India, Sept. 27 -- Breakfast advice has become oddly specific. One morning you are told to eat soaked almonds; another day, fruit is the answer; and somewhere on social media, a new morning drink is being presented as indispensable. Ayurveda approaches the question rather differently. What you eat first matters, but so do your appetite, digestive strength, constitution, and even the season. The goal isn't to find one perfect breakfast. It is to start eating when your digestive system is ready and choose something it can handle comfortably.

Ayurveda describes digestion through the concept of agni, or digestive fire. Its strength isn't the same in everyone. It may vary depending on your sleep, the previous night's meal, activity level, and...