According to Ayurveda healthy digestion is the straight path to the optimum health. Ayurveda says that some kind of heat or energy is required for any type of chemical conversion or transformation. Agni is this type of biochemical transformer that is not only responsible for digestion and metabolism but also for many other functions of the body such as perception, touch, hearing, vitality, clarity, mental wellbeing, alertness, regular appetite, immunity. Balanced Agni also leads to balanced emotions. In this way good Agni brings positive emotions, courage, cheerfulness, happiness, lucid, intelligence, ability to handle stress, while impaired agni can cause high irritability, tiredness, mental fogginess, grief, depression, anger and jealousy. 

How do we damage the Agni?

1. Not following diet useful for the body type
2. Eating same food every day
3. Overeating 
4. Irregular eating 
5. Constant snacking 
6. Drinking too much water during the meal
7. Not exercising enough
8. Eating only cold or raw food
9. Staying up late
10. Wrong food combinations

How do we improve the Agni?

1. Adding pungent spices such as cumin, ginger, black pepper, etc.
2. Drinking digestive teas (CCF Tea, Ginger tea, etc.)
3. Working out (yoga or at least 30 min walk every day)
4. Eating meals regularly at the same time every day
5. Going to sleep by 10 pm
6. Drinking hot water throughout the day
7. Eating fresh cooked, hot, moist meals
8. Leaving 1/3 part of the stomach empty so there’s space for digestion
9. Eating only after the preveous meal got digested, so the break between meals should be about 4-6 hours without snacking
10. Practicing pranayamas
11. Doing oil massage at least once a week
12. Taking detox programs (usually done few times a year around seasonal changes)

Most of the diseases, according to Ayurveda, are caused by impairment of Agni. By following these rules one can maintain healthy Agni or improve a weak one, and that will certainly help to improve health and prolong life and vitality!