The span of life, health, energy, metabolism, complexion, strength, enthusiasm, luster and the vital breath are all dependent on agni.
Dr. Vasant Lad
Agni is a vedic term that means burning or transforming and is the biological fire that governs digestion, metabolism and immunity. Maintaining the balance of agni allows food to be digested efficiently and vital nutrients to be transported to the bodily tissues. Agni, the digestive fire, imparts energy to the enzymes and gastric acid in the stomach and small intestine. Even the healthiest, organic foods will be of little benefit if our agni is weak and our digestion disturbed. Undigested or partially digested food ferments, creating toxins and leading to gas, cramping and indigestion. According to ayurveda, accumulation of toxins is said to be the root cause of all disease. Balanced agni destroys foreign bacteria and toxins in the gut and is key to strong immunity. Attending to our agni may the most important thing we can do for our health.
Signs of strong agni:
- Mind and senses feel clear and steady
- Vitality
- Having energy to change your life or act in the world in positive ways.
- Body can digest and assimilate food to the fullest and eliminate waste products fully.
Signs of weak agni:
- Weak appetite and coating on tongue
- Physical and emotional dullness
- Hopelessness, heaviness, stagnation
- Low vitality
Ways to improve agni:
- Drink hot ginger tea ½ hr before all meals. Pitta reduce ginger in the summer months.
- Add agni stimulating herbs and spices to foods including cumin, cilantro, fennel, lemon grass, mint, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon and coriander.
- Reduce raw foods especially in cold months
- Enjoy eating in a relaxed and calm environment.
- Eat portions that are satisfying but not overeating.
- Eat largest meal at midday when agni is strongest.
- Avoid drinking cold or iced drinks especially with food
- Recognizing a few food combining principles helps avoid stagnation, fermentation, and ama as foods have different processing times in the stomach.
- Eat fruit separate from other food (1/2 hr before or 2 hrs after.)
- Eat dessert 1 to 2 hrs after meal
- Chew foods well (20-40 times)
- Eat at regular times
- Cook with Ghee (clarified butter)
