Ayurveda has always focused on the importance of the concept of dinacharya, a concept of living life in a way that aligns with the energies that prevail in nature in a day. A similar concept even science has been talking about associating circadian rhythm with our physical, mental, hormonal, emotional, physiological and psychological experiences in life. The beauty of the Ayurveda concept of dinacharya and the modern concept of circadian rhythm is that both emphasize the specific energy prevailing in the environment at different times of the day, impacting everything from digestion, metabolism, detoxification etc.
What is Ayurveda Dinacharya?
Ayurveda dinacharya elaborates on following a daily discipline and performing certain activities at specific times of the day to best support the body’s internal balance. Ayurveda highly honours the fact that our biological clocks must be in sync with the sleep and wake-up cycle or the circadian cycles of nature. Dinacharya gives us a framework to follow and design our daily routines in a specific way, including waking, exercising, bathing, meditation, prayer, meals, studying, working, relaxing, and sleeping, all done at the right time as it aligns with nature and our body functioning.
What is Circadian Rhythm?
Circadian Rhythm is a science-driven study to determine how to live, eat, and breathe in harmony with nature. In 2017, three physiologists were awarded with Nobel Prize for their research on the body’s clock and circadian rhythms. They revealed that biological rhythms are the natural cyclical changes in our body and are deeply connected to the cycles in nature or the circadian rhythms. Body processes vary based on solar and lunar-related rhythms. The hypothalamus governs the master clock in our brain and aligns our body’s physiological functions to a roughly 24-hour cycle. The body dances to the tunes of the interplay of light and darkness.
Body Functioning Associated with Circadian Rhythm
According to science, it’s proven in research how these internal clocks controlled by the hypothalamus control hormonal activity, the body’s inflammation levels, detoxification processes, digestion, sleep cycle, weight management, and much more. This internal clock is body intelligence that aligns the body to physiological pathways to do certain things at certain times. For example, the liver detoxifies mid-night in a state of complete rest.
Impact of Chronodisruption
Chronodisruption is a term used to define the disconnection from circadian rhythms. A state of chronodisruption has been linked to a host of health concerns including poor metabolism, hormonal imbalance, sleep concerns, poor cognitive function, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, reduced performance, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
How to Reset Circadian Rhythm?
Ayurveda dinacharya gives us a laid framework that is meant to keep us best aligned with our circadian rhythm.
- Morning hours as per Ayurveda must be utilized to meditate, exercise, detox, clean the body, activate digestion, and strengthen the muscles to get ready for the day ahead.
- Breakfast must be whole and nutritious especially naturally sweet to calm the gut and strengthen the will.
- Lunch must be the heaviest meal of the day comprising of all six tastes – sweet, acidic, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
- Afternoon naps must be avoided as they may hinder with body’s detox processes as high kapha condition may manifest with afternoon nap making the body dull and lethargic inside out.
- Sunset time holds special relevance in Ayurveda signifying a balance between day and night. This is the time for evening prayers and meditations to manage the anxiety of transition.
- Dinner according to Ayurveda must be between 6-7 pm, just at sunset in the areas between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. It gives the body ample time to digest the food and supports the body detoxing at bedtime and during a state of deep sleep.
- It is best to start sleep between 9 and 10 pm and allow the detox organs enough time to perform detoxification a few hours after we get into deep sleep.