You Are Not What You Eat...But What You Digest
One concept that is central to Ayurvedic medicine is the concept of Agni, or digestive fire. Imagine that there is a small fire burning within your lower stomach and small intestine. The goal is to keep this fire stoked without letting it get too big or smothering it to death. We all digest food differently. If someone drinks a raw green smoothie, for some it can be like throwing a huge wet log on top of the fire and extinguishing it. This can cause all sorts of problems in the body. Others who have a very strong agni, and drink the smoothie in the proper season might be able to digest it just fine.
How can you tell if you are digesting your food properly? After eating, one should feel content, satisfied and energized. Your bowel movements will be well formed and timely, and you will feel hungry shortly after waking up in the morning. If you are experiencing lethargy, exhaustion, or pain and discomfort after eating, you are not digesting your food properly. Other indications that your food may not be digesting well can be: constipation, diarrhea, lack of appetite and an overall feeling of sluggishness.
