For the last month, I've been working with an Ayurvedic practitioner. Since it's an area I only studied briefly in grad school, I'm really appreciating learning about this holistic health care system more deeply. As I learn, not only do I get healthier, I also get to share it with you.
According to Ayurveda, all disease starts in the gut, our good ol' digestive system. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to support a healthy digestion. Let's start with some herbs and spices...
Fennel - Also known as nature's antacid. You can chew on the seeds either raw or dry roasted.
Mint - Notice how some restaurants give you mint candy at the end of the meal with your bill? It's usually those red & white striped mints or the chocolate mints. Instead, order mint tea or find a natural mint candy at your local health food store.
Ginger - Best used for nausea. It is a warming herb, so use sparingly in the summer.
FCC - I learned about this one today. It's a combo of powdered spices including fennel, cumin, and coriander. You can put them in a portable spice jar, and use it as a digestive aid when eating out. If the food you're eating doesn't mesh well with those spices, no problem, pour some into warm water to drink with your meal.
Got any other tips on digestive spices? Add them here...
Another miracle herb I've read about and am using is the Aloe Vera gel. Aloe Vera is known as a natural laxative and it helps rid our digestive system from the food residue that build up in our intestines over time. Real Aloe Vera can help, but it's hard to get a bunch of leaves to grind to juice. It can get a little messy. Just look for Aloe Vera drinks in the market. There's one that masks the taste of Aloe Vera with peach juice. My children drink it up without any complaint perhaps because of the real peach bits in it.
Posted by: Tomasina Petroshi | September 04, 2009 at 11:23 PM