AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE ON STOMACH FAT

The belly is 4x more likely to store fat from rich, Kapha-aggravating foods. The reason is because fat from excessively rich foods congests the lymphatic system in this area. Then, the fat gets stored in the stomach, instead of going into the blood. Short-chain fatty acids such as ghee and medium-chain fatty acids such as coconut oil are absorbed by blood vessels and then distributed evenly by the blood. These do not congest the gut-associated lymphatic tissue of the gut (GALT). Long-chain fatty acids such as canola and other vegetable oils are absorbed directly from the intestine into the GALT, causing congestion and stomach fat.

Stress may also cause excess stomach fat. Stress shuts down circulation to your gut. Under periods of high stress, your lymphatic system absorbs even more of the fats from food, causing you to gain more weight in the belly. Again, this was probably adaptive for early humans; storing fat in this area was a mechanism of self-preservation in uncertain times. This kind of apple-shaped fat concentrated at the mid and upper-sections of the body is generally Vata-Kapha in nature.

If your digestion is slow, your belly may appear large and bloated, and your belly button stretched. You might be tempted to think you've gained weight but really you are stuffed with food or gas. Wheat and rich dairy products like cheese are common culprits of slow digestion. A mild laxative like triphala can help your belly deflate to a normal size.

Bitter taste is a good remedy for metabolizing excess abdominal fat. Grapefruit, greens like arugula, kale, and dandelion along with tart vegetables like rhubarb are all good ways to start incorporating more bitter taste into your diet. Adding fiber can also help move fat out of the body. Experiment with blood thinning herbs like turmeric and tarragon which reinvigorate circulation and gently decongest the blood of excess fats. Movement and mild exercise can also help break-up excess abdominal fat. Twisting yoga poses, deep belly breathing, and gentle self-massage of the abdominal area gets blood flowing and helps shed an unhealthy tummy.