"I lost 65+ pounds using your calorie calculator" Try it It's free
Hot Belly Diet
The Hot Belly Diet is a program based on an Ayurvedic Diet to support healthy digestion.
The book’s author, Dr. Suhas G. Kshirsagar, is internationally recognized in the ancient science of Ayurveda, which emphasizes a holistic approach to health.
Kshirsagar claims that most people can lose 8-10 pounds within 30 days on this plan.
Hot Belly Diet Basics
The Hot Belly Diet is based on Ayurvedic concept of “digestive fire” – also referred to as Agni.
In Ayurveda a healthy digestive system is seen as the cornerstone of good health and optimal metabolism.
Strong agni is also responsible for the absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste products. When agni is weak toxic residues build up and get trapped in the body, which can lead to health problems.
7 Signs of Healthy Agni
- Vibrant Energy
- Clear, glowing skin
- Mental clarity
- Brightness in the eyes
- Sensation of hunger for next meal
- Regular bowel movements
- Well-formed stools
30-Day Diet Plan
The foundation of the program is a three-phase eating plan designed to naturally enhance your digestive fire.
Phase 1: Prepare (Days 1-3)
In the first three days you will detox your body, eliminate cravings and rev your metabolic engine. This phase begins to activate your digestive power for optimal digestion.
You will eliminate the following foods:
Sugar, meat, processed carbs, artificial sweeteners and full-fat dairy.
Phase 2: Accelerate (Days 4-26)
For the bulk of the program you follow a specific protocol with a meal plan that is laid out day-by-day. The goal of this phase is to stimulate appetite and prepare your digestive system for efficient nutrient extraction.
You will consume your largest meal in the middle of the day – when digestion is strongest.
It is also important to avoid snacking so as to allow your hunger to build between meals. These practices will help you rebuild your agni for a healthy appetite and more efficient digestion.
Phase 3: Transform (Days 27-30 and Beyond)
The last four days are used to teach you how to keep losing weight as you introduce certain foods back into the diet.
A castor oil cleanse on the last day is optional for flushing the gastrointestinal tract, especially the gallbladder and liver.
Recommended Foods
Hot Belly Diet Recommends the following foods:
Mung beans, basmati rice, quinoa, oatmeal, sprouted bread, black beans, low-fat yogurt, eggs, chicken, fish, tofu, blueberries, raspberries, apples, mango, spinach, parsley, red cabbage, spaghetti squash, asparagus, potato, avocado, pumpkin seeds, almond butter, dark chocolate, green tea.
Mung beans, basmati rice, quinoa, oatmeal, sprouted bread, black beans, low-fat yogurt, eggs, chicken, fish, tofu, blueberries, raspberries, apples, mango, spinach, parsley, red cabbage, spaghetti squash, asparagus, potato, avocado, pumpkin seeds, almond butter, dark chocolate, green tea.
Sample Meal Plan
| Breakfast
Coconut Cucumber Smoothie |
| Lunch
Braised Chicken with Cilantro Reduction Sauce |
| Dinner
Kale and Mandarin Salad |
| Evening Snack
1 piece 70 percent dark chocolate |
Walk for 20 Minutes
It is recommended to walk for at least twenty minutes after each meal, ideally within minutes of your last bite. This stimulates the production of healthy biochemicals and digestive fire.
Strenuous workout are discouraged in phase 1 and 2 while you are purging and resetting your body. By phase 2 aim to incorporate yoga into your fitness regime two or three times a week.
In phase 3 and beyond you can begin to incorporate heavy weight training or high intensity cardio.
Costs and Expenses
The Hot Belly Diet: A 30-Day Ayurvedic Plan to Reset Your Metabolism, Lose Weight, and Restore Your Body’s Natural Balance to Heal Itself retails at $26.
Available from Amazon →
Pros
- Focuses on consuming a variety of fresh, organic, and unprocessed foods.
- Can help to improve digestive function and general health.
- Offers a gentle method for cleansing and detoxification.
- Includes a 30-day meal plan with recipes.
Cons
- Necessary to prepare your own meals for the duration of the 30-day program.
- The castor oil cleanse may result in nausea and other digestive discomfort.
- Does not allow dieters much flexibility in terms of meal timing and food choices.
Improves Digestive Fire
Improving digestive fire is a traditional Ayurvedic method for enhancing general health and eliminating toxins from the body.
The Hot Belly Diet may be a good option for dieters who have not responded well to raw diets or juice fasting. It will appeal to those looking for a gentle detox diet that includes a structured daily meal plan.
Enhancing digestive function can also restore metabolism and promote general wellbeing, which supports natural and effortless weight loss.
-
References
- Yan, F., & Polk, D. B. (2010). Probiotics: progress toward novel therapies for intestinal diseases. Current opinion in gastroenterology, 26(2), 95. link
- Koebnick, C., Garcia, A. L., Dagnelie, P. C., Strassner, C., Lindemans, J., Katz, N., … & Hoffmann, I. (2005). Long-term consumption of a raw food diet is associated with favorable serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides but also with elevated plasma homocysteine and low serum HDL cholesterol in humans. The Journal of nutrition, 135(10), 2372-2378. link
- Patel, C., & North, W. R. S. (1979). Randomized controlled trial of yoga and biofeedback in management of hypertension. In Mind/body integration (pp. 535-540). Springer US. link
I have a medical diet plan that I’d like to make compatible with the Ayervadic method and would like to help.