Ayurvedic weight balancing is all about removing obstacles that may be keeping the body from finding its ideal weight. One of these major obstacles is stress. When the body is stressed, it holds on to weight as a protective mechanism against what it perceives as a life-or-death, survival situation.
The bad news is that, when the body stores fat, it also holds onto the lipid-loving fat soluble toxins that store in the fat cells. From this perspective, weight balancing becomes an even more serious issue.
According to Ayurveda, providing the body with a sense of safety and the right set of conditions will lead to a gradual, controlled weight balancing that happens naturally and, as a result, can be sustained, in contrast to yo-yo and fad diets that may bring us to our goal weight quickly but leave us back at our starting weight before we know it.
Ayurvedic methods for bringing about natural weight balancing include living in harmony with nature’s cycles, one of the premier ways of reducing stress. When we begin to abide by nature’s cycles, which includes eating seasonally and coordinating sleep and other activities with the appropriate times of the day, we begin to live our lives going “downstream” rather than constantly paddling against the tide.
When this happens, the body has the chance to glimpse that the stress war is over. It can take a while, however, for the body to become convinced of this. But once it does, it no longer feels the need to hold onto extra weight, and natural weight balancing is the result.
Another key approach is eating and living appropriately with respect to your constitution, or dosha. There are three main doshas, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and most of us are a combination of two or all of them. Once we get a sense of how our constitution comes into play around the excess weight we may be carrying around, we can begin to tailor our sustenance and activities to be more appropriate for our dosha.
When the body’s natural strengths and weaknesses are balanced through our diet and lifestyle, we feel more energy, motivation, and our bodies naturally begin to discover their natural shape and size. In addition, there are some very helpful action-steps you can take to balance some of the most common issues that lead to gaining excess weight. These action-steps can be found in our free eBook, Ayurvedic Weight Balancing.
When approaching weight balancing from an Ayurvedic perspective, remember that time and patience lead to lasting results, fewer cravings, and the inclination to stick with healthier habits.
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Guggul: Guggul (Comminphora mukul) is a tree resin that has been traditionally used in Ayurveda to support the utilization of fat as the body’s fuel source, helping to stabilize weight, energy levels, mood and mental clarity, among many others functions in the body. Today, Guggul is used to support healthy cholesterol and detoxification. It is also used for joint, heart, and thyroid health, as well as healthy weight management.
Triphala: A safe and non-habit-forming formula that addresses the toning of the bowel – leading to more effective elimination – and supports healthy cholesterol, liver function and blood sugar. The three fruits contained in this formula, Amalaki, Haritaki and Bibhitaki, are known to support the intestinal wall, liver health, pancreatic ducts and the healthy flow of bile. Together, these benefits make Triphala one of our top go-to herbs for natural weight balancing.
Triphala Guggulu: This classic Ayurvedic preparation combines the detoxifying and rejuvenating actions of Triphala with the deeply penetrating and cleansing actions of Guggul. Triphala Guggulu effectively decongests the channels of the body and scrapes away natural toxins held within the tissues. It is particularly useful for weight management as it enkindles the digestive fire, promotes healthy metabolism and releases excess kapha from the system.
Elim I: Excess weight is often linked with inefficient elimination. Lifespa’s Elim I combines the Ayurvedic bowel-toning herb Triphala with demulcent herbs and a small amount of psyllium to support healthy movement of the bowels. Elim I works to soften and lubricate the mucus membranes of a dry intestinal tract while simultaneously strengthening the bowel muscles to effectively support waste moving out of the system.
Sugar Destroyer: To support balanced blood sugar, this formula brings you all the time-tested potency of Gymnema sylvestre, an Ayurvedic herb that dulls the ability of the taste buds to recognize the sweet taste, which may naturally decrease the desire for sweets. It also dulls the intestinal tract’s propensity for absorbing simple sugars, which may encourage the body to use fat instead of sugar as a fuel supply. Known as “Sugar Destroyer” in India, Gymnema sylvestre also supports pancreatic health.
Sugar Balance HP: LifeSpa’s Sugar Balance HP (High Potency formula) features significant quantities of key ingredients that support insulin utilization and glucose metabolism. CinSulin® is a safe, patented formula that helps protect pancreatic cells, supports insulin sensitivity, and provide antioxidant activity. Chromium is added for its role in enhancing insulin activity. As with all of our High Potency formulas, Sugar Balance HP is meant for acute blood sugar support and is not intended for long-term use.
Coconut Oil: Recent studies show that daily consumption of coconut oil supports healthy and balanced weight through several avenues: first, coconut oil boosts the metabolic rate. Second, coconut oil provides a kind of preferential energy that is quickly used up by the body rather than stored in the liver and tissues as fat. It also encourages the body to use its own fat, rather than sugar, as its primary fuel source – a type of fuel that is better for the brain, mood, weight, and overall health.
