The basics of weight gain is a simple mathematical equation. If you are taking in more energy, through food, than you are expending, you will gain weight. However, this equation oversimplifies weight gain; it becomes far more complex once you take the individual into account. Many factors including BMI, metabolic rate, and hormone production can all alter a person's ability to gain or lose weight to a certain degree. The same is true in relation to the quality and source of nutrients you are taking in, and the type and amount of exercise your body gets. Every body has its own specific set of circumstances.
By tuning into your appetite, cravings and hunger, you can learn to decipher if the food you are eating is truly needed to nourish the body, or a quick way to provide relief in a stressful situation. To start, schedule regular mealtimes into your day such as a simple breakfast at 7am, a substantial lunch at 1pm and a light dinner between 6-7pm. This will help your body return back to its natural hunger cycles, and will also benefit digestion. To prevent false hunger, it is important for your body to feel truly nourished. Ditch the "empty" foods like sodas, bread, baked goods and processed meals that initially satisfy your hunger but don't hold any nutritional value. Reduce simple carbohydrates and grains, and instead fill up on fiber (at least half the plate should be vegetables) and good quality lean protein such as turkey, chicken, beans and legumes. By following a nutritionally dense diet, your body will get everything it needs to feel satisfied, meaning you will be less likely to binge or act on impulse when false hunger creeps in.
This type of relationship with food can result from a past trauma that was left unresolved, leading to binging or overeating. Social factors such as loneliness, relationship issues or a dysfunctional family can all push someone to seek comfort from food too. The source of this behavior should be examined, perhaps with the aid of therapy or commitment to spiritual practices, so you can move forward out of the binging cycle. Learning to eat mindfully and how to manage portion control will help build a positive relationship with food. If you find you are generally drawn to carbs, start reducing them from your diet and adding in a variety of nutritious foods, particularly healthy fats like ghee and coconut oil. Small quantities of these fats ground the nervous system and can also aid weight loss as they are easily digested, absorbed and converted into energy instead of stored in the body.
Fat should be equally distributed around your body. When fat is dispersed across the arms, back, breasts, stomach, buttocks, and thighs, it is healthier than disproportionate weight or fat. When one of your body parts gains more weight than another, it...
Hypothyroid refers to an underactive thyroid gland that doesn't produce sufficient thyroid hormones. Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, mood changes, and slow metabolism. Diagnosis typically involves blood...
The kinds of food you crave can give you clues as to what's going on internally When you eat, are you truly hungry for food?...
Low metabolism is a Kapha condition often appearing with hypothyroid, anemia, and poor circulation. Exercise, spicy foods, and avoiding foods with gooey, oily, and sweet qualities often helps in this type.
In Ayurveda, excess weight is considered a symptom of something deeper. You might feel physically heavy, puffy, or sluggish; perhaps there is a feeling of discomfort in overly tight clothing or a shame about the number on the scale that makes you...
Fatty Liver is a condition characterized by a buildup of fat (triglycerides) in the
Water retention, also known as fluid retention or edema, happens when excess fluid builds up in the body's tissues, often in the hands, feet, ankles, legs, or even the face. You might notice swelling or puffiness in these areas, a feeling of...
Diabetes Type I, is a generally a Pitta disorder where the immune system attacks and destroys insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Diabetes type II, from insulin resistance, is generally a Kapha disorder. Diabetics tend to develop thick, doughy...
Your body craves particular foods when in need, whether to fulfill nutritional needs, or to relieve physical or emotional discomfort. Interpreting your cravings and the meaning they communicate about your physical or emotional state, instead of acting...
What is High Blood Pressure? The concept of blood pressure is simple - it refers to the force of blood pressing against the walls of your arteries. Healthy blood pressure is around 120/80mm Hg. When your blood pressure reaches or...
Cellulite is largely determined by genetics, but may be a sign of kapha poor circulation. Improving circulation and reducing overall body fat can improve the appearance of cellulite. Aromatic spices such as turmeric can help disperse and move the...
Anorexia means a poor or irregular appetite. Anorexia nervosa refers to a psychological disorder where the appetite is suppressed. Anorexia has been associated with stress undereating, perhaps due to low agni and poor digestion. The root of anorexia...
A fast heartbeat could indicate stress, anxiety, dehydration, and heat. It is normally associated with Vata dosha and toxicity in the blood. If Kapha thick blood congests circulation too much, it could create panic attacks / anxiety related tachycardia.
Trying to lose or control your weight is exhausting and often empty process. Let your body decide what weight to be and focus instead on establishing balance in your body and your life. When you desire or try to be a weight that is unhealthy for your...
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune response in the thyroid. An autoimmune disorder is when your body recognizes "you" as a foreign body or pathogen. Your immune system's job is to rid the body of harmful pathogens so you stay healthy- in the...
The first step in alleviating body shame is to develop a gentler and more loving relationship with your body. Your body is an important part of your identity in life and should be treated with the care and respect that you would show a spouse or best...
Cholesterol functions to repair irritated and inflamed tissues. High cholesterol is often a kapha response to high inflammation. It also strengthens the cell wall....
Fat appears wherever circulation is stagnant. The circulatory system is responsible for carrying dietary fats out of the body and it is often stored in those areas where circulation is slow-moving or sluggish. When excess fat appears on the thighs,...
Both physical and emotional imbalances can masquerade as feelings of strong hunger, so there is no easy answer in Ayurveda. The most common causes for an excess appetite include a thick kapha blood, fiery pitta-type metabolism, malabsorption, and...
A low body weight may cause an unsettling sense of lightness, ungroundedness, or weakness. It is important to determine the cause of weight loss. Unexplained weight loss can be serious - please see a doctor if you have chronic weight loss issues....
You've probably heard the infamous phrase "your eyes are bigger than your stomach" and for those who struggle with large portions, this often rings true. There are diverse reasons for indulging in large portions, such as emotional eating, an attempt...
Stretch marks are a result of stress on the skin. When you gain weight too quickly as is often the case in pregnancy, puberty, water retention, traumatic life experiences, or when the skin is stretched too quickly for any reason, it can stress the skin...
Body dysmorphia is when you believe you are less attractive looking than you actually are. A classic example is an anorexic who believes they are overweight. More subtle examples include preoccupation with some trivial defect, such as acne.
Kapha's stable, generous, and nurturing nature is clearly reflected in their facial expressions—especially in their soft, affectionate, and peaceful eyes. Kapha eyes also tend to be moist, and the sclera a bright white. The phrase "doe-eyed"...
When an infant cries, one of your first impulses might be to soothe it with food or a warm bottle. Food is calming. Eating causes your blood sugar to rise, bringing you back to a state of balmy ease. Eating helps brings you down to earth, abating the...
Food Restrictions Lead to Overeating Deprivation often leads to a lack of control around food. If you feel like you cannot stop eating once you start, observe your daily habits. Are you eating regularly throughout the day? Often...
Your diet is the 'religion' of your body. It's what your body believes will help it survive. In many ways, because of deep subconscious patterns, it's easier to change your religion than to change your diet. Medical studies show that 90% of people...
Burning feet syndrome is characterized by severe burning and aching feet. There may also be pain, elevated skin temperature, and excessive sweating.Burning feet syndrome may be a symptom of another disease, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes,...
You are your own gift in the world, which is hard to see when consumed by self-loathing. Feelings of self-disgust and loathing can blind you from your own unique gifts and keep you from declaring your authentic identity. It is easy to blame the size or...
If you lead a hectic lifestyle and find yourself always running from place to place, it can be hard to switch gears and slow yourself down. The first step might be in planning, long before the meal. Have you carved out enough time in your schedule to...
In this condition, fats are deposited in the lower body only. Fat is deposited on your hips, buttocks and thighs while you may even experience a loss of fat in the arms / breasts. This condition points to blocked circulatory issue in the lower abdomen,...
Part of what makes loneliness unbearable is the aspect of mystery in it. When you are alone, you may not know how and where you can find human connection, and feel your self-esteem quickly wither before the enigma. When you feel like you are unloved or...
Sweets have a calming, sedating effect on the body and mind; they can serve to bring you comfort and ease when you're feeling stressed or ungrounded. Yet, if you are becoming distressed when sweet foods are unavailable, this is an indication of...
Ayurveda traditionally recommended an ojas building diet and regular meal times and sleeping routine to pacify high Vata. Coconut oil specifically nourishes the thyroid and metabolism.
Bingeing is a common and serious symptom of bulimia and binge eating disorder. A binge involves a short period during which the binger consumes abnormally large amounts of food and feels a complete loss of control. This can be followed by a period of...
Gaining weight in the past was extremely adaptive when there were frequent shortages of food or famine. Famine is still a reality in developing countries. Those able to easily store and retain fat were the most likely to survive. In affluent societies,...
It's not about food Often with bulimia, we get caught in thinking that food is the problem; we think that if cookies, chips, and other junky "binge" foods didn't exist, we wouldn't have a problem. But, food is merely a silk-screen...
Yo-yo dieting and excess weight A crash diet is a famine to the body. When the food supply is too low, our bodies become scared and adapts to help us survive. At first, there is a feeling of lightness and potentially even weight...
High triglycerides indicate high fat content of the blood. Often, the best way to deal with fatty foods cravings is to find a satisfying substitute. Sweet potatoes, beans and sunflower seeds provide heaviness but won't aggravate triglyceride levels as...
Feasting and overeating are not new phenomena. For thousands of years, celebratory feasts have been commonplace in cultures around the world as a way of bonding, enjoying the fruits of the harvest, and as symbols of generosity & wealth. Your body is...
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, 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.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
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