Is Eating Kicheri Daily Healthy for Digestion and Detox

Question

recently started eating kicheri every day for lunch after hearing it’s a staple in Ayurvedic detox diets. I wanted something simple and easy on my stomach because I’ve been struggling with digestion issues like bloating and irregular bowel movements. It feels light, and I enjoy it, but I’m a bit confused about whether it’s okay to eat kicheri daily.

Is there any downside to eating kicheri so often? Could it lack essential nutrients or cause any imbalances in the body? Also, I’m using white rice and yellow moong dal – is this the right combo for digestive health, or should I be adding other ingredients? I’ve heard ghee is a must, but I’m avoiding it due to cholesterol concerns.

Dr Sujal Patil · Accepted Answer

Eating kichari daily can be beneficial, especially for digestion issues, as it’s easy to digest and nourishing. However, like any food, it’s important to ensure variety in your diet and avoid over-reliance on one meal.

Kichari, being light and detoxifying, is great for digestive issues like bloating. However, if eaten exclusively or too frequently, it may lack the variety needed for other essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Incorporating different grains, legumes, vegetables, and proteins can help ensure you're getting a balanced diet.

The combination of white rice and yellow moong dal is generally great for digestion, as they are easy to digest and help balance Vata and Pitta doshas. However, adding vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or spinach will enhance the fiber content and provide more nutrients. You might also consider switching to brown rice occasionally for extra fiber and nutrients.

Ghee is highly recommended in Ayurveda for its digestive benefits and nourishing qualities, but if you're avoiding it for cholesterol reasons, you can skip it. Instead, you can try using coconut oil or sesame oil, which also have health benefits and are lighter alternatives.

Eating kichari every day may cause an imbalance if it’s not prepared with a variety of spices or complementary foods. For long-term use, it's ideal to rotate meals to ensure your body gets a broader range of nutrients, and avoid eating it exclusively for all meals.

If you're feeling good and seeing improvements, that’s a great sign! Just make sure to introduce variety into your diet to support overall nutrition.

Dr. Ayush Varma · Answer

Eating kicheri daily can definitely be beneficial, especially when you're aiming for something easy on your digestion. It's a classic in Ayurveda for a reason, right? Light on the stomach, nourishing, and pretty balanced. But yeah, eating the same thing every day can sometimes make ya miss out on nutrients you’d get from other foods, ya know?

Kicheri's great ‘cause it’s easy to digest while providing proteins from moong dal and carbs from rice. You're using white rice and yellow moong dal, which is totally fine for digestion, especially if you're having issues with bloating and irregularity – it's less likely to irritate your gut.

But variety is the spice of life (quite literally in Ayurveda!). Consider adding seasonal veggies like carrots, spinach, or zucchini; this'll up your nutrient intake. And little bit of cumin, turmeric, ginger or asafoetida could help balance the digestion process by improving agni (your digestive fire), and reducing vata dosha (which usually causes bloating).

Now, about avoiding ghee – I get it, cholesterol concerns are real. However, ghee's actually praised in Ayurveda for boosting digestion and metabolism because it enhances agni. Unless you've got a specific medical condition, small amounts might be just fine. Maybe chat with a healthcare pro to get their take on it. Alternatively, you could use olive oil or coconut oil if you prefer.

Just keep an eye out - if you feel your digestion's getting sluggish, or you're lacking energy, maybe it’d be good to incorporate more diverse grains or proteins occasionally to ensure you're not missing key nutrients. And drinking some warm water with your meals can also aid digestion. Hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture!

Is Eating Kicheri Daily Healthy for Digestion and Detox - #1829

Doctors’ responses

If you need a detailed answer, ask the Ayurvedic doctor your question

About our doctors

Related questions

Popular questions

Doctors online

Latest reviews