Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting has gained much popularity in the last few years. It is touted as the new health benefit for all. While this CAN be true for some, it really isn't for everyone.  

Believe it or not, what we know today as intermittent fasting has been a key habit in Ayurveda from its origination thousands of years ago! It came from Ayurveda first! Most people don't even realize they're practicing a form of Ayurveda. However, Ayurveda may define this differently than most popular sources.  

Intermittent fasting can have SO many definitions. Whether it be to completely fast for a certain amount of days (such as water fasts, lemon juice/maple syrup/cayenne pepper fasts) etc. vs having a window of eating time daily. In Ayurveda, intermittent fasting like I mentioned is one of the key daily habits. Everyone is recommended to be done eating by around 6pm. After that, just water or a cup of tea. We do not want to go to bed within 2 hours of eating. Our body spends its time at night processing everything we have taken in. If it cannot do that job properly, we create a state of ama and low digestive fire. This is extremely important - keeping our digestive fire optimized is one of the main keys to keep everything running functionally and is so important to protect. Break your fast no later than about 8:30am the next day. However, kaphas may not be hungry in the morning and can even skip breakfast. Vatas and pittas should NOT skip breakfast. Intermittent fasting can exacerbate vata, but is pacifying to kapha.  

Key points:
- Ayurveda defines intermittent fasting as a daily window of no eating, from ~6pm to ~6am
- Be done eating in evening by 6pm
- Break your fast between 6-8:30am
- Kaphas can skip breakfast
- Nobody should skip lunch and lunch should be the largest meal of the day. 
- Vatas & pittas should never skip breakfast