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 an era where 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. 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 disease
• Biliary Disorder
• Fatty Liver
  

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

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 With Ayurveda 

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 the modern lifestyle. 

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.

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 healthily losing weight. 

Ayurvedic Herbs to Cut Down Belly Fat

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 For Healthy Weight Management

1. 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. Getting ample sleep helps in avoiding unnecessary calorie intake and improves your metabolism and overall well-being.

2. Take 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.

3. 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 fibre, protein, carbs, and vitamins and to control calorie count. 

4. 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 a 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.

Panchakarma Procedure for Healthy Weight Loss 

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