VEG OR NON-VEG : "TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT

VEG OR NON-VEG : "TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT

VEG OR NON-VEG : "TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT

Food at a subtle level, it too is made up of the sattva, raja and tama components.The proportions of these subtle components vary depending on the type of food. Sattva stands for purity and knowledge while tama denotes ignorance and inertia. Anything that has a higher sattva component assists our spiritual journey and anything that is tama predominant has a tendency to diminish or obstruct our spiritual practice.

Vegetarian food has more sattvic qualities than Non-vegetarian food while Non-vegetarian food has more Tamasic qualities thanVegetarian food.

The reason for the increased tama in non-vegetarian food is because of the extent of suffering of the animal, when it is being killed. Also the thoughts of anger and revenge and pain in the animal when being killed are far more pronounced as compared to a plant which has a rudimentary mind and intellect. This is the main reason in the increased tama component. While due to the higher sattvikta in fruits they are offered to God is ritualistic worship.

When tama predominant food is ingested on a regular basis the body is burdened with an excess of the tama component. A rise in tama component in a person has many negative side-effects. This tama component can only disintegrate if one is regularly doing spiritual practice. However since most people do not do spiritual practice this tama component accumulates in a person’s body, mind and intellect.

Question : Botanical science tells us that plants also-have life.

Then where lays the difference between vegetarian and nonvegetarian

food?

There are two kinds of life on earth, animate and inanimate.Men, beasts, birds, fish etc. are animate life while trees and otherplants are inanimate life. Fruits ripen on the trees and then fall of by themselves,

branches and leaves may be chopped off a tree and new one arises in their place. Many plants are propagated by their cuttings. Others can be transplanted. But all this is not possible with birds and animals. No limb of an animal can grow by itself after cutting. Man cannot produce animals like plants from earth.

All the living beings are made up of five elements - the earth, water, fire, air and sky. All these five are present in man clearly and predominantly. Only four elements - earth, water, fire and air are predominant in animals.While in birds only three air, water and fire are predominant. Two elements - earth and fire - make up the insects. And only one element of water is predominant in fruits, leaves and vegetables etc. The rest four elements are in sleeping state in vegetables and plants. Therefore, eating vegetable foods consumes the minimum of factors. Saints and Sages do not pluck fruits from the trees, but they eat only those fruits which have fallen by themselves on ripening. Minimum damage to life is the basic criterion. There is no harm in obtaining fruits from trees but harm lies in their cutting.

Question: Even when man treads the earth, many ants and insects are trodden under foot. So, what is different if other animals are killed?

A man's character is judged by his intentions and deliberate actions. If a man deliberately and knowingly crushes under his feet any harmless animal, then it is violence. But if involuntarily or in unavoidable circumstances, some insects are killed, then it is an exceptional situation. But to kill others without any specific reason or to abet killing for food is plain murder.

Question : Plants are also having life, so killing plants should also be a sin. Why is veg food better than non-veg in terms of killing or

committing "sin"?

It is true that plants also have "life" and killing plants is also sin. So the best way to observe total non-violence is to take only those fruits which have naturally fallen from the trees or plants.

In this way we are doing harm to no one. But everyone can not follow that vow. We have to take food in order to survive and sustain this body. It is a necessity of survival. But we need to take that path which is less sinful and does less harm to other jivas (living entities).

Now there are two reasons to say that vegetarian food is having insignificant sin. Many of the plants like rice, wheat, etc are having life only for one crop time. Once their yield is over, they die naturally, even if we don't cut them. So by cutting those plants (which have already died) we are doing less sin or no sin at all.

In many other plants, like mango, coconut, etc., by plucking the fruit, we are not killing the plants, & are doing very minimal sin or no sin at all. So vegetarian food is less sinful. More over, it is inevitable for our survival, but non-vegetarian food is a luxury to us and we can survive even if we avoid that.

Next we need to know why certain acts are sinful. Each and every life (whether plant, animal, or human) has come to this world because of their past Karma’s and they have to live to the maximum doing "sadhana" (spiritual practices), so that they can clear their karmic debts & may get a better birth next life or finally get "moksha" (liberation).By killing them, we are cutting short their opportunities to do "sadhana" towards their liberation (moksha). Thus it is much more sinful.

Question : Don’t plants also experience pain when killed?

Yes, plants too experience pain when killed or parts of it are severed. The comprehension of pain however is less than animals. This is because the mind and intellect of a plant is rudimentary as compared to animals. However if a fruit or vegetable is plucked when it is fully ripe or has fallen from a tree there is relatively no pain to the plant.

Question : Does not eating meat give more strength?

Meat-eating gives the body not strength but a kind of unhealthy stimulation. The body receives an excess of nitrogen which creates uric acid and other harmful compounds in the blood stream. Just to expel these compounds from the body, a lot of energy is needed which the body's defense mechanism pumps up in a hurry to meet the emergency. This is mistaken as an input of energy, although in fact it is a depletion of the body's reservoirs of energy.

Question : In olden days, the sages used to eat meat?

There is an incident of Agasthya Muni eating meat in the "Vathapi -Ilvala" story.Yes, we do see some mention about such things in very old stories. We need to understand clearly why and under what circumstances they used to consume meat.

Firstly, they used to take meat, but not as their regular food. The animal would be offered to 'yajna', the sacred fire, and then the sages, having very high yogic power, would consume the meat as a prasada of the yajna. Due to this auspicious activity (of yajna), the animal would go to the heavens.In the story of Agusthya Muni, when he said ' vathapi jirno bhava', he was digested immediately. Such was the power of the sages in those days.In olden days even if they consumed meat, they used to keep up their spiritual balance due to their yogic power or "tapas" (severe austerity).

There’s a story of a great Indian Saint Gorakhnath.

One day, Saint Gorakhnath and his followers were walking down in a forest, when they happened to pass a dirty lake. Saint Gorakhnath saw a few small fishes in the lake. So, he stopped and then bending forward towards the lake, he caught a small fish with his hands and then gulped it down his wide open mouth.His followers, who were watching his actions carefully were really taken aback to see their spiritual master consuming non-vegetarian – Fish !!!

So, they thought that if our master can have fish, so why cant we too?And in turn they all looked for fishes in the dirty lake and like their master gulped a few down their throats.

Saint Gorakhnath who was silently watching the antics of his followers, then started moving ahead and so did his followers. On the entire way Saint Gorakhnath was quite.

Finally after walking down quite a distance they reached a fresh water lake.Seeing the fresh water lake, Saint Gorakhnath walked towards it and on reaching there, he did some kriyas and out came the small fish alive which he had consumed earlier.He spat out the fish into the fresh water lake and then looked towards his followers and said - "NOW YOU ALL TOO DO THE SAME ! "....which of course none of the followers could do !!!

Signification of Saint Gorakhnath`s actions - He just wanted to remove the fish from the dirty water lake and give it a better life in the fresh water lake. But his followers thought otherwise and had consumed the fish completely.

Moral of the story –

YOU DON'T KNOW WHY DO GREAT SAINTS / SAGES DO THE THINGS THEY DO,OR WHY DO THEY BEHAVE THE WAY THEY DO,NOR SHOULD WE QUESTION THEIR STRANGE ACTIONS,AS IT IS DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL & TO TEACH SOME LESSON TO THE WORLD.

SAI BABA & NON-VEG FOOD

In our Hindu and Jain, Buddha religions especially, there is a belief that unless one gives up eating non-vegetarian food, one cannot attain emancipation or knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. Sai Baba Himself was an emancipated soul and had full knowledge of the Supreme Spirit and was capable of giving such experiences to others. However, He not only had no objection to non-veg food; but never insisted that His devotees,used to non-veg food, should give it up.

Actually, in His early days, He used to cook non-veg food Himself in a big pot and after consecrating it through a Moulvi by reciting fatia, used to send as prasad to Mhalsapati and Tatya Kote Patil before distributing to others. (Ch. 38, Shri Sai Satcharita).

In Bhagwat Gita, the Lord has clearly classified the foods into 3 types, Sattwic, Rajasic & Tamasic. The Lord has also clearly mentioned what is the effect of eating all these three types of food. The Lord says, Sattwa must be cultivated, Rajas must be suppressed & Tamas must be eliminated. Meat falls under the Rajas & Tamas types & hence one cannot

remain untouched by the ill effects after consuming. The only exception is when a person is a Siddha.For a Siddha like Sai baba, it does not matter at all, as to whether he eats veg or non-veg, since he is beyond the three Gunas.That is why he is called Trigunaateeth or Trigun-Rahitam..But for conditioned souls like us, whatever we eat, that is going to get reflected in us.

Consider the teachings of our scriptures, it will be clear that not to eat Non-veg food is only one of the means to attain emancipation or knowledge of the Supreme Spirit but not a Goal in itself.Most of the famous suktas in Vedas have been authored by kshatriya or warrior caste. Sages such as Vishwamitra, Kings like Janaka, who were famous as Brahma-jnani or knower of the Supreme Spirit, were also of warrior caste and non-veg food was not taboo for them. Some religious principles do allow for eating of meat, when it is first properly sanctified by religion. That is why the Kshatriya kings would go for hunting & would eat animal food, without any apparent fall in purity.

But, to say that without avoiding non-veg food one cannot achieve emancipation or knowledge of the Supreme Spirit is not correct. In fact, as a person progresses in his Spiritual sadhana, his attraction for non-veg and rich food automatically gets dwindled & is ultimately lost permanently but on one hand to give up Non-veg food and on the other if you keep craving for it,

Isn't such vegetarianism useless?

Sai Baba's ideas must be on the same lines probably. That is why He never advised His devotees to give up non-veg food. Sometimes jokingly as in Ch. 38, He used to ask an orthodox Brahmin, like Dada Kelkar to go and buy mutton from the market or as in Ch. 23, His order to His great Brahmin devotee Kakasaheb Dixit to kill a goat with a knife.

But, this was only to test their readiness to execute, whatever order given by Him, their Guru; and, therefore, before the person started acting, He used to stop them. Similarly, to the devotees, in whose religion or caste only veg-food, was in vogue, He never tempted or encouraged to eat non-veg food. Baba's method of resisting His devotees from eating non-veg food was quite different and unique. He oft and on used to tell His devotees that He was present in every creature, moving about.

In Ch. 9 to Mrs. Tarkhad He said,

"The dog, which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread, is one with Me; so, also the other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures, is my beloved. So, abandon the sense of duality and distinction and serve Me as you did today." When surrenders completely to the Lord, all his Gunas fall in place, irrespective of the person's evolution.

Sattva becomes dominant & the other 2 gunas take a back seat. That is why Sai baba never asked anybody to change his food habits. Instead he asked them to practice devotion. This takes care of the food habits.

Question : Did Baba distribute vegetable and animal food as Prasad alike to all His devotees?"

The answer is plain and simple. Those who were accustomed to (take) animal food were given food from the Handi as Prasad and those who were not so accustomed, were not allowed to touch it. He never created in them any wish or desire to indulge in this food. There is a principle well established that when a Guru himself gives anything as prasad, the disciple who thinks and doubts whether it is acceptable or otherwise, goes to perdition.

SAIBABA AND EATING ONIONS

What applies to non-veg food also applies to onion. Sai Baba, Himself, used to eat onion with bread daily and did not like anybody expressing disgust towards it or not eating it; because of its bad smell. His incidents of teasing and ridiculing Dada Kelkar, Das Ganu and Kusha Bhau are well-known. He also once surprised a student of yoga by eating bread and onion in front of him and later gave a proof to him of His Super Yogic Powers. As if Sai Baba wanted to tell people, that because of baseless customs and beliefs, you are depriving yourself of onion and garlic, which are greatly praised by the ayurveda (Indian medical science) and are excellent healthgiving foods.

Isn't the poor and hard-working farmer able to perform laborious task of ploughing his field by eating bread and onion only?

Short Story –

A yogi named Premanand was dedicated to practicing of yoga. The real meaning of yoga is melting and merging in the Divine. Premanand practiced yoga for the real purpose and found difficulties for the goal. Someone advised him to visit Shirdi and meet Sai Baba, who was one with Supreme soul and that He would be the right person to guide him.

Listening to them the practitioner of yoga visited Shirdi. When he came near Dwarkamai, he saw Sai Baba sitting with devotees and eating. He noticed that Sai Baba took bites of onions with the food. Onions were favorite with Sai Baba. The yogi's mind immediately rebelled against this. He knew that the yogis have to stay away from the onions due to its tamasic properties. He was still a little far away from Sai Baba. Sai Baba did not want him to leave like that, and since he knew everything and every person's thoughts, he spoke out loudly.

'Onions should be eaten by the ones who can digest them, to those the tamasic properties cannot influence. For those getting influenced by the tamasic properties should not eat them, that is also true.'

This words and the Divine attraction of Sai Baba removed the doubts of the yogi. He remained in Shirdi for a long time and benefited beyond his expectations.

…..From the Gujarati book Sai Sarovar

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

Non-vegetarian food has Acidic components while most of the vegetarian food has Alkali components.A healthy body needs adequate alkaline reserves to neutralize the acidic levels in our body which are the main cause of all diseases & when the human body doesn’t get enough alkalinity from our diet it absorbs our alkaline reserves from our bones/skin/hair & other body organs thus weakening them resulting in hair fall/skin problems/joint pains/from common cough/cold to cancer.

An acidic balance will:

Decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.

Circulatory system:

In excessive acid conditions, bacteria, fungi or viruses can attach themselves to the inner wall of the arteries. This can cause plaque to form, narrowing the artery and restricting blood flow, which in turn restricts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Heart attack and even cancer can result.

Nervous system:

When brain cells are too acidic they dysfunction and communication between brain cells and throughout the spinal cord is cut off, which can result in dysfunction in other body systems. In the nervous system insomnia, anxiety, depression, neurosis, psychosis and impaired memory can result from over acidity.

THE EFFECTS OF AN ACIDIC BODY ARE:

• Cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood

vessels and the reduction of oxygen.

• Weight gain, obesity and diabetes.

• Bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones.

• Immune deficiency.

• Acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to

cancerous mutations.

• Hormone concerns.

• Premature aging.

• Osteoporosis; weak, brittle bones, hip fractures and bone spurs.

• Joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup.

• Low energy and chronic fatigue.

• Slow digestion and elimination.

• Yeast/fungal overgrowth.

Alkalinity creates. . .

Sense of oneness & harmony

Allows for friendly bacteria

Healthy organs & glands

Decreased body aches

Diminished illness

Relaxed behavior

Mucous less body

Cellular health

Well-being

Happiness

Acidity creates. . .

Irritability

Depression

Mucous build-up

Auto intoxication

Anxious behavior

Increased diseases

Cellular degradation

Increases body aches

Allows for bad bacteria

Sense of separation & pain

SO MAKE SURE NO MATTER WHAT YOU EAT…BALANCE IT WITH

ATLEAST 80% ALKALINE AND 20% ACIDIC DIET REGIME.

Alkaline minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium,

chromium, selenium, and iron.

SARVENDRIANAAM NAYANAM PRADHANAM: COMMON EYE PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE

COMMON EYE PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE

 Human eye compared with a Camera

•Eye lidswith the Lens cap.
•Pupilwith the Shutter of the camera.
•Corneaand the Crystalline lenswith the lens of the camera.[The lens system of the eye and Camera focus and project an upside down image on the Photo sensitive layer.]
•Retinawith the film of camera.

 Common changes in your vision as you age are

•Reduced sensitivity to light:you might notice that you need brighter lighting near your favourite reading chair.
•Decreased visual acuity:Colours appear dim and glare , when light shines directly at you .This might cause you to avoid night driving.
* Difficulty in reading small print. The lens in your eye becomes less elastic and loses its ability to focus. A condition called Presbyopia. You might require reading glasses to read smaller print.
•Dryness of your eyesmight increase with age.Increase of lid laxity,harmonal changes cause tear instability.

 Common eye problems faced by elderly people

BLINDING CAUSES

•Cataract[reversible]
•Glaucoma
•Diabetic Retinopathy
•Age Related Macular Degeneration[ARMD]

NON BLINDING CAUSES

•Lid Problems like Meibobinitis,Chalazion,Ectropion,Entropion,Ptosis.
•Dry eye syndrome [itching,dryness,grittyness,watering,eye strain]

What is CATARACT?

•It causes reversible Blindness.
•Is a clouding that develops in the Crystalline Lensof the eye.
•Affects both the sexes and all the ages but common in the Elderly people
•Common in Diabetics.
•Trauma.
•Secondary eye diseases like uveitis
•The Crystalline lens appears opaque when light is thrown on the eye.

Symptoms of Cataract

•Blurring of the Vision.
•Night glare
•Double /poly vision.
•Frequent change of glasses.
•Improvement of Near vision (index Myopia).
•Fading of colours.(yellowing of the lens blocks blue light.)

Treatment for Cataract

•No medical Treatment, only Surgical.
•Not an emergency,can take time,plan well.
•Good control of Bloodsugars in Diabetics.
•To stopantiplatelet agents before surgery.
(Asprin,Clopitab,etc).
•A-scanto know the axial length of eye ball.
•Keratometryto know the power of eyeball.
•IOL power calculation is done with advanced formulae.

Surgeries for cataract.

•. ICCE[intracapsular cataract extraction].
•ECCE with IOL implantation[Extracapsular cataract extraction]with sutures.
•SICS with Posterior chamber IOL [small incision cataract surgery]without sutures.
•Phaco Emulsification with Foldable IOL implantation[key hole,no stitch,no pad,no prick]is todays modern surgery.

Cataract Surgery with IOL implantation

 

Small Incision Cataract Surgery

•Day care surgery.
•SuturelessMicroscopic surgery.
•Require anaesthetic injection.
•Manuallydone.
•Incision of 6.5mm.
•Rigid PMMA IOL placed in the eye.
•Less Expensive

 Phaco emulsification

•Day care surgery.
•No Prick,No suture,No pad,Keyhole surgery[2.5mm]
•The Cataract is emulsified in the eye and sucked out.
•Involves a probe vibrating with ultrasound frequency-emulsifying lens.
•Placement of a FoldableIOL(Acrylic,Hydrophobic lenses) in the eye.

What is Glaucoma?

•It refers to a group of diseases that effect optic nerve[carry visual impulses from retina to brain] associated with elevatedIntra Ocular Pressure (IOP).
•Blindness prevalence for all types of Glaucoma was estimated at more than 8million people.(responsible for 15% of blindness in the population.)

What happens in Glaucoma?
•Prolonged Increase in IOP damages the back part of the eye[the optic nerve head]leading to cupping of the disc and visual field damage.

What is IOP?

•Intraocular pressure is the pressure with in the eye.
•It is determined by the Aqueous humour secreted with in the eye.
•It circulates from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber.
•Normal range of IOP :10 –22mmHg.
•Excess pressure cause damageto the Optic nerve head.
•The balance between production & drainage of the Aqueous determines IOP.

Who are at the risk of developing Glaucoma?

•Advanced age:the prevalence of Glaucoma increases with age after 40yrs.
•The risk raises by 3 –8 times by age of 70
•Women has a higher risk in getting Glaucoma.
•Positive Family History of Glaucoma increases the risk 3-6 times.
•Blacks have higher risk than whites.
•Diabetics
•Myopia
•Drugs—Corticosteriods,antidepressants.

Types of Glaucoma

•Primary Open angledGlaucoma.
•Primary Closed angleGlaucoma.
•Secondary Glaucomas.
•Traumatic
•Pigmentary Glaucoma.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

•No symptoms initially-insideous in onset.
•Visual field loss could be late symptom.
•Severe eye pain,Headache,Nausea,Vometing with colored Haloes could be an acute attack.
•Coloured Haloesin the early mornings
•Decreased Visual acuity-late stage.

Investigations In Glaucoma

•Visual acuityand pupillary examination.
•Measuring Intra Ocular Pressure by Gold man Applanation tonometry.
•Gonioscopy:applying a contact lens with mirrors on the eye to know the angles.Normal angles should be 45`
•Fundoscopy:for clinical evaluation of the optic nerve head.
•Visual Field Examination:Humphrey automated perimeter. [para central scotomas,arcuate scotomas,nasalstepping,temporal wedge.]

How often should some one get checked for Glaucoma

•In high risk people:during the age 30-39 one or two times.
•General Population:
Age40-64:should get checked once every one to two years.
After Age 65:every one year.
In order to preserve vision in glaucoma, early detection and thus disease control.

What is Treatment for Glaucoma?

Though it doesn’t get reversed,can be controlled.
1.Medical treatment:eye drops that reduce IOP by lowering the secretion or increasing the drainage of aqueous fluid.
2.Laser: to create an alternate drainage channel with in the eye.
3.Surgery:Trabeculectomy,Shunt devices are available.
GLAUCOMA CAN ONLY BE PREVENTED BY EARLY DIAGNOSIS,EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

•A common longterm complication of Diabetes affecting the blood vessels of Retina [eye].
•If left untreated,it may lead to blindness.
•If checked promptly,blindness is mostly Preventable.
•It occurs in patients of bothInsulin dependent and NonInsulin Dependent Diabetes mellitus.

Risk factors effecting the Progression of the disease.

•Patients with longterm Uncontrolled blood sugars.
•Hypertention
•Smoking
•Anaemia
•Hyper lipidemias
•Effects both the sexes equally.

What happens in DR?

•Narrowingof the lumen of the Blood vessels of retina—Hypoxia (reduced oxygen supply)—Leaky walls of the blood vessels-Edema of the retina.
•Proliferationof fragile blood vessels perpendicularly in to the Vitreous body in response to the hypoxia.
•Bleedingof the fragile bloodvessels cause gross blurring of the vision.
•The process of repeated bleeding and healing stimulates fibrous tissue to proliferate.This fibrous tissue cause tractionon the retinal surface leading to Retinaldetachment.(total loss of vision.)

Types of Diabetic RetinopathyNonproliferative Proliferative DR

•Micro aneurisms.
•Dot & Blot Heamorrhages
•Macular edema.
•Heamorrhages with Hard exudates.
•In Proliferative stage new vessels proliferate in to the vitreous body & bleed.

How to Diagnose?

•1.Fundus examinationby Direct ophthalmoscopy,Indirect ophthalmoscopy,Slitlamp biomicroscopy with use of special lenses.
•2.Fundus Flouroscein Angiographycaptured by a Fundus camera.

Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Lasers:-nature of laser treatment depends on the stage of the disease. -Depending on the stage of the disease single or multiple sittings should be given.
-Aim is to reduce the oxygen demand of the retina hence decrease vascular proliferation.
Intraocular injections:-
Anti VeGF (avastin)is given to reduce the macular edema & Vascular proliferation.
Surgical:-
Vitrectomy removing the traction elements and giving Endolaser to the damaged retina.

Follow up in patients with Diabetes.

•Screening of all the diabetic people irrespective of age and sex every year.
•Patients with DR needs to be examined every 3-6 monthsdepending on the requirement.

Age related Macular Degeneration [AMD]

•AMD is a disease associated with aging, that gradually destroys sharp and central vision.
•It is an eye disease with its onset usually after age of 60 yrs.

Which part of the eye is effected in AMD?

•Macula is the most sensitive region of the retina responsible for Central,Sharp & day vision.
•It does not have any Blood vessels.
[ Injury to the macula can impair the ability to see straight ahead clearly.Making it difficult to read,drive and perform daily activities that require central vision.]

TYPES OF AMD 

Dry AMD

•More common type.
•Light sesitive cells of macula slowly get degenerated.
•Usually effects unequally in both eyes.
•Central vision is reduced.

Wet AMD

 •Less common type
•Usually rapid in onset.
•Abnormal vessels grow under the macula causing fluid accumilation.

Types of AMD

DRY AMD

WET AMD

What are the symptoms ?

•There is no pain.
•Straight lines appear wavy.
•Distortion of the vision.
•Visual loss is rapidin wet type of AMD.
•Patient requires extra light for reading and near work.
•Some patients might notice a blind spot centrally.

Vision in AMD

Who is at risk for AMD?

•Greatest risk factor is Age(>60yrs).The risk increases to nearly 30% by the age 70yrs.
•Smoking.
•Obesity.
•Racial—Whites are at more risk than blacks.
•Immediate family membersare at increased risk of getting AMD.
•Women have a little higher risk than men in getting AMD.

How is AMD diagnosed?

•By an Ophthalmologist looking for
1. Visual acuity
2.Fundusexamination
3.Amsler Grid:
The pattern appears as a checker board.
Look with one eye for any wavy patternor any missingportions of the lines.

How is AMD treated?

1.LASERS
2.Photo Dynamic Therapy.
3.Inta ocular injections[Anti VeGF].
None of these treatments is a cure for wet AMD.The disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment.
4.Medical treatment:[For Intermediate and Advanced AMD]
Taking of specific high dose of Antioxidants and Zinc reduces the riskof advanced AMD and its visual loss.
[vit c 500mg,vit E 400IU,15mg Betacarotene,80mg Zinc]

PREVENTION OF A M D

•Eating healthy food rich in Greens.
•Weight control
•Control of Blood pressure.
•Regular Exercise.
•Non Smoking

DONATE EYES AFTER DEATH AND LIVE TWICE

THANK YOU

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.

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.