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It is common to understand Ayurveda as a traditional science meant for people who espouse the traditional way of life. However, this is not true. Ayurveda remains popular in the 21st century because of the timelessness of its core values and principles. Here, we will look into the best time to eat, or when the body of a person is ready for food consumption, regardless of the routine followed by that person.

Gen Z life can be quite chaotic, especially when viewed from the traditional lens. Sleeping late at night and waking up late in the morning or even towards noon is common. The traditional way of having 3 meals every day divided into breakfast, lunch, and dinner may not be how the Gen Z community consumes their meals. 

But this does not mean they cannot eat healthily. The best way to consume food is to have it when your body is ready to consume food. Ayurveda has some very simple and rather unique ways of identifying when your body is ready to consume food.

It begins right from the time you wake up. After you wake and you do your routine ablutions, if the urine and stool pass out on their own without any effort on your part, this shows that the body is ready to consume food. This is why breakfast becomes a very important meal.

After that, during the time you are awake, your body tells you it is ready to have food through various signals. For the consumption of food, the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha - have to be in balance. When these doshas find their balance you will feel a lightness in the heart as well as in your whole body. 

Even more clearly, your body will allow gas to pass out smoothly. This means, at this time your belching will be clean and smooth as will be your flatulence. Both will be released easily without causing any discomfort. When your body does this, you will feel a genuine appetite for food, not toward any particular kind of food, but toward food in general. 

Consuming food at this time ensures proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. This way you can ensure you are eating healthily, even if you are taking your meals at odd times. So, for the Gen Z community and for every other person who lives life the non-traditional way, know that Ayurveda considers your way of life also and provides easy-to-follow pointers for you to live healthily on your terms. All you have to do is to follow your gas!

(Inputs taken from talk by Dr Kashinath Samagandi, Director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga)

 

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