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SYMPTOMS & AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
MALABSORPTIONWHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Written by John Immel,
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Written by John Immel,
Are you prone to a problem with 'Malabsorption'?
Malabsorption is the inability to absorb nutrients from food. The problem may be general, or specific to a certain nutrient. Some common types include fat, carbohydrate, protein, fructose, bile, iron, vitamin A, D, B12 or vitamin K malabsorption. Malabsorption may be caused by many different diseases affecting the digestive tract.
Inflammatory MalabsorptionIrritation and inflammation of the digestive tract can directly damage or impair villi function. Food allergies, parasites, fermentation, constipation, alcohol, coffee, or chilis can irritate the intestines. Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's can impair absorption as well. Parasites and bacteria may steal nutrients before they are absorbed.Short Bowel Transit TimeChronic diarrhea or quick bowel transit time may cause elimination of nutrients before they are absorbed. When stools are soft, there is a direct loss of electrolytes and water.Pancreatic Insufficiency / Lack of EnzymesThe villi cannot absorb food that is incompletely digested. Thus, malabsorption may occur when enzymes and gastric juices are deficient.Remedies
It is essential to figure out what type of malabsorption you have before treating it. Western medicine offers various tests to determine which nutrients may be lacking in your system. Ayurvedic nutrition uses the 6 tastes, the five elements, as well as observable signs and symptoms to determine nutritional deficiencies.
In Ayurveda, you can improve your digestion, absorption, and assimilation by eating a diet that balances the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and the gunas (hot, cold, etc). Here are some general guidelines:
STAGE OF DISEASE 1 - AFFECTING DIGESTIONIf you have symptoms in this category, your body is sending you a warning sign. Since digestion is so metabolically intensive and sensitive to stress and emotions, the earliest warning signs of imbalance usually appear in the digestive tract first. You may have gas and bloating, for example, or acid reflux. Ayurveda recommends paying careful, close attention to warning signs. They indicate that an imbalance is starting to accumulate. Correct these warning signs before they accumulate further and weaken your body's resistance. This is usually accomplished by removing diet and lifestyle habits that aggravate your imbalanced doshas and qualities.ARE YOU NEW TO AYURVEDA?Are you wondering what Ayurveda is and how to use it for 'Malabsorption' and health in general? LEARN MOREFAVOR HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL PROPERTIESIngredient and herbs each have unique effects on the various organs of your body. Herbalists study these effects and categorize them, so it is easy to identify which foods and herbs are most helpful for your unique body type. Click on the medicinal properties below to learn more about them, and to figure out which recipes, ingredients and products will be a good match for you. Individual results will vary depending upon the root cause of your imbalance. The following medicinal properties are useful for a general case of 'Malabsorption'. You must independently verify whether these medicinal properties address the root causes of your case of Malabsorption.Bone & Joint: Bone Tonic BONE-TONICAn herb that strengthens the bones and joints.Digestion: Digestive , DIGESTIVEHerbs that encourage healthy digestive.Sialogogue SIALOGOGUEA sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. AstringentsCleanse and Detox: Detoxicant DETOXICANTAn herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.Energy Vitality Strength: Nutritive , NUTRITIVEAn herb that is strengthening and nourishing.Tonic TONICA tonic herb strengthens tissue, often restoring healthy function. Tonics usually target a specific organ, tissue, or system ie: brain, muscle or respiratory tonic.Heart & Circulation: Blood Tonic , BLOOD-TONICAn herb that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens blood. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.Rebuilds Fluids , REBUILDS-FLUIDSHerbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.Styptic STYPTICA herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used to stop bleeding.Immune System: Anthelminthic , ANTHELMINTHICKills wormsAntimicrobial ANTIMICROBIALAn agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.Bowel-Poop-Elimination: Constipative CONSTIPATIVEAn herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation.Click here for general Digestion Tips
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The best way to do this is with a one on one consultation. DIET REMEDIES FOR 'MALABSORPTION'PRODUCTS REMEDIES FOR 'MALABSORPTION'1. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR MALABSORPTION2. SPECIALITY FORMULAS FOR MALABSORPTIONLOOKING FOR DIGESTION RELATED PRODUCTS?
See our herbs & products in these categories:
REMOVE THE CAUSES OF YOUR IMBALANCEMALABSORPTION USUALLY MEANS THESE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| GUNA | DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE? |
|---|---|
TOXIC
A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.
|
 Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Toxic' guna |
LIGHT
Lightness is identified by reduced weight.
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Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Light' guna |
DRY
Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.
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Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Dry' guna |
DIFFICULT
Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.
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Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you need to decrease Difficult to digest foods |
CLEAR
Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.
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Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Clear' guna |
BITTER
Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens.
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Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Bitter' taste |
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.
Are you prone to a problem with 'Malabsorption'?
Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Digestion by taking the
free digestion quiz.
RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS
The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Malabsorption'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?
What aggravates it? What heals it?
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HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?
Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?
Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / qualities. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalances (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.
LEARN MOREGET STARTED
To get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
WITH AYURVEDA - FREE REPORT!
New to Ayurveda? Not sure how Ayurveda can help you?
This free report shows you 5 simple ways you can heal your body with Ayurveda.
It shows you simple, practical ways manage your health.
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Comments & Personal Experiences
How does 'malabsorption' affect your quality of life? What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something you'd like to know about 'malabsorption'?22 likes
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