5 Ayurvedic Truths About Healthy Eating That Nobody Talks About

What if some of the healthiest things you're doing are the very things keeping you stuck?

In this episode of Up Your Total Glow, Ruth shares 5 Ayurvedic truths about healthy eating that challenge conventional wellness advice. Discover why healthy food isn't always healthy for you, why digestion matters more than nutrients, why overeating isn't always about lack of willpower, and the surprising reason your body may still feel off despite your best efforts.

A practical, eye-opening episode for anyone who wants to understand their body more deeply and build a healthier relationship with food.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Hello and welcome back to Up Your Total Glow. I'm so happy you are here today. And that you are taking out some time just for yourself. And today I want to talk about something that I personally wish somebody had explained to me years ago. And it's one of those things that seems obvious once you see it, but until then it can leave you feeling completely confused about your body. At least that's what it did for me. And I do think that most of us have been taught what to eat, and we've been taught about micronutrients and micronutrients, so we know about protein and fiber and vitamins and healthy fats. But there are a few things about healthy eating that almost nobody talks about. And yet they are often the very things that determine whether food actually helps you to feel amazing. So this is what we're gonna do today. Let's talk about these things. But before we do, here is my gentle reminder: this podcast is for education and inspiration only, and it is not a substitute for medical advice or personalized support. So please make sure that you seek professional care where you need it. So, you know, when I was little, I was absolutely convinced that I was going to become a detective. I loved solving mysteries and I loved looking for clues, and I also loved trying to work out what was really going on beneath the surface. And I was also good at it. No, I didn't go to detective school, but I went to language school because I wanted to become a translator. Because back then I was really fascinated by languages and meaning, and yeah, how you could translate things. And when I look back, I do think this is actually quite funny because today my work is basically a combination of both. Because I love it, and because there's always more to learn about the body and health and life. But yeah, isn't it great how all of this is actually what I'm doing? I am a detective and a translator because people come to me with symptoms, with cravings, with fatigue, with bloating, skin issues, and all sorts of things. And then together we are making sense of this. We are looking for clues. And then my job is to help translate what the body is trying to say. And over the years I've realized that some of the biggest clues people miss are around food, and not necessarily because they are not eating healthy. Most people actually do eat healthy, but most often it is because they are trying so hard to eat well. I know this might sound confusing, so hear me out. So today I want to share five things that I think everybody should know about healthy eating. And no, we are not gonna talk about more wellness or health trends, and we're also not gonna talk about nutrition rules because I do think you've got those everywhere else, so not needed here. I also think they are not helpful and not empowering. Okay, so today we're gonna talk about five things that I believe will truly change how you understand your body. You ready? Shall we do it? Let's go. Okay, so number one, I would like to talk about the fact that you can actually eat healthy food and still feel terrible. Does this sound familiar? And I do see this all the time. And actually, I was one of these people. So have you ever ordered the healthiest thing on the menu? Maybe a giant salad or the grain bowl or the green smoothie, and everyone around you is eating whatever they fancy, and somehow you are the one who ends up feeling bloated or cold or uncomfortable or even hungry again an hour later. It's confusing. I know. And I do think that we are taught that healthy foods should automatically make us feel healthy. But Ayurveda looks at this very differently. So I would like to invite you to change your way of thinking around food. Instead of asking yourself, is this food healthy? I would like to invite you to ask, is this food right for me in this moment of time? Because the truth is that the same food can affect different people in completely different ways, and also at different times. So a Kaffa person, this is a person who has more of the earth and water elements at this moment in time in their body or in their system, and because of this, might feel a little bit heavier and more sluggish. So this kind of person might genuinely thrive on foods that feel lighter. Whereas a vata person, which is a person who at this moment in time has more air and space elements within their system, so they already feel scattered and maybe a little bit anxious and more dry or even depleted. They will probably feel much better with something that warms them. So a warm soup or a stew and healthy fats and just foods that are grounding because they have so much lightness and airiness within them. And someone who tends to have more pitter energy, so the fire and a little bit of water, this kind of person obviously already has so much heat in their system, so they may notice that if they eat lots of spicy food or food that is actually or drinks as well, that that are drying and heating like coffee or alcohol, that they feel even more irritated or inflamed and restless. So, what am I trying to say here? The question isn't necessarily whether a food is healthy. This might this alone might not solve your energy puzzle or how amazing you feel. The question is whether the food is helping you at this moment in time to create balance and harmony inside of you.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Number two, the second thing that I would like to share with you and that I wish someone had shared with me before was the following that digestion starts actually long before the first bite. So, yes, I've spoken about digestion before on this podcast, and we've spoken quite a bit about acne, your digestive fire. And we've also spoken about eating without distractions and how important this actually is for you and for your acne. But there's another way of looking at it that I think is really helpful. So I would like to invite you to think about the difference between eating dinner on a holiday and eating dinner on a busy Tuesday. So you are the same person and maybe you are even eating the same meal. But I would guess that you are having completely different experiences. I would guess that on your holiday you're very relaxed and that you've slowed down and that you are probably really present. And I would guess that on a Tuesday evening you might still be busy in your head with everything that you have been doing all day, and maybe also thinking ahead of what you still have to do and the next day, and you might reply to messages and maybe help your children with homework while you are eating. So, again, the food might be the same, but you are not quite the same. Yes, you are the same person, but you are not the same. In one instance, you are relaxed, and in the other you are just not present, and your body notices this. So a healthy eating starts long before food reaches your stomach. It actually starts with the state you bring to the meal. Okay, and here's my truth bomb number three. Sometimes how fast you eat matters more than what you eat. Yes, you heard me right. And I have to laugh because I have absolutely done this myself, and I often still do this. I catch myself eating way too fast. And yeah, maybe this sounds familiar that you finish a meal and realize you don't actually remember eating it. Not because the meal wasn't nice, but because it happened so fast. Like you sat down, you took a few bites, and suddenly the plate was empty, gone, vanished. Like yeah, some sort of magic trick. And the problem is that your body works a little slower than your hands, and your body needs time to actually be able to register satisfaction, and time to recognize that it's had enough, time to communicate back to you, and when you eat too quickly, you often miss those signals completely, and then we wonder why we feel overly full afterwards. And this is not to blame, this is just an invitation that it's not always about what you eat, but sometimes what you need is really a slower pace when you eat. And here's number four. Number four is all about the fact that you don't just digest food, you actually digest your entire day. And this one is a huge one, and it's one that I see constantly. And maybe you've had one of those days where nothing terrible happened, but at the same time, everything happened, lots of emails, and you had to make so many decisions, and there were deadlines, and you were talking all day, and so many responsibilities. And all of those seemingly small stresses they keep piling up. And by the time you sit down for dinner, your system is already carrying a full load. And then we ask the body to process a meal on top of that. And sometimes what feels like a food problem is actually an overload problem. So your body might not be struggling with dinner, your body might actually be struggling with everything that came before. And that's a very different conversation. Okay, and here's number five. Sometimes the healthiest choice isn't the healthy choice. And I think this is my favorite one because Ayurveda has taught me that health isn't about following rules, it's about creating balance, and I love, love, love that. So someone who's eating cold salads every day in the middle of winter because they are healthy, aren't they? While maybe their body is crying for warmth, I'm wondering how healthy is that? Or someone who is choosing low fat everything while feeling permanently unsatisfied and ungrounded. I'm wondering how healthy is that? Or if there's someone who is following every nutrition rule on social media while completely ignoring what their own body is actually telling them. I'm wondering how healthy is that truly. So I do feel that sometimes the healthiest thing isn't the thing that looks healthiest on the paper. Sometimes it's the thing that your body actually, actually, actually needs. And that requires you listening. So here's something I'd love you to try this week. For the next few days, stop asking, is this healthy? And start asking. How does my body respond to this? Not immediately, not based on what you've read online, but honestly. Do I feel energized after my mirror? Satisfied and somehow settled or not. Because your body gives you feedback all day long. Just most of us have simply forgotten how to listen, or we don't take time to listen. And I would like to give you a few questions to carry with you this week and feel into them. What food have you been eating because you think you should? Even though your body doesn't seem particularly happy about it. And which of these five truths resonated more strongly with you? And if your body could choose one thing to support itself right now, what do you think it would ask for?

SPEAKER_00 19:34

And here's my affirmation for you.

SPEAKER_01 19:38

I trust my body's wisdom that I am learning to listen to its signals, honor its needs, and create nourishment in a way that is right for me. So take a deep gentle breath and breathe out and let that information, this beautiful affirmation, fully land in your body. And if today's episode resonated with you, you can find my free vitality imbalance quiz in the show notes. And this is a wonderful place to begin understanding your unique body a little bit better. What your body at this moment in time is maybe asking for and needs.