Weight Loss: 7 Ayurvedic Tips to Lose Weight the Healthy Way

Weight loss is a concern for many people around the world. And with many wanting to lose weight fast, it is not surprising to know why a number of bizarre diet-plans and extreme exercise regimes are making headlines every year. But, if you are seriously concerned about losing weight the right way, then look out for one that is time-tested, feels healthy and would not promise you unrealistic results.

Here, Ayurveda, an over 4,000 year old holistic health and wellness system, originated in India, can prove very beneficial. Today, millions of people all over the world are practicing Ayurvedic regimes, tips and medicines to promote optimal health, longevity and a harmonious balance between body, mind and soul. By the way, these health goals are not short-term. Instead, they guide you to a healthy lifestyle through your own commitment and discipline.

So, if you are ready to opt for an Ayurvedic approach to lose weight, then try assimilating the below given 7 doable tips in your day-to-day life and see how you lose those extra pounds naturally and keep it off for good.

1. Early to bed, Early to Rise

You might all be familiar with the old saying, 'Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise'. Though I cannot guarantee the 'wealthy' part, the remaining words my friends, are indeed true.

Time and again, many contemporary researchers through their studies have pointed that lack of nighttime sleep and/or poor sleep is one of the key factors for weight gain. Researches say that sufficient sleep, especially during night, not only strengthens your immune system and keeps you energized for the next day but also makes you proactive, healthier and happier. 

The age-old Ayurvedic tip of an 8 hour restful sleep during night, stands true here. According to Ayurveda, the ideal time for sleep is between 10 pm to 6 am. This nighttime sleeping routine, not only aligns with the sun's rhythmic setting and rising cycle but also ensures that you get adequate restful sleep (includes REM sleep, non-REM sleep and deep sleep) during night. 

In short, make it a habit to finish off all your household chores and social media/TV viewing time by 9.45 pm, so that you can hit the sheets by 10 or a the most 10.30 at night.

2. Drink Homemade Lemon Water First Thing in the Morning

Drinking a big glass of warm homemade lemon water (without added salt or sugar) on an empty stomach is highly recommended in Ayurveda. This technique might seem quite simple or silly for some, but is highly popular with health-conscious people. 

A detoxifying and hydrating drink, lemon water with its high Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin and mineral content, gives immense benefits to its users. Drinking lemon water in the morning, also helps in clearing toxic materials from your digestive tract, boosting your immune system and thereby giving your day a healthy and fresh start. Moreover, lemon water is low in calories and is known to create a sense of fullness (also due to the water content in it) when consumed. 

Of course, drinking a glass of warm lemon water concoction daily is not enough in your mission for a healthy weight loss. Combine it with healthy eating habits and regular exercise and see how this simple drink helps you reach your goal faster.

Also Read: 7 Impressive Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

3. Morning is the Best Time to Exercise

Had your large glass of lemon water? Then use the early hours of the morning to do some exercise. This would be a perfect activity to include for your healthy weight loss plan. Isn't it?

A number of studies show that early morning exercise is quite beneficial in awakening you fully and counteracting sluggishness. Furthermore, working out your body in the morning also improves circulation and leaves you feel lighter, energized and in a better mood for the whole day. Here, Ayurveda recommends the early hours of the morning, particularly between 6 am to 10 am as the ideal time to exercise.

Aim for at least 30-45 minutes of vigorous workout every morning. You can try walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, doing yoga asanas, aerobics, playing any sport, doing cardio workouts in the gym or even dancing. You can alternate between these varied forms of exercise or stick to a particular one. 

Remember, that no matter what exercise form you choose or whatever be your current fitness level, the key point here is to pick up an activity that you would enjoy, will move your body and allow it to breathe. And most importantly, make sure to do it regularly.

Also Read: 7 Basic Yoga Asanas that Beginners can Start Performing Even Today

4. Eat Three Meals Daily, But Know When to Eat

Say No to all the quick-fix diet plans and fad diets to lose weight fast. Instead, make a conscious effort towards healthy weight loss by eating right and timing your meals correctly. 

Ayurveda lays great emphasizes on good digestion and maintaining it efficiently throughout the day. Hence, instead of telling you to munch on food every 2-3 hours and increase your chances of overeating and indigestion, Ayurveda stresses on eating three nourishing meals a day and at appropriate time intervals for a healthy digestion.

Since Ayurveda highlights more on health and effective digestion, establishing a mealtime schedule and following it religiously is paramount. Plan your day in such a way, that you have a moderate breakfast before 9.30 am and the largest meal of the day during lunch (ideally before 2 pm). Afternoon is said to be a time when one's digestive strength is said to be the strongest. Hence always go for a wholesome and balanced lunch. 

Dinner on the other hand is recommended to be light and should consist of easily digestible food. Ideally, finish off your nighttime meal before 7.30 pm and avoid consuming any food thereafter. This will not only help your body digest the food long before bedtime, but will also help in the process of detoxification, along with giving you sound sleep. 

5. Include all 6 Tastes 'Rasas' in Your Diet

When it comes to consuming food, Ayurveda recommends that you include all 6 tastes (also called 'rasas') in your diet. The 6 tastes being - pungent, bitter, sweet, sour, salty and astringent. These 6 distinct tastes with its unique properties help in providing balanced nutrition to the body and also aid in its proper functioning. 

A few examples of foods catering to these 6 well-defined tastes are:

Pungent - Pungent foods have hot and rough qualities and primarily help in stimulating digestion. Foods belonging to this category are chillies, pepper, cloves, cumin, cinnamon, onion, radish, garlic, ginger, mustard seeds and other spices.

Bitter - Cooling, light and rough foods under this taste category help in detoxifying the body. A few examples of food under bitter taste are bitter gourd, dark green leafy vegetables, green vegetables, turmeric, grapefruit, olives and coffee.

Sweet - Foods like whole grains, sweet fruits, root vegetables, legumes, nuts, sugarcane, meat and dairy products (like ghee, cream, butter, milk) come under sweet foods. These food items help in producing energy and building muscles in the body. 

Sour - A taste type that keeps the body warm and helps cleanse it, is sour tasting foods. A few examples under this category are yoghurt, sour cream, amla (Indian gooseberry), tamarind, plum, vinegar, citrus fruits, fermented food, wine, soy sauce.

Salty - Food items under salty taste are known to promote growth, aid digestion and help in the absorption of nutrients. Sea salt, rock salt and sea food are some examples of food under this taste category.

Astringent - Astringent foods are known to cleanse the blood, lessen heat, pacify inflammation and also create dryness in the mouth. Some of these foods include beans, peas, sprouts, lettuce, honey, walnuts, apple, pomegranate, grapes and green tea. 

Try incorporating small portions of these tastes in your daily diet. However, too much of sweet, salty and sour tasting foods are known to cause weight gain. Hence, do not overindulge in these 3 tastes.

6. Avoid Snacking As Much As Possible

Now that you are planning to cut that extra pound/s of weight from your body, concentrate wholly on avoiding fried and sweet snacks and soda-filled beverages. These unhealthy food items and drinks will only add to your calorie intake and halter your mission of weight loss. Also, whenever you feel like snacking in between meals, ask yourself why do you want to eat? Is it because you are really hungry or plain bored? Or are you tempted to munch on something that looks really edible? Long story short, as much as possible, try to thwart this craving by sipping some water, going for a walk or distracting yourself.

However, if you really feel like having a mid-afternoon snack on some days, then it is best to opt for a healthy one. Eat or drink something light. For example, try having a glass of lemon water with a teaspoon of honey (preferably raw honey), a glass of fresh fruit juice, herbal tea or a cup of ginger tea. One fresh seasonal fruit, carrot sticks, a few nuts or dried fruits like dates, apricots, raisins, etc. are other options you can consider.

7. Sip Warm Water All Through  the Day

A hydrating liquid, 'water' in Ayurveda is often said to be an elixir of life. Hence, it is not surprising to know why Ayurveda gives considerable importance to drinking sufficient water throughout the day. 

From the Ayurvedic point of view, drinking warm water brings in many health benefits. Besides keeping you hydrated and quenching your thirst, warm water improves the rate of metabolism, helps in proper digestion, counteracts fatigue, relieves bloating and dissolves sticky toxins (referred to as 'ama' in Ayurveda) accumulated within the body. Furthermore, Ayurveda recommends that you drink warm water in sips (and not gulp it in one shot) at regular intervals. Likewise, drinking cold water is NOT advisable in Ayurveda, as it is believed to slow down the digestive process and create imbalance in the body.

Regarding the amount of water to drink everyday, Ayurveda mentions that it differs from person to person. Hence to be on the safe side, boil around 10 glass of water everyday in the morning and pour it in a thermos. This way, you will be able to easily drink hot and warm water at any time of the day.

The above given 7 steps can have considerable impact on your health, provided you are mindful of what you eat, how much you eat and are consistent with it. Combined with daily exercise routine and good sleeping pattern, you are sure to enrich with a healthy life and a slimmer you.