discussion on the time to allow between meals
dr. mark pimentel recommends going at least 4 hours, preferably 5 hours between meals - readies digestion for next meal and promotes more cleaning waves in small intestine
dr. vasant lad indicates it takes 6 hours or more to digest a meal, as there are six stages of digestion, reflecting the six tastes
Lad, Dr. Vasant. Textbook of Ayurveda Vol. 1, Ayurvedic Press, 2001.
by giving the body time to digest the previous meal, we learn to sense true hunger and build “agni”, or the digestive fire
“Every time you put food in your mouth, the computer program of the gut switches from cleaning mode to eating or digesting mode”.
“If you put food in your mouth every hour of the daytime, you will never have cleaning waves”.
“Don’t eat right before bed. Nighttime is the longest time you are not eating. This is the time of the day where the greatest number of cleaning waves are seen”.
dr. mark pimentel, cedars-sinai medical center https://www.siboinfo.com/uploads/5/4/8/4/5484269/low_fermentation_diet.pdf
the six stages of digestion:
each of the six tastes each represent a stage of digestion, approx. one hour per stage.
madhura avastha paka, or “sweet” stage - one may feel heavy or dull just after a meal
amla avastha paka - “sour” stage -lighter stomach, possible heartburn, secretion of enzymes and acids
“salty” stage - lavana avastha paka - takes place in the duodenum (1st part of small intestine). emulsification, liver component, pancreatic enzymes.
“pungent” stage - katu avastha paka - in the jejunum of the small intestine enzymes continue to break down food - hot, sharp, and subtle qualities, initial absorption of nutrients
tikta avastha paka - “bitter” stage - in the ileum of the small intestine, nutrients absorbed through villi. since ether and air predominate, their light qualities can stimulate false hunger.
“astringent” stage - kashaya avastha paka - in the cecum of large intestine. astringent taste is necessary for the absorption of certain vitamins, minerals, water in the colon. true hunger develops at this stage
Lad, Dr. Vasant. Textbook of Ayurveda Vol. 1, pp. 253-257. Ayurvedic Press, 2001.
perhaps most importantly, and based on traditional healing, eat only when you are truly hungry!