5.17.2009

Eat, Drink, and be Merry!



One of the major processes of the human body is digestion. Why is this important? According to the National Institute of Health (NIH):

"When you eat foods—such as bread, meat, and vegetables—they are not in a form that the body can use as nourishment. Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before they can be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into their smallest parts so the body can use them to build and nourish cells and to provide energy."

This NIH web page contains a wealth of knowledge about the digestive system and how it works, click here to read more. Take a look at the picture as well and for a moment try to visualize how what we eat and drink travels through us.

How does digestion relate to our practice of yoga? Well there are many considerations. Click here to read about a variety of topics like the nutrient cycle, balance of the diet, heartburn and IBS and which yoga asanas (poses) may help with each issue. Yoga Journal also shares an article (click here) of which foods are appropriate to eat together for ideal digestion.

As always, we can remember that digestion takes energy, so it is best not to have a large meal before our practice. If we are hungry, a small piece of easy to digest fruit would probably be the best option. In addition, sufficient water and reducing excessive salt will help our digestion work optimally. The best indicator is thirst. Bring a canteen of water everywhere with you, find a water fountain or head to the water cooler and your body will thank you!

Namaste,
Kat

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