Healthy gut can occur when there is a balance between good and bad bacteria and yeast in the digestive system.
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A healthy digestive system is crucial for proper digestion, maintaining energy, regulating mood, and supporting immune health.
The digestive system is often called as the second brain of the body due to the extensive network of nerves and its impact on mental and physical health.
Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda shared 6 daily habits that can enhance gut health in the longer run when practiced every day.
Gut health is considered the cornerstone of overall wellness in Ayurveda. Ancient Ayurvedic practices emphasized that a robust digestive system or Agni (digestive fire) plays crucial role for effective nutrient absorption, energy production, and diseases prevention. Simple daily habits can potentially enhance digestion and gut health. The gut microbiome can be a strong foundation of sound health.
Healthy gut can occur when there is a balance between good and bad bacteria and yeast in the digestive system. Approximately 80% of your immune system resides in the gut only along with a majority of serotonin (happiness hormone). It implies when the gut is unhealthy, the immunity and hormones won’t function properly and you may become unwell frequently.
A healthy digestive system is crucial for proper digestion, maintaining energy, regulating mood, and supporting immune health. The digestive system is often called as the second brain of the body due to the extensive network of nerves and its impact on mental and physical health.
Recently, Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda took to her Instagram account and shared 6 daily habits that can enhance gut health in the longer run when practiced every day. 1
Sharing the post on gut health on Instagram, Dimple Jangda said, “6 quick hacks to improve your gut health. And, these are things that I practice every single day, non-negotiable.”
1. Have The Largest Meal of The Day Between 12-2 PM: The Ayurveda expert emphasised on having the largest meal of the day between 12 to 2 pm. “Now the Ayurvedic energy clock, which syncs the circadian rhythm of the body with the position of the sun, says that when the sun is at the peak, your digestive fire and metabolic fire is also at the peak. Have the largest meal of the day when the sun is at the peak. 10 to 2 pm is a great time, it is called the Pitta clock or even 12 to 2 pm is a great time for you to have a big lunch. Have equal parts of carbs, protein, and vegetables."
2. Vajrasana: Jangda urged to “get into the habit of vajrasana pose. It is a yoga pose. When you sit on your heels, your body immediately becomes erect, it is straight, and your gut and your digestive system is vertically well aligned. So, when you are sitting upright, the food moves smoothly faster down from your stomach to the small, large intestine and colon, thus preventing bloating and gas.”
3. Sip Warm Water: The expert suggested to sip warm water throughout the day. Now, I am a big fan of warm water whether I am at a restaurant or a café. I do not hesitate to ask for a glass of warm water. It kindles the Agni, the digestive fire, the warm energy that digests your food.”
It takes care of your metabolism and keeps you healthy. You want to feed it, you do not want to take away from it. So no cold water, ice creams, sodas, carbonated drinks, if you have a weak gut. Definitely, do not drink cold milk as well at night as this weakens your digestive fire, added Jangda.
4. Chew Your Food: She advised to “chew your food 32 times. God gave you 32 teeth for a reason. Please chew your food, it creates that much saliva, that much enzymes. In fact, carbs start breaking down in your mouth and then when it enters your gut, your stomach, it literally comes in a liquid state, which is very easy for the body to break down."
It mixes with the bile, the stomach acid, goes to the small intestine, and quickly gets absorbed. There is no unprocessed food, undigested food stuck in your gut, which starts leading to Ama, which are toxins and poisons, said Jangda.
5. Have 4-5 Hours of Gap between 2 Meals: The Ayurveda called it as one of the most important practices to support gut health. She recommended to maintain 4 to 5 hours of gap between 2 meals.
“The problem with us is we are eating every 2 to 3 hours. The food has not got digested fully and now it is getting mixed with the fresh food that you are eating, your body gets confused as fresh food and undigested food at different stages of digestion getting mixed and they start rotting, putrefying, releasing gases, leading to more bloating, gas, flatulence, indigestion, sometimes even acidity and reflux,” said Dimple Jangda.
She said, keeping 4 to 5 hours of gap means that your body focuses on one meal, end to end. Once that meal has entered the small, large intestine, your stomach is empty. Let it sit empty for another hour, drink some water, digestive tea, and when you are ready for the next meal, make sure to sit down and focus on it.
6. Eat Fruit Alone: Dimple called it as one of her favourite rituals. She asked to “eat fruit alone or leave it alone. Do not mix fruits with your vegetable salad. Do not mix fruit with your oatmeal, with your grains, lentils, legumes, and pulses. Remember, fruits are a prebiotic. It is best to be consumed alone by itself. You can have with a handful of nuts to prevent the sugar spike if you are pre-diabetic, but eat fruit alone or leave it alone.”
FAQs
What are the key daily habits recommended by Ayurveda to improve gut health?
Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda recommends six daily habits for gut health: consuming the largest meal between 12-2 PM to align with digestive fire, practicing vajrasana yoga pose to aid digestion, sipping warm water throughout the day, chewing food thoroughly (32 times), maintaining a 4-5 hour gap between meals, and eating fruit alone without mixing it with other foods.
How does eating the largest meal between 12 to 2 PM benefit digestion?
Eating the largest meal between 12 to 2 PM aligns with the Ayurvedic Pitta clock when the digestive fire (Agni) and metabolic activity are at their peak. This timing enhances nutrient absorption and efficient digestion, as the body is naturally primed to process food best during this window.
Why is it important to maintain a 4 to 5 hour gap between meals according to Ayurveda?
Maintaining a 4 to 5 hour gap allows the previous meal to be fully digested before consuming the next. Eating too frequently mixes undigested food with fresh intake, causing putrefaction and gas, leading to bloating, acidity, and indigestion. This practice supports clear digestion cycles and gut health.
How does chewing food 32 times help in improving gut health?
Thorough chewing increases saliva production, which contains enzymes that begin breaking down carbohydrates in the mouth. This pre-digestion means food enters the stomach in a more liquid state, easing digestion, absorption, and preventing undigested food buildup that could produce toxins in the gut.
Can drinking warm water throughout the day improve digestion and metabolism?
Yes, sipping warm water helps kindle the digestive fire (Agni), improving metabolism and digestion. Warm water supports the smooth breakdown of food and helps maintain gut health by avoiding the weakening effects that cold drinks, ice creams, and sodas may have on digestion, especially for those with sensitive guts.
Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda via Instagram|6 Daily habits for healthy gut
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.
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