Tag Archive for: acid reflux

Balancing Your Dosha

During the Ayurveda portion of the Axis Yoga Teacher Training program, students follow  lifestyle recommendations for their particular dosha to help increase general health or address a specific issue. This student made changes to try to improve heartburn and acid reflux.

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Balancing Your Dosha: Experiment

For my Ayurvedic experiment I chose to modify some of my eating, hygiene, and sleep habits in order to accommodate my particular dosha or constitution. (Pitta with a tad of Vata and Kapha) I had already modified some of my eating habits and foods as I had issues with heartburn and acid reflux. I eliminated intake of all caffeine drinks, both coffee and tea products, as well as soda. I replaced these drinks with more water intake and also drinking hot water with lemon, enhancing body alkalinity.

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Balancing Your Dosha: Diet

I tailored my diet to specific foods with respect to the Pitta dosha, eating more cool, sweet, and juicy foods and less acidic, sour, spicy, salty, and oily foods. The list below are the food items that I focused on before and during the experiment.

Protein

Eggs, chicken, tilapia, salmon,

Shrimp, and some beef

Grains

Eliminated wheat or at least reduced intake by 70 %.

Added more rice.

Vegetables

Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, lettuce, mushroom, squash, zucchini, salads

Fruits

Apples (copious amounts) banana, dates, coconut, grapes, and melons

Nuts & Seeds

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds

Dairy

Unsalted butter,milk, soft cheeses

I am going to add buttermilk, sweet lassi, and ghee.

Herbs & Spices

Turmeric, small amount of pepper

I am going to add cumin, dill, fennel, lemongrass, and mint.

Beverages

Water, lemon water, hot lemon water, fruit juices (Odwalla)

Results

I have had less heartburn and acid reflux. A more conscious approach to food selection prompted more consistency in my eating habits as well, which appears to maintain my energy level(s) during the course of a day. In addition, I have actually lost weight by being more conscious of the foods I consume. I will continue with my dietary changes, and will expand foods as listed above.

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Balancing Your Dosha: Hygiene

I focused my attention to doing a daily mouth rinse with sesame oil, and using a scraper on the surface of my tongue.

Results

The daily mouth rinse with sesame oil gave my mouth and gums a “full” feeling, which was quite a different feeling than just using water or a mouth rinse. Nothing else to report after two weeks time.

Scraping the tongue twice daily appeared to minimize unpleasant taste or mouth odor. The color of my tongue seems to be a bit pinker as a result of the daily regimen. The color of the mucous that I scrape from my tongue appears to have lessened over the course of two weeks. The color and consistency of the mucous has remained about the same, which is a dull pasty white, however it appears more pronounced at the beginning of the day.

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Balancing Your Dosha: Sleep

Typically, I would go to bed each night between 1:00am and 2:00am. I purposely began going to bed no later than 10:30 each night. The results follow.

Results

As a result of going to bed earlier each day during this last two weeks, I have found that I am more rested in the morning. My dreams have become even more interesting, sometimes long and convoluted with respect to the subject matter. Although I found it difficult to make this change, I adapted fairly quickly.  I will probably continue with this earlier sleep time as my energy level appears more consistent, particularly during the morning hours.

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Balancing Your Dosha: Conclusion

I would have to conclude that my Ayurvedic experiment has convinced me that the changes I’ve made have been beneficial with respect to my overall health. I plan on continuing the study of Ayurveda in order to maintain and expand upon what I have learned and implemented.

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