Abstract

*Dr. Shivya Singh, Dr. Varnika Aggarwal, Dr. M.B. Gaur

ABSTRACT

The global rise in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has emerged as a major public health concern, contributing significantly to the increasing prevalence of non- communicable diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other lifestyle disorders. While contemporary nutritional science attributes these adverse health outcomes to factors such as poor nutritional quality, chronic inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction, the concept of Agni provides a comprehensive physiological framework for understanding these effects from an Ayurvedic perspective. Agni, regarded as the fundamental principle governing digestion, metabolism, tissue transformation, and maintenance of homeostasis, plays a pivotal role in preserving health. This narrative review aims to explore the conceptual relationship between Agni and ultra-processed foods by integrating classical Ayurvedic principles with current scientific evidence. Relevant concepts were compiled from the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and Ashtanga Sangraha, while contemporary literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. The review suggests that the characteristics of ultra-processed foods—including excessive refinement, repeated thermal processing, incorporation of artificial additives, prolonged storage, and poor nutrient density—closely resemble dietary factors described as impairing Agni. Persistent consumption of these foods may lead to Agnimandya, resulting in Ama formation, Srotorodha, impaired tissue metabolism, and progressive development of lifestyle disorders. Furthermore, emerging evidence linking UPFs with gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial impairment demonstrate notable conceptual parallels with the Ayurvedic understanding of Agni dysfunction. This integrative perspective highlights the enduring relevance of Agni in understanding modern dietary challenges and underscores the importance of preserving digestive and metabolic integrity through the consumption of fresh, minimally processed foods. Further interdisciplinary research is warranted to validate Agni-based concepts using contemporary biomedical markers and clinical outcomes.