Staying slim the Ayurvedic way

Scrap the fad diets and quick fixes. What if we told you about a way of life that’s been working on waistlines for years? You see, with a healthy, holistic approach, the Ayurvedic lifestyle has been supporting people with their weight management for 5,000 years - and there isn’t a shake in sight.

Here, we reveal our favourite Ayurvedic diet tips. 

Make lunch your main meal 

There’s a saying in Ayurveda: you’re not what you eat, you’re what you digest. Ayurveda believes that digestion, and your digestive fire, is super important to the overall health and wellbeing of your body and mind. Not just this but that it also follows certain rhythms throughout the day.

For example, our digestive system is at its strongest at midday when the sun is at its peak. Therefore, we should make sure we’re having the biggest meal during these hours and our smallest meals in the evening. 

Kitchari cleanse 

In Ayurvedic traditions, we use Kitchari - a nourishing, spiced dish of split mung beans and rice - to cleanse the gut. A typical Ayurvedic cleanse involves eating only Kitchari for three days, and offers a full body reset - thoroughly detoxing, improving digestion and metabolic function.

It isn’t just great for your body, mind and spirit though as it’s also extremely delicious and filling. Instead of reaching for processed foods when you need an energy boost, why not try this? 

Try not to eat too late

Mindful mealtimes

It’s believed that mealtimes can be a full body experience. You simply need to eat mindfully. Start by taking a mouthful slowly and quietly, paying attention to your body’s signals about how much to eat and when to stop.

Mindfulness and meditation can also keep you calm, reducing cortisol - the stress hormone associated with weight gain. Try taking three deep breaths before you start your meal to bring you into the present moment and focus on what you’re about to eat. Don’t forget to savour every bite too. 

Make sure you’re getting enough

Seriously, a good night’s sleep could be your passport to long-term weight loss. A study found a link between fat mass and how much rest individuals were getting, but this is something that has been understood for years in Ayurveda.

Vedic texts say that success depends on when you go to bed, too. So find a time that works for you and try to stick to it.  

Try Triphala - the holy trinity of herbs!

Triphala is a prized combination of three Ayurvedic superfruits: Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki. It helps to eliminate toxins from the body and rejuvenates the digestive system - which is just one of the reasons we’ve included it in our Rest and Digest capsules. It’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, but modern science is catching up. One study found that adults who took a Triphala supplement lost weight more quickly than those who didn’t. 

In fact, when it comes to food choices, Ayurveda has a whole host of super herbs that you should look out for. And, if you want to get your daily dose of goodness, our range of supplements make it easier than ever. 

Keep Kapha calm

We’re all made of three types of energy - Pitta, Vata and Kapha dosha. But, when we have an imbalance of Kapha energy, it can cause weight gain, lethargy and a slow metabolism.

Counter the damp, cold and heavy qualities of Kapha by building meals from warm, dry, light foods. As well as this, go for freshly prepared, seasonally appropriate options such as berries, tofu, cottage cheese, chicken, fruit juices and raw honey.

How Deja can help

At Deja, we’ve combined years of research and experience, and taken inspiration from ancient Ayurveda approaches to bring you a complete selection of natural supplements. One of our bestselling capsules, Rest and Digest has even been specifically designed to help cleanse and detoxify your gut and aid healthy digestion. Containing super herbs like Ginger, Fennel, Long Black Pepper, Triphala, Carom Seed and Turpeth, when taken daily, it brings balance back to your body and gut.