Shankara Ayurveda Spa at the Art of Living Retreat Center (Boone, NC) has launched an Ayurveda Weight Loss Program and the Ayurveda Tips for Weight Loss e-booklet. “According to Ayurveda, the causes of weight gain are either internal or external factors like the kind of diet, the food and how we process it,” says Sarita Patel, MD, an instructor with the Art of Living. “The internal is based on our constitution; we may be eating the wrong food for our type, which the body is unable to process. Ayurveda actually takes care of the internal and external factors. It balances the digestive fire in such a way that you don’t accumulate the toxins that are coming.” The e-booklet also provides helpful advice including:
- Eat according to the time of day. When the sun is at its highest, which is around lunchtime, the stomach is more able to digest and assimilate food. Make lunch your heaviest meal.
- Follow a menu that is similar to how the French eat: A light breakfast, a large lunch, and a light supper. Have a breakfast of fruits and soaked almonds for protein, such as hearty lunch that includes significant protein. And, a light dinner that digests before bedtime.
- To keep the energy up, add more fruits and vegetables, and aged honey is great for a pick-me-up. The aging process of honey adds to the weight-reducing aspect because fresh honey can lead to weight gain. The best way to find out the age of honey is to ask your local honey farmer or check the expiration date on the bottle.
For more information, visit www.artoflivingretreatcenter.org.