Obesity or being overweight is a condition characterized by excessive storage of fat in the body. When the body’s calorie intake exceeds the amount of calories burned, it leads to the storage of excess calories in the form of body fat. Increased body fat puts a person at risk for many critical conditions such as heart disease, liver damage, diabetes, arthritis and kidney problems.
Excessive weight gain is caused when people consume more calories than the body needs—occurring most commonly due to eating a diet high in fat and calories, being sedentary, or both.Causes
- Excessive intake of high calorie food
- Genetic factors
- Metabolic disorder
- Certain medications
- Lack of physical exercise
- Day sleeping
- Lack of mental stress
- Increased happiness
Symptoms
- Increased body fat
- Breathlessness on exertion
- Lethargy
- Excessive sweating with bad odor
- Fatigue
- Reduction of longevity
- Premature ageing
- Low sex drive
- Poor sexual performance
- Excessive hunger
- Excessive thirst
- Difficulty in walking
- Tiredness
- General debility
- Loss of vitality and mental confusion.
Ayurveda explains the pathology of obesity as –
2. Hampered conversion of Medo dhatu to Asthi dhatu, leading to increased production of Medo Dhatu.
3. Imbalance / VItiation of Vata Dosha – leading to increased digestion strength
4. Increase of Kapha Dosha, which is caused by excess sweets, fried food, excess rest etc.
Ayurveda says –
Vyayama nityo jeernaashee yavagodhuma bhojanaha |Santarpana Krutaihi Doshaihi Sthoulyam muktwa vimuchyate ||Daily regular exercise, eating only after the previous food has got completely digested, and regular intake of Barley and wheat in diet, are sure shot ways to curb obesity.
Dry Powder massage
Also called as Rooksha Udvartana – powder massage with herbs having dry quality – usually ingredients like horse gram, jujube, Black gram,Devadaru, Rasna, etc are used for this purpose. The purpose of the powder massage is to burn down the fat deposited underneath the skin, especially in tummy, thighs and buttock areas.Decoction enema with strong herbs that are hot in nature is administered. Decoction enema, also called as Kashaya basti is a type of Panchakarma treatment, which helps to balance Vata and also useful in correction of fat tissue conversion into bone tissue (medo dhatu – asthi dhatu).
Natural home remedy
- Take a tablespoon of honey daily with warm water. It is an excellent home remedy for obesity
- Take 1 glass of warm water add one teaspoonfull of honey & lemon juice. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Take 1 cup of water add 3 teaspoonfull of lemon juice,add a pinch of powdered black pepper and add 1 teaspoonfull of honey. Mix well. Drink 2 times everyday for 1-2 months
- Take 2 tablespoonfull of triphala powder, a commonly available ayurvedic herb. Mix it in 500 ml water heat for 5 min. Strain the liquid you may add honey to taste. Drink this 2 times everyday.
- Using Green gram and horse gram help in reduction of kapha and medha.
- Drink mint tea or make a paste of green mint with some simple spices and eat during meals.
- Eat vegetables such as bitter gourd and drumsticks to control obesity.
- Soak a teaspoon of carom seeds and cumin seeds each in a glass of water. Leave this overnight. In the morning, boil this concoction. Reduce the water to half and then drink it early morning every day. This helps prevent water retention in the body.
- Take equal quantities of spices like cumin seeds(jeera), dry ginger, pepper powder,long pepper powder and grind them to a coarse powder. Cook 1/4 teaspoon of this powder with two table spoon of rice in one big glass of water. Decant only liquid portion of this preparation add a pinch of salt to it . This can be used instead of soups.
Consuming wheat products than rice products help to reduce obesity.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
- Avoid high carbohydrates like polished rice and potato.
- Avoid oily and fried foods, processed foods, fatty foods like butter, purified butter, cheese, whole-milk yogurt, cream, chocolate, etc.
- Have more bitter vegetables like bitter gourd and the bitter variety of drumsticks.
- Replace refined flour with whole-wheat flour and rice with brown rice or parboiled rice.
- Increase intake of fruits, salads and vegetables.
A diet that helps to lose weight:
Early morning - A glass of warm water mixed with the juice of half a lemon. A teaspoonful of honey can be added if you like.Breakfast - Wheat or Mung (green beans) sprouts and one cup skimmed milk.
Mid morning - A glass of orange, pineapple or carrot juice.
Lunch - Salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beet, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes. In case you can not digest raw vegetables, either steam or boil them. Whole wheat chapatis and a glass of buttermilk. It will be good to add some roasted cumin seeds, green coriander leaves, a little salt and some grated ginger in the butter milk.
Mid afternoon - Coconut water or dry fruits or lemon tea or vegetable soup.
Dinner - Whole grain bread or chapatis, steamed vegetables and any seasonal fruit except banana and apple.
