BELLY FAT IN AYURVEDA
The fat accumulated inside the abdomen, called visceral fat is located around the internal organs, and it’s a true villain. The earlier explanation for this was that visceral obesity was from over-activity of the body’s stress response mechanisms, which raise blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cardiac risk.
The Ayurvedic View of Belly Fat
Obesity is known as Medarog in Ayurveda, which is caused by the aggravation of Kapha. Kapha is an Ayurvedic humor which is dense, heavy, slow, sticky, wet and cold in nature. Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body- apart from controlling weight and formation of all the seven tissues – nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues.
In a balanced state, Kapha gives nourishment to these tissues through various microchannels. However, when aggravated, Kapha leads to production of toxins in the body. These toxins are heavy and dense in nature and accumulate in weaker channels of the body, causing blockage of the channels.
In the case of an obese person, toxins accumulate in Medovahi Srotas (fat channels), thereby leading to an increase in the production of fat tissue (Meda Dhatu). When the body produces more fat tissues, it causes an increase in weight.
The Ayurvedic line of treatment for obesity begins with the pacification of Kapha Dosha. Pacification can be done by eliminating Kapha-aggravating foods from the diet. Next, treatment protocol focuses on cleansing of the Medovahi channels through cleansing herbs so that excess weight and belly fat can be reduced.