How to balance a fast digestion
For this conditions of intense fire, a cool, moist (but not too oily) and rather heavy diet is required. When the digestion is fast, sharp and strong, the appetite is increased and digestion manages to cope with overeating and with forbidden food combinations, but in turn causes poor blood quality, liver overload, skin disorders, inflammations and infections.
The flavors that soothe excess Heat are sweet, bitter and astringent. Best avoid spicy, sour, salty and oil rich foods. Foods with astringency such as fresh sweet pomegranate and legumes can help reduce inflammation and swelling in a fiery digestive tract. Demulcent foods like oatmeal, tapioca, and okra can soothe inflamed tissues. Anti-microbial such as sage can abate inflammation from bacteria and other pathogens. Licorice anti-inflammatory and soothing demulcent qualities can restore tissue that has been damaged from allergic reactions. Balancing excess fire systemically can help reduce excessive enzyme secretions.
For balancing this condition consume raw, cool and low-fat foods. Avoid fried foods, long-cooked foods and sticky, rich foods that can cause liver blockages.
 Summary of recommended dietary habits:
- Routine – maintain regular meal routine, meals at fixed hours. Avoid situations of pronounced hunger!
- Frequency and quantity of food – eat 3-6 times a day. 3 full meals and 3 snacks. A night snack may be appropriate.
- Complex meals – You can eat varied meals with a relatively large number of ingredients.
- Rhythm and awareness – eat very slowly, with complete attention. Avoid talking, watching screens, working or driving while eating.
- Emotional state – It is best to approach the meal in a relaxed mood and a sense of gratitude. Avoid irritation especially during mealtime, although this recommendation is also valid for the time between meals…
- Food is less cooked – the food should undergo only short cooking and it is possible to eat fresh foods that have not been cooked. The food on the plate can be warm or lukewarm or chilly.
- Fresh foods – for this condition it is best to eat as fresh as possible, since the longer food is kept, the more sour it will become.
- Food texture – The food can be wet or damp but not too oily. Demulcent foods like oatmeal, tapioca, and okra can soothe inflamed tissues.
- Eat foods that have a cooling and slowing down quality, such as legumes, tofu, wheat, rice, pumpkin, potatoes, milk, soft cheese, avocado and watermelon.
- Minimize or avoid the use of spices.
- Sweet food may be appropriate after a meal.
- Drink water before meals, as well as during or after meals as needed.
- You can rest or nap a little after eating
Cereal grains:
Most cereals, including bread and pasta, are appropriate, since they are grounding, relaxing but are not too heating in nature. The most suitable are whole grain bulgur, whole grain couscous, whole grain semolina, round brown rice, sweet rice, whole spelt, whole oats, oats muesli, barley, corn, whole wheat bread, noodles and pasta from whole meal flour.
Legumes:
Because legumes are relatively hard to digest, cooling and heavy, they are highly recommended for a sharp digestion. The best would be tofu, tempeh, black beans, white beans, black eyed peas, green mung beans, green lentils, chickpeas.
Cooked vegetables:
Most cooked vegetables are good for this condition during the winter or when weakness is pronounced. The recommended cooking methods are steaming, infusion with boiling water or stir-fry with minimum oil.
Very good are cilantro, cauliflower, sunflower sprouts, celery, okra, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, lettuce, green beans, green peas, chard, fennel, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, heart of artichoke, mushrooms, Kohlrabi, corn, potato.
Live vegetables:
Celery, cucumber, fennel, kohlrabi and cabbage will help slow down digestion pace. Other good vegetables are American lettuce, endive and sunflower sprouts.
Algae:
The most appropriate is the Wakame seaweed followed by Aramah, preferably as a salad.
Animal food: (quality is very significant)
Animal foods are very heating and are not the first choice for this condition. When this type of food is needed, a good choice is eggs, especially the whites. Chicken breast and turkey also can fit. Fish, beef and mutton do slow digestion in the short run, but add a lot of heat to the system in the long term, so it is best to avoid them.
Milk and dairy products: (quality is very significant)
Dairy products can be an excellent remedy for the rapid and sharp digestion. Most appropriate are milk and sweet cream. White cheese, cottage cheese and non-salted cheeses can also be helpful and, exceptionally, ice cream can be used occasionally. Sweet yogurt may be appropriate occasionally.
Fruits:
Most fruits are good for this condition because they soothe, cool and quench thirst. Fruit juices are also good. Best choices are apple, pear, persimmon, guava, melon, watermelon, banana, mango, figs, and dates.
Nuts and seeds:
Since most nuts and seeds have an oily and heating nature, use them moderately. Good choices are coconut, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Oils:
The most suitable are unsalted butter and ghee. Also good are coconut oil, avocado, organic cold pressed sunflower oil and soybean oil.
Sweeteners:
In general, sweeteners favor this condition and soothe the burning fire, but be aware not to eat too much of this category. The more natural the sweetener; the better. Best options are Sugar cane juice, fresh honey, date syrup, carob syrup.
Spices:
Spices may increase heat and stimulate digestion, so are best minimized or avoided. If used, choose carefully and pay attention to dosage. Acceptable cooling spics are coriander seeds, fennel seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, and turmeric.
Beverages:
This condition needs a good amount of fluids. Cooled water is very suitable. Very good are Black or green tea, cold infusions of coriander seeds, rose petals, fennel seeds, chamomile, hibiscus. Fruit juices (apple, pear, melon) and vegetable juices (e.g. celery and green apple) and smoothies are good. Alcohol is better avoided.
Optional daily menu for this condition:
Drink options following awakening: A cold infusion of coriander seeds (soaked overnight).
7:00 Breakfast:
Oatmeal porridge or semolina porridge or wheat flour porridge. Cook the porridge in cow / almond / coconut milk. Add raisins and shredded coconut.
Chapati / whole wheat bread with cream cheese, ghee/butter/almond paste, cucumber and lettuce salad.
Green smoothies with fruit and coconut.
10:00 Snack:
Sliced vegetables or salad, with white/cottage cheese.
Chapati / whole wheat bread, cream cheese, ghee/butter/almond paste, cucumber and lettuce salad.
Green smoothies with fruit and coconut.
13:00 Lunch:
Vegetarian meal:
Barley grits / spelt / bulgur or pasta, 40% of the meal
Steamed or stirred vegetables, 30% of the meal
Legumes and / or cheese, 30% of the meal
Or
Non vegetarian meal:
Cooked grain, 50% of the meal
Salad, 30% of the meal
Chicken / turkey breast, 20% of the meal
16:00 Snack:
Fresh fruits.
Chapati or bread with a suitable sweet spread (ghee, date syrup, almond spread, carob syrup, honey, etc.).
19:00 Dinner:
Oatmeal porridge or semolina porridge or wheat flour porridge, cooked in cow / almond milk.
Vegetable soup, mung and grits and wheat noodles.
Chapatti or bread with a suitable spread (cream cheese, butter, legume spread, tofu spread), soft boiled eggs.
Semolina/bulgur and vegetable pie.
Semolina banana pancake
Noodles or spaghetti with vegetable sauce and cream.
22:00 before bedtime:
A glass of almond milk or cow milk