Unlocking Wellness: Ayurvedic Principles of Water Intake

Understanding Aam and the Importance of Moderation in Drinking Water According to Ayurveda

My WhatsApp is inundated with health tips on weight loss, cancer remedies, flax seed benefits, and water therapy, among other things. WhatsApp-verified doctors often drop by my clinic, some of whom advocate eating every two hours and share their personal strategies for keeping up with it, while others stress the importance of consuming copious amounts of water daily.

One of my patients once boasted, “Doctor, I make sure to finish three bottles of water at work. I keep them on my desk, and I even set an alarm”.  The patient claimed that it helped detoxify their body and alleviate constipation.

Alas, it takes an enormous effort to raise awareness among these individuals. First, we must understand that hunger and thirst are natural instincts that should only be quenched when our bodies demand them and not forced. Everything we put into our mouths must go through the digestion process. By eating every two hours or drinking excessive amounts of water unnecessarily, we are overexerting our digestive system. We are not only making it difficult for our bodies to detoxify but also creating Aam, an undigested component of our diet that acts as a toxin which is difficult to eliminate.

Aam is a major cause of various health problems such as joint pain, swelling, weakness, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and lifestyle diseases. Drinking excessive amounts of water unnecessarily weakens our digestive fire and reduces its ability to digest even the simplest and healthiest foods, resulting in the formation of Aam. This emphasizes the need for scientific thinking instead of blindly following therapies forwarded on social media.

Drinking Water According to Ayurveda

Let’s explore some of these in more detail:

The aforementioned verse discloses that one ought to restrict the intake of water or abstain from it all together Let’s have a look at – under the following circumstances –

• If one is feeble or if the digestive system has been enervated.
• If one is battling diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, inflammation, or oedema of any kind.
• Even those in good health must regulate their water consumption to a reasonable level, with the exception of the summer or autumn seasons when the weather is sweltering.

In certain terms, it is recommended to consume water in moderation and solely in response to the body’s signals.

Rules to drinking water as per Ayurveda –

• Instead of gulping water down in a hurry, take small sips and savor every drop.
• Take a break, unwind, and then hydrate your body.
• Resist the urge to drink water while standing and opt for a seated position.
• Avoid drinking excessive amounts of water (more than a glass) before bed or immediately upon waking up.
• Refrain from using plastic containers to store water and opt for more eco-friendly alternatives.
• After being exposed to heat, avoid drinking icy-cold water right away.
• Boost your immunity by consuming water that has been medicated (boiled) with a gold coin.
• Drinking water stored in a copper container is good for your health, but ensure that the containers are kept clean.

The above verse explains the importance and ways of rules of drinking water during meals, that is – water should be consumed in moderate amounts, neither too much nor too little, during meals, in between meals, and after meals.

Rules for drinking water during meals:

• According to Ayurveda, drinking a small amount of water during meals helps to moisten the food, balancing the tri-doshas and promoting overall health.
• Consuming water after a meal can lead to an increase in kapha, which may result in unhealthy weight gain.
  Drinking water before a meal can weaken the digestive fire, reducing the ability to digest even healthy and proportionate food, leading to malnourishment and unhealthy weight loss.
• Drinking excessive amounts of water without the natural urge weakens the digestive fire (agnimandya), causes severe indigestion (ajirna), and may lead to various illnesses. Ayurveda texts specify that an imbalanced Agni (digestive fire) is the root cause of major health issues (vyadhi).

So next time when you fill your water bottle or set an alarm remember this blog.