Obesity
Causes: Generally, acceptable weight levels
depend on cultural beliefs. Westerners aim at the slim,
Pitta form. More ancient cultures praise Kapha forms
(where physical activity is also more prevalent). Thus
the definition of over-weight may be determined by
whether it causes health problems.
Causes of overweight include overeating, excessive
eating of heavy or cold things, and oversleeping
and lack of exercise. Other causes include hormone
imbalance, emotional sentimentality, clinging, loss
of love or low self-worth, insecurity, and poor digestion.
Weight-reducing and appetite-suppressing drugs
can weaken the digestion and increase air (thereby
aggravating Váyu). When overweight causes poor
digestion, nutrients are not absorbed. Even after eating,
the body does not receive the nutrients. So it sends
a message to the brain to eat again. Even still, the
digestive fire is unable to extract nutrients from the
food. Thus, a vicious cycle of eating and overeating
develops (absorbing little or no nutrition).
Váyu: Sudden and fluctuating weight: (over, under,
normal), variable hunger, eating lots of sugar to calm
the nerves. Eating offers a feeling of security.
Váyu/Kapha: This constitution reflects a nervous
mind and weak digestion. Pitta: Overeating is their
main cause because appetite is strong. There may be
addiction to sugar and red meat. Weight develops
muscle and flabbiness.
Kapha: This is the most common doßha that develops
obesity, slow metabolism, easy weight gain,
continuous appetite (addicted to eating), hypothyroid
or other hormonal conditions that cause retention of
weight, mainly water and fat retention, weak pancreas
and kidneys, low pulse and energy, flabbiness, pallor,
moist complexion and skin, excess phlegm or saliva,
subcutaneous fat deposits and benign tumors may
develop.
Therapies:
General: A mild, long-term reducing plan is more
natural than crash diets. Winter is not a good time to
begin dieting because the cold can lower one’s
resistance and body heat. Reducing or lightening
therapy is needed, with a light diet, fasting, digestive
(spicy) herbs, mild laxatives, and tonics like guggul
(1 gram 3 times daily) or ¤hilájit (1/2 gram twice
daily). This reduces obesity in a few months. Bráhmí
calms the mind for conditions of excessive eating.
Váyu: Váyu-reducing herbs, diet, and lifestyle,
complex carbohydrates (whole grains and starchy
vegetables), avoidance of refined sugar, fewer hot
spices and more sweet digestives like cardamom,
coriander, bráhmí, jaóámáò¤hí, and a¤hwagandhá
calm the mind. Guggul helps cleanse and warm the
body.
Pitta: Pitta-reducing foods, avoiding meat, fish,
oily, greasy, or fried foods, sugars, and desserts. Raw
salads, green herbs, and chlorophyll, digestive bitters
and bitter laxatives are the best foods to reduce weight
and counter sugar addiction. Herbs include aloe vera
gel, kaóuká, turmeric, bhúámalakí.
Kapha: Kapha-reducing foods, avoiding refined
sugars, salt, dairy, sweet fruit, bread, pastry, meat,
fish, fruit juices, cold liquids, and oils. The best foods
for digestion are sprouts: their enzymatic properties
help digestion. Meals are eaten after 10:00 a.m. and
before 6:00 p.m. Hot spices and fasting (if one is
strong) help raise the metabolism. Spice teas,
vegetable juices, steamed vegetables, beans, and
whole grains are also advised. Suggestions include
less sleep, no naps, and strong, aerobic exercise. Hot
digestive herbs like black pepper, ginger, turmeric,
and t^ikatu burn up fat and raise the digestive fire.
Bitter herbs reduce fat and dry water. Bitters include
kaóuká, myrrh, triphalá, and guggul. Gokßhura is a
gentle diuretic. £hilájit helps the kidneys. bráhmí is
a useful nervine to calm the mind.
