Is COCONUT good or bad for us??

We keep reading conflicting reports about the coconut. Is it good or bad for us??

Coconut has bad reputation. That’s because the meat of this fruit largely composed of saturated fat. But while that sounds unhealthy, the hard science tells us different story. Adding unsweetened coconut cream to your protein shakes can make them richer and healthier.


HARD FACT # 1 Researches in the Philippines found that coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer & that kills germs.


HARD FACT # 2 the primary saturated fat in coconut meat, cream and oil is lauric acid, which lowers the markers of heart-disease risk by improving your ratio of total cholesterol to good HDL cholesterol, report scientist in Netherlands.


HARDS FCT # 3 like olive oil and butter, coconut oil is ideal for cooking because heat doesn’t cause it’s fats to oxidize – a reaction that can create unhealthy free radicals.


HARD FACT # 4 Most of the saturated fats in coconut are ‘medium chain’ fatty acids. These fats are preferably burned for energy, instead of stored as body fat, say nutrition scientists at the University of Connecticut in the US.


HARD FACT # 5 Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, which may help fight off infections and pathogens, according to recent study from Nigeria.


HARD FACT # 6 Fresh coconut water, which is found in young, green coconuts, contains potassium, sodium, and glucose. In fact, scientists concluded that it’s an ideal beverage for rehydrating after exercise.

EAT YOURSELF THIN..!! In pre and post Workout.

When you eat is as important as what you eat. Get your time right; the fat will fall. You eat less and work out more, but that trouser belt sticks to you like a stubborn piece of dough. You know that if you want to lose weight. Eating fewer calories than you burn is the way to go, right? Wrong. If ir were, then the obesity problem would be one of those redundant phrases – like ten paise, free parking and pretty please. Your body is more complex than that. Take biscuits for example. A high-sugar biscuit and a brown rice salad may contain the same amount of calories, but after a workout the biscuit is actually put to better use than the salad, as it goes straight to your muscles. Here is the science behind building a lean, muscular body around the clock.



1) Eat within one hour of waking up. It is at this time that your body sets its metabolism for the day. Skipping on food on this crucial hour sets your body to starvation mode, which means anything you eat afterwards will be stored as fat. And that roll around your midriff will just get bigger. EAT THIS – Fill your plate with high-quality protein, slow-digesting carbohydrates and healthy fats. Protein stops muscle breakdown and provides row material for laying down new muscles, carbohydrates replenish energy stores without elevating blood sugar and healthy fats assure your body that there’s more coming, letting it burn stored.


2) Eat every three hours after breakfast, light meal. Waiting more than four hours between meals cause your blood sugar levels drop way too low, leaving you weak irritable and tired. To combat this, your body secrets cortisol, a hormone that boosts blood-sugar levels. But one of the ways it does this is by converting muscle protein to sugar – what exercise scientist called muscle wasting. EAT THIS – always include protein, with either healthy fats or slow-digesting carbohydrates, but preferably both. Protein is the major player here, since up to 30% of its calories are burned during digestion, compared with 8% of carbs and 2% of its fats. The recommendations for this time zone may include snacks, lunch and even dinner, depending on the time of day you exercise.


3) Drink chocolate milk after your workout, the devils work-biscuits, chocolate and cake are more angelic at this time of the day. Your body needs fast-digesting carbs. A workout changes your body’s priorities: as sugar is absorbed into your bloodstream, it’s shuttled to your muscles instead of being used as fuel and is stored there. This forces your body to accelerate the rate at which it burns fat for energy.EAT THIS- combine high quality of protein with fast digesting carbs. Immediately after you finish exercising, opt for a liquid meal, which speeds the absorption of protein and carbs into your blood stream. Researchers at the Texas Medical Branch found that 6gm of essential amino acids and 35gms carbs is an ideal combination for promoting muscle growth. That’s almost identical to 350ml of chocolate milk. Two hours after your workout, eat some solids- it’s the best time to get eat sphagheti. If you exercise before breakfast, use your post work out drink as a pre workout booster; eat breakfast as soon as you can then eat every three hours meals after that.

An example of clock diet: Your hourly plans, to burn more fat, add fish oil to any meal. In one study, 3gm of the stuff a day boosted metabolism by up to 400calories. That’s enough to lose merely 1/2kg a week.


6.30am Breakfast – Omelet (with pepper & onion, cooked in olive oil) green tea.

9.30am Snack- Apple with a chunk of cheese.

12.30pm Lunch – Chicken and vegetable stir-fry.

3.30pm Snack – cottage cheese or plain yoghurt with diced pineapple.

5.30pm Work out.6.15pm Post-workout drink – 1 pint chocolate milk.

8.15pm Dinner – Chicken breast with pasta and spinach salad.


Eat yourself thin, and build muscles…!!!!

Fragnant healing...a smell that use to drown worse thing.

FRAGNANT HEALING…I am sure many of you noticed...first rainfall on dry earth and smell of soil. This is best of smell I perceived in life, the feeling I can’t express in words. It is so much refreshing to my mind. The smell has so much impact on our mood, it makes you relaxed and refreshens same way some offensive smell irritates you.


The olfactory system and pain share brain networks and its thoughts that the positive consequences of experinceing pleasant or familiar odours offset pain to a measurable extent. In fact there is increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Although much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents like peppermint, vanilla, & coffee may have therapeutic effects.


Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy –the complimentary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to common cold. “Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically possibly for immune system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain and use it for rehabilitation. “Smells, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory.” To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind –being relaxed, for example, or positive you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent. By simply introducing the associated smell.


In fact, of the powers ascribed o the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is universally positive childhood aroma – holiday ice=creams, perhaps, or the smell of backing. Recreating vanilla’s off-vaunted powers of relaxation or stress relief. It may be possible to program smell association for particular therapeutic tasks.


As strong smells seems to distract us from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger. Ex. sniffing peppermint may decrease appetite.


In Ayurveda smell of the substance is rarely appears or disseminates until the formed shape starts breaking or disintegrating. As the substance lose its shape and gets ground, crushed, roasted,, the smell specific for that substance starts appearing. So the smell of shape and fullness alternative of each other. If the firm shape remains intact rarely smell appears. As the process of cooking, roasting, churning, heating, steaming go on the material slowly loses away some particles from the firmness. The disintegrating or naturally detoriating milk, urine, faeces, fish, meat etc eliminate maximum smell specific of each substance.

The nose has comparatively thick folding structure along with thick sticky secretions around. The disintegrated particles from shapeful substance are responsible for producing specific smell. The nose which is having thick and sticky folds is the capable of receiving the smell. Therefore the Indian scientist put the thought of primordial substances and its relation with specific sense organs. As smell is quality of Earth/Prithvi quality/Guna and related to Sense organ Nose/Nasa. And in text it is explained as NASA HI SHIRSO DWARAM. Can we take this shloka for concept of healing with Fragnant ??

HOW TO BUILD STRONG BONES ????

How to build strong bones…don’t wait for that dreaded bone- weakening disease to strike. The good news: you can reverse bone losses with diet, exercise and medication.

People neglect the back pain…Even after rubbing balm when it didn’t help you, then you visit to doctor. After lot of investigation you get your diagnosis..That’s what is shocking for you. It is always believed that osteoporosis – a disease where bones weaken and porous & brittle –afflicted only elderly. If all of you remembered that when we’re young our bones get longer & denser until we reach full height. Even as we grow our bones tissue is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Then (in your early 30s if you’re women and at about 40 if you are man), your skeleton naturally begins to slowly lose bone faster than your body can replace it and very gradually your bones thin and becomes less dense as you age.
 Osteoporosis is usually not detected until you suffer a nasty fracture of the wrist or hip, often in very minor accident, or in some cases, even spontaneously. By the time you’re diagnosed with osteoporosis, your bones will already have lost significant density making them fragile.


An overwhelming majority of sufferers will be women, because hormone oestrogen play crucial role in a women’s ability to use dietary calcium to build new bone. So when women approaches menopause, the reduction in the body’s oestrogen production deprives her bones of vital calcium. Some 20 to 30 % of bone loss in women occurs in the first five years after menopause, when precondition osteopenia often develops. So women in the age 46 to 50 age group are at the greatest risk of developing osteopenia. Patients with this, usally have pain in back, and in severe cases may suffer from fractures after trivial injury.


Men too are at risk. A decline in testosterone, which occurs naturally after age 60, result in reduced ability to use dietary calcium to build new bone.(Men also produce small amounts of oestrogen and fluctuation in this also play a role.

A sedentary lifestyle too can contribute to osteoporosis in men as can the long term use of medications such as anticonvulsants or corticosteroids by asthmatic or those suffering from skin disorders. Younger Indians, too especially those who work regular night shifts, or have adopted a sedentary indoor life style, or smoke, or drink excessively are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Bone loss can also occur in women whose oestrogen levels have dropped due to the removal of their ovaries, and in athletes whose ability to produce oestrogen may be inhibited by low levels of body fat.


SYMPTOMS AND INDICATORS
• Constant back pain and, less commonly, pain in the chest, hip, wrist and pelvic area.
• Developing hunched back, or loss of height (due to compression of spinal column)
• Tendency to suffer fractures after relatively minor falls.
• Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods) is associated with reduced oestrogen levels and, possibly, osteoporosis.


TREATMENTS: Is focus on to slow bone loss and to reduce the risk of fractures. Also some lifestyle changes. For severe cases of fractures surgery could be option. Keep your diet with calcium supplements; include lots of banans, sesame seeds, exposure to sunlight. Indeed adults up to age 50 require 1000mg of calcium daily, post menopausal women (and men over age 65) should get 1200 to 1500mg a day. You will find variety of calcium compounds at the chemist; the two with highest level are calcium carbonate & calcium citrate. For the best absorption calcium supplements should be taken an hour before or after meals in doses of 500 to 600mg at a time. Calcium needs a partner in its bone-protection work: Vitamin D. Most adults need 400IU.

PREVENTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO…Lifestyle changes can make big difference, even if you’ve already been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Keep these bones building and safety tips in mind…


SUPPLY CALCIUM: Calcium rich foods include soyabeans, sesame seeds, nuts, broccoli, turnip greens, sardines, clams, shrimp, and dairy products like milk cheese, paneer, curd. Reduce your salt intake.


AVOID INACTIVITY: Walk regularly or work out. “When it comes to bones, function determines form, exercise develops bone. Inactivity causes bone loss. So you can choose to use it or to lose it.”


GET SOME SUN: Try to get 30 min of exposure to gentle sunlight every day. Avoid the harsh sunlight.

WATCH WHAT YOU DRINK: Limit beverages, especially soft drinks. Drink water instead. Restrict alcoholic drinks to a day. Stop at two cups of tea or coffee per day. Tobacco use contributes to osteoporosis.


HERBAL HELPERS: Ayurveda prescribes supplements in combination with various ingredients like, Godanti bhasma, Kukutandtwak bhasma, a natural form of calcium help in healthy bone formation, improves bone mineral density and relieving bone and joint pains. Using some condiments in right quantities also beneficial also like Ashwagandha. Before starting any medication consult a health professional.

PLANTS THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE…NEWS FLASH…!!!! ANCIENT AYURVEDIC KNOWLEDGE CAN BE YOUR TICKET TO……WHY THEN IT IS NOT YOUR HEALTH REMEDY NO. 1???

To most of us something that’s ours, something we claim that but something we know next to nothing about. What’s alternative medicine to the rest world is – to us – what our grandma’s forced us during fevers, sprinkled on cut, and rubbed in the backs in the summer. As we grow older & move to aspirin and protein supplements, we continue to use balms and herbal shampoos but forgot overall good health simple twigs and herbs can give us. Why? Is it because we seek instant gratification in our jet-age lives? Or is it because we haven’t been kept in loop about how traditional plants are solid way to stay healthier.

The answers is : Both. Sure, everyone wants things “NOW” and there is nothing wrong with it – we are stressed and have too many things to pack in, right? But this is why Ayurveda is more relevant today. Ayurveda is relevant as the shift in medicine from reductionist to holistic is taking place. Lifestyle related immunological and non-infectious diseases have an answer only in holistic methods not in quick fixes.

By “holistic” ayurvedic practioners means that while ayurveda may not match the “quick results” (that too depend on variable factors) of allopathic medicines, it can effectively target the multifactorial & multi targeted effects of a disease to evolve long-term solution.”It treats the root cause of the disease rather than focusing on the symptoms.”

Here is how: Ayurveda seeks to maintain (or help regain) a balance of three substances or doshas: wind/spirit/air (VATA), phlegm (KAPHA), and bile (PITTA). A balance in doshas ensures that various channels in the body are free to transport fluids from one point to another. And the way to open up blocked channels is either through sweat or through herbal intervention (or through balance & moderation, be it in terms of food, sleep, hygiene or the intake of medicines.)

Look at it this way: if you bathe, clean your teeth, skin, and eyes regularly, eat well and get in some exercise, you’re going to be in good shape all your life. If you can’t do this regularly – and none of us can- use the means as prescribed in ancient texts to make sure your pipes and tubes –nerves, arteries, veins, oesophagus, and intestines are clog free. And these texts are ancient. “The knowledge on how to lead a long and healthy life – and fix the disease and ailments that are obstacles – has evolved after deep discussion between sages.”

Now days it is important to monitor all this as traditional knowledge is being lost and because a proliferation of herbal brands has made control necessary. There are more than millions herbs and plants that ayurvedic practioners use to create formulations. There are barks, roots, fruits, leaves, oil….and endless list of nature’s beauty. Fortunately for you, there is little need to become a botanist or a gardener. Or to grind hundreds herbs for handful of the good stuff. Though each herb has its own specific use from boosting your libido to blasting cholesterol, you can easily incorporate into your life to become healthy, happy and muscular.

If you can incorporate few plants into your diet, you’ll be ready to name your great, great grandchildren. And these plants may hold more answers. “Ayurveda offers effective treatment against rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases, neurological disorders that affect locomotor function and allergic respiratory disorders. It makes sense to do things in moderation. Remember, Ayurveda is about the “balance.” Seek advice from qualified practioner who’ll outline an authentic product. For your part, store any herb in a place free from contamination by air. Ayurveda is preventive and you can see positive changes in the respiratory and digestive system, better sleep, more energy or relaxed state of mind.

But in these days of lab-dominant medicines, can there be an Ayurvedic future? Plant molecular biotechnology & nanotechnology help unravel the secrets of formulations. This, in effect will make ayurveda relevant in the treatment of new age diseases. Advance in science have enabled us to isolate molecules to enhance their benefits? Who believes, however, that isolating molecules in herbs can lead to a “one drug to one target relationship,” which “undermines the herb’s total benefit.”

Apart from adding these plants to your diet, “what should be understood is that healthcare has to be based on integrated approaches to medicine that combine the best of conventional medicine with ayurveda. Again, it’s about balance. : The key to good health through ayurveda is knowledge of one’s unique Prakruthi (constitution), and a genuine ayurvedic doctor can assess one’s prakruthi with accuracy.

“One can select a diet suitable to one’s constitution, plan the daily regimens suited to one’s nature and gather early warning signs about the disease one is predisposed to.”

INDIAIN MUSCLE FOODS…NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE; KNOW THE FOODS THAT BUILD MUSCLES..!!!

If you want to build some serious muscle, you need to load up on protein. Why? Because that’s what makes up your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. It’s also what slows down the wear and tear in the tissues. Without enough of protein your body will simply break down the muscles you’re trying so hard to build to get its quota of fuel. Here are some of foods tracked down from across the country that rank high on protein scale. Let’s have a look.



1) MOONG DAAL/GREEN BEAN: - Also called as golden gram or green soy. It is one of the most easily absorbable lentils. With 24.1gm of protein per 100gm, it’s one of the best sources of protein. An added bonus. It’s packed with 13 essential amino acids needed to keep your body working in top-notch condition. Have it as dal or as sprouts.


2) BROWN RICE: - It has nearly same carbs and calories as white rice so why it is better? The answer is body takes body takes more time in breaking down brown rice (13.5gm of protein per 100gm), meaning it provides sustained energy for your workout. It is also better as it contains several vitamins & dietary minerals that are lost when processed.


3) FISH: - Eating fish will certainly help to flex you muscles, since you’ll get 19 to 20 gm of proteins per 100gm. Fish oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. This means you’ll have fewer injuries and faster recovery from your training sessions. Also omega-3 fatty acids in fish like salmon and sardines help to lower LDL cholesterol, keeping your heart healthy and ticking.


4) CHICKPEA FLOUR/BESAN: - 100gm of besan will give you 20gm of protein. It’s great for your muscles, but besan can difficult to digest and is known to cause flatulence. So go slow.


5) SATTU/POWDERED BAKED GRAM: - Sattu is mixed with spices and used to stuff chapattis. In India you mostly find in Bihar & UP, but it also highly popular in countries like Pakistan, Nepal.


6) ARHAR-TUR DAL/RED LENTIL: -It is not only rich in protein of 23gms per 100gm- but also 13 essential amino acids.


7) CASHEW NUTS: - Cashews are rich in protein (22.2gm per 100gm), compare to other nuts, and low in calories. They’re also rich in nutrients &minerals like calcium which help to keep your bones healthy & strong.


8) RAGI/MILLET FLOUR: - A kind of millet flour, ragi has 7.4gm protein per 100gm. It is used in preparation of rotis, dosa, porridge, & high protein biscuits. The white grain variety has more protein.


9) CHICKEN: - with a protein content of 33gm per 100gm, chicken is favorite muscle food. It‘s also low-fat & low in cholesterol. Go for chicken breast & remove the skin to exclude the fat.


10) MILK & MILK PRODUTS: -the proteins & carbs in milk help to reduce inflammation, leading to faster recovery after exercise. In fact the lifters who drink milk after a workout experience less muscle damage.


11) BAJRA/PEARL MILLET: - Eaten as porridge or rotis, or added to steamed vegetables, bajra contains 11.6gm of protein per 100gm. It packed additional punch, since it contains 13 essential amino acids.


12) JOWAR/SORGHUM: - It contains 12.4gm proteins per 100gm, is the most important crop in Maharashtra used in rotis.


13) BLACK GRAM: - This also contains 24 gms of proteins per 100gm & is packed with amino acids.


14) SOYABEAN: - Also known for its high protein content.

You should know...insufficient gastric hydrochloric acid(HCL) causes protein to putrefy and carbs to ferment in the intestines. Symptoms include bad breath, nausea, stomach pain, acne, depression. Rectitifying it can improve athletic performance, sleep and well being. So follow an HCL protocol.

Healthy HEART in 30 minutes A DAY.... !!

Follow these quick and easy tips to keep your Heart-Healthy in 30minutes a day.Now think about some of the mundane things you do for 30min every day. Watch soap operas? Sit in the traffic? Surf boring sites on the internet? Wouldn’t you rather spend that time helping to ensure a long, fit, heart happy existence? There are simple key areas, which can be easy health boosting tactics- and they will take only 30 minutes a day.


EAT SMART a nutritious diet needn’t to be costly, or time consuming if you follow simple rules.


1) STICK TO 5 FOOD GROUPS.


Proteins: - nuts & fish particularly cold water ocean species, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that keep heart rhythm steady and discourage blood clotting. Eat white meats, beans and egg white. For vegetarians, there are fewer sources of omega fatty acids, but walnuts, lentils, and flax seeds.


Good Fats: - Olive oil, soya oil, nuts and nuts peanut butter are full of monounsaturated fat that, unlike the hydrogenated fats of many bakery products, margarines and other processed foods, increase good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and cut the bad low-density lipoprotein levels.


Fruits and vegetables: - These are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, antioxidants, and other ingredient such as folate (found in peas, broccoli, and bananas), which cuts homocystetein, and isoflavanoes(found in soya and chick peas), which reduces arterial inflammation. Aim for nine servings a day –of various types and colors for different nutrients- to really boost your heart.


Whole grains: - Go for two to four servings a day of whole meal or multi-grain bread, whole meal pastas and cereals or barley or bulgar wheat. Switching from refined grains completely could slash your heart-attack risk 30%.


Dairy Foods:- They provide essential Vit B and calcium- but skimmed milk and reduced fat products, no more than three times daily, to avoid too much saturated fat.

2) Eat whole, Not processed, Food – Processed food are designed for long shelf lives, and are loaded with sugar and “bad fats”, plus three quarters of our daily salt intake (too much has been linked with high blood pressure).


3) Watch your portions: - However well you eat, you have to avoid consuming too much- excess fat, particularly around tummy, is released into the blood system as artery-clogging fatty acids. Portions sizes of ready meals takeaways have increased dramatically in the past 20yrs as we’ve got used to eating more than we need. Use smaller plates to cut your intake up to 25%. Don’t eat too quickly- one study found that this doubles your risk of being overweight, perhaps body doesn’t have time to tell you it’s full.


4) Take cooking short cuts: - A) Keep kitchen stocked with healthy basics to supercharger packed soups, by adding beans, or carrots, or boost salad with extra nuts. B) Cook in cast-iron pans. It can double the iron content of scrambled eggs, for ex which helps the delivery of Oxygen to heart muscles. C) Use lots of ready-prepared fruit and vegetables, fresh or frozen.


5) Be smart When Eating out: - Restaurant food often comes in big, fat-and- sugar-laden portions. Value for money, you might think, but: A) Have a snack, such as fruit an hour before food so you don’t over eat. B) Avoid bread basket it can represent 550 calories of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats (if you have butter). C) Ask for sauces and dressings separately so they don’t smother your food. D) Order two starters instead of main course- one protein based and the other vegetable. Share main course with family member or friend accompanying you. E) Avoid “au jus” sauces. They are made of meat juices, i.e melted fat.


6) Take supplements: you shouldn’t rely on pills to meet your nutritional needs, but a daily multivitamin can fill in, if there are gaps in your diet. Make sure it has 100% of the recommended dietary allowances of the B Vitamin 1,2,3,6 and 12. Folic acid, and Vitamin C, D and E to cut inflammation and homocysteine levels.


GET ACTIVE: - Regular exercises brings down blood pressure, makes heart pumping more efficiency and reduce insulin resistance, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Stretch whenever you can it promotes circulation and encourages efficient nutrients transport in muscles


7) DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY: Laughter relaxes blood vessels. A) Banish anger: it makes arteries constrict, the heart rate soar & the blood sticker and more likely to clot. B) Focus and finish: Don’t try to do too much complete one job and then move to the next. C) Get enough sleep. D) Take a news break. E) Listen to joyful music.


8) PURGE THE POISONS: The following pollutants are particularly bad for your heart : Tobacco, Air pollution, Noise, Respiratory infections, Dental Plaques.


Follow these tips and after few weeks you will start to see an impact on your blood pressure, weight, cholesterol levels and other heart measures. And unlike statins, beta blockers, or other drugs, preventive life style measure like these rarely have isolated actions. They will make you fitter, happier and protect you against a range of medical problems unconnected to your heart.

Solar Energy.. SURYA NAMASKAR- a ancient exercise gifted to us.. !!!

SOLAR ENERGY….Surya Namaskar. The ancient exercise is best done at sunrise, facing the sun, but you may also do it anytime.

Surya Namaskar literally salutation to the sun-is a sequence of some of Yoga’s basic asnas (postures). Accompanied by pranayam and the chanting of mantras, it’s regarded as a comprehensive form of exercise that is invaluable for our mind and body. The mantras are in praise of the Sun. our prime source of energy. Surya namaskar are found beneficial as modern-day exercises for improving the body’s strength, endurance and flexibility. “Modern exercises tend to be goal specific; they are developed specially for strength, endurance or flexibility. But just by changing the frequency of each asana in the Surya Namaskar sequence, any or all of these goals can be achieved.

A modern sports science recognizes the importance of a strong core: the part of the body between the spine muscles of the back and abdominal muscles in the front. A strong core means a stable foundation for arms & legs, which improves the range and power of their motion. Surya Namaskar targets the core, stimulating the enclosed organs: liver, pancreas, kidneys and intestines. The accompanying pranayam stimulates the diaphragm, improving respiration and heart health.

Lack of flexibility is often a big issue for sports injuries, which can be often prevented with preliminary warm-up. Surya Namaskar best done before breakfast is the perfect warm up because it stretches the chest and back muscles, the cervical spine, muscles of arms, hands, legs, and feet. Performing 108 Surya Namaskars in 30 minutes can burn about the same number of calories as running at a slow pace for 30 minutes.

As with all kinds of exercise, how you perform it is very important. Breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling based on which asana you are in. move slowly & feel each asana stretching your muscles. Ask partner to guide you, using the pictures of each asana as a guide or better seek a yoga teacher’s guidance.

Awareness on eating....AYURVEDA perspective....!!

Our health is sum of what eat and how we eat… and this all depends on the process of digestion and absorption. Ayurveda invites us to look more deeply into this…!!! Let’s have a look on qualities of food what we are eating and how it affects or digestion.



Digestion: - digestion is the process by which we break down what is coming in from our outer environment in order to make it an integral part of our inner environment. Absorption is the process by which we integrate these digested elements into our cells. Elimination is the process by which we integrate these digested elements into our cells. Elimination is the means by which we let go of any unneeded elements, digested & not. How well the balance between these three processes is working dictates to great extent how well-nourished we are, and how good we feel.


In Ayurveda the keys to fine digestion are good health, strength, and agni or digestive fire. Agni translates in Western terms into that ability of all the digestive organs to be lively, effective and coordinated in function when given an appropriate amount of food. This “appropriate amount of food” is an important part of the effective digestive process. Too much food can act like sand on fire, dousing agni, and demanding more work of it than it can realistically deliver. Too little food can starve agni, like expecting fire to burn brightly with but a few twigs to fuel it. In these days of intense focus on dieting, obesity and anorexia, determining what is too much and what is too little can be loaded question. Yet the reality is that your body, when balanced can tell you how much you need through the simple messages of hunger and satiation. You can trust these messages. The thing is that it can sometimes take a long while- weeks, months or years – to create the inner balance, depending on your particular circumstances. The important thing is to know that it can be done.


The power of digestion always depends upon bodily strength. And the maintenance of strength is dependent upon good digestion. If you are having trouble with either your health or digestion, do not be discouraged. Know that each need is important and suggest something. Now question how can you know if your digestion is good? The well greased machine moves smoothly with little sound and commotion. If you are experiencing gas, bloating, irritation, burping, belching, or what not….now you need attention and some assistance.


In ayurveda, one takes into account both the food and how it is prepared and combined. In general food that are light ( laghu) by Ayurvedic standards are easiest to digest, while heavier(guru) are more difficult to digest. There is wide variety of food which are light, including lettuce, munga, etc also there are variety of food are heavy as cheese, banana, black lentils lentils. These heavier foods are useful for strengthening, grounding and nourishing, take more energy in digestion so best use in smaller quantities. Light foods can be taken in greater quantities and tend to stimulate appetite and digestion. Heavy foods by nature suppress appetite.


Foods are also classified as hot (ushna) or cold (shita) in Ayurveda. Foods considered hot by Ayurvedic standards stimulate digestive fire. These include most spices, chillis, garlic, yoghurt, red lentils and honey among others. Cold foods will tend to calm/or slow down digestion; these include milk, coconut, dill, and coriander, to name a few. A balance of cooling and heating foods and spices is optimal for best digestion. The concept of heating and cooling is widespread in many cultures. And yet there is much disagreement between cultures.

In these days extensive use of pesticides & other chemicals, it is possible that given food may have unexpected effects based on contamination. For ex. over exposure to some pesticides stimulates fever, diarrhea & other burning symptoms in people. These exposures can be & are mistaken for common flues, & viruses, when they are responses by the body to chemical overdose. For ex. Grape treated with heavy dose of insecticides may cause such a feverish reaction. It is no longer cooling at all. Or it could be more cooling than normal, depending on the contaminating agent & response. How modern toxicology integrates with ancient Ayurveda is yet to be explored.

In ayurveda concepts oiliness & moistness (snigdha) and dryness (ruksha) also effect digestion. Oily foods in general will promote lubrication of the digestive tract and secretions of digestive elements, when used in moderation. In excess, they can be inhibiting by overworking of the liver and gallbladder. Fodds which are slimy(slakshana) like okra tend to support lubrication and hence digestion. Soft (mrudu) foods will soothe digestion yet mildly inhibit agni. Tapioca is example ofthis. Rough (khara) foods tend to move digestion and eliminating along, as demonstrated by oat & wheat bran. And yet rough food can be too harsh for some people. Sharp (tiksha) foods like chillis stimulate digestion, on occasion too abruptly. Hards(kathina) and dense(Sandra) foods behave much like heavy foods, putting more of demand on agni, while building the body. Nuts are example of these. Foods which are liquid (drava) enhance lubrication and salivation, especially aiding digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth. Static (sthira), gross(sthula) and cloudy(avila) attributes inhibit agni and digestion; a fast- food meal with milk shake would be a good example. Whereas mobile (chala), subtle (sukshma) and clear ( vishada) attributes stimulate the digestive process of mind and body. Herb gotukola would be an ex for this.

What is important is the beginning of awareness: being aware in a relaxed fashion of what you are eating and how it feels to be eating eat. Realize that this will bring new data in the form of experience and observation for you to integrate, and that today’s experiences are not the last word in your learning.

Indian ancient view on Aphrodisiac food...!!

Eat Indian Aphrodisiac food….Our ancient wisdom bestows boosting powers on the ingredients in your kitchen. Read on to harness the force of these everyday aphrodisiacs.

First a poser: what is Indian word for aphrodisiac? Well, at first it fogged us, but once you dug deeper we get this as Vajikaran, the Sanskrit word which mentioned In Indian traditional medicine Ayurveda, defines aphrodisiac any substance that restores or increases sexual power and desire. As with all these ancient Indian, the basis for this is rather more scientific than the belief in Oysters, rhino horn etc, a belief that depletes wild life.


Indian aphrodisiac, on other hand, are everyday work horses: things like ashwagandha, methi, kapikachu, masha, karjur,hibiscus,ghee, saffron, and shatavari are listed among them. However, their purpose is not exclusively increase pleasure, as it comes different in Indian context. Indian aphrodisiac also work to improve quality of semen and breast milk. Chiefly, the aphrodisiac foods do this by putting more nutrition to your body rather than through putting some energizing spell on your manhood. Food has been known to scientifically affect a man’s moods. Just as there are mood foods, sleep inducing food, and anti-ageing foods (rich in anti-oxidant), there are aphrodisiac foods like banana, milk, honey, almonds etc. It is the amino acids profile that contributes to this quality. “As for that feeling of romance, that must come from the heart, even when your body is all pumped up. Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are the substances that give you a shot of strength, which is why you are recommended a protein shake before a workout. That may explain why it is a practice in certain regions of India to leave a glass of milk and plate of almond in a couple’s wedding night chamber. Think of this chain reaction: Milk and almonds both give you protein; protein is needed for making hormones; testosterone and oestrogen.

The aphrodisiac qualities of specific foods, linking their effects to personality types- satvik(noble/pure), rajsik(passionate/energetic), tamsik(demonic/ignorant). Rajsik foods, or elixirs and aphrodisiac are ideally suited to individuals with a larger-than-life appetite. Indian men in ancient times sought aphrodisiac foods to cure sexual dysfunction, sexual inadequacies and infertility; getting more pleasure out of sex was not the primary aim. This is largely because procreation was viewed as a moral and religious issue. Ancient text too, distinguishes between substances that scientifically enhance fertility and those that simply rev up once sex drive. There is whole spectrum of aphrodisiac, according to Ayurveda. No food, flower or anything else can be called ‘aphrodisiac’ unless it meets certain scientific criteria. Spices are perhaps most potent among the Indian aphrodisiac & possess special aromas/essential oil that invigorate senses. The Romans are known to have favored cinnamon & pepper, while Chinese prefer ginseng/galangal. After all its depend up on your state of mind, the power of aphrodisiac is more psychological than real. “Such foods (termed ‘Love food’) have anti-inflammatory, circulatory, relaxant, and muscle strengthening properties. Garlic and ginger for instance, improves one’s circulatory system.


Ayurveda has given whole spectrum of Vajikaran/aphrodisiac, and there are scientific criteria behind this all.

Cerebral Palsy Day... !!!

An arrival of baby is happiest moments not only for parents but for everyone in the family. It begins with taking care of Mum from grandparents to baby’s dad, a rush behind to gaining weight and what not …and last day comes when baby is born. Everyone has desire of healthy baby, but for some it doesn’t happen. Parents found growth of baby is slow…advises from everyone, frustration and one day you come to know baby is CP. Now you know your bay is not normal, but you have to take this battle of life with all strength.
About Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. It is due to a nonprogressive brain abnormality, which means that it does not get worse over time, though the exact symptoms can change over a person's lifetime.
People with cerebral palsy have damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle tone. Muscle tone is the amount of resistance to movement in a muscle. It is what lets you keep your body in a certain posture or position.
For example, it lets you sit up straight and keep your head up. Changes in muscle tone let you move. For example, to bring your hand to your face, the tone in your biceps muscle at the front of your arm must increase while the tone in the triceps muscle at the back of your arm must decrease. The tone in different muscle groups must be balanced for you to move smoothly.
There are four main types of cerebral palsy - spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed.
· Spastic: People with spastic cerebral palsy have increased muscle tone. Their muscles are stiff. Their movements can be awkward. Seventy to eighty percent of people with cerebral palsy have spasticity. Spastic cerebral palsy is usually described further by what parts of the body are affected. In spastic dsiplegia, the main effect is found in both legs. In spastic hemiplegia, one side of the person's body is affected. Spastic quadriplegia affects a person's whole body (face, trunk, legs, and arms).

· Athetoid or dyskinetic: People with athetoid cerebral palsy have slow, writhing movements that they cannot control. The movements usually affect a person's hands, arms, feet, and legs. Sometimes the face and tongue are affected and the person has a hard time talking. Muscle tone can change from day to day and can vary even during a single day. Ten to twenty percent of people with cerebral palsy have the athetoid form of the condition.


· Ataxic: People with ataxic cerebral palsy have problems with balance and depth perception. They might be unsteady when they walk. They might have a hard time with quick movements or movements that need a lot of control, like writing. They might have a hard time controlling their hands or arms when they reach for something. People with ataxic cerebral palsy can have increased or decreased muscle tone. Five to ten percent of people with cerebral palsy have ataxia.


· Mixed: Some people have more than one type of cerebral palsy. The most common pattern is spasticity plus athetoid movements.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person. Symptoms can also change over time. A person with severe cerebral palsy might not be able to walk and might need lifelong care. A person with mild cerebral palsy, on the other hand, might walk a little awkwardly, but might not need any special help
People with cerebral palsy can have other disabilities as well. Examples of these conditions include seizure disorders, vision impairment, hearing loss, and intellectual disabilities.

Prevention of cerebral palsy:- Prevention from fetal insults, good maternal care and freedom from postnatal damage. Also asphyxia at birth. Early diagnosis, prompt adequate management plans can reduce these residual neurological and psychological emotional handicaps for the child and family.


Management: - The management plan should be holistic and directed to severity, type of neurological deficits and associated problems. Symptomatic treatment is given for seizures. We need to support such child; important is mental support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, naturopathy etc.