“Eat Less”
“Two simple words, and yet to follow them is among the most difficult tasks many people face. Self-control is a great challenge but if a person can be successful here, studies show that life can and will be extended. On the average, people consume 30% more food than they need. That adds up to a lot of extra pounds. Ayurvedic and yogic food guidelines have promoted for thousands of years the idea that a person should only eat till they are 75% full. The ancient yogic texts state that after a meal the stomach should be 50% full of food and 25% full of water. The remaining 25% should remain empty.
Ayurveda has taught the same basic principle and has explained that when too much food is consumed, even a healthy food becomes harmful. Any food taken in excess increases the heavy quality. This suppresses digestion, beginning a cascade of events that lead to disease.
Most people have challenges with digestion. Whether it is gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hyperacidity or ulcers, digestive problems affect almost everyone. This is particularly significant as proper digestion is considered to be one of the three pillars that sustain life, the other two being proper rest and the proper management of sexual energy. When digestion is compromised the rest of the body will soon begin to suffer.
Healing the digestive system and managing our relationship with food are closely related. In order to heal our digestive systems, we must consider three areas: The first is how we eat. The second is what we eat. The third is how we combine our foods together. If we consume food properly, eat the proper foods and combine them together properly, I can confidently say that there is a 99% chance that your digestive challenges will heal themselves.”
Excerpt from “Healing Your Life, Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda,” by Dr. Marc Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda. Available at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GP7m28 and Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1PsYDUA