Enjoy festival dishes, make them healthier : 7 tips

Few simple tips to enjoy the taste and health too!

1. Replace white sugar with natural sweetners like sweet dry fruits e.g. dates, dry dates in sufficient quantity. If you need to add sugar, either choose 'jaggery' /'gud' to replace else use organic brown sugar, palm sugar or coconut sugar etc.

      2. Replace regular salt with Rock salt (Pink Himalayan) or organic Sea salt, Black salt to sprinkle where it can be used, still serving the purpose of health and taste both.

3.   Replace Refined, processed oils with unprocessed, unrefined natural oils. You may use pure mustard oil, ground oil, sesame oil or coconut oil or 'deshi' ghee etc. as required for the dish, for cooking.

4.      

      4. Replace 'maida' or refined wheat with healthier versions like whole wheat, besan or millets where appropriate, otherwise mix wheat or 'rava' with 'maida'  and use. Remember, fibre like 'chokar' in wheat flour, is good for digestion. 

       Try to use organic & fresh flour of different varieties, as best suitable, to cook dishes plus keeping the family happy too. This adds to multiple tastes, balances grain intake and takes care of health.

 5  5. Eat fresh, avoid all stale food as best possible. Prepare / buy festival dishes in smaller quantity as needed, so they do not stack in cupboards for longer duration. If required, another portion of fresh snacks can be added later.

6.  Cook few dishes at home, together with family members, as possible. This ensures healthier food, happier feeling of celebration and is environmental friendly too.

7.  Replace your regular meal with festival special dish. Do not overeat, by consuming extra, just because it is festival. This doesn’t allow one to feel active or enjoy, but people start feeling sick or lethargic soon. Let others know you are full and shall take the served delicacy later.

     Festival celebration doesn’t mean we fall sick afterwards, when we consume required portion, we enjoy the food and festival more.

First Aid using Acupressure therapy

 

A young teenager skid from his bike on the road as he passed by me. He fell hard, mouth started bleeding, lip got cut, and some blood came from palms & feet due to injury.

Many people ran there along with myself. I was wearing white coat of Acupressure Sansthan (Aspeus) and hence got easily designated as the doctor by the crowd.

I took out my Acupressure therapy kit and started treating the boy – first point for bleeding, which stopped soon. As I realized his anxiety and trembling, I treated for those symptoms, next.

It was probably 2-3 min since the accident. The boy started talking normally by now, and told passers-by he feels okay and can go home on his own. Most people left, on hearing this.

The pain was still much as he was moaning and making some sounds. I treated for that and gave couple of more points to help him settle down, mentally. Within next minute he stopped groaning.

A known person to boy, probably his family friend or neighbour was passing by. He came up and asked him in South Indian Muslim accent, ‘what happened?’  His next question was whether the boy needs to go to doctor?

The boy seemed comfortable by now, as he was able to talk in full sentences. He got up and told this person that he feels better and shall walk back home, while his bike shall remain parked there itself.

I told the relative, “Initial treatment has been done”, as was obvious to everyone.

Fellow onlookers thanked me for the work done. They felt surprised that I wasn’t related to the boy. “We all felt he was your little brother or son all this while”, they told me. I realized that the boy had listened to me & responded accordingly, during the treatment, as an obedient & trusting patient.

That day, I felt a deep satisfaction within.


I still feel grateful as I remember the incident. The credit goes to my teachers from Ishan and Aspeus institute for knowledge of Acupressure therapy, instilling a value system and an ability, to help others in such situations.

This was second opportunity to provide first aid for an on-spot minor accident for me, within same month of 2019. In both cases the person felt fine enough to manage himself, his communication and further travel, within 4-5 minutes of therapy.

I thank the universe for blessings & support in this regard.

 

Back to nature- sitting on floor for health

In this post I am sharing about one habit, which has been quite helpful for me:

Sitting on the floor -
Yes it's that simple.

A few years ago, I had gained weight, rigidity, knee and other health issues, and was unable to sit on floor beyond a few minutes, with difficulty. I had got used to lifestyle of a MNC white-collar employee and needed stuff for my lifestyle. A few years later, after working on my health, today, I avoid using furniture every-time, I possibly can.

Furniture is not much of a requirement, in my opinion, especially in cities & season where temperature is close to normal. It however serves someone else's business requirements, hence all the marketing & stigma attached to it.
I do see, having good quality & quantity of furniture, as a big social status requirement. It is also needed for patients, who have already become sick enough to lose some flexibility and their ability to sit in different postures. This ease and support of chairs, stool etc. everywhere, every-time, is not the need of body. Too much comfort infact, is not good for health but we may have gotten habituated or trapped in modern ways.

Slowly and consciously, with focus on health, I have increased my time on floor, over 3-4 years, as I kept realizing it's benefits in multiple dimensions.

I am on the floor most of the day when possible and sleep on the floor as well.

I do my prayer , eating all 3 meals, reading and ofcourse 'pranayama' on the floor. At work also, I have put a mat and sit on it when reading or working on my own. When I do cooking preparation,  work on plants and clean up , I try either squatting or sitting on floor when feasible.

After each meal I get into 'Vajrasana' for around 10 minutes, when possible. This works great for digestion. While reading /writing, I try to start with 'Vajrasana' posture, as it keeps spine erect and then move into 'Sukhasana' or as comfortable and needed.

I have added some barefoot walking inside my house. Earlier, in my experience, I have noted healing benefits of walking on grass early morning, too.

Recently, even for drinking water, I have added posture of squatting on floor in 'Malasana', once or twice during the day. This is a recommended posture for eating and drinking in Ayurveda, as per my understanding.


Just adding such practices which enable being in touch with the ground, more often, during the day, help in frequent connection with the Earth. This is important as scientifically Earth plays a role similar to that of Earthing wire in Electric cables. It dissipates any excess energy, accumulated over a time period, in our body/mind system. Mother Earth also nourishes us and fulfills any energy deficiency. Our energy gets balanced and the body is normalized, which prevents onset of diseases due to imbalance of energy.

Not only does this practice work wonderfully for health of body &  mind, it also brings simplicity , humbleness,  gratitude to nature, normalcy and peace of mind within. Ego and stress, anxiety have a great chance of reduction too.

Being on furniture is unfortunately disconnecting and not great for our physical/mental/emotional health , nor it generally gives right posture,  as best suitable for our body. However, if possible sitting in any 'yog-asana' on the bed or chair might be better than the default posture per their design, in most cases.

This has been great in my experience, you may also want to try above suggestions and check out for yourself!

Natural remedies

Knee pain due to ligament injury, arthritis
1. Soak towel in hot water and give heat to knees for 20 min by wrapping with this.
2. Wipe off dry and massage with mustard oil.
3. Use crepe bandage or thick (e.g. cotton) cloth on the knee for 2-3 hrs
4. Repeat the procedure after 8-10 hrs.


For heavy blood flow during menstrual cycle:
1. Take rest- Keep lying down most of the time
2. Keep a wet towel below stomach for 20 min , every 2-3 hrs
3. Eat fruits, salads (Raw vegetables) , juices, curd - Avoid grains especially wheat, tea /coffee. Rice can be given - don't give anything hot just at normal or cool temperature.
4. Boil coriander seeds in water such that the quantity reduces by 1/3 rd - allow it to cool at room temperature for 4-5 hrs - take 2-3 spoons 3 times a day
5. In case there is heavy clotting, Ginger water can be given. Ginger thins blood, hence the flow will be more but clots will reduce substantially.

Ancient suggestions for Rainy season

Monsoon is the breeding season for insects, hence, it is recommended to give-up Green leafy vegetables, brinjal and non-veg food, for preventing diseases.

Milk might also have few newly bred insects, hence dairy products are best avoided during rains. 

People might like to take fried things during rains, these should be limited if digestion is slightly weak in monsoon. 

It is recommended to avoid any heavy to digest food (e.g. reduce wheat, rice, 'urad dal' and other pulses, beans and lentils etc.); 

Addition vegetable soups, sprouts, dry fruits etc. to the diet are good. One can avoid raw foods to protect from micro-organisms and eat cooked diet, during monsoon season.

'Saawan' month or rainy season is suitable month for fasting,  as per Hindu religion.
Sweet dishes are preferred, especially by those fasting during Hindu month of 'Saawan'. However, as sweet helps increase growth of microbes, hence it not recommended to eat except in small quantity.

If we follow 'satvic', light & fresh or natural diet during fasting and eat small quantity only , we can gain health benefits and lose weight as well.

It is also suggested to add some spiritual reading or practices during this time. 'Saawan' means 'to listen' , and listening to discourses by saints, is advised in ancient Hindu culture. During monsoon season, working on one's internal purification, is considered best, as it's a perfect season for self analysis and spiritual progress.

Here is a link to a post on how to take fast:
https://inaweofnature.blogspot.com/2017/07/fasting-heals.html?m=1

Is that cup of tea a requirement, really?

Tea/ Coffee addicts, please ask yourself one basic question: Why & when do I need tea/coffee?

Allow yourself to think deeply and come up with the statement of actual need. The result may be like:
1. To take a break
2. To socialize with others
3. I feel tired, if I don't
4. To feel energetic and awake
5. To have some fun eating snacks with tea
6. To be able to get back to work & think etc. etc.

Tea or coffee are no good for health and not a requirement. They stimulate the brain for few minutes, this link explains what they actually do.

Common disadvantages of having tea / coffee
1. These are temporary stimulants, fooling a tired brain to feel temporary kick and continue working for hours, when the body and mind actually need rest. This is harmful in the long run.
2. Usually, one takes tea in-between meals, when (s)he is not hungry. Most people usually add some snack or goodie with these drinks. These overload an almost full stomach, under work of digestion process. This is bad for the health of body and could be one cause of feeling stuffed, gastric , digestive issues and weight gain with continuing this as a habit for long time.
3. These drinks are usually taken hot, along with sugar. The tea or coffee is processed in factories and the milk is not pure but like an industry product too. Neither the heat , nor these constituents promote health but each has its own effects in causing issues, disturb health of body and mind, when consumed regularly over a period of time.

Why do I feel good after sipping my tea/coffee then ?
Yes, there is a temporary pleasure of taste and a kick given to mind associated with tea/ coffee. This is very short lived and the brain is impacted in a reverse manner soon.


What to do instead:
1. Take a break - sleep, talk to friends, walk, meditate, do pranayama or yoga, relax when your body, mind feels tired. Give it some time to naturally come back with energy and become ready for work, else allow a break ; being greedy or forceful can do harm to the brain / body in ways which may be visible as sickness, only after long time.

2. If you are hungry or want to have a short meal, take a fresh juice or fruits or vegetable salad. You may also take lassi, butter milk , dry fruits or any fresh, organic healthy food/drink. These will provide energy as required for work, rejuvenate the tired cells with life and bring good health in the long run. Rightly chosen shall be quite tasty too.

3. If you are addicted to having a hot drink or it helps your health in your living conditions etc. ; you may replace it with healthier / herbal tea options and take without sugar & milk.

Here is a recipe, which has helped few of us replace tea/ coffee easily with this healthy option:
https://inaweofnature.blogspot.com/2019/05/herbal-drink-recipe.html?m=1

4. If you are trying to change this habit,  go slow. Start replacing a few cups of tea/coffee in a week with  another drink, water and slowly increase this. Later, give tea/coffee only once in a while, as you develop taste for other drinks. This will ensure a long lasting habit formation.

For some people , it may work to take a pledge like only 1 cup tea in a week etc. or giving up tea/coffee for a month etc. and may then follow other tips to keep this pledge.

Make your break ,a health break,  not a coffee break!

Holistic approach towards self health care: why & how - short discussion

Holistic approach towards self-health care

 

The universe has created the body of all living beings such that it works as a holistic system. This implies that there are several relationships and dependencies among various parts like organs, vessels and cells etc. within.

All systems work together and have an impact on each other whether subtle or profound and visible.
For example: you may have experienced nausea along with headache, or rashes on skin of patients who have an issue of breathlessness. Similarly, someone who has indigestion problem may have frequent bad mood etc.

With establishment of these relationships, the gap is clear, as to what's missing in modern medicine system of specialists.
 It is also evident that why alternative system of therapies like Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Acupressure etc. are capable to resolve problems from root cause and help long term healing. These medicine practices look at body as one holistic system and hence can give permanent health solutions for several health issues without causing side effects.

Another point which becomes obvious here is that partial information, cannot be the right source to use for good diagnosis or treatment of root cause of problem. With half information, only short-lived, partial solutions may be possible.
For example if a patient has headache and also stomach ache, his treatment shall be different from another patient who has severe headache and dizziness.

Another reason to know the complete list of issues of a person, is to keep a check that remedy for one health problem does not aggravate another.
For example: if someone approaches therapist and tells about his issue of piles , the given medication to control bleeding may make B.P. low as a part of treatment. In case this person already suffers from low B.P. then this must be told to the physician from the beginning, so she or he can prescribe appropriate medicine taking into account all issues of the patient.

Hence, it is important to first consult a physician who can correlate all issues and advise. If needed a discussion with specialist for any complex problem, that can be added, but at no point the treatment should miss out on overall issues and holistic body systems.
Also, all diseases, symptoms and reports must be provided by the patient, to give complete information of the case to the doctor.

These may not only cause a change in the prescribed medication but also impact the results achieved from the treatment.

 

Hindi Google translation

 यह ब्लॉग अनुभवात्मक अधिगम को share करता है ▼ शुक्रवार, 21 जून 2019

मानव शरीर एक समग्र, जीवित मशीन है ब्रह्मांड ने सभी जीवित प्राणियों के शरीर को ऐसा बनाया है कि यह एक समग्र प्रणाली के रूप में काम करता है। इसका तात्पर्य है कि विभिन्न भागों जैसे अंगों और कोशिकाओं आदि के बीच कई रिश्ते और निर्भरताएं हैं। सभी प्रणालियाँ एक साथ काम करती हैं और एक दूसरे पर प्रभाव डालती हैं चाहे सूक्ष्म या गहरा और दृश्यमान हो।
उदाहरण के लिए: आपको सिरदर्द के साथ-साथ मतली का अनुभव हो सकता है, या उन रोगियों की त्वचा पर चकत्ते हो सकते हैं, जिनमें सांस फूलने की समस्या है। इसी तरह, जिन लोगों को अपच की समस्या है, वे लगातार खराब मूड आदि हो सकते हैं।

इन संबंधों की स्थापना के साथ, अंतर स्पष्ट है, जैसा कि आधुनिक चिकित्सा प्रणाली के विशेषज्ञों में गायब है। यह स्पष्ट है कि क्यों प्राकृतिक चिकित्सा, आयुर्वेद, एक्यूप्रेशर आदि की वैकल्पिक प्रणाली मूल कारणों से समस्याओं को हल करने और दीर्घकालिक चिकित्सा में मदद करने में सक्षम हैं। ये चिकित्सा पद्धतियां शरीर को एक समग्र प्रणाली के रूप में देखती हैं और इसलिए साइड इफेक्ट के बिना कई स्वास्थ्य मुद्दों के लिए स्थायी स्वास्थ्य समाधान दे सकती हैं।

एक अन्य बिंदु जो यहाँ स्पष्ट हो जाता है कि आंशिक जानकारी, समस्या के मूल कारण के अच्छे निदान या उपचार के लिए उपयोग करने का सही स्रोत नहीं हो सकता है। आधी जानकारी के साथ, केवल अल्पकालिक, आंशिक समाधान संभव हो सकता है।
उदाहरण के लिए यदि किसी रोगी को सिरदर्द है और पेट में दर्द भी है, तो उसका उपचार दूसरे रोगी से अलग होगा, जिसे गंभीर सिरदर्द और चक्कर आ रहे हों।

किसी व्यक्ति के मुद्दों की पूरी सूची को जानने का एक अन्य कारण, यह जांचना है कि एक स्वास्थ्य समस्या का उपाय दूसरे को उत्तेजित नहीं करता है।
उदाहरण के लिए: यदि कोई चिकित्सक के पास जाता है और बवासीर के अपने मुद्दे के बारे में बताता है, तो रक्तस्राव को नियंत्रित करने के लिए दी गई दवा B.P. उपचार के एक हिस्से के रूप में कम करती है, अगर यह व्यक्ति पहले से ही कम B.P. वाला है तब यह शुरू से ही चिकित्सक को बताया जाना चाहिए, इसलिए वह रोगी के सभी मुद्दों को ध्यान में रखते हुए उचित दवा लिख ​​सकता है।

इसलिए, पहले एक चिकित्सक से परामर्श करना महत्वपूर्ण है जो सभी मुद्दों को सहसंबंधित कर सकता है और सलाह दे सकता है। यदि किसी जटिल समस्या के लिए विशेषज्ञ के साथ चर्चा की आवश्यकता है, तो इसे जोड़ा जा सकता है, लेकिन किसी भी समय पर उपचार समग्र मुद्दों और समग्र शरीर प्रणालियों से अलग नहीं करना चाहिए। साथ ही, वैद्य को मामले की पूरी जानकारी देने के लिए रोगी को सभी रोग, लक्षण और रिपोर्ट प्रदान करनी चाहिए।

ये न केवल निर्धारित दवा में परिवर्तन का कारण बन सकते हैं, बल्कि उपचार से प्राप्त परिणाम भी बदल सकते हैं।

Herbal preparation for throat pain

"Kadha" drink recipe 🫖🍮:

Spices 1 clove , 5-6 black pepper, 1/4 spoon turmeric, small piece of ginger (crushed)
Tulasi leaves 3-4
Sweetener- add any one, if needed: 
- Green saunf

- Gud or jaggery

- Honey (add on top, after sieving)

You may choose all / most ingredients as given, 1-2 changes also work fine, generally👍.

Sick people need to be careful , and choose as suitable for their health problem. 

Boil  water - add spices & leaves. Continue heating until 1 cup reduces to half , add sweetner.

You may also add 1/4 spoon ghee , pinch of rocksalt for throat pain, soreness etc.

Keep for 5 min after switching off gas. 

Half cup of this drink is good to replace 1 regular tea. You can have once or twice a day, in morning and evening.

This herbal drink might work good for

- throat infection, soreness, dryness, inflammation

- cleanse any microbial attack on body,  relieve cold, cough, symptoms of flu, aid in digestion, heal rashes etc.

Results may be seen, when it is consumed, a few times, regularly.

Take Charge of your Health!

Fermented Indian breakfast

Fermented food is great for digestive health. 

Including fermented food, in breakfast, has been a practice, from ancient time, across India.

Here are few examples:

• Jalebi with curd
• Lassi
• Idly, Dosa, Utthapam
• Dahi poha with jaggery (Sweet curd with rice flakes) 
• Dhokla or Khaman (Salted baked cake)
• Roti kept overnight, with deshi ghee and milk (preferably room temperature; slightly warm or cold)
• Rice from previous dinner, with white organic butter or deshi ghee and jaggery
• Bread with white organic butter or pure deshi ghee (though bread is not great for health, avoid white refined-wheat 'maida' bread)
• Buttermilk

 

There are many more variations , combinations and other dishes which use fermented ingredients e.g Shrikhand (sweet yogurt), 'dal vada' (pulse cutlet), .'bhatura' (sourdough bread) etc. Use of refined flour, frying in oil or sugary delicacies may not remain as healthy like simpler fermented food, varieties. 

In south India Idli /Dosa with coconut chutney in morning meal, also Curd rice included after lunch is common. North Indians may eat Jalebi or Aloo paratha with Curd in first meal of the day and Buttermilk topped with herbs & spices may be included after lunch. While East Indians enjoy sweet Curd with Rice flakes , in the west they may prefer steamed cake 'Dhokla' for breakfast.

All above dishes, have fermented food as main ingredient and are popular breakfast in different states of India. This is with an understanding from Ayurveda, that fermented food provide gut bacteria & work great for digestive health. These bacteria are responsible for creating Vitamins in our intestines for e.g. Vitamin B12. 

Thereby, common Indian breakfast, might include fermented food, few times, every week. You may choose to follow the same for your family's good digestive health.

Herbal drink recipe

This drink has few variations and names too like herbal tea, Kadha or Kashayam. Below recipe may serve 1 or 2 persons:
Spices like ginger 1/2 inch ,1 clove ,
3-4 black pepper, a pinch cinnamon, 1/4h tspoon cumin etc. any 2 or 3

Herbs like Tulasi, lemon grass, ajwain leaves etc any 1

Sweetener like saunf (1 spoon), jaggery (1/2 spoon) or honey to be added on top. Any 1 for those who need,if their health allows sweet intake.

For garnishing:
1 cardamom , few drops of lemon juice, half teaspoon honey for adding on top if required

Recipe:
Boil spices & herb in water until 1 cup reduces to half.
Keep for 5 min , mix ,rinse, garnish & have.


Half cup great for cold, cough, constipation, general health, energy etc.- can replace a cup of regular tea.

It's a good cleanser, removes any toxins excess fat , supports immunity and excretion process etc. The digestion & metabolism are better and energy flows are restored,  making one feel active & healthier. These have been noticed, when a cup of this therapeutic tea is taken regularly.

More beneficial plain without sweetner, generally.
Enjoy this natural, herbal drink 😊

Spice names in Hindi:
 - Ginger Adrak
 - black pepper Kali mirch
 - cumin Jeera
 - cinnamon Dalcheeni
 - cloves Laung

Ingredientss such as Jayfal (nutmeg), Javitri (Mace), Giloy (Guduchi) can also be used and have their own benefits. While making this herbal concoction one may choose a few ingredients let's say 5 for example and that works quite fine. It is good generally, to keep variety for next day- to get different benefits and taste.