Do you ever feel cold after eating? Do you ever feel tired, dull or dizzy after eating? There are many opinions and interpretations as to the cause of these phenomena.

Some doctors attribute these experiences to low iron, low blood count, or low or high blood pressure. Others believe that a low carbohydrate diet will cause you to feel chilled after eating. Stress and intensity can also contribute to this experience. Most will agree that your blood is being drawn to and focused on your digestive process. This diverts blood away from your extremities as well as your cognitive brain.

In a healthy body, feeling chilled after eating is a sign of an imbalance in the digestion. With a properly functioning digestion, you should actually feel a little warm after eating. By firing up the digestive enzymes, which break down your food, heat is generated and can be felt throughout the body.

Without spending a lot of time investigating why you feel cold after eating, it is sufficient to say there is a weakness in your digestive process or you are eating improper foods. There are a few simple guidelines that will help strengthen your digestion and keep your body balanced during this natural process.

You should think of food as nourishing medicine for your bodies. While eating can be entertaining, you need to maintain an awareness of what you are consuming and how it effects your body and mind. If you feel cold after eating you should begin by eliminating cold, raw foods from your diet. This includes salads, ice cream, cold drinks, frozen foods as well as any vegetables or refrigerated foods that have not been cooked.

All foods should be lightly cooked, whether it be sautéed, steamed, baked or broiled. Your entire meal should be warm and nourishing. Favor sweet (wheat, milk and rice), sour (yogurt, tomatoes and citrus) and salty foods. Do not overeat, as that can also make you feel cold after eating. You should sip hot water during your meals and throughout the day. After your meals, a short walk (15-30 minutes) will aid your digestion.

A great aid to prevent feeling chilled after eating is to eat a “ginger pickle” about 15-30 minutes before your meals. This involves taking a thin slice of fresh ginger and a thin slice of fresh lime and sprinkling lightly with salt. Eating a ginger pickle before each meal will quickly strengthen your digestive enzymes, clear your liver and prepare your stomach and intestines for the process of digestion. This is also an excellent remedy for nausea, whether it is from flu, pregnancy or seasickness.

It is also important to have pleasant conversation during meals. You are metabolizing your emotions during meals along with the food itself so light enjoyable company and conversation is preferable. If you practice these guidelines for a minimum of ten days, you will strengthen your digestion and gain maximum value from the food you eat. By balancing your body so that you no longer feel cold after eating you will have a nice warm comforting experience, indicating a happy, healthy body.