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Your Gut is Talking-Are You Listening?

From gut healing to food combinations: In Conversation with Ms. Dimple Jangda

The journey to wellness often begins with a single step – a step away from the conventional and towards ancient wisdom that has stood the test of time. We had the privilege of hosting Ms. Dimple Jangda at our Sattvic Ahaar Conference held in Mumbai. She is a beacon of holistic health wisdom who has transformed countless lives through her deep understanding of Ayurveda and gut health.

As the founder of Prana Healthcare Centre and a National Bestselling Author, Ms. Dimple’s journey from investment banking to becoming a celebrated Ayurveda and gut health coach is testament to the transformative power of following one’s true calling. Her groundbreaking book “Heal Your Gut, Mind & Emotions” has not only topped charts but has also opened new pathways for those seeking authentic wellness solutions.

In an illuminating conversation, Ms. Dimple shared profound insights about healing, wellness, and the wisdom of listening to our bodies. Her responses, rooted in ancient knowledge yet perfectly aligned with modern needs, offer a fresh perspective on health and healing.

Q. What recurring patterns do you see in people who successfully heal their gut versus those who struggle?

“The simplest solution is changing your lifestyle and dietary habits,”
~ Ms. Dimple reveals

She explains how gut health issues progress from simple symptoms like bloating and gas to more complex conditions if left unaddressed. The key lies in early intervention and being proactive rather than reactive. Those who succeed in healing their gut address these early warning signs rather than waiting for advanced symptoms to develop.

Q. How can people differentiate between genuine wellness practices and marketing hype?

“Genuine wellness practices are those that have withstood the test of time,”
Ms. Dimple emphasizes.

She points to Ayurvedic rituals that have proven their worth over millennia:

“Something like an Ayurvedic ritual like oil pulling, gargling, brushing, tongue scraping, abhyangam, nasyam – these are practices that have been followed for almost 5,000 years.”

A trending diet is generally flashy, new and promising miracle results in 7 days, whereas ancient wisdom that is time tested, like eating seasonal foods and maintaining meal timings, carries the weight of generations of experience. Ms. Dimple notes that marketing hypes often come tied to specific products or services, while genuine wellness practices stand independent of brand names.

Q. When someone is eating "healthy" but still feeling unwell, what crucial elements are they usually missing?

Ms. Dimple highlights a crucial oversight in modern healthy eating: “The combinations could be wrong.” She introduces the concept of ‘virudh aahar’ – the science of food combinations. Imagine having the world’s finest orchestra players but seating them randomly and asking them to play without coordination. The result? Chaos, not symphony. Similarly, even the healthiest ingredients can create discord in our body when improperly combined.

“Something as simple as mixing fruits with dairy leads to bloating, gas, flatulence, indigestion, toxicity in the gut, and can even lead to allergies and skin issues.”

This explains why that “healthy” smoothie bowl with yogurt and fruits might not be serving you as well as you think! The key lies not just in what we eat, but in understanding how different foods interact within our unique body constitution.

Q: How do you help people distinguish between their body's true needs and conditioned cravings?

“Your body’s true needs would be desire for fruits, for vegetables, for grains and pulses,”
~ Ms. Dimple explains.

She draws an interesting parallel between seasonal cravings and conditioned ones. When you crave watermelon in summer, that’s your body’s intelligence at work. But when you can’t function without your morning chai, that’s more likely an addiction masquerading as a need.

Think of it like the difference between being truly hungry versus eating because you’re bored or stressed. True bodily needs align with nature’s rhythms – craving warm soups in winter or cooling foods in summer versus conditioned cravings, which act on whims and cravings, regardless of what’s actually good for the body.

Q. In our high-stress world, which traditional food principles become even more relevant and why?

“In a high stress world, the number one rule is to always eat cooked foods,”
~ Ms. Dimple advises

She emphasizes mindful eating practices: “Sit down quietly, peacefully and eat your food. Use your five fingers instead of using a spoon and fork. This allows messages to go from your fingers to the brain on what kind of digestive juices to produce.”

In our world of desk lunches and Netflix dinners, these traditional principles become anchors of wellness. It serves as a reminder that this nourishment goes beyond mere calorie intake.

Q. How do you help families navigate different dietary needs while maintaining connection through food?

Ms. Dimple outlines the three phases of life and their dietary needs: Kapha (0-14 years), Pitta (14-40 years), and Vata (40+ years). It’s like having different instruments in an orchestra – each plays its own part, but together they create harmony. A growing child needs their protein-rich foods like a developing plant needs more water, while a senior might need more fiber-rich foods like a mature tree needs different nutrients.

The beauty lies in understanding these differences while maintaining the shared experience of meals. It’s possible to serve the same basic meal with mindful modifications – perhaps less spice for the children, more fiber-rich additions for the elders, and moderate portions for the adults in their Pitta phase.

Q. How do you help people trust their body's signals again after years of ignoring them?

“The first thing I would recommend is doing a Panchakarma treatment, where you do a complete cleanse of your body,”
~ Ms. Dimple suggests

Think of it as resetting your body’s communication system. Just as we occasionally need to restart our phones to clear the glitches, our bodies sometimes need a reset to clear the static in our internal communication lines.

This isn’t just about physical cleansing – it’s about relearning our body’s language. When we clear away the interference of toxins and unhealthy bacteria, our body’s true signals become clearer

The Path Forward

The wisdom shared by Ms. Dimple Jangda resonates deeply with our mission of promoting holistic wellness through time-tested practices. Her insights remind us that true health is not just about what we eat, but how we eat, when we eat, and our relationship with food itself. It’s about rediscovering the ancient wisdom that can guide us toward better health.

Ready to begin your own journey of discovery and healing? At Kaivalyadhama, we’ve been guiding seekers on this path since 1924, combining ancient wisdom with modern understanding. Visit www.kdham.com to explore our programs and take the first step toward a more balanced, mindful approach to health.

~ Interviewed by Ritika S