Additionally, the inability to keep off weight can result in self-loathing as failed dieters blame themselves for a lack of discipline. What they do not know is that there are factors
beyond their control that could be triggering their reoccurring weight-gain.
According to Ayurveda, weight imbalance begins with an imbalance deep within the physiology. Six thousand years ago, the first written texts of Ayurvedic medicine described seven mind/body types. These mind/body types were based on a persons' particular balance of the three fundamental biological principles, called doshas. The three doshas are vata (which regulates movement), pitta, (which regulates energy production and metabolism), and kapha (which regulates structure and substance).
Different mind/body types have different body shapes and sizes that are natural and healthful for that particular physiology. Someone with a natural predominance of kapha, for example, would carry more weight than a more predominant vata-type.
The whole goal of Ayurveda is simply to maintain or restore one's natural balance of the three governing agents, vata, pitta and kapha. Once they are in balance, there will be a harmonious integration of all the elements that comprise the healthful functioning of the body. As one restores balance, weight will naturally shift back to what is normal for that particular physiology.
Of utmost importance in maintaining balance is keeping the channels of circulation in the body clear. These channels are, in fact, spaces through which the doshas, the intelligence of the body, operate.
One specialty of Ayurveda is the traditional purification program known as Panchakarma. These specialized treatments help "chisel away" impurities and toxins that have been slowly building up in the body over years. Removing these blockages and toxins allows the natural intelligence of the body to become more expressed.
Environmental toxins have been recognized as major contributors to treatment-resistant obesity. Removal of these toxins may be an effective treatment approach for chronic weight gain. Many of these toxic chemicals are fat-soluble: this means they adhere to our fat tissues -- and can stay there for up to 30 years! When we lose weight, these chemicals are released into our system, which can cause future complications.
Ayurveda weight loss treatments add a unique step. A published research study (Sept./Oct. 2002 issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine) on Ayurvedic panchakarma programs showed that up to 50% of these dangerous toxins can be removed with a 5-day program. No other methods have been shown to remove this class of fat-soluble toxins from the body.
Another important aspect of maintaining balanced health is good digestion. Most weight-loss programs try to suppress the appetite. But suppressing the appetite means suppressing the digestive "fire" or Agni, as it is referred to in the Ayurveda texts. As a result, food does not get digested or metabolized properly. When the body is not nourished properly it begins to send messages to the brain that it is starving. The dieter gets cravings that cannot be ignored. This can lead to binge eating, creating further imbalances and weight gain.
Additionally, poor digestion results in the creation of toxins in the form of ama, a sticky residue that gradually clogs up the cells. This waste material impairs cellular functions and accelerates aging. It can also cause lethargy, fatigue, dullness, erratic eating habits and compulsive eating.
When ama blocks the channels of the body, vata, the principle of movement, no longer flows properly and can become trapped n the abdomen, stimulating an abnormal digestive fire. As a result, a person begins to eat excessively, beyond their actual needs. Thus we see how the approach of suppressing the appetite can actually lead to additional weight gain and a deeper level of imbalance.
The basis of successful weight-loss is a deep understanding of the most fundamental causes of weight gain: imbalance of the doshas, poor digestion and accumulated toxins. Ayurveda offers a time-tested approach that ensures that a comfortable, healthy weight can be both established and maintained.
Lindsay Holly has been working in the field of Ayurveda for over
20 years. She has worked with Ayurvedic experts in India, Europe and in
the US. She currently lives in Fairfield, IA and works as a consultant
for The Raj, Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center. http://www.theraj.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Holly
