Create an inviting, pleasant environment to aid in enjoyment of a meal:

Keep dining table free of clutter. Only your food should grace table at mealtimes. Diffuse appetizing aromas 30 minutes before your meal—lemon, orange and coriander are wonderful for getting those digestive juices flowing. Eat in a silent, serene atmosphere. Keeping your mind free of clutter while you eat will help your body and mind make best use of what you're ingesting.

4. Take a lunch break!

How many times a week do you "grab a quick bite" for lunch, use lunch as an excuse for getting business accomplished or skip lunch altogether?

According to ayurvedic healers, lunch should be THE most important meal of day. It's time of day when your digestion is naturally at its peak, and your body best able to complete digest-absorb-assimilate cycle.

Yet most of us eat biggest meal of day at night, often not long before we go to bed, and body has to rev up and work hard to digest food at a time when it should be trying to get into rest mode. Unless you're among lucky few with a workhorse for a digestive system, eating heavy at night tends to result in undigested food clogging up your insides. You'll find it harder to fall asleep, your skin might break out, you'll gain weight easily, and you'll not feel as energetic as you should during day.

So take that lunch break, and eat your most substantial meal of day around noon. Heavier foods and yogurt should be eaten at lunch rather than dinner for same reasons.

And when you have five to ten precious extra minutes, take time to just sit quietly after meal, savoring experience, before you resume activity. This will direct your body's energy towards digestion before you draw it to other activities.

5. Drink to good health!

Water, ayurvedic beverage of choice, is crucial for digestion and absorption and to help flush toxins out of body. It helps prevent bloating and constipation, and helps transport nutrients to cells and tissues. It helps support metabolism of fat.

Drink room temperature water or warm water through day. Water spiked with digestion enhancing spices and herbs is even better. Light, clear vegetable broths, prepared fresh each day, are good detoxifiers and offer soothing comfort on cold winter days.

Note: This ayurvedic information is educational, and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice. Please consult your physician before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.