Monday, November 30, 2009


Right Food for a Pregnant Woman


Nutritious food is very necessary for a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman requires 80 thousand extra calories in order to give birth to a healthy child because around 300 additional calories are spent everyday during pregnancy, which is equal to the amount of calories present in a glassful of low fat milk, a bread slice, and an apple.
Calcium rich food should be taken during pregnancy. Calcium prevents high blood pressure in a pregnant woman. A woman should drink two to three glasses of low fat milk during pregnancy. She should take it before, during pregnancy and after delivery.
Cook rice or barley in milk instead of water to get sufficient amount of calcium. Eat calcium rich things, as during pregnancy 1000 mg of calcium is required everyday.
The pregnant woman should avoid constipation and therefore she should drink more water, as it is also beneficial for the child growing inside the womb. Drink at least eight glasses of water during the day. Drink water before and after meals. Skimmed milk or fruit juice is also beneficial.
A pregnant woman also requires iron during these days. She should take protein rich food, dry beans, green peas etc. Iron is difficult to add in the food but it is very important. Eat iron rich food as much as possible. Cook vegetables in iron pans and take, iron tablets etc.
Avoid fish, and meat during pregnancy, as it could be harmful for the child. Reduce tea and coffee or completely avoid it as it reduces the weight of the child and leads to several other problems.
Different types of meat contain bacteria called hysteria, which could be dangerous for the health of the child growing inside the womb.
Fat is useful only when it is prepared from pasteurized milk. The child growing inside the womb depends on the food intake of its mother. Do not eat such foods which will have an adverse affect on the child’s health in order to reduce the intake of carbohydrates. The child will not get sufficient nutrition. Eat green leafy vegetables and a variety of things during pregnancy to get all types of minerals and vitamins.
Anaemia during pregnancy:
The hemoglobin level reduces in the blood, and brings down the oxygen level in the body causing a lady to feel fatigued. In addition to this, she remains stressed, irritable, restless, emotional, angry, has dry skin, dry hair and loss of concentration. The main reason for anemia is the absence of sufficient nutritional elements in the food necessary for the formation of blood. Half a cup of rice has 0.5 mg of iron and one-cup of milk has 0.1 mg iron. Whereas a woman loses 28 mg iron everyday during menstruation.
Food during pregnancy:
A woman should choose pregnancy only when she is having good health. She should try to improve her digestive system. Take hot lemon water with honey, raw vegetables, especially carrot, cucumber, gourd, spinach, white gourd juice, vegetable juice, fruits, raisins, dry dates, vegetable soup. This improves the digestion process.
After conceiving food should be as follows:
Take lukewarm lemon water with honey or take a fruit or vegetable juice.
Take four to five almonds and 20 to 25 gm raisins, three to four dry dates along with milk and half a cup of fruit (apple, papaya and pear etc.) at 9 a.m
Take fruit juice or raw vegetable soup at noon.
Take lunch at 1.30 p.m, which should include chapatti made with whole wheat flour, salad, vegetable, curd (yoghurt), etc. Take salad in good quantity.
Take some fruit at 5 p.m or fruit juice or lukewarm lemon water with honey.
Take vegetable soup at 7.30 p.m.
Take lentils, vegetable, salad and one or two chapattis at 8 p.m or fruit and vegetable soup, and drink milk at bedtime. Take vegetable soup after a half hour of eating fruits.
Take something in between if hungry, like fruits, juice, etc.
Do not take tea or coffee, or take it only once daily.
A woman should not take food in excess but it should be rich in vitamins and minerals, and nutritious.
Daily routine during pregnancy:
The woman should be careful during pregnancy, as there are chances of miscarriage. She should take regular massage for hands and legs since laborious work is not possible.
A pregnant woman should always be happy and avoid tough work. She should avoid fast walking, lifting weight, standing for long hours, climbing up the stairs, jumping, cycling, dancing, swimming, etc. she can do some light household work.
To beget a healthy child:
The pregnant woman should take two oranges during afternoon from first to eighth month.
·She should take half to one-gram linseed vanshlochan powder at bedtime for the first three to four months once she is tested positive for pregnancy. This helps in begetting a healthy child and also helps her remain strong. It also avoids chances of miscarriage. The lady should eat vanshlochan as much as possible with sugar candy and coconut. It overcomes weakness during pregnancy and keeps the child healthy and disease free.
The pregnant woman should chew aniseed daily after meals during the pregnancy.
She should drink 60 gm fresh grape juice twice daily to make the child healthy and strong. The child will be beautiful and the mother will remain free of faints, giddiness, dental pain, cramps, swelling, acidity and constipation. She should take one myrobalan marmalade everyday to beget a healthy child. It also maintains good health of the mother.
Yogic cure:
Regular exercise is necessary after conceiving. It prevents miscarriage and also reduces labour pain.
Before pregnancy – Chakrasana, Paschimottasana, Yog Mudra, sputa Vajrasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, Hastpadotasana, Pavanmuktasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, shalabhasana, Shavasana should be practiced to gain physical and mental health. Kapalbhati, Shitali, Nadi shodhan and Agnisar kriya should be practiced during this period.
After pregnancy – A pregnant woman can do exercise up to three to four months after conceiving, which include Paschimottasana, Ardhamatysendrasana, Vajrasana, Suptavajrasana, Hastpadotasana, Makarasana, Halasana for special benefit. Stop the practice of these asanas after three months and do light household work.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Simple exercise for better Breathing

Proper Ayurvedic Respiration Can Cure Asthma
Proper ways of breathing can cure serious diseases like asthma. One
should pay attention to breathing along with practicing yoga asanas.
Some important exercises are being mentioned below, which are
helpful in controlling this disease.
1. Always sit straight. Whenever you stand, keep your back straight.
Fold your lips in the manner they are folded to blow whistle. Then
apply pressure and exhale. Count the breaths and slowly double the
capacity to stop the breath but do not do it forcibly. Do not stop
breath in between the process of inhaling and exhaling because
irregular breathing pattern should not be followed in case of asthma.
2. If you are unable to breath and the shoulders and neck muscles
become stiff then follow this technique. Bend the left ear downwards
so that it touches the left shoulder, repeat the same technique with
the right ear. Lift the shoulders in such a way that they touch both
the ears. Slowly bring down the shoulders as far as possible and
rotate them forward, backward, up and down in a circular motion.
Keep the pace of rotation fast at sometimes and slow at other times.
When the muscles get relaxed, the breathing also becomes normal
and stops the irregular respiration pattern, congestion in the chest,
and anxiety.
3. Lie down straight and keep a book on the stomach. Breath
through the diaphragm and see that the book moves upwards when
you exhale and comes down when you inhale. This exercise should
be done everyday for five minutes, it improves the health of the
lungs and strengthens the muscles. Gradually increase the duration
of the exercise and the weight on the stomach.
A simple exercise to expand the skeleton:
1. Spread the legs equal to the distance of the shoulders, take the
hands forwards and exhale, then spread the hands and take them on
either side of the body and then backwards. Keep the elbows on the
back and try to expand the skeleton and inhale slowly.
2. Spread the legs equal to the distance of the shoulders and stand
straight. Now lift both the hands upwards and try to contract the
body in the same position. Take slow and deep breaths in this
position. You should feel that the skeleton is moving above the
spine. Exhale while bringing down the hands and concentrate only
on exhaling.

Yogic Remedy for Obesity




Yogic Remedy for Obesity






Obesity is one of the biggest health problems of the modern age. It is the main cause for many serious, incurable and fatal diseases. Blood pressure, heart problem, diabetes and other dangerous diseases are caused due to obesity. Our body weight gradually increases when focus is not given during childhood. Over time, this leads to obesity. It can be cured permanently with the intake of balanced food, proper life style and regular practice of yoga asanas. This will also cure the above-mentioned diseases, as well as many others. Regular practice of yoga asanas cure all types of disease. A few asanas very useful for overcoming obesity are given below:
Dwichakrikasana
Method:
1. Lie down straight on your back with your hands beside and below the hips. Stop the breath. Raise one leg, bending it at the knee, and then rotate it like you are riding a bicycle. Repeat this for 10 to 30 times as per your capacity. Similarly, repeat the exercise with your other leg. Rotate the legs without touching the ground. Make a circular shape with the legs.
2. When tired lie down in shavasana and rest for some time and repeat the exercise in the opposite direction, again resting when tired.
3. Inhale, and then repeat the exercise by rotating both the legs simultaneously in a circular motion, as done when you ride a bicycle. After, repeat this in the opposite direction continuously like a bicycle. 5 to 10 times according to your capacity.
Benefits:
1. This is the best exercise to reduce weight. Regular practice of this asana for 5 to 10 minutes sheds out unnecessary weight, and obesity can be reduced in a very short time.
2. It gives proper shape to the stomach. It activates the intestines. It cures constipation, dysentery, acidity etc.
3. In case of backache do the exercise with single leg, it is helpful for backache as well.
Padvritasana
Method:
1. Lie down straight on your back. Raise the right leg and make a circle by rotating the leg clockwise. In this way make 5 to 20 circles without touching the leg to the ground.
2. After rotating in one direction, rotate the leg in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise). Rest in shavasana when you become tired. Alternate between legs.
3. After doing this exercise with single legs, do it with both the legs simultaneously. Rotate the legs in as big a circle as you can. Rotate the legs clockwise and then again anti-clockwise.
Benefits:
1. This asana is also for reducing extra weight.
2. It reduces the fat accumulated in the hips, thighs and waist and gives proper shape to the stomach.
Ardha Halasana

Method:
This asana is like uttanapadasana - the only difference is that in uttanapadasana the legs are raised up to 30 degrees whereas in ardha halasana the legs are raised up to 90 degrees.
1. Lie down on your back. Keep the palms of your hands towards the floor; your legs should be straight and both the feet should be together.
2. Inhale and slowly raise the legs straight up to 90 degrees and remain in this position for some time. Do not bend the knees when you raise the legs.
3. While bringing down the legs, rest the legs on the floor without jerk. Rest for a while and repeat it again at least six times.
4. Those who have backache, should raise one leg at a time.
Benefits:
1. This asana is especially useful to reduce weight.
2. It makes the intestines flexible and healthy, increases the fire of the stomach and cures constipation, gas and obesity.
3. It is also beneficial in shifting of the navel, heart disease, stomachache and respiratory problems.
4. Raising one leg at a time is especially beneficial for backache problems.


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CONSTIPATION

  • Eating more fruits can also helps to prevent constipation such as prune pears, grapes, Orange juice & Papaya.
  • Ginger tea is a very good home remedy for constipation. It helps start bowel movement.
  • Another natural remedy for constipation is to add a little extra sugar or some honey to a glass of milk. Drink twice a day.
  • Take a high fibre diet. Soluble fiber, found in grains, legumes and fruits, is particularly effective. Oatmeal, rice, wheat germ, corn bran, prunes, raisins, apricots, figs and an apple a day are all good sources.
  • A person with constipation should try to avoid milk and milk products such as cheese. Both milk and cheese contain casein, an insoluble protein that tends to block up the intestinal tract.
  • Exercise also helps to get rid of constipation. Aerobic exercise such as walking, running and swimming is best.
  • Drink one liter of warm water and walk around for a few minutes immediately after waking up early in the morning. this is also very effective home remedy for constipation.
  • Mix lemon juice with warm water. Take it two to three times a day. It helps to relieve constipation.
  • One of the most important remedy is to cut short a bout of constipation is to sit in a bathtub of warm or hot water. It may take several immersions in the water to cure the problem, but it does work.
  • Take a glass of warm water to which the juice of 1/2 a lime and 1 tsp honey has been added. Drink daily in the morning.

KIDNEY STONES

  • Patients with kidney stones should avoid taking too much milk because of its high calcium content.
  • For kidney stone treatment, drink lots of water and other fluids.
  • Limit the amount of calcium-rich foodsâ€"milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy foods.
  • Avoid oxalate rich foods such as beans, beets, blueberries, celery, chocolate, grapes, green peppers, parsley, spinach, strawberries, summer squash, and tea.
  • Eat vitamin A rich foods. Vitamin A is necessary to keep the lining of the urinary tract in shape and help discourage the formation of future stones. Foods high in vitamin A include apricots, broccoli, cantaloupes, pumpkins, winter squash, and beef liver.
  • Protein tends to increase the presence of uric acid, calcium, and phosphorus in the urine, which, in some people, leads to the formation of stones. Limit the quantity of proteins in your diet.
  • Reduce your consumption of table salt, pickled foods, and salty foods such as luncheon meat, snack chips, and processed cheese.
  • For kidney stone treatment, boil two figs in a cup of water. Drink this first thing in the morning for one month.
  • Mix 1 tspn of Holy basil leaves juice with 1 tspn of honey. Have this every morning for 5-6 months.
  • Eat 2-3 Apples a day.
  • Eat watermelon, either as such or had a juice. This is an effective home remedy for kidney stones.
  • Take 1 cup of juice made with radish leaves 2 times a day.
  • Drink 1 glass of fresh tomato juice first thing in the morning. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to this.
  • Take 3 long and thick lady fingers (slightly raw) Cut in thin long pieces and soak it in 2 litres of water overnight. In the morning, remove the ladyfingers and squeeze the juice into the same jar of water. Drink the entire water over 1 â€" 2 hours· Celery is a valuable food for those who are prone to getting stones in the kidneys or gall bladder.
  • The seeds of both sour and sweet pomegranates are useful medicine for kidney stones. Make a fine paste of a tablespoon of the seeds, take this along with a cup of horse gram (kulthi) soup to dissolve gravel in kidneys.
  • Watermelon contains the highest concentration of water amongst all fruits. It is also rich in potassium salts. Therefore it is very good food for kidney stones patients.
  • Eat a whole foods diet that contains leafy green vegetables, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish and poultry in small portions.
  • Mix 2 oz of olive oil and 2 oz of lemon juice, drink it straight down and follow with a large glass of water at the first sign of stone pain. This is also an effective home remedy for kidney stones.

Cough

  • Prepare a mixture by adding 1,1½ teaspoon honey with 1,1½ teaspoon lemon juice. Take this every 12 hours. Honey relieves the itchiness by moisturizing the throat passage·
  • Take 0.5 pounds (250 gms) of sweet apples daily for a week to cure cough.
  • Soak almonds overnight and remove their skin. Make a paste of the soaked almonds with little butter and sugar. This is very useful for dry cough.
  • Mix 8 - 10 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1 tablespoon poppy seeds and 1 tablespoon of pure honey. Take this every night before going to bed.
  • Prepare a mixture by adding a teaspoonful of honey with a few drops of brandy. It helps to relieve cough.
  • Mix equal parts of limejuice and honey.
  • Combine a cup of grape juice and a teaspoon of honey. Mix well to prepare an effective natural cough remedy for coughing.
  • Mix 1 teaspoonful raw onion juice with 1 teaspoonful of honey. Keep it aside for 3 to 4 hours before drinking. This is an effective home remedy for cough.
  • Apply hot mustard pack on the chest. This brings down fever, eliminates toxins and speeds in recovery. If needed, repeat every other day for a week.
  • Deep breathe in front of an open window. This has multiple benefits. Exhaling vigorously rids the body of waste gases and deep inhalation saturates the lungs with oxygen.
  • Chop an onion finely, put it with a tablespoon of clear honey in a screw-top jar and leave overnight. In the morning, drinking a teaspoonful of the juice produced will give relief to cough.
  • Garlic-and-onion chicken soup is also an effective remedy for cough .
  • For cough treatment, drink hot tea with lemon and raspberry jam, drink as much as possible.
  • Drink hot milk with honey at bedtime for cough relief.
  • Slice 2 snow pears into small pieces. Add 3 bowls of water and boil until the water has reduced to 2 bowls. Strain and discard the pears, and add 30 grams of rice to the liquid. Boil again until rice is cooked. Drink the soup.
  • Peel 50 grams fresh ginger and cut into small slices. Boil the slices with 100 grams maltose in 2 glasses water for 30 minutes. Drink it hot, twice a day, in one day. This is also an effective home remedy for cough.
  • Boil 20 red dates with 60 grams maltose in enough water. Eat once a day.
  • Prepare a mixture of 5 fresh-pitted olives and rock sugar; steam them for half an hour. Eat the olives to help with chronic coughs.
  • Steam 2 unpeeled tangerines with 30 grams rock sugar to relieve coughs with a yellowish mucous discharge. Eat the tangerines at bedtime.
  • In one cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder (Haldi) and drink twice a day.
  • In one cup of warm milk, add 2 teaspoon 3 strands of saffron (kesar) and drink twice a day.
  • For cough treatment, Mix half a teaspoon of tulsi juice with half a teaspoon with ginger juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey. Take the above mixture 2-3 times a day till symptoms subside.
  • Take 1 cup of water and add 4-5 leaves of tulsi; a small piece of ginger (adrak) and 1 teaspoon of jaggery. Boil this mixture over slow heat till the quantity becomes half a cup. Drink this at least 2 times in a day.

Asthma

Allergy caused by weather conditionsAsthma is caused by a variety of factors. It may be due to an allergy caused by weather conditions, food, drugs, perfumes, and other irritants. Allergies to dust are the most common.
Asthma Cures
Asthma treatment using HoneyHoney is one of the most common home remedies for asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with it, he starts breathing easier and deeper.
Asthma treatment using FigsAmong fruits, figs have proved very valuable in asthma. They give comfort to the patient by draining off the phlegm.. Three or four dry figs should be cleaned thoroughly with warm water and soaked overnight.
Asthma treatment using LemonLemon is another fruit found beneficial in the treatment of asthma. The juice of one lemon, diluted in a glass of water and taken with meals, will bring good results.
Asthma treatment using Indian GooseberryIndian gooseberry has also proved valuable in asthma. Five grams of gooseberry mixed with one tablespoon of honey forms an effective medicinal tonic for the treatment of this disease. It should be taken every morning .
Asthma treatment using Bitter Gourd RootsThe roots of the bitter gourd plant have been used in folk medicine for asthma since ancient times. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal amount of honey or juice of the tulsi leaves, given once every night for a month, acts as an excellent medicine for this disease.
Asthma treatment using Drumstick LeavesA soup prepared from drumstick leaves, and taken once daily, has been found beneficial in the treatment of asthma. This soup is prepared by adding a handful of leaves to 180ml of water and boiling it for five minutes. After being allowed to cool, a little salt, pepper, and lime juice may be added to this soup.
Asthma treatment using GingerA teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, acts as an excellent expectorant in cases of asthma. The decoction of fenugreek can be made by mixing one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a cupful of water. This remedy should be taken once in the morning and once in the evening.
Asthma treatment using GarlicGarlic is another effective home remedy for asthma. Ten garlic cloves, boiled in 30 ml of milk, make an excellent medicine for the early stages of asthma. This mixture should he taken once daily by the patient. Steaming ginger tea with two minced garlic cloves in it, can also help to keep the problem under control, and should be taken in the morning and evening.
Asthma treatment using Bishop's WeedThe herb bishop's weed has been found valuable in asthma. Half a teaspoon of bishop's weed should be mixed in a glass of buttermilk and taken twice daily. It is an effective remedy for relieving difficult expectoration caused by dried-up phlegm. A hot poultice of the seeds should be used for dry fomentation to the chest twice daily. The. patient can also inhale steam twice a day from boiling water mixed with ajwain. It will dilate the bronchial passages.
Asthma treatment using SafflowerSafflower seeds are beneficial in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Half a teaspoon of powder of the dry seeds, mixed with a tablespoon of honey, can be taken once or twice a day in treating this disease. This acts as an expectorant and reduces the spasms by liquefying the tenacious sputum. An infusion of five grams of flowers mixed with one tablespoon of honey, taken once daily, is also useful in this disease.
Diet for Asthma
Carbohydrates, Fats and ProteinsThe patient should avoid common dietetic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are 'acid-forming' foods, and a liberal quantity of alkali-forming foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables, sprouted seeds, and grains. The patient should avoid foods which tend to produce phlegm, such as rice, sugar, lentils, and curds. He should also avoid fried and other difficult to-digest foods, strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments pickles, sauces and all refined and processed foods.
Other Suggestions for Asthma
Fasting and exercisesThe patient should also follow the other laws of nature. Air, sun, and water are great healing agents. Regular fasting once a week, an occasional enema, breathing exercises, fresh air, a dry climate, light exercises, and correct posture go a long way in treating the disease.