight or obese can be synonymous with your body being a breeding ground for various sedentary diseases. 

We have just survived a pandemic and every one of us has learned our lesson of how important it is to care for our body and build strong immunity. 

Many of us recovered from COVID-19 safely without much hassle.

But other people who had underlying health conditions either suffered a lot on their way to recovery or unfortunately were not so lucky.

You are at high risk of getting the following diseases if you are overweight:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Coronary heart diseases
• Biliary Disorder
• Fatty Liver

The list may continue to increase if one doesn’t start proper weight management.

Also Read: 10 Best Foods to Eat if you have Diabetes

How Being Overweight Affects You Mentally

How your body weight can affect your mental health is something that is not even taken into consideration. No matter how much people say beauty is in the beholder’s eye the matter of fact is people are still fat-shamed. This not only makes them conscious but also affects their self-esteem.

You are and high risk of developing the following mental disorders:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Eating Disorder

Body weight discrimination still exists for some people. Society believes that overweight people are lazy and incapable of taking care of themselves. They completely turn a blind eye to the fact that sometimes being overweight can be due to a specific medical condition. 

Weight Management

All of us have a desire to shed that extra fat and be the best version of ourselves. 

But managing weight in today’s fast-paced life could be quite challenging especially when being independent is the essence of modern lifestyle. 

It is very tempting to eat junk food or easy-to-prepare packaged food, especially after having a hectic day. 

Weight management and weight loss are not difficult, and getting in shape doesn’t require months of starving. 

However, being disciplined and dedicated to your weight loss vision is pivotal for weight management.

Welcome to the world of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda And Weight Management

Ayurveda is way more than just ancient holistic medicine, it’s a way of living. 

Ayurveda places special emphasis on gut health and dietary and lifestyle changes. There is no shortcut to losing weight in a healthy way. 

Inculcate Following Herbs to Cut Down Belly Fat:

• Honey and Lemon

Among Indian households, it is very common to consume a glass of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice, and honey first thing in the morning to build immunity. This drink is also effective in promoting weight loss as it suppresses hunger and detoxifies the body. 

• Triphala

Triphala is an ayurvedic formulation of three herbs namely Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amalaki. It’s rich in antioxidants, has detoxifying properties, and is useful in internal cleansing and weight loss.

• Curry leaves

Apart from being a staple ingredient in several rich delicacies, curry leaves also contain an alkaloid compound known as mahanimbine, which has a strong antiobesity and hypocholesterolemic effect. It also stimulates digestion, detoxification, and fat burning, which help reduce obesity.

• Ashokarishta 

Ashokarishta is an Ayurvedic medicine that contains Ashoka bark and 14 other natural ingredients, including Kalonji, Dhataki flowers, and ginger. It detoxifies the body and reduces fat.

•  Amla

Amla, also known as phyllanthus emblica, is one of the best fruits that helps in weight loss. It’s packed with vitamin C and helps in improving metabolism. Whether consumed in the form of fruit or juice, amla is beneficial in shedding unwanted fat.

• Guggul 

Guggul is a dry resin obtained from the Mukul myrrh tree. It helps in losing weight by reducing bad cholesterol, and in turn, protects the body from heart disease. Guggul is available in the market as a powder that is easily taken by mixing it with warm water.

• Horse Gram

Ayurvedic experts recommend the use of horse gram, also known as Dolichos biflorus, for weight loss due to its high antioxidant ability that eliminates obesity and its complications as a result of oxidative stress, as well as toxin-induced inflammation.

Ayurvedic Tips To Follow Religiously For Healthy Weight Management

• Get a good night’s sleep

Yes, you heard it right, get a good sleep of at least 6-8 hours to take the first step towards weight management. Taking ample sleep helps in avoiding unnecessary calorie intake, and improves your metabolism and overall wellbeing.

• Three meals a day

Make it a habit to eat 3 meals per day and that too at a proper time. The optimal time to eat breakfast should be before 10 a.m, for lunch it should be between 12 p.m.- 2 p.m., and for dinner, it should be between 6 pm – 8 pm. Avoid binge eating between meals.

• Practice portion control

Eat a balanced meal with portion control. Eat equal portions of rice and chapatis with legumes and greens rather than two bowls of rice or three chapatis only. Practice portion control to inculcate equal amounts of fiber, protein, carbs, and vitamins and to control calorie count. 

• Exercise Regularly

Set aside at least a minimum of 30 minutes daily to exercise regularly. Whether you do brisk walking, go to the gym, or practice yoga is completely up to you but no weight loss journey is complete without burning calories.

Panchakarma for Weight Loss

Weight-related issues can be managed effectively through panchakarma, an ayurvedic therapy that detoxifies to rejuvenate the body, balances doshas, and promotes overall well-being.

Purvakarma is pre Panchakarma process. It helps prepare the body for Panchakarma therapy’s more rigorous and intense cleansing process. 

Purvakarma helps mobilize and liquefy waste products (ama) from adipose cells and move them toward the intestines, where the treatment of Panchakarma can flush them out.

Purvakarma consists of the following therapies:

• Snehana (Oleation)

Snehana therapy’s purpose is to lubricate the body with medicated oils or ghee internally or externally for three to seven days. The lipid-based substances used in therapy help in softening the tissues and aiding the extraction of deep-seated toxins, predominantly in the form of aggravated doshas.

• Swedana (Sudation)

Swedana is performed after Snehana. It is a form of therapy that induces sweating to release and eliminate toxins through the skin. 

Panchakarma for Weight Loss consists of the following procedure

• Vamana

Vamana is an oleation process in which ayurvedic therapies and internal medications are administered to the person to induce controlled vomiting to eliminate toxins through the mouth.

• Virechana

Virechana involves the use of an herbal laxative to eliminate toxins, improve metabolism, and lose weight. It helps by cleansing the digestive system, improving metabolism, and eliminating excess fat.

• Basti

Basti is a rejuvenating treatment that assists in cleansing accumulated toxins. Medicated oil, ghee, or herbal decoction are used to clean the colon, strengthen the digestive system, and enhance immunity.

• Nasya

Nasya refers to the instillation of herbal oils, juices, or powders through the nose as part of an Ayurvedic therapy. This treatment is specifically used to treat ear, nose, and throat disorders.

• Raktamoshan

Raktamoshan is a process of blood purification. It is an effective method of neutralizing accumulated toxins by carefully removing small quantities of impure blood. The raktamokshan is used when the pitta and rakta have become so toxic that herbs and other treatments cannot cure them.

Conclusion

Each body type is unique. Person B might not benefit from the weight loss management plan that worked for person A. 

It is recommended that you consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner first to gain a deeper understanding of your body and its three doshas – Vata, Kapha, and Pitha. 

Knowing your doshas and imbalance will help you create a chart of what to eat and what to avoid based on your body’s requirements to lose weight.

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