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.