International Women’s Day 2024 with Ayurveda self-care: Ayurvedic guidance on nurturing gut health for women

Our ancient wisdom expressed through Ayurveda emphasises strict dietary disciplines as the first line of treatment as one can suffer from illness if the digestive fire is not good and the food is not digested properly.

Our gut health is most important for a healthy immune system so what better time than ahead of International Women’s Day 2024 to seek Ayurvedic insights for women’s gut health and well-being?

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Uma V, Assistant Research Officer and Physician at AVP Research Foundation, shared, “Women’s digestive experiences may vary from men due to unique life events such as menstruation, menopause, and motherhood.

Ayurveda emphasises the importance of protecting and promoting women’s health during these life events. These events can have a significant impact on gut health, leading to frequent issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, loss of appetite, acidity, and indigestion.”

She added, “Not only can these, digestive problems cause physical discomfort but they can also have an adverse impact on emotional well-being, leading to anxiety, mood swings, or depression. However, women can take proactive steps to care for their bodies and promote gut health during these pivotal phases of their lives.

One of the key ways to support gut health is by adopting a balanced and nutritious diet, including freshly cooked, light, easily digestible and warm food. Adding spices such as cumin, ginger, garlic, fennel, cardamom, carom seeds and asafoetida can aid digestion