Wisdom begins with eating

2025 December 27

Eat wisely!

"I want to slow down in the future"

When bad eating habits burden the body, the intention to eat less in the future is one of the most common New Year's resolutions. Reduced meal plans or strict fasting cures often do not provide the solution, because the problem usually only arises when unhealthy eating behavior has become the rule rather than the exception. "Concepts that rely on a limited selection of foods are too one-sided and difficult to maintain in the long run," says Dr. Karin Pirc, chief physician at the Maharishi Ayurveda Private Clinic in Bad Ems. "The metabolism can be weakened and the body can be deprived of important nutrients." Instead of an expected improved quality of life, we even reap the opposite, and frustration or discouragement set in.

The nutritional concept of Maharishi Ayurveda is based on thousands of years of experience. In order to provide the body with essential vital substances in the best possible way, the functioning of the digestive system plays a crucial role in addition to the quality of food. Only foods that can be properly digested and absorbed have a positive effect on the organism. If the metabolism is disturbed, metabolic residues and toxins accumulate, which weaken the tissues, disturb the internal balance, and can cause feelings of fullness, fatigue, headaches, discomfort, or weight problems.

The Stone in the Stomach

"Avoid heavy food in the evening!" This is the most important recommendation from American Ayurvedic doctor and author Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf. "You really can't say it often enough. Because most people who pay attention to their diet and resort to special weight loss products still make the mistake of eating too heavily in the evening," explains the medical director of The Raj Ayurveda Health Center in Iowa, USA. According to Ayurvedic understanding, digestive power decreases towards the end of the day. "Since we don't move as much and go to bed a few hours after eating, the organism has no chance to process the food properly. A factor that can negatively affect sleep, bodily functions, and weight," emphasizes Dr. Lonsdorf. Instead, the main meal of the day should be eaten at lunchtime, when Agni, the digestive fire according to Ayurveda, has particularly great strength.

Furthermore, as Ayurveda practitioners know, it is helpful to drink hot water with every meal or throughout the day. It helps to dissolve metabolic waste products and satisfy hunger pangs between main meals. The crucial factor here is not the quantity of liquid, but rather the frequency. Two to three sips every hour or half-hour are sufficient. "Before the drinking cure, you should boil the water for ten minutes, as it loses its heaviness and gains energy this way," advises Dr. Lonsdorf. If you don't want to constantly prepare fresh water, you can keep it warm in a thermos flask.

Fresh Makes Fresher

According to Ayurveda, the body absorbs nutrients from freshly prepared, warm meals. Reheated or pre-cooked food is taboo. "Food provides energy and vitality, which in Ayurveda is called 'Prana'. Prana decreases when food cools down and is destroyed when reheated. The individual food components become difficult to digest and cannot be optimally utilized," explains Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf. Therefore, the Ayurvedic diet plan mainly consists of natural, light, well-seasoned, and easily digestible foods. They are neither too cold nor too hot and ideally contain the six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. For this purpose, also use the Maharishi Ayurveda spice mixtures.

Progress that's Fun

"Stay active" is the final recommendation from Ayurveda expert Nancy Lonsdorf. Yoga and gentle sports such as hiking, cycling, Nordic walking, golf, or swimming stimulate the metabolism, are good for psychological balance, and provide an optimal counterbalance to a stressful professional life. "Just leave the car at home and take every opportunity to move," adds Dr. Lonsdorf.

So: first, eat well - and then take a walk in the fresh air.

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