Exploring the concept of na ati druta asniyat with special reference to Agni

Abstract

Ayurveda emphasizes not only the quality and quantity of food but also the manner of eating. Na Ati Druta Asniyat—the instruction to avoid eating too fast—is one of the key principles of Ahara Vidhi Vidhana described by Acharya Charaka in vimansthana. This rule plays a crucial role in the maintenance of Agni, the central factor governing digestion, metabolism, and health. Rapid eating disturbs the physiological process of digestion, leading to Agnidushti and formation of Ama, which further predisposes an individual to various digestive and systemic disorders. Modern research supports this concept by linking fast eating to impaired enzymatic digestion, altered satiety signaling, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders. This paper explores the concept of Na Ati Druta Asniyat with special reference to Agni and correlates it with contemporary scientific understanding of digestion and enzyme physiology.