Patient Story: When Dieting Went Wrong – An Ayurvedic Insight
As an Ayurvedic physician, I recall the case of Megha, a 30-year-old software professional who came to me with complaints of persistent fatigue, disturbed sleep, hair fall, mood swings, and severe bloating.
She had been following a strict low-calorie diet for the past 6 months in an attempt to lose weight.
Initially, she noticed some weight loss, but soon after, her energy plummeted, her skin became dry, and she developed irregular periods.
Upon detailed questioning, I found that Megha was skipping meals, eating very little, and avoiding nourishing foods in the name of “clean eating.”
Her food lacked adequate fats, proteins, and warm, grounding meals necessary for her constitution.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, Megha was suffering from vata imbalance caused by undernourishment and improper quantity of food.
According to our classical understanding:
Consuming less quantity of food:
🙄Does not increase strength.
😧Reduces Ojas, the essence of immunity and vitality.
😥Prevents proper nourishment of the body (dhatu poshana becomes weak).
😭Over time, leads to vata disorders such as insomnia, anxiety, dryness, and constipation.
Megha’s condition was a classic case of langhana (lightening therapy) gone wrong.
While langhana is a therapeutic approach used in Ayurveda to manage conditions of excess, it should always be done under supervision and suited to the individual’s prakriti (constitution), agni (digestive fire), and vikriti (imbalance).
Moreover, Megha confessed that on weekends, she would overeat due to cravings—this led to periods of overeating, which further aggravated her doshas, especially kapha and pitta, leading to bloating and inflammation.
Excessive food consumption:
Is equally undesirable.
Causes a quick increase in doshas, leading to imbalances like indigestion, weight gain, acne, and lethargy.
Treatment Approach:
For Megha, I initiated a Vata-pacifying regimen:
- Diet:
Warm, unctuous, and freshly cooked meals.
Regular mealtimes without skipping.
Inclusion of ghee, soups, and nourishing herbs
- Lifestyle:
Early to bed and wake cycle.
Gentle abhyanga (oil massage) with sesame oil to ground the vata.
Pranayama and guided meditations to reduce anxiety.
- Medicinal Support:
Use of classical formulations to restore ojas and strengthen digestion.
Within 6 weeks, Megha began to regain her strength, her periods normalized, and she reported better sleep and clarity of mind.
Conclusion:
In Ayurveda, quantity of food is as important as its quality.
Eating less or more than what your agni can handle disrupts the delicate balance of doshas.
The goal should never be weight loss at the cost of health, but rather balanced nourishment, strong digestion, and vibrant ojas !!!
