Sneezing, burping and farting: 12 natural urges you should never stop

How often have you held in a sneeze or stopped yourself from burping? We all know that feeling when we need to burp or fart at the most inconvenient time, like during a first date or an important meeting. But before you try to hold it in, know that these bodily functions are actually important for our health. We have always been taught to be embarrassed of our natural body functions like yawning, burping or farting, but do you know that trying to suppress them may do worse to your health. In fact, according to Ayurveda, there are 12 body urges or vegas that we should never ignore. So, let’s take a look at natural urges of your body you should never suppress.

What are vegas in Ayurveda?

Our body is an incredibly complex and sophisticated machine. It is designed to give us signals when it needs something, and these signals are not to be ignored. As per Ayurveda, these silent signals are known as vegas, which are the natural urges that our body sends us to eliminate certain waste and toxins. These urges are a natural detoxification process by which the body tries to protect itself. Therefore, when we get these signals, we should attend to them immediately.

Body urges you should never suppress

In a recent Instagram post, Shynee Narang, certified yoga Instructor and an Ayurveda expert, shared about these 12 body urges which one should never stop. According to a study published in ResearchGate, suppression of these urges will result in Vata aggravation and ultimately may lead to various pathologies in body. Let’s take a look!

1. Sneeze: The first urge that we should never ignore is sneezing. When we sneeze, our body tries to get rid of irritants that may have entered our nose, such as dust, pollen, or other foreign substances. A study published in American Journal of Otolaryngology that suppressing a sneeze can lead to ear and sinus problems. That means sneezing is basically healthy for our body and one should never hold in a sneeze.

2. Yawn: Yawning is also an important bodily function that helps to regulate our breathing and brain oxygen levels.

3. Drink water: It is an urge that we should never ignore. Our body is composed of over 60 percent water, and we need to keep ourselves hydrated throughout the day. Our body sends us signs of dehydration when it needs water, and we should immediately attend to it.

4. Eat: Eating is another essential bodily function that we should never ignore. Our body sends us signals when it needs food, and we should listen to it. When we eat, our body breaks down the food into nutrients and energy that we need to carry out our daily activities.

5. Sleep: We should never suppress our sleep. Our body needs rest and sleep to repair and regenerate cells. When we sleep, our body eliminates toxins and waste products, making us feel refreshed and energized when we wake up.

6. Weep: Weeping or crying is a natural human emotion that should not be suppressed. When we cry, our body releases stress hormones and toxins, making us feel better emotionally and physically.

Also read: Is crying at work a sign of weakness?

7. Cough: Coughing is a natural reflex that helps to clear our airways of mucus and irritants.

8. Pooping and urinating: Again these are extremely important body functions that must not be ignored or delayed. This is the body’s natural way to eliminate waste and toxins from our body. According to a study published in the journal PubMed Central, holding in bowel movements can lead to constipation and other digestive issues.

9. Ejaculation: It is a natural bodily function that helps to release semen and toxins from the body.

10. Puke: Vomiting is also a natural reflex that helps to eliminate toxins and harmful substances from the body.

11. Breathing on exertion: This is a natural bodily function that helps to regulate our breathing and oxygen levels during physical activity.

12. Burping and farting: These are also functions that help to eliminate gas and toxins from our body and keep your digestive system healthy.

It is essential to note that holding back these urges forcibly or artificially can cause serious damage to our body and mind in the long run. The toxins and waste products held back can damage the cells and organs of our body, leading to various health problems.