Every Day is Yoga Day

Every day is Yoga Day

21st June is celebrated as Yoga day worldwide. A large number of people gather at various places like Schools, Colleges, Playgrounds, Seaside etc., and do yoga for possibly 30 minutes and most of them do yoga after a year on the same day so assume every day is yoga day and practice daily.

If this trend continues then no one will get the benefit of these asanas which has the potential to keep you healthy throughout your life. Benefits of Yoga are immense most of them are mentioned later in this post. Many do new year resolutions of doing yoga daily and within a month’s time forget about the same.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being.

The origins of yoga are shrouded in mystery and mythology while some historians find many clues in the practices of Himalayan Shamans as still be seen in Tibet and Nepal. Lord Shiva is considered the father of ancient yoga while some historian claims that Patanjali is the father of modern yoga.

Click here for Brief about YOGA:

Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science that focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science for healthy living. The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj meaning “to join”, “to yoke” or “to unite”.

According to Yogic scriptures, the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. According to modern scientists, everything in the universe is just a manifestation of the same quantum firmament. One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be “in Yoga” and is termed as a yogi who has attained a state of freedom, referred to as Mukti, nirvāna, kaivalya or moksha.

“Yoga” also refers to an inner science comprising of a variety of methods through which human beings can achieve union between the body and mind to attain self-realization. The aim of Yoga practice (sādhana) is to overcome all kinds of suffering that lead to a sense of freedom in every walk of life with holistic health, happiness, and harmony.

Brief History :

The science of Yoga has its origin thousands of years ago, long before the first religion or belief systems were born. According to Yogic lore, Shiva has seen as the first yogi or ādiyogi and the first guru or ādiguru. Several thousand years ago, on the banks of lake Kantisarovar in the Himalayas, ādiyogi poured his profound knowledge into the legendary saptarishis or “seven sages”. These sages carried this powerful Yogic science to different parts of the world including Asia, the Middle East, northern Africa, and South America. Interestingly, modern scholars have noted and marveled at the close parallels found between ancient cultures across the globe. However, it was in India that the Yogic system found its fullest expression. Agastya, the saptarishi who traveled across the Indian subcontinent, crafted this culture around a core Yogic way of life.

Yoga is widely considered as an “immortal cultural outcome” of the Indus Saraswati Valley Civilisation – dating back to 2700 BC – and has proven itself to cater to both material and spiritual uplift of humanity. A number of seals and fossil remains of Indus Saraswati Valley Civilisation with Yogic motifs and figures performing Yoga sādhana suggest the presence of Yoga in ancient India. The seals and idols of mother Goddess are suggestive of Tantra Yoga. The presence of Yoga is also available in folk traditions, Vedic and Upanishadic heritage, Buddhist and Jain traditions, Darshanas, epics of Mahabharata including Bhagavadgita and Ramayana, theistic traditions of Shaivas, Vaishnavas and Tantric traditions. Though Yoga was being practiced in the pre-Vedic period, the great sage Maharishi Patanjali systematized and codified the then existing Yogic practices, its meaning, and its related knowledge through Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

After Patanjali, many sages and Yoga masters contributed greatly to the preservation and development of the field through well-documented practices and literature. Yoga has spread all over the world by the teachings of eminent Yoga masters from ancient times to the present date. Today, everybody has a conviction about Yoga practices towards the prevention of disease, maintenance, and promotion of health. Millions and millions of people across the globe have benefited by the practice of Yoga and the practice of Yoga is blossoming and growing more vibrant with each passing day.

Fundamentals of yoga :

Yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind, emotion, and energy. This has given rise to four broad classifications of Yoga: Karma Yoga where we utilize the body; Jnāna Yoga where we utilize the mind; Bhakti Yoga where we utilize the emotion and Kriya Yoga where we utilize the energy. Each system of Yoga we practice falls within the gamut of one or more of these categories.

Every individual is a unique combination of these four factors. Only a guru (teacher) can advocate the appropriate combination of the four fundamental paths as is necessary for each seeker. All ancient commentaries on Yoga have stressed that it is essential to work under the direction of a guru.

Traditional schools :

The different philosophies, traditions, lineages, and guru-shishya paramparas of Yoga led to the emergence of different traditional schools. These include Jnāna Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Pātanjala Yoga, Kunḍ ạ lini Yoga, Haṭha Yoga, Dhyāna Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Rāja Yoga, Jain Yoga, Bouddha Yoga, etc. Each school has its own approach and practices that lead to the ultimate aim and objectives of Yoga.

Yogic practices for health and wellness :

The widely practiced Yoga sadhanas are Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prānāyāma, Pratyāhara, Dhārana, Dhyāna, Samādhi, Bandhas and Mudras, Shatkarmas, Yuktāhāra, Mantra-Japa, Yukta-karma, etc. Yamas are restraints and Niyamas are observances. These are considered to be pre-requisites for further Yogic practices. Āsanas, capable of bringing about the stability of body and mind, “kuryat-tadasana- sthairyam”, involve adopting various psycho-physical body patterns and giving one an ability to maintain a body position (a stable awareness of one’s structural existence) for a considerable length of time.

Prānāyāma consists of developing awareness of one’s breathing followed by willful regulation of respiration as the functional or vital basis of one’s existence. It helps in developing awareness of one’s mind and helps to establish control over the mind. In the initial stages, this is done by developing awareness of the “flow of in-breath and out-breath” (svāsa-prasvāsa) through nostrils, mouth, and other body openings, its internal and external pathways and destinations. Later, this phenomenon is modified, through regulated, controlled and monitored inhalation (svāsa) leading to the awareness of the body space getting filled (puraka), space(s) remaining in a filled state (kumbhaka) and it getting emptied (rechaka) during regulated, controlled and monitored exhalation(prasvāsa).

Pratyāhara indicates dissociation of one’s consciousness (withdrawal) from the sense organs which connect with the external objects. Dhārana indicates a broad-based field of attention (inside the body and mind) which is usually understood as concentration.

Dhyāna (meditation) is contemplation (focussed attention inside the body and mind) and Samādhi (integration).

Bandhas and Mudras are practices associated with Prānāyāma. They are viewed as the higher yogic practices that mainly adopt certain physical gestures along with control over respiration. This further facilitates control over the mind and paves the way for higher Yogic attainment. However, the practice of dhyāna, which moves one towards self-realization and leads one to transcendence, is considered the essence of Yoga Sādhana.

Śaṭkarmas are detoxification procedures that are clinical in nature and help to remove the toxins accumulated in the body. Yuktāhāra advocates appropriate food and food habits for healthy living.

 

every day is yoga day

Click here for UN Declaration of Yoga Day:

On 11 December 2014, India’s Permanent Representative Asoke Mukherji introduced the draft resolution in UNGA. The draft text received broad support from 177 Member States who sponsored the text, which was adopted without a vote. This initiative found support from many global leaders. A total of 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution, which is the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA Resolution of such nature and was passed with an overwhelming majority.  “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition.” The UN declaration of Yoga Day would make people more aware of his surroundings and help him to lead a better and stress-free life.

The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by the current Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi during his UN general assembly speech at the UNGA, on 27 September 2014. The importance of yoga can be summed up in the words of Narendra Modi “Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature.”

India’s soft power ( India is a repository of an astounding wealth of living patterns and modes of heritage. With about 1,400 dialects and 18 officially recognized languages, several religions, various styles of art, architecture, literature, music, and dance, and several lifestyle patterns, the country is the largest democracy with a seamless picture of diversity and unity, perhaps unparalleled anywhere in the world ) and its new global outreach became apparent after the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 responded positively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion that June 21 every year be commemorated worldwide as International Yoga Day.

Following this initial proposal, the UNGA held informal consultations on the draft resolution entitled “International Day of Yoga”, on 14 October 2014. The consultations were convened by the delegation of India. The UN proclaimed 21st June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131 on 1st December 2014 proposing a dedicated day for highlighting the virtues of practicing yoga.  In 2015 Reserve Bank of India issued a 10 rupees commemorative coin to mark the International Day of Yoga.

When proposing 21 June as the date, Modi said that the date was the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (shortest in the southern hemisphere), having special significance in many parts of the world. From the perspective of yoga, the summer solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after summer solstice is known as Guru Poornima. Shiva, the first yogi (Adi Yogi), is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day and became the first guru (Adi Guru). Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is a natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices.

About the logo :

  • Folding of both hands in the logo Symbolise Yoga, the union, which reflects the union of individual consciousness with that of universal consciousness, a perfect harmony between mind & body, man & nature; a holistic approach to health & well being.
  • The brown leaves symbolize the Earth element, the green leaves symbolize the Nature, blue symbolizes the Water element, brightness symbolizes the Fire element and the Sun symbolizes the source of energy and inspiration.
  • The logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga.

Following the adoption of the UN resolution, several leaders of the spiritual movement in India voiced their support for the initiative. The founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru, stated, “this could be a kind of a foundation stone to make a scientific approach to the inner well-being of the human being, a worldwide thing… It’s a tremendous step for the world.” The founder of Art of Living, Ravi Shankar, lauded the efforts of Modi, saying, “It is very difficult for any philosophy, religion or culture to survive without state patronage. Yoga has existed so far almost like an orphan. Now, official recognition by the UN would further spread the benefit of yoga to the entire world.”

“Yoga, according to me, is a science and an art that is performed by the body, but it actually satisfies our soul. That is the reason I have taken it up so seriously. I want to be connected with my soul,” shares Shilpa. The actor also says that Yoga plays an important role in maintaining one’s mental health and she wishes more people would take it up as a regular practice. Shilpa Shetty is known for her ageless looks and one can say that Yoga can surely be credited for that.

International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Yoga was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2016.

 

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World Yoga Day Theme

  • The theme of World Yoga Day 2018 was “Yoga for Peace”.
  • The theme of 2017 was “Yoga For Health”.
  • The theme of 2016 was “Connect the Youth”.
  • The theme of 2015 was “Yoga For Harmony And Peace”.

Importance of Yoga day –

Yoga has many health benefits. It is adopted to fulfill the following objectives:

1. To make people aware of the natural benefits of Yoga.

2. It allows people to connect with nature.

3. To draw the attention of people towards the benefits of Yoga.

4. To reduce the rate of health challenging diseases all over the world.

5. To bring communities much closer together to spend a day devoted to good health way from their busy schedules.

6. To make people get used to meditation through yoga.

7. To draw the attention of people worldwide towards the holistic benefits of yoga.

8. To reduce the rate of health challenging diseases all over the world.

9.  To link between protection of health and sustainable health development.

10. To get a win over all the health challenges through regular yoga practice.

11. To promote the better mental and physical health of people through yoga practice.

12.  To help people in their bad situations themselves by getting relief from stress through yoga.

13. To strengthen global coordination among people through yoga.

14. To make people aware of physical and mental diseases and its solutions through practicing yoga.

15.  To let people know their rights of good health and healthy lifestyle to completely enjoy the highest standard of physical and mental health.

 

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Click here for Yogis of India:

Maharishi Patanjali

Maharishi Patanjali is the ‘father of Yoga’ who compiled 195 Yoga Sutras that became the foundation of Yoga philosophy. The commentary on these sutras is called Bhasya. The core essence of Patanjali is the eightfold path of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) that focusses on healthy living through Yoga.

Swami Vivekananda

Born in Calcutta in 1863, Swami Vivekananda showed a desire to unravel the spiritual and realize God even when he was a child. This is why he chose Ramakrishna as his Guru because he was sure that Ramakrishna would be able to demonstrate for him the reality of God. Ramakrishna introduced him to Advaita Vedanta and also told him that all religions are true. However, the best form of worship is service to man. The credit of introducing Vedanta and yoga to Europe and America goes to Swami Vivekananda. He raised Hinduism to the pedestal of a world religion by introducing it at the Parliament of World’s Religions at Chicago in 1893 where he also gave an inspiring speech and called the people of America his brothers and sisters. Vivekananda also raised interfaith awareness. He founded the Ramkrishna Mission and Math.

Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo was one of the brilliant prolific spiritual personalities of India. Sri Aurobindo Ghose was a great yogi, philosopher, and poet. Sri Aurobindo penned down a total of 68 books on different domains of spirituality. His best publication is ‘The Life Divine’, which focuses upon theoretical aspects of Yoga, another one is ‘Synthesis of Yoga’ that throws light on practical facets of Yoga. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry is a great seat of spiritual practice, which is known as Integral Yoga. Auroville or Aurobindo Ashram spread the spirit of universal brotherhood. He was born in Kolkata on 15th August 1872 and sent to London for study at the age of seven.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Born in 1887 at Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu in 1887 Swami Sivananda was a Doctor in Malaysia, but he renounced his medical practice in 1924 when Swami Vishwananda Saraswati initiated him into Dashnami Sannyasa. He practiced intense sadhana, yoga, and learned the scriptures. He became a wandering monk and toured the length and breadth of India. Wherever Sivananda went, he tried to awaken the moral and spiritual consciousness of people. In 1936, he founded the Divine Life Society at Rishikesh with the main aim of spreading spiritual knowledge and serving mankind. Being a doctor he started the Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy in 1945.

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (November 18, 1888 – February 28, 1989) was an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer, and scholar. Often referred to as “The Father of Modern Yoga,” Krishnamacharya is widely regarded as one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century and is credited with the revival of hatha yoga. Krishnamacharya held degrees in all the six Vedic darśanas or Indian philosophies. While under the patronage of the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, Krishnamacharya traveled around India giving lectures and demonstrations to promote yoga, including such feats as stopping his heartbeat. He is widely considered as the architect of vinyasa in the sense of combining breathing with movement.

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda is one of the pioneer Indian Yoga masters who introduced meditation and Kriya Yoga to the western world through his book ‘Autography of a Yogi’. In one of his other books, The Self-Realisation Fellowship Lessons, Paramahansa Yogananda stressed upon the realization of God through Yogic practices.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born on 12th January 1918 and is one of the great Indian Yoga gurus famous across the globe equally. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the founder of ‘Transcendental Meditation Techniques’. He trained many teachers in ‘Transcendental Meditation and taught Transcendental Meditation Techniques to more than 5 million people across the globe.

BKS Iyengar

B.K. S. Iyengar is popularly known as Guruji, who genuinely explains the meaning of Yoga sutras. Born in 1918, he is one of the leading Yoga personalities in the world and popularises yoga across the globe. Yogacharya Iyengar’s style of teaching Yoga is unique and termed as ‘Iyengar Yoga’. B. K. S. Iyengar has command over Yogasanas, in fact, has the authority over asanas. Iyengar ji has written many books on Yoga Philosophy such as ‘Light on Yoga’, ‘Light on Pranayama’, ‘Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’, ‘Patanjali Yoga Sutra Paricay’, etc. He is the recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. In a survey of Times Magazine, Iyengar ji is named as one of the 100 most Influential People in the World in 2004.

 

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Click here for Gentle exercise for workplace wellness and efficiency

According to the statistics, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) & Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) have dramatically increased in the past years, since the evolution of the personal computer.

Checklist for Prevention

  1. The most important thing to do is to take your eyes off, your computer screen and gaze into the far distance every half an hour.
  2. Drink a glass of water at a regular interval of time.
  3. Stay aware of your posture while you are sitting on your chair.
  4. During the lunch break involve yourself in physical exercises.
  5. Include full-body stretch in your daily activity.
  6. Check that your workstation is set up correctly.
  7. The computer screen should be at eye level or below the eye level.
  8. Follow some exercise programs that include upper body strength.
  9. The program must also include exercise for flexibility, to stretch out the contracted muscles of the wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, and upper back.
  10. Stretch your body before you go to bed at night.
  11. Observe your sleeping positions.
  12. Make sure that you have the right pillow height for sleeping.
  13. The neck should be supported, but too many pillows will create problems as well.
  14. The neck should be in line with the rest of the spine.

What are the solutions?
Easy Desktop Yoga is a series of exercises based on yoga and designed specifically for working people. Simple and easy modified yoga exercises help you to calm, invigorate, and relax. Desktop Yoga is the perfect solution for those who want a simple, relaxing workout which they can perform while sitting at their desks. It is excellent for reducing stress during a long workday. This program targets the muscles that are mostly affected while sitting for a long period of time. It is divided by body part, so you can choose how long you want to work out.

Recommended Yoga Exercises
Here are some desktop yoga-based exercises which can be done in the office during the course of the day to help prevent CTS and RSI. Hold the positions for a few breaths and let the stretch increase, but do not force it. The most important part of each exercise is to become aware of your body and breathe.

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Full body stretch-Tad Asana (Tree Pose): Exhale and inhaling take both the arms up above the head from the sides and join the palms at the top. Lift the heels and stand on the toes and pull the whole body upward. Continue smooth breathing. Pull the hands upward as much as possible.

Internal Effects: In this asana all the muscles stretch in one direction at one time and then relaxed. This process helps to remove all the strains. The muscles get rest and relaxed.

Hand Exercise: Sit straight. Keep both your hands straight forward. Make a strong fist & open it. Repeat it 10 times with enough strength. Make a strong fist and rotate clockwise 10 times and anti-clockwise 10 times. Pull your both hands with strength while inhaling and push you are both hands forward while exhaling.

Shaking out Tension: Shake out your wrists and arms, letting them dangle from your shoulders. Rotate your shoulders forward and back.

Neck Exercises: Sit straight on your chair with feet firmly on the floor. Keep your hand straight on the seatback. Extend the torso and drop the chin into the chest.

First set: While inhaling turn your head to the left side and hold for 10 seconds. Exhaling turns your head to the right side and holds for 10 seconds. Repeat it twice. Come to the center while inhaling. Tilt your head down to the right and hold for 10 seconds. Tilt your head left and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat it twice and come to the center. While inhaling tilt your head back and hold for 10 seconds. Exhaling tilts your head down and holds for 10 seconds. Repeat it twice and come to the center. While inhaling tilt your head back and rotate your head slowly clockwise and anticlockwise for 5 rounds. Come to the center.

Second set: Place your right palm on your right side of the head and resist. Repeat from the left side as well. Place both your palms on your forehead and resist. Interlock your fingers to place it in your back of the head and resist.

Release the Neck: Shrug the shoulders high up to the ears and then release and drop. Repeat at least 3 times.

Back Exercise (Forward Bending): Sit on a chair, spread the legs apart. Stretch both arms up and then bend forward, placing both palms on the floor. Hold on to the posture for 10-25 seconds and release. Repeat the same movement 5 times.

Opening the Chest: Interlock your fingers behind your back with the palms facing the torso. Roll the shoulders back, but keep the ribs from poking forward. Stretch your elbows and arms on the exhale and hold it for a few breaths. On the exhale, bend your elbows and bring your wrists to the right side waist, gently pressing the right elbow towards the left. Release and do the other side.

Opening the mid-back (Hug your body): Hug your body, placing the right hand on your left shoulder and left hand on your right shoulder. Breathe into the area between your shoulder blades. Exhaling brings the arms straight down, the palms facing each other. Stretch the fingers up, and on the next exhale, raise the elbows up to shoulder height. Hold for a few breaths and then repeat on the other side.

Back Exercise (Side Stretching): Hold chair with one hand. Stretch the other arm up and bend sideways. Hold on to the posture for 10-25 seconds and release. Come back to the starting position and repeat on the other side. Repeat it thrice.

Pawanmuktasana (Abdominal Massage): Sit straight on a chair, bend your right leg, interlock your fingers, and hold your knee. While exhaling pulls your knee up to the chest. Hold for 20 seconds, release it while inhaling. Repeat it with the left side as well.

Ardhamatsyasana (Twisting the Torso): With the feet planted firmly in the ground and the thigh bones pressing into your chair, inhale to take your right leg up and cross it to the left side. Place your right hand straight on the chair. Hold your knee with the left hand and press on the abdomen while exhaling. Inhale to take it up and exhale to bring it down. Repeat it with the other leg as well. Remember to keep breathing slowly and deeply as you twist.

Leg Exercise: While standing place your one leg on the chair and stretch your toes hamstring muscle by pulling your toes in. While inhaling takes both your legs up and exhaling bend forward keeping your back straight. Try to hold your toes with both hands. Hold for 20 seconds. Inhaling come up. Repeat it with the other side as well.

Relax the Eyes: Turn your head right and left, looking into the far distance with your eye gaze. Close your eyes and take some deep, slow breaths with your belly soft. You can do it without moving your head as well.

Sahaj Pranayama: Sit in a chair with a straight back. Close the eyes and relax, keeping the spine and body straight. Focus all attention on the navel region – the point of fire in the body. Inhale deeply; tilt your chin down to touch collar bone. Hold your breath for a count of 10. Raise your chin up and exhale through the mouth. Repeat the three stages of this cycle in a rhythmic fashion. Practice up to 5 rounds.

Don’ts: People with cervical spondylosis should not press the chin down. They can keep their chin up.

Kapalabhati: Sit in a comfortable position with a straight spine. Take two or three deep inhales and exhales. Inhale deeply to exhale sharply and forcefully through the nostrils, drawing the belly in as you exhale and producing a puffing sound. Let the inhalation happen passively, and continue this cycle of forceful exhalation and passive inhalation at a fast pace so that the belly is pumping continuously. At the same time, receive an auto-suggestion about the increased flow of blood circulation, detoxification, and vitalization of the vital organs viz. kidney, small intestine, large intestine, prostate gland, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and lungs, etc.
Practice the process for 2.5-15mins. You may take short breaks when you start out on this yogic breathing exercise.

Benefits: Kapalbhati means the exercise which makes the forehead luminous & lustrous. This Pranayama supplies pure life energy to the brain. It increases the blood circulation in the brain and removes blood clots, thereby improving the memory power. Other than this the toxins and foreign substances from the body are evacuated. It cures a cold, sinusitis, allergy, tension, and other diseases. It is very useful in case of phlegm, skin disease, asthma, heart diseases, low blood pressure, depression, tiredness, laziness, sleeplessness, migraine, joint pain, obesity, diabetes, constipation, indigestion, acidity, gastric problem and other diseases pertaining to the kidneys and prostate gland, etc. are also cured. As a result, the whole body becomes healthy and disease-free.

 

Click here for Following four asanas will help you lose weight:

Many people assume that since yoga is a passive fitness activity it may not give us the desired weight loss results. However, that is not true. Though yoga doesn’t involve vigorous, HIIT-like movements or fast-paced aerobic activities, it can still help your body burn fat fast.

The subject of weight loss with yoga is often looked at with uncertainty because it doesn’t exactly seem so laborious or physically intensive. And yoga works not just on our bodies but also on our minds. It helps promote flexibility in your body, boost concentration, and more importantly release stress.

If you are planning to lose weight, there is nothing more effective than yoga. The evidence of its effectiveness is in yogis who have been lean and healthy for centuries. In fact, the weight loss yoga trends like hot yoga and hath yoga are all based on the traditional form of yoga, Apart from a regular practice of yoga, one must also follow mitahara (measured eating), which is not the same as dieting. To follow mitahara, one must eat as a form of devotion to the temple that is our body.

  1. Atmantan, “Suryanamaskar, or the sun salutation, is the best yoga asana for weight loss. It is usually practiced as a warm-up exercise as it works on every body part.

Suryanamaskar (Sun salutation): Here’s how to get it right.

  1. Start with the prayer pose,
  2. Move to raised arms post,
  3. Hand to foot pose,
  4. Then the equestrian pose,
  5. Then the stick pose,
  6. Slowly move to salute with eight points post,
  7. Then cobra pose,
  8. Follow it up with mountain pose,
  9. Back to the equestrian post,
  10. Hand to foot pose,
  11. Raised arms and back to where you started at the prayer pose.
  12. This is a great way to speed up metabolism, activate digestion, and strengthen abdominal muscle. Apart from these, it also promotes good sleep and keeps anxiety at bay.

Make sure to stay in form when practicing naukasan

Naukasan (Boat Pose): Lie down on your back bring the legs together, hands on the thighs, or next to the thighs on the floor. Once in position, inhale and raise your head, arms in a straight line off the floor at 30-degree angle, toes pointing upward. This asana engages the core, increases the efficiency of abdominal muscles, and helps reduce belly fat.

Try to stay in this position and stretch your hamstrings.

Paschimottanasan (head to toe): Sit with legs stretched out and together, inhale and raise the arms alongside your ears, exhale and pull the navel in, stretch the spine forward from the hips. Attempt to hold the toes with hands, bending the elbow outward or downward. This pose helps elongate the spine and give it a good stretch.

This pose will help burn fat faster.

Dandasana (plank post): This pose has been translated into many fitness routines, but it won’t be wrong to say that it originated in the centuries-old yoga practice. Lie down on the abdomen, bring the elbows under the shoulders, get in the pushup position and place your forearms on the ground. Inhale and lift your body off the floor, with toes and hand support. Squeeze the glutes, tighten your abdominal muscles. Hold the post for 5-7 normal breaths. This pose is an excellent way to engage and strengthen the core, help burn fat and calories from the abdomen.

 

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Click here for Benefits of Yoga:

The benefits of yoga provide both instant gratification and lasting transformation. In the fitness world, both are extremely important. Too much time with too few results can be incredibly discouraging, and monotonous routines week after week can lead to stagnation. Yoga can change your physical and mental capacity quickly while preparing the mind and body for long-term health.

Yoga is very necessary and beneficial for all human beings if it is practiced by all on a daily basis in the early morning. The benefits of Yoga include:-

  • Increased muscle strength and tone
  • Increased flexibility
  • Improved respiration, energy and vitality
  • Maintaining a balanced metabolism
  • Weight reduction
  • Cardio and circulatory health
  • Improved athletic performance
  • It tones the skin, improves oxygenation to the skin, imparts a beautiful glow, and keeps the skin youthful and free from problems.
  • Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown.
  • Protects your spine.
  • Betters your bone health.
  • Increases your blood flow.
  • Drains your lymph and boosts immunity.
  • Drops your blood pressure.
  • Regulates your adrenal glands.
  • It lowers blood sugar.
  • It helps your focus.
  • It helps to promote blood circulation and oxygenation to the scalp and hair follicles.
  • Many beauty problems are triggered off by stress. Since yoga helps to induce relaxation and reduce stress
  • It certainly helps in dealing with stress-related conditions like acne, hair loss, dandruff, etc.
  • yoga has shown that positive changes also occur in the personality, in attitudes, emotional stability, self-confidence.
  • It helps you concentrate.
  • Relaxes your system.
  • Improves your balance.
  • It helps you sleep deeper.
  • Gives your lungs room to breathe.
  • Increases your self-esteem.
  • It gives you inner strength.
  • Uses sounds to soothe your sinuses.
  • Releases tension in your limbs.
  • Eases your pain.
  • It has a direct effect on the mind, emotions, and mood.
  • It is a regular stress-buster and puts the glow back on the skin.
  • It helps oxygenation.
  • Perfects your posture.
  • It imparts a feeling of physical and mental exhilaration.
  • Yoga improves blood circulation, including the circulation of blood to the skin surface.
  • It also promotes the removal of toxins through the skin.
  • Encourages self-care.
  • Fosters mental calmness.
  • Relieves Anxiety.
  • Hip flexors are stretched and strengthened.
  • Imparts a beautiful glow and keeps the skin youthful and free from problems.
  • You will feel instantly rejuvenated and good about yourself.

 

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Click here for Quotes about Yoga -

Yoga is a mirror to look at ourselves from within.

  • You cannot always control what goes on outside, but you can always control what goes on inside… So start yoga to control your inside world … !.
  • Yoga is the practice of quieting your mind. Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, the science of youthfulness, the science of integrating body, mind, and soul.
  • Yoga is not a workout, it is a work in and this is the point of spiritual practices to make us teachable, to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we are already and what we already know.
  • Yoga is not about self-improvement, it’s about self-acceptance.
  • Yoga imparts a lasting sense of joy, peace, and fulfillment.
  • Yoga enhances vitality, focus, and productivity; it stabilized the human body, mind, and emotion of a human being.
  • Yoga is a light, once lit, will never dim. The better you practice the brighter the flame will be.
  • Yoga is the golden key that unlocks the door to peace, joy, and happiness.

Yoga can contribute to resilience against non-communicable diseases.

Yoga can bring communities together in an inclusive manner that generates respect.

Yoga can contribute to development and peace. It can even help people in emergency situations to find relief from stress.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

“Yoga lets people discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature” Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

“Through the practices of yoga, we discover that concern for the happiness and well being of others, including animals, must be an essential part of our own quest for happiness and well being. The fork can be a powerful weapon of mass destruction or a tool to create peace on Earth.”
Sharon Gannon

“You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.”
Sharon Gannon

“A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves.”
T. Guillemets

“In theory, practice and theory are the same. In practice they are not.”
Yogi Berra

“When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath.”
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

“You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.”
Mr. Yoga

“Before you’ve practiced, the theory is useless. After you’ve practiced, the theory is obvious.”
David Williams

“The most important pieces of equipment you need for doing yoga are your body and your mind.”
Rodney Yee

“Exercises are like prose, whereas yoga is the poetry of movements. Once you understand the grammar of yoga; you can write your poetry of movements.” -Amit Ray

Yoga has a sly, clever way of short-circuiting the mental patterns that cause anxiety.
Baxter Bell

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.”
B.K.S. Iyengar

“Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one’s being, from bodily health to self-realization. Yoga means union – the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day to day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”
B.K.S. Iyengar

“When you listen to yourself, everything comes naturally. It comes from inside, like a kind of will to do something. Try to be sensitive. That is yoga.” –Petri Räisänen

 

Celebration of International Day of Yoga :

 

 

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Click here for postures of Asanas and more

 

Disease Prevention

disease prevention

Disease Prevention

Disease prevention can be defined as measures that seek to avert the occurrence of disease (including injury), arrest its progress, and reduce its consequences once it is established. Disease prevention can be classified into levels: primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Preventive interventions aim at interrupting the web of causality leading to one or more aspects of ill-health. They are directed at different phases in the development of a disease, aiming at eradicating, eliminating, or minimizing its impact, or if none of this is feasible, retarding the progress of disease and disability.

Successful prevention depends upon –

  • Knowledge of causation
  • Dynamics of transmission
  • Identification of risk factors and risk groups
  • Facilities for these treatment procedures
  • Evaluation and development of these procedures
  • Early detection and treatment measures

Click here for Strategy to Prevent Disease

Disease prevention by regular physical activity has become more and more important. Its significance has been shown in various studies. Epidemiological and naturalistic as well as experimental studies demonstrate the risk-reducing and health-enhancing effects of regular physical activity. In particular, Yoga, aerobic and Zumba training seems to be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases. The psychological benefits of physical activities are decreasing negative emotional states (e.g., anxiety) and increasing positive emotional states (e.g., vigor).

Whereas the effect of exercise on physical health can be explained by adaptation processes of the metabolic and cardiovascular system, the effects on mental health remain unexplained. Different kinds of hypotheses assume physiological (e.g., thermoregulation, endorphins), psychological (e.g., attention distraction, states of flow), or rather unspecific mechanisms (e.g., effort justification). Further research is needed to enlighten these mechanisms. However, it can be stated that physical exercise is an appropriate means for health promotion in most cases.

Health promotion and disease prevention along with effective patient education are essential components of practice for PAs in all settings. Providers should perceive all interactions with patients as potential opportunities to implement a positive behavioral change in unhealthy behaviors. Starting with a meticulous history and physical examination that identify an individual’s risk or evidence of preventable disease, PAs should develop a strategy to implement all recommended interventions that are appropriate for the patient’s age and gender. Behavioral modification and patient education should consider unique circumstances and the patient’s readiness to adopt healthier lifestyles within a continuum of change.

Motivational interviewing strategies should be implemented to improve behavioral change outcomes. Health promotion and disease prevention strategies should be directed not only at individual patients but also at the community as a whole. Working with community groups and organizations to help provide a consistent message to the public on health promotion topics will provide reinforcement to the individual patient. Increasing exercise, appropriate diet, and smoking cessation along with immunizations targeted screening histories, and examinations represent the mainstay of any successful health-promotion and disease-prevention effort.

Health promotion and disease prevention programs typically focus on enhancing wellness within one or more of these three health domains. Wellness becomes a philosophy of life that utilizes health promotion and disease prevention strategies to achieve the goal of optimal aging. Optimal aging implies maximizing one’s ability to function across physical, psychological, and social domains to one’s satisfaction and despite one’s medical conditions. The three overarching domains of physical, psychological, and social health are often further divided into dimensions.  Frequently quoted view of wellness as a process with six interconnected wellness dimensions: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational/vocational, and intellectual  Wellness is generally accepted as a multidimensional entity, with the inclusion of factors associated with physical, psychological, and social health making intuitive sense.

Even when exposure risk is minimal, it’s always a good idea to take reasonable precautions to help prevent the spread of disease in the workplace, at home and in the community at large.

 

Click here for Precautions to Avoid Disease

Pathogens can be transmitted through various means: airborne through coughing or sneezing, contaminated food sources, bodily fluids and secretions, and physical or sexual contact. Sanitary and sterile conditions are paramount in places where food is prepared and in medical offices or hospitals. It’s vital to remain personally vigilant against illness and infectious disease. You may want to reduce your silent inflammation that we all have to prevent disease and go for a health screening as well. In the meantime, here are several ways to reduce the odds of contracting sickness:

  • Regularly wash hands with clean, warm to hot water.
  • Maintain good hygiene with bathing and toilet habits.
  • Smell-test and examine food before enjoying your meal. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Be familiar with foods that are recalled from store shelves due to links to infectious diseases and know how to discard them from your home.
  • Wash foods for cooking before enjoying them, including vegetables, fruits, and poultry, such as, chicken.
  • Take the right over-the-counter medicines (OTC), get rest, and drink plenty of fluids when sick. If obtaining OTC’s, it’s best to ask your physician or pharmacist for their recommendation.
  • Avoid contact if at all possible with people who have symptoms or signs of illness.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Do not delay in seeing your physician if your symptoms or signs get worse or don’t abate.
  • Keep your living quarters and workspace clean and disinfected.
  • Avoid contact with common vectors of infectious disease: including flies, mosquitos, and ticks.
  • If you notice flu-like symptoms, know that these symptoms are also linked to foodborne illness which may lead to an infection. Be particularly mindful of this if you are ill, elderly or immune system compromised.

 Vaccination: When a certain percentage of the population is immunized against a contagious disease (like the flu), everyone benefits from herd or community immunity, including those who are not candidates for immunization. Preventable diseases that seem to have largely been eradicated re-emerge when vaccination rates drop. Researchers are also looking into possible declines in vaccine potency.

Respiratory hygiene: This includes:

  • Covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and promptly disposing of soiled tissues
  • Keeping a distance of at least 3 feet from someone with symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, fever or vomiting
  • Wearing surgical masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, in certain workplaces (e.g., health care, hazardous waste cleanup, and disposal, emergency response), PPE such as gloves, face pieces, respirators, and bodysuits are used to prevent the spread of infection.

Additional recommended practices include:

  • Disinfecting surfaces such as countertops, phones, and door handles
  • Training, practice, and observation related to donning and doffing PPE

 Universal Precautions

Universal precautions include:

  • Flushing mucous membranes immediately after contact with blood or OPIM or PPE removal
  • Not eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, or handling contact lenses in areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure to blood or OPIM
  • Placing all intact needles and sharp objects in puncture-resistant, labeled, leak-proof containers
  • Disposing of any potentially contaminated waste in sealable bio-hazardous waste bags and containers

 Standard Precautions

Standard precautions are based on the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents. Similar to universal precautions, standard precautions include hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, eye protection, total face shield, and safe injection practices.

Gloves should be worn whenever there is the likelihood of contact with blood, non-intact skin, mucous membranes or OPIM, and when handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces. Disposable gloves and mouthpieces should not be washed or decontaminated for reuse.

Some of these measures may be perceived as an over-abundance of caution. However, if everyone does their part to help prevent the spread of disease, personal well-being, work and school absence rolls, over-burdened health care facilities, and cost-benefit analyses should reflect favorable results.

 

Click here for Disease Prevention Definition

  • Activities designed to protect patients and other members of the public from actual or potential health threats and their harmful consequences.
  • Disease prevention covers measures not only to prevent the occurrence of disease, such as risk factor reduction but also to arrest its progress and reduce its consequences once established

Levels of Prevention:-

The concept of prevention is best defined in terms of levels of prevention.

  1. Primordial prevention
  2. Primary Prevention
  3. Secondary prevention
  4. Tertiary prevention
  5. Quaternary prevention
  1. Primordial Prevention –

It consists of actions and measures that inhibit the emergence and establishment of environmental, economic, social and behavioral conditions, cultural patterns of living known to increase the risk of disease

  • Mainly associated with chronic diseases
  • Intervention – Individual and mass education
  • Has to start in childhood when health risk behavior begins

Examples of Primordial prevention –

National program and policies on :

  • Food and Nutrition
  • Against smoking and drugs
  • To promote regular physical activity

Responsibility for Primordial prevention –

  • Parents, Teachers and Peers group: Imparting health education
  • Government: Legislating and enacting laws
  • Professional and non-professional organizations
  • Industry
  • Hospitals, Health practitioners and health care workers
  1. Primary Prevention –
  • The action was taken prior to the onset of disease, which removes the possibility that a disease will ever occur
  • Intervention – Pre-pathogenesis stage of the disease
  • Concept of positive health – An acceptable level of health that will enable every individual to lead a socially and economically productive life
  • Approaches for primary prevention of chronic diseases :

Population (mass) strategy –

Directed at whole population irrespective of individual risk levels

Directed towards socio-economic, behavioral and lifestyle changes

High-risk strategy –

To  individual at special risk

Population approach –

High-risk approach –

Achievements of primary prevention –

Controlling disease like cholera, typhoid, plague, dysentery, and T.B., by raising the standard of living

Holistic approach

Modes of intervention :

  • Health promotion
  • Specific protection

Health promotion –

Process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve health

Not directed against any particular disease

Intervention in this area :

  • Health education
  • Environmental modifications
  • Nutritional interventions
  • Lifestyle and behavioral changes

Values in health promotion :

  • Equity and social justice
  • A holistic definition of health
  • Covers a full range of health determinants
  • Recognizes the influence of environment on health
  • Seeks to enhance people’s social participation
  • Involves inter-sectoral Collaboration
  1. Secondary prevention –
    • Action which halts the progress of the disease at its incipient stage
    • Intervention – early pre-prognosis stage
    • It is the domain of clinical medicine
    • Modes of intervention :
  • Early diagnosis
  • Adequate / prompt treatment

Effects :

  • Seeks out unrecognized disease
  • Provides treatment before irreversible changes occur
  • Reverses communicability of the infectious disease
  • Protects community
  1. Tertiary Prevention

All measures available to reduce or limit impairments and disabilities, minimize sufferings caused by the existing departure of good health, and to promote the patient’s adjustment to irremediable conditions.

Intervention – Late pathogenesis stage

Modes of intervention –

Disability limitation: To prevent or halt the transition of disease of the disease  process from impairment to handicap

Rehabilitation: The combined and coordinated use of medical, educational,  social and vocational measures for training and re-training the individual to the highest possible level of functional ability

Requires cooperation from different sections of society

The action is taken to identify patients at risk of over-medicalization, to protect him from new medical invasion, and to suggest to him interventions, which are ethically acceptable.

Quaternary prevention is the set of health activities to mitigate or avoid the consequences of unnecessary or  excessive intervention of the health system

Quaternary prevention should precedence over any alternative preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic,  as is the practice version ‘primum non-nocere’

Intervention types –

  • Do not mistake risk factors with disease
  • To avoid check-ups or unnecessary exams
  • To avoid technical interventionism in healthcare
  • To avoid the indiscriminate use of antibiotics

Conclusion –

  • Understanding disease pathology is the first step towards formulating preventive measures
  • Prevention can be achieved in any stage of the disease
  • Primordial or primary prevention is the most effective and economical
  • Disease control is also a part of prevention which is achieved by means of continuous monitoring and surveillance of disease.

Click here for Healthy Habits to Avoid Disease

One of the best ways to maintain your health is by taking care of yourself. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy your old age without being injected with several different kinds of shots, then change your daily lifestyle because even the simplest little healthy modification can cause great benefits.
Though it is difficult to put health and fitness as a top priority in this rat race day and age, it’s best to start with baby steps that will surely peak your health tremendously.

  1. Pump up nutrition
  2. Get outdoors
  3. Ease Stress
  4. Stop nose picking
  5. Stretching is important
  6. Breathe the right way
  7. Bathing daily at least once is good
  8. Cut your nails regularly
  9. Avoid sharing personal items
  10. Say no to sugary items
  11. Sweat it out
  12. Stop worrying
  13. Quit smoking
  14. Stay safe while having sex
  15. Respect your body and yourself
  16. Know your risks
  17. Maintain a healthy blood pressure
  18. Monitor your cholesterol
  19. Limit your calories
  20. Stay informed about health
  21. Maintain a healthy diet
  22. Keep your brain active
  23. Reduce alcohol intake

Recommended medical check-up

  • Yearly check-up (every other year if no health risks)
  • Yearly dental exam
  • Skin Check
  • Cholesterol Check
  • Monthly breast self-exams
  • Yearly Pap smear/OBGYN visit after the age of 18 or when sexual activity begins
  • Mammogram initially by age 40; high risk by age 35
  • Colonoscopy initially by age 40; high risk by age 35
  • Bone density test

Superfoods that fight disease –

These nutrient-packed foods can help ward off ailments ranging from heart

disease to the common cold. A powerhouse of Fiber, Vitamins, Minerals and  Antioxidants

  1. Alfalfa Sprouts
  2. Apples
  3. Avocados
  4. Beets
  5. Cranberries / Strawberries / Blackberries
  6. Flaxseed
  7. Oranges
  8. Papayas
  9. Pumpkins
  10. Quinoa
  11. Raspberries
  12. Spinach
  13. Sweet Potatoes
  14. Walnuts
  15. Watercress
  16. Yogurt
  17. Dairy foods
  18. Fatty fish
  19. Dark leafy greens
  20. Whole grains
  21. Tomatoes
  22. Garlic
  23. Grapes
  24. Beans / Black beans
  25. Eggs
  26. Nuts – cashews,
  27. Spinach
  28. Kiwifruit
  29. Broccoli
  30. Turmeric
  31. Cantaloupe
  32. Salmon
  33. Oats and barley
  34. Carrots
  35. Melons
  36. Citrus fruits

All above powerhouses are mentioned in our earlier posts/blogs


Myths about disease prevention

Highly publicized disease outbreaks in the last decade have put people on edge, and they look to healthcare facilities for knowledge on how to prevent the spread of disease.  Here are some lingering myths about disease prevention that are important to dispel.

Myth #1 – Antibacterial is always better: Antibacterial products are everywhere: from soap to cleaning products, public, private, and professional spaces are inundated with products that claim to kill most to all harmful bacteria on a surface when used. This may sound like the best way to prevent the spread of disease but can actually cause more problems than it solves.

The first danger is the simple fact that not all infectious diseases are caused by bacteria. Illnesses that are caused by viruses are not affected by antibacterial products at all, and frequent use of these products can create a false sense of security that can backfire in the case of a viral outbreak.

The second, and perhaps most widely known, the danger of antibacterial products is their contribution to creating bacterial resistance. Widespread use of antibacterial chemicals allows bacteria to develop resistance more quickly, making it harder to treat infections and illnesses.

Myth #2 – Hand sanitizer cleans your hands: Across the country due to awareness campaign hand sanitizer usage have increased by healthcare professionals and everyday consumers alike. While alcohol-based hand sanitizers do reduce microbe levels quickly and effectively, they are not a convenient solution to infection control and disease prevention that many people think.

Hand sanitizers do just that – sanitize – and can’t remove dirt, grime, oil, or grease that can harbor infectious microbes. So washing your hands with soap and water is still the best way to eliminate germs on your hands.

Myth #3 – A daily dose of a vitamin C supplement will prevent the onset of the common cold: Researchers have concluded that prophylactic vitamin C does not reduce the incidence of colds in the general population, but maybe useful in reducing the incidence of colds for people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise.

Myth #4 – Sodium Phosphate can detox the kidneys: Sodium phosphate is used to clean out your colon before a test, and pills can be used for constipation. Sodium phosphate is also used in processed foods to keep them fresh. But it certainly doesn’t detox your kidneys! In fact, taking sodium phosphate as a drug can be dangerous for people with kidney disease.

Myth #5 – Hydration is the key to prevent Kidney disease: While drinking enough water is a great way to help your everyday health, it is just one way of keeping your kidneys healthy. Some people think that the more water they drink the better, but there is such a thing as drinking too much water which can lead to low blood sodium levels. So, while drinking water is important to keep your body healthy and happy, don’t overdo it and don’t’ rely on hydration alone.

Myth #6 –If I already have heart disease, I shouldn’t exercise: Exercise has countless health benefits, one of which is strengthening your heart and increasing blood flow throughout the body.

If you have heart disease, talk to your doctor about the safest exercises you can do to maintain your heart health. Walking might be the best option, because it is low-impact but still lowers your risk for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, some of the main risk factors for heart disease.

Myth #7 – I have a family history of heart disease, so I’m destined to have it too: Genetic factors can increase your risk for heart disease, but that doesn’t mean you’re predestined to experience it. However, it does mean that prevention is more critical.

If you have a family history of heart disease, eating a balanced diet, not smoking, getting regular exercise, and regularly checking your blood pressure and cholesterol are all important preventative measures you must take to reduce your risk.

Myth #8 – I’m having chest pain, it must be a heart attack: This is probably one of the most common myths about heart disease. Yes, chest pain is a symptom of heart attacks, but everyone who has a heart attack experiences different symptoms, such as excessive sweating, pain in both arms, the neck or jaw, or even feelings of light-headedness and difficulty sleeping. You may experience pain in other body parts because the heart transmits it to these areas since it doesn’t have as many pain receptors itself.

Myth #9 – I don’t need to worry about my salt intake: Most people’s daily salt intake is five times higher than what they actually need. Processed, canned and restaurant foods typically contain high levels of sodium, which raises your blood pressure and thereby increases your heart disease risk.

Myth #10 – I am young. I don’t need to worry about heart disease: Heart disease is more common among older adults, but how you treat your heart now could have long-term consequences for how it functions later. If you smoke, are overweight, or have diabetes, this can increase your risk for heart disease—no matter what age you are. Start practicing health habits today to maintain your heart health for the future.

Myth #11 –  Only old people get heart disease: While it’s true most cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed in people above age 45, let me assure you – the heart damage started well before age 45. The fact is heart disease can impact anyone at any age.

Myth #12 – Avoid saturated fat for a healthy heart: The widely held belief that saturated fats lead to coronary artery disease is just plain wrong. Do your own research. You’ll find that saturated fats are good for your heart.

Myth #13 – Surgery “FIXES” your heart: Surgery simply repairs a problem. It does not cure the cause of the problem. Actually nothing is cured. Your heart is not fixed. A problem has been repaired. Stent implant open blockages caused by plaque buildup. It opens the artery but does not fix the cause of the plaque buildup.

Myth #14 – You can eat what you want if you take your heart medicine: Heart medications, or medications to treat high-risk diseases that lead to heart disease, are not cures for the problem. Medications simply regulate symptoms. You must control what you eat to control your health.

Myth #15 – You’ll know if you ever have a heart attack. The chest pain will be unbearable: A lot of people, especially women, don’t have crushing chest pain but rather unusually bad fatigue, jaw, or back pain or sleep disturbances instead.

Myth #16 – I don’t have cavities so I don’t have gum disease: Being cavity-free doesn’t ensure you are in the clear where gum disease is concerned. That’s because gum disease is painless and many people have no idea they have it. Gums that bleed easily or are red, swollen or tender is a sign of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease and the only stage that is reversible.

 

 

 

 

Ayurveda tips for Monsoon

Ayurveda Tips for Monsoon

In India, Some habits and precautions are told in all religious holy books.  They say, To be spiritual, we must be Healthy. A good healthy body is a 1st step to achieve the status of spirituality.

They told some habits of food to follow in particular manners, they advised some things to avoid for this four months of Monsoon ( called Chatur Maas) to have a healthy body, mind, and soul as well. All this indication of various religions like Hinduism, Jainism, etc is for better Health.

It’s told by the medium of God so the person on this earth will believe in it and follow it sincerely. But all these things also told in Ayurveda and now these things are proved scientifically also. Ayurveda told these things as a Rutu Charya( tips on how to behave in a particular season) for Beautiful Health, Physically as well as mentally.

The monsoon season is finally upon us, as most parts of the country enjoy the frequent spells of rain, the lush greenery all around, and the calming climate. Monsoon is a season of much joy and fun for most of us. Rain is a beautiful gift to mankind to get fresh, its season of romance. Little precautions and Ayurveda tips for monsoon make this romantic reason more enjoyable.

Unfortunately though, it also brings with it a lot of seasonal illnesses, and makes us more susceptible to insect bites, seasonal colds, flu, stomach problems, and joint problems. Instead of popping pills to cope with these, it’s better to try natural, side-effect free Ayurvedic remedies and habits.

 

Click here for Monsoon Health Care

The ayurvedic concept for the division of a year into six seasons namely Shishira, Vasanta, Grishma Varsha, Sharad, and Hemant is based on the movement of the sun into the northern and southern solstice positions which are called as Adana Kala (Utterayana) and Visharga Kala (Dakshinayana) consisting of six months in each side. The nomenclature coined as Adana meaning taking away and visarga is forgiving of strength and vigor in all living creatures. In Adana Kala sun and wind are powerful. During this period sun takes away the cooling qualities of the earth due to its scorching heat and strength of the creatures is diminished. In contrast in Visharga Kala sun releases the strength to the people by empowering the moon and earth to become cool due to the clouds, rain, and cold wind. Hence the Varsha Ritu or starting of monsoon is the indicator for the appearance of Visharga Kala and restoration of lost strength during Adan Kala ie Shishir, Vasanta, and Grishma rituals.

 Climatic division of  the year  in Bharat- as per Ayurveda

Semester Season             Month  Property
Adana Kala (Northern Solastic /celestial sphere)

 

Shishira Magha Phalguna (Mid January to Mid March)

 

Cold & Dewy season
Vasanta Chaitra, Vaishakha(Mid March to mid-may) Spring

 

Grishma Jyestha, Ashadha(Mid May to Mid July) Summer

 

Visharga kaala (Southern Solastic/ celestial sphere)

 

Varsha Sravan, Bhadrapada(Mid July to Mid September)

 

Rainy Season

(Monsoon)

Sharad Ashvin, Kartik(Mid September to mid-November) Autumn season
Hemant Margsheersha, Paush (Mid November to Mid January) Winter season

The accumulated vata in summer pops out its head, with the drop in temperature at the onset of monsoon. The vitiated vata leads to symptoms like Joint pain, muscular pain, acidity, loss of appetite, body ache, gas trouble, indigestion, cough n cold, etc.

These growing incidences of ailments due to accumulated Vata and pitta dosha needs to be pacified with the intake of medicines, proper diet, and lifestyle modification. The excessive doshas should be eliminated through the body (detoxification) with the help of Panchakarma. Ayurvedic texts recommend specific Shodhan therapy (detox program) as per the season for everybody. This is a part of Rutucharya (Seasonal regime) –

  • Vaman in Vasant rutu
  • Virechan and Raktamokshan in Sharad rutu
  • Basti in Varsha rutu.

Importance of Basti – “Basti is half of the medicinal therapy or even the complete treatment”.

  1. As it is being used in numerous unresponsive diseases of degenerative, musculoskeletal, locomotor, and neurological nature with promising results. Basti alone is capable of curing many disorders. 
  2. Basti prevents the recurrence of disease and has immunomodulation effects.
  3. Basti treatment regulates the metabolism of Vata dosha, smoothens functioning of Vata dosha, and ultimately corrects the functioning of Pitta and Kapha dosha.
  4. Depending upon the medicines, oil, and decoction used for Basti it renders curative, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac, and other healthy and beneficial effects.
  5. It is an extremely beneficial treatment for all Vata vyadhi, ailments associated with the digestive system, degenerative changes in the body, etc.
  6. Basti not only eliminates the toxins out of the body but also helps in the regeneration process at the cellular level.

 

ayurveda tips for monsoon

Click here for Aggravation and Accumulation of doshas during monsoon

Vata: Accumulates during the dry or dehydrating heat of the summer. It becomes aggravated during the rainy (Monsoon) season which causes weakened digestion, acidic atmospheric conditions, and gas produced from the earth.

Pitta: Accumulates during the rainy season due to the acidic conditions of the atmosphere and weakened digestion. It is aggravated during autumn when the heat returns. This occurs after the cooling spell of the rainy season.

Regimen during monsoon: Ayurveda describes aggravation (vitiation) of Vata and accumulation of Pita in Varsha Ritu (Rainy/monsoon season). This is the major cause of various diseases occurring during the rainy season. The food and lifestyle should thus be such which helps in balancing Vata and Pitta.

Diet during monsoon: Water available in the reservoirs during monsoon is comparatively heavy to digest and the metabolism is sluggish during this period. An individual is likely to experience a loss of appetite. Hence following changes in diet and lifestyle is advisable during monsoon:

  1. Consume  light and fresh foods prepared from barley, rice, and wheat
  2. Include cow’s ghee, lentils, green gram, rice, and wheat in daily diet.
  3. Consume a small piece of ginger with rock salt before every meal.
  4. Use sour and salted soups of vegetables. Onion and other vegetables.
  5. During cooler days due to heavy rains, sour, salty, and oily diet preferred.
  6. Drinking of boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey is recommended.
  7. The addition of ginger and green gram in daily diet is beneficial.
  8. Eating warm food and avoiding uncooked foods and salads is better.
  9. Drinking an excess of fluids to prevent further slowing down of metabolism is advisable.
  10. Avoidance of consuming stale food is beneficial.
  11. Consumption of leafy vegetables needs to be avoided during monsoon.
  12. Avoidance of curds, red meat, and any foodstuff, which takes a longer time to digest is good during the monsoon. One may have buttermilk instead of curds.
  13. Consumption of  ‘Haritaki /Harad (Terminalia chebula) with rock salt in monsoon season is beneficial to health.

Lifestyle during monsoon: Consumption of a healthy diet only may not provide desired results unless it is supported by lifestyle beneficial for monsoon. The following are the tips for the important changes in the lifestyle of rainy /monsoon season.

  1. Avoiding sleep in the daytime is good as it hampers digestion and slows down the metabolism.
  2. Overexertion and overexposure to sun especially in the afternoon is required to be avoided.
  3. Keep the surrounding dry and clean and not to allow water to get accumulated around.
  4. Keep body warm, to protect any attack from viruses as and when body temperature goes down.
  5. Avoid entering into an air-conditioned room with wet hair and damp clothes.
  6. Avoid walking in dirty/dampened water.
  7. Feet are required to be kept dry.
  8. Avoid getting wet in the rain. However, if it happened, changing into dry clothes as soon as possible is essential in order to avoid exposure from infections, as immunity is naturally low during monsoon
  9. Use of Fumigative disinfectants like loban and dry neem leaves for drying cloths and killing insects/bacteria is recommended.
  10. Best season for conducting Panchkarma for keeping healthy throughout the year(Sukh chikitsa).
  11. The use of Perfumes is advocated in this season.

NOTE As per Ayurveda abrupt changes of diet and lifestyle suitable for a particular season is need to be avoided. The changes must be gradual over a period of 15 days by giving up the earlier lifestyle and adopting a new one for the acclimatization. If abrupt changes are brought the body, may not be able to cope with them and this could lead to problems

 

Monsoon season is categorized as Varsha Ritu. According to Ayurveda, Varsha Ritucharya is the recommended routine and lifestyle modifications to be followed, to ward off the imbalances in the body during the Monsoon. This in turn will help you boost immunity and maintain good health. During this season, aggravation of Vata and Pitta dosha is considered as the root cause of various diseases and conditions. The food, lifestyle, and care should help in balancing the vitiated Vata & Pitta doshas and maintain a healthy body constitution.

The holistic rejuvenation process consisting of a special diet, lifestyle and effective Ayurvedic therapies to be followed is characterized as Monsoon Ayurveda.

Lifestyle

Monsoon is a time when the body’s immunity drops, thus proper care should be taken to prevent possible illnesses.

Some of the lifestyle tips to follow during Monsoon are –

  • Ayurvedic treatments are highly recommended during this season in order to prevent any kind of disorders and to boost immunity
  • Use warm water for bath
  • Avoid walking barefoot
  • Massage body with oil
  • Avoid sleeping at daytime
  • Avoid overexertion in any form

Diet

According to Ayurveda, ‘Agni’ is responsible for the digestive & metabolic activities of the body. During the monsoon season, Agni or the digestive fire is weak due to the aggravation of Pitta dosha which in-turn leads to various diseases. Diet thus followed during this season should balance the vitiated doshas and stimulate ‘Agni’ to perform proper digestion.

Here are a few simple guidelines recommended by Ayurveda that should be followed during the Monsoon –

  • Drink small portions of lukewarm water throughout the day for good digestion
  • Easily digestible, hot & light foods should be taken
  • Ginger, black pepper, lemon can be used to promote better digestion
  • Moong can be eaten with cow ghee or filtered oil
  • Medicated porridge-like rice soup, millet soup with spices is recommended
  • Include honey in your diet
  • Fried, spicy, uncooked foods should be avoided

  

Click here for Do’s and Don’ts for the monsoon by Ayurveda

Monsoon is the time for the occurrence of Vata dosha, according to Ayurveda. It is the season when you feel like gorging on oily foods, but your digestive system is most vulnerable to various ailments. By following certain dos and don’ts, you can make sure that your body is guarded against the increased microbial activity of the season, as well as the adverse effects of slow down digestion.

Do’s

  • Consume very simple food.
  • Consume food within 2 hours of preparing it.
  • Consume food according to your digestive fire.
  • When eating out, Choose restaurants that conform to basic standards of quality and hygiene.
  • Have simple and easily digestible food in monsoon. They should be dry in nature like chickpea, corn, gram flour, and oats. Having moong dal is advisable.
  • To ensure the removal of germs, drink only boiled water. Water should be consumed within 24 hours of boiling.
  • Eat seasonal fruits as they help you restore energy.
  • Herbal teas or tea with elaichi, tulsi, ginger, lemongrass, cinnamon, etc. is recommended.
  • Wash green vegetables thoroughly before eating, especially if you want to have them raw.
  • Astringent, mildly bitter, and pungent foods must be best served this season.
  • Consume drying oils like corn oil or light oil
  • Eat seasonal fruits like Apples, Bananas, Pomegranates, and lychees as non- seasonal fruits get infested with worms during the monsoons.
  • One of the foremost rules for monsoon in Ayurveda is to eat according to the ability of your digestion.
  • You can add a twig of mint while cooking.
  • Maintain proper hygiene to prevent infections.
  • Know the capability of yourjatharagni, i.e. digestive fire, when having food. Use spices such as pepper, ginger, asafoetida (hing), garlic, jeera powder, coriander, and turmeric for enhancing your digestive capability. These help to improve your immunity too.
  • The vegetables recommended in the season include yam (suran), snake gourd (Turi), pointed gourd (parwal), gourd (dudhi), bitter gourd (karela), cluster beans (gavaar), and apple gourd (tinda).
  • Stick to seasonal fruits during monsoons as the unseasonal ones can easily get infected with microbes. These include mangoes, pomegranates, apples, bananas, lychees, and cherries.
  • In case you catch a cold, freshly prepared radish juice, along with a pinch of pipli and rock salt in warm water would help to lessen the trouble of mucous formation.
  • Fasting is especially recommended in the monsoon season, particularly for people fond of socializing and erratic eating. You can gain a lot of health benefits simply by observing a weekly or fortnightly fast during monsoon. It helps to improve your digestive fire.
  • Using herbs like tulsi, turmeric, yashtimadhu (glycyrrhiza glabra) in various food preparations, tea, etc. gargling with water medicated with yashtimadhu, a pinch of turmeric and salt helps in controlling infections like cough and cold.
  • If possible purify your house with Dhoop (medicated smoke) / fumigation of herbs every evening, it not only spreads soothing fragrance in the house but also purifies the air and keeps infections away.
  • Eat steamed salads
  • Have fresh radish juice to fight cold and cough.
  • To reduce mucous formations add pipli and rock salt to warm water. This reduces the natural monsoon ailments.
  • Opt for yogurt, curd, and almonds in your diet instead of milk.
  • Increase intake of Sweet, Sour, and Salty food.
  • Perform only moderate exercises in monsoon such as light walks, some freehand exercise, skip rope, and simple yoga asanas ( SetuBandha Asana, Naukasana, AdhoMukhaSvanasana, and Bhujangasana ).
  • Add a pinch of salt, pepper, long pepper and some ginger to hot water and have it once a day.
  • Drink a glass of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of honey in empty stomach.
  • Add 1 or 2 spoons of neem oil to half a cup of sesame oil and use this for a massage before a hot water bath, at least once a week.
  • Self-massage with sesame oil at least twice a week would keep you healthy during the rainy season.
  • For better digestion during monsoons, add a pinch of salt, pepper, long pepper and some ginger to hot water and have it once a day.
  • Monsoon is the ideal season for fasting, for those who are socializing and involved in erratic eating habits.

Don’ts

  • Avoid fermented foods which include idlidosauttapam, and the like.
  • Avoid sprouts, raw vegetables, refrigerated and sour foods. Foods that are sour include tamarind, various pickles, and chutneys.
  • Heavy grains such as bajra and ragi should be avoided. Limit the intake of foods with high water content such as rice, muskmelon, watermelon, and lassi. These can lead to swelling.
  • Foods that strain your digestive system such as buttermilk, yogurt, curd should be avoided.
  • Avoid non-vegetarian foods in monsoon. The possibility of germ content is highest in non-vegetarian foods.
  • Do not tire yourself with work ( don’t overwork ).
  • Don’t consume food that is stored in cold storage/refrigerator.
  • Avoid dry foods and sprouts.
  • Avoid sour fermented food.
  • Avoid eating late at night. It is particularly important in this season.
  • Avoid naturally sour foods like tamarind, tomatoes, and lime in your diet as it promotes water retention.
  • Avoid too much of fish and meat this season and heavy curries
  • Excessive intake of coffee and tea dehydrates body fluids so they must be better avoided.
  • Vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, ladies finger, kidney beans, pigeon pea, and sprouted grains must be avoided.
  • Avoid eating fried items, pre-cut fruits, and juices from roadside vendors and stick to high quality and hygiene.
  • Avoid watermelon and muskmelons and also goosing on too many mangoes may cause pimples.
  • People who face skin allergies during rainy seasons must avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods raise body temperature and stimulate blood circulation and it leads to allergies and skin irritation.
  • Avoid heavy oils like sesame oil, peanut oil, and mustard oil as they fall in the first place to invite infections.
  • Avoid curd, ice cream, and frozen food as they can cause flu and fever.
  • Eating watery foods like lassi, rice, muskmelon creates swelling in the body.
  • People who face skin allergies during rainy seasons must avoid spicy foods.
  • Uncooked vegetables and salads should be avoided.
  • Avoid junk and fried food as people tend to overeat as it leads to weight gains.
  • Fasting should be avoided by diabetics and people with specific health conditions.

By following these dos and don’ts, you would be able to revel in monsoon without fearing its adverse impact.

Following the above guidelines helps you to stay safe and healthy during monsoons. Always binge on nutritional food and be hygienic by taking necessary precautionary measures like cleaning your house, washing hands before and after having a meal, etc. Have a disease-free, safe and healthy monsoon.

 

Click here for Monsoon Special

Foods recommended eating during monsoon –

Grains — Red rice, Sathi Rice, Wheat, Jowari ( Great millet).

Vegetables – Bottle Gourd ( Dudhi), Snake Gourd ( Padwal), Okra ( Bhindi) Dodka, Ghosali

Legumes – Tur Daal, Green Gram, Koolith, Black Gram

Tubers – Garlic, Onion, Ginger, Suran

Fruits – Dates, Grapes, Coconut, Mulberry.

Milk and milk products – Cow milk, Buttermilk, Ghee

Other Things – Rock salt, Coriander, Cumin, jaggery, Mint, Asafoetida, ( Hing), Black pepper, Piper Longum, ( Pippali)

Avoid during monsoon –

Grains – Vari, raagi, Bajari ( Pearl millet), Maize, Barley.

Vegetables – Spinach, Bitter Gourd ( Karela), Chavlai, Cabbage, Dry Vegetables.

Legumes – Matki, Vaal, Vatana (Peas), Lentil ( Masur), Gram ( Chana)

Tubers – Potato, Shingada, Sabudana, kamalkanda, Arum, Carrot.

Fruits – Black Plum ( Jambul), Jackfruit, Cucumber, watermelon, Muskmelon.

Milk – Buffalo Milk, Piyush, Paneer.

Other things – Sweets, Fried Food, Shrikhand.

Water – Coldwater

Diet in monsoon –

Drink boiled warm water to avoid waterborne diseases during monsoon.

Drinking warm milk with turmeric powder can help one get rid of a sore throat, throat pain, and soothe a cold which is common during monsoons.

A simple decoction of tulsi leaves and turmeric for gargling also relieves sore throat.

 

Common treatments are done during monsoon –

Abhyangam or oil massage: This mode of treatment helps to get rid of various aches and pains that can crop up during monsoons like joint pains due to arthritis and weak bones. However, this also helps to rejuvenate your skin. It reduces the swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints and helps to relax the muscles.

Swedan or heat treatments with medicated decoctions or herbal powders: There are two types of heat treatments offered in Ayurveda during monsoons.

Patrapottali swedan: This heat treatment with bolus prepared from leaves of medicinal herbs helps to relieve pain and swelling in arthritis, spondylosis, and other types of pains in the bones and joints.

Ruksha swedan: This is a dry heat treatment which gives patient relief from pain due to rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic ailments.

Basti or Enema: The oils and also the special decoction used in this treatment are specific to Vata dosha. The oil enemas and decoction enemas help in detoxification and shaman (pacification) of Vata dosha.

Ubatan – Application of herbs in particular manners is advisable.

In the starting of monsoon, do Panchkarma – Vaman, and Virechan, for body detoxification.

Click here for Benefits of Ayurveda:

It is common knowledge that Ayurveda therapy helps to get to the bottom of all health problems. It is a therapy that helps cleanse your mind and body at the most fundamental level. Ayurveda is a pranic system of medicine that brings a sense of balance on the body’s life energy called the doshas. This can be accomplished by following a strict diet, through various massages, pouring herbal liquid onto the whole body, and by wrapping your body with essential herbal leaves and powders.
It is a traditional natural healing system that takes into account your mind, body, and soul completely. If you want to undergo Ayurveda therapies, then the monsoon season is the best time for rejuvenation treatment and to strengthen the body. During the monsoon the atmosphere tends to be cool and dust free and that is the reason why most people start their therapy at this point in time. It is believed that your body will be more receptive to Ayurveda therapies during monsoon than any other season.

This particular season is favorable for Ayurveda treatment since it helps the body’s pores to open up and also restores the body’s vitality and health. Monsoon Ayurveda benefits the body by accelerating healing. Ayurveda treatments help to control monsoon disorders. Monsoon Ayurveda does benefit by increasing energy levels and helps in the prevention of diseases.

Increases immunity: The soothing environment during monsoon makes the mind and body more receptive to the benefits of rejuvenation therapy. The cool atmosphere helps the skin to open the pores and to absorb herbal or medicinal oils during treatment. Monsoon is the best time for Ayurvedic treatments. A massage supposedly increases blood circulation and also eases physical stress. One of the best monsoon Ayurveda benefits is that it reduces muscular tension and pain.

Softens the tissues in the body: It is believed that monsoon helps to soften and develop the seven tissues of the body. These tissue layers are called dhatus. According to Ayurveda, there are seven different types of dhatus in the human body. These dhatus are composed of five mahabhutas. During monsoon the Ayurveda techniques like snehana (oil application) and svedhana (steam treatments) can be used to effortlessly get rid of toxins and negative energies from the body since the tissues in the body are soft and supple.

  • Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies: Monsoon Ayurveda benefits are that it does more than giving relief to the stress. The rejuvenation program helps to preserve longevity, helps you to retain youthfulness and tries to revitalize the body and mind. It enhances body resistance and the proper functioning of the body parts. Monsoon is the best time for Ayurvedic treatment as it improves the skin’s complexion and helps to build proper dhatus (tissues) in the body. For all the doshas (problems) and for the proper functioning of the body, Ayurveda practitioner usually suggests Panchakarma treatment (panch means five’ and karma means ‘action’). It increases your immunity power and helps you to get better sleep.

Swedan or heat treatments: There are two types of heat treatments offered in Ayurveda during monsoons.

Patrapottali swedan:

This heat treatment with bolus prepared from leaves of medicinal herbs helps to relieve pain and swelling in arthritis, spondylosis, and other types of pains in the bones and joints.

Ruksha swedan:

This is a dry heat treatment which gives patient relief from pain due to rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic ailments.

Benefits of Monsoon Ayurveda

Varsha Ritu or Monsoon season is considered as the best to undergo Ayurvedic treatments since the moist climate opens up the pores in the skin, making it more receptive to all the medications and treatments.

Here are few key benefits of Ayurveda during the Monsoon season –

  • Balances the vitiated doshas
  • Increases immunity
  • Cleanses & detoxifies the body
  • Rejuvenates body & mind
  • Prevents lifestyle disorders like diabetes, blood pressure & stress
  • Effective for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain, lumbar and cervical spondylosis, etc.

 

Our emotions also play a vital role in keeping our bodies healthy. So this monsoon try to keep negatives like anger, irritation, jealousy, and ego aside

 

 

Monsoon Health Tips

Monsoon Health Tips

Monsoon season not only rejuvenates every living organism after dealing with the scorching heat of summers but even brings a host of diseases along with it. The diseases that monsoon season brings along include jaundice, food poisoning, dysentery, typhoid, flu, cholera, cough and cold, and poor digestion. These are some common diseases but are even undesirable companions as well. Do you often feel unwell in the monsoon? In this article monsoon, health tips are suggested.

Elders as well as children are more often prone to infectious diseases. Those people suffering from heart diseases or diabetes mellitus or lung infections and rheumatism are more vulnerable. But it is really important to take care of your health during monsoon. Monsoon is finally at your doorstep, despite its relief but what about those woes which it brings along with it? During monsoon, health problems do arise.

If you want to be healthy throughout the rainy season then you are the only one who has to take care of yourself as well as of your family. The stagnant water during monsoon makes easy breeding for mosquitoes which further increases the risk of various infections like malaria or dengue.

Click here for Health care tips during monsoon:-

  • Try to keep yourself hydrated during the monsoon season because sweating in the monsoon does not evaporate easily and even the humidity levels are high which further prevents the body of a person to release heat. It is recommended to carry a water bottle every time. Try to avoid carbonated drinks which significantly reduce the mineral levels in the body further preventing enzymes in the body from functioning especially causing indigestion.
  • Try having a balanced diet because the process of digestion during monsoon is significantly slower as compared to other seasons so you have to eat moderately as well as at the time when you feel hungry. At the time when you are not feeling hungry can cause indigestion and sometimes even jaundice. Prefer having spices like coriander, turmeric, pepper, and fruits, a vegetable like a radish, bananas, apple, pears, litchis, carrots, and many more which will improve immunity as well as will help to improve digestion.
  • Prefer to eat clean as well as fresh food during monsoon and do ensure before consuming that all fruits and vegetables which you eat are hygienically washed. In order to kill germs, steam all the leafy vegetables and avoid eating contaminated food because that can lead to illnesses including jaundice. We recommend you all to have fresh soups as well as cooked food which is light as well as nutritious.
  • Chasing the mosquitoes away during monsoon is really important because stagnant water is the most commonplace of mosquito breeding. Drain out coolers as well as flower vases that you do not use, use mosquito nets as well as creams, and repellents which are easily available in the market and will protect you from mosquito bites.
  • If you are fond of having street food, then say a BIG NO to it during monsoon. Though street juices, kulfis, golas, chaat, and sandwiches are really tempting but avoid having these during the rainy season. These foods might contain bacteria that may cause indigestion.
  • Try to avoid getting in puddles and if sometimes you do end up then you must immediately clean as well as dry your feet with a soft and dry towel. This can significantly lead to fungal infections or sometimes athlete’s foot. If the person is diabetic, then dampness can even lead to affect toes and nails. It is advised to keep your shoes, raincoats, and socks dry and clean during monsoon.
  • Avoid going in sudden temperature change. Whenever you come back home and sweating don’t go immediately inside the AC room. The sudden temperature change may cause of cold and cough. Same as while you are sweating, do not take a bath, take 5-10 minutes to rest then go and take bath.

Some other health care tips during monsoon include exercising as well as ample rest, eye care, care of elders as well as kids, wearing loose and cotton clothes, consume green and fresh vegetables, and keep your house clean. We all do love monsoon but we should not forget about taking care of our health too.

 

monsoon health tips

Click here for Nutrition tips for monsoon:

The damp and filthy conditions in the monsoon play a host for many disease-causing germs, which cause some serious health attacks like dengue, malaria, conjunctivitis, typhoid, viral fever, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, and dysentery. If your immune system is weak you are supposed to catch these diseases instantly. To maintain a healthy diet and protect you from such ill causes during the rainy season these countermeasures have to be taken.

Never eat if you are not feeling hungry, this is a solid cardinal mantra in monsoons.

Following guidelines will helps you to stay safe and healthy during monsoons. Always binge on nutritional food and be hygienic by taking necessary precautionary measures like cleaning your house, washing hands before and after having a meal, etc.

  • Eat fruits as they help you restore energy. Apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears are best suggestible. Avoid watermelon and muskmelons and also goosing on too many mangoes may cause pimples.
  • Have medium to low salt food and avoid heavy salty food as they are responsible for high blood pressure and water retention.
  • Eating watery foods like buttermilk/lassi, watermelon, rice, muskmelon creates swelling in the body. So, better opt for foods that are drying in nature like corn, gram flour, chickpea, etc.
  • Foods such as brown rice, oats, and barley are the best foods one could have in this monsoon.
  • Body’s immunity can be increased by adding a dash of garlic to the soups, sir fries, and curries you intake.
  • Opt for yogurt, curd, and almonds in your diet instead of milk. Drink only boiled and purified water to protect yourself from harmful germs and drinking plenty of water keeps your body hydrated.
  • Consuming bitter vegetables like bitter gourd, and bitter herbs like neem, turmeric powder, and methi seeds help in preventing infections.
  • Consume drying oils like corn oil or light oil and avoid heavy oils like sesame oil, peanut oil, and mustard oil as they fall in the first place to invite infections.
  • People who face skin allergies during rainy seasons must avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods raise body temperature and stimulate blood circulation and it leads to allergies and skin irritation. Other problems such as boils, change in skin color dullness, rashes, pyoderma are also some skin-damaging effects that arise in this season.
  • Avoid naturally sour foods like tamarind, tomatoes, and lime in your diet as it promotes water retention.
  • Avoid too much fish and meat this season and heavy curries and non-vegetarians should go for light meat preparations like stew and soups.
  • Astringent, mildly bitter, and pungent foods must be best served this season.
  • Drink lots of herbal teas, especially those with antibacterial properties. These include ginger, pepper, honey, mint, and basil leaves. Excessive intake of coffee and tea dehydrates body fluids so they must be better avoided.
  • Vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, ladies finger, kidney beans, pigeon pea, and sprouted grains must be avoided.
  • Eat steamed salads instead of raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and viruses that cause bacterial and viral infections.
  • Have fresh radish juice to fight cold and cough. To reduce mucous formations add pipli and rock salt to warm water. This reduces the natural monsoon ailments.
  • Better eat seasonal fruits as non-seasonal fruits get infested with worms during the monsoons. Pomegranates, litchis, apples, bananas are among the recommended.
  • Avoid eating fried items, pre-cut fruits, and juices from roadside vendors and stick to high quality and hygiene.
  • People who suffer from arthritis should drink warm water with tulsi and dalchini (cardamom) on an empty stomach in the morning. Doing this improves bowel syndromes and also decreases pains in joints.
  • Always wash vegetables well and keep them clean especially if they are taken raw.
  • Although you might not avoid your child from going to school, other public places such as exhibitions need to be avoided in monsoon. This helps to keep a lot of health problems at bay.
  • Parents should make golden milk a lifestyle especially for children. It has turmeric that acts against viral infections and pepper which is good against bacteria and with milk they are very fine to be had by children.
  • Vitamin C and Vitamin E are considered the best fighters where diseases are concerned. You need to take these vitamins so that you would be fortified from inside.

Forego a heavy meal and keep a light diet. The joy of eating that comforting plate of roadside Chola Bhatura will only be momentary because of a vulnerable digestive system during the monsoons. Don’t let the rains make you lazy. Keep up that exercise regime and sweat out that extra moisture and potentially harmful bacteria. 

Click here for Health problems during monsoon – Symptoms, and treatment

During the monsoons or rainy season, health problems such as skin diseases, water-borne diseases, mosquito-borne diseases, and eye infections are very common. Read this article to know what are the health diseases that are common during monsoons. The articles also give the symptoms, remedies, and prevention of diseases.

Part I – General ailments :

  1. Indigestion: Symptoms – Discomfort in the abdomen, feeling of fullness, bloating (swelling of the abdomen), nausea, reflux (when stomach acid rises up the wrong way back up the food pipe), heartburn (pain in food pipe or chest when stomach acid is refluxed up into the throat), belching, constipation or frequent passage of stool.

Remedies – Eat small portions of diluted ginger and lime juice, ajwain, or rock salt. Drugs like Digens, gelusil, and pudinhara will also help.

2. Food Poisoning: Symptoms – Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and chills, headache, and weakness. It generally occurs 2-6 hours after eating contaminated food. Most recover within 12-48 hours.

Remedies – Diarrhea is the body’s natural cure (a way of getting rid of the toxins) and doesn’t need medications. But, dehydration should be guarded against. Take plenty of fluids like water, lemon juice with salt and sugar, thin buttermilk, arayat kanji, or rice water. Control nausea and vomiting with drugs like Domstal or Perinorm.

3. Athlete’s foot: Symptoms – The fungal infection that causes athlete’s foot to love warm, damp places. It usually starts with a flaky, red rash which then blisters or cracks and can become very sore. It is also contagious. Itching, skin scales, cracks, and inflammation are the usual symptoms. Hot, humid weather helps to breed the infection-causing fungi and bacteria. It is usually transmitted in the swimming pool.

Remedies – After swimming, wipe water and apply Eladi oil all over the body and keep it for 30 minutes. To remove, apply Elad choornam with water (as a body scrub) and wash it off with warm water. Or

After swimming, take a warm foot bath for 15-20 minutes with salt or neem leaves added to it.

4. Asthma: Symptoms – Remedies – Herbal oil massages followed by a warm water bath. Have warm meals. Include soups, Rotis, fish, nuts, and soya in the diet. Steam inhalation with tulsi leaves prevents cold and nasal congestions. Boil 1 cup water with pepper, ginger, garlic, and jeera, cool it a little and drink it daily.

5. Cold & Cough: Symptoms – Common cold is a manifestation of a viral infection. While the mucous membranes of the nose and throat are inflamed as a result of infection, they are more vulnerable to bacterial attacks which lead to more serious infections such as sinusitis, ear infections, and bronchitis.

Remedies – After washing your hair, massage a pinch of Rasnadi Choornam (a herbal powder) on the crown of the head. This prevents colds and rhinitis (irritation and inflammation of the inner linings of the nose). Take Thaleesa Patradi Choornam – ¼ tsp every one hour. OR

Boil 4 glasses of water with a handful of tulsi leaves and 1 tsp of pepper. Boil till the quantity is halved. Strain, add 2 tsp honey, and drink. Take steam inhalation with tulsi leaves or eucalyptus leaves/oil in water to relieve chest congestion.

6. Arthritis: Symptoms – There are two types of arthritis namely osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Remedies – A warm, stable climate, exercise, and detoxification help. Avoid dairy products, wheat, meat, vegetables such as potatoes, pepper, eggplant, and tomatoes, alcohol, coffee, sugar, saturated fat, excess salt, and nuts. Epsom salt baths are recommended to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Local mud applications on the joints are also advised.
Mix 2tbsp honey and 1 tsp cinnamon powder in one cup of hot water. Drink this regularly.

7. Viral fever: Symptoms – Rising body temperature, head and body ache, and occasionally a skin rash. Once the virus enters the body, there is an incubation period while it multiplies to a level high enough to cause an infection. A phase of fatigue follows when the body and muscle ache and could lead to a low or high-grade fever. Inflammation of the pharynx, a runny nose, nasal congestion, redness of eyes, cough, and muscle and joint pains can also be present.

Remedies :

  1. Normal Fever and Throat pain :

Remedies – Steps to prevent throat pain
a. Gargle 3 times a day with hot water and salt.
b. Don’t drink or eat cold stuff.
c. Do steaming regularly.
d. Don’t sit near a person who is smoking.

Steps to prevent fever
a. Don’t drink cold water immediately after being out in the sun.
b. Put oil on the inside of your legs. Avoid bathing at night.
c. Keep oil in hair. It is good for the eyes.
d. Bathe only after the body stops sweating.

Common skin diseases during monsoons :

Eczema: Symptoms – Eczema is a skin disease. It is a form of dermatitis which is broadly applied to a range of conditions. In its mildest form, it causes the skin to become dry and flaky, and at its worst, it causes cracks and bleeding. Contact eczema is caused by an allergic reaction to daily objects that your skin comes into contact with or becomes irritable as a direct reaction to a solvent. Reasons for eczema are heat, dampness, and wind.

Remedies: Includes acupuncture point Qu chi, moisturizers, antihistamines, oral steroids, antibiotics, Chinese herbal therapy, evening primrose oil, a mixture of herbs such as neem (which is a powerful blood purifier, detoxifier, and immunity enhancer), turmeric, saariva (hemidesmus indicus) and manjishtha (rubia cordifolia). Herbal remedies normalize the skin and blood tissues, optimizing the immune system.

Scabies: Symptoms – Scabies is also known as seven-year itch. It is a skin infection that is caused by a tiny parasite called the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. This skin infection is contagious. The patient will have severe itching and allergic reactions after the mite has bitten into the skin. The most important way of transmission of this infection is direct skin contact. Itching, burrow tracks on the skin, rashes.

Waterborne disease –

Cholera: Symptoms – Include copious painless rice-water like stools, severe vomiting, dry wrinkled skin, plummeting BP and urine output, imperceptible pulse, intense thirst, and stomach cramps.

Remedies: Get diagnosed via a doctor’s examination and stool culture. Take enough bed rest. Drink plenty of fluids especially orange juice and oral rehydration therapy or packaged Electoral. Eat pre-cooked cereal with salt. The doctor may put you on an intravenous fluid drip and prescribe antibiotics.

Boil and filter water, wash hands frequently. Soak raw vegetables and fruits in potassium permanganate. Pest proof you’re home from cockroaches, flies, and mice. Consider a vaccination during an outbreak. Its effect lasts for 3 to 6 months.

Dysentery: Symptoms – Passing small foul-smelling blood-stained mucous stools, may run a temperature and vomit, tenderness, or swelling in the abdomen.

Remedies: Get diagnosed by a stool test to find out the responsible amoeba or bacillus. Boil and filter water. Watch out for green garnishes. Zap away flies and cockroaches at home. Wash all fruits and vegetables with a dilute solution of potassium permanganate. Stay away from outside fruit and vegetable salads. Try ORT or Electoral. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat semi-fluid and low roughage food.

Typhoid: Symptoms – Splitting head and rising fever, although pulse remains steady. The tongue is thickly coated, crops of red rashes invade the chest and stomach, shivering, sweating, and coughing. Constipation follows diarrhea.

Remedies: Get diagnosed by a blood test and stool test. Boil milk and water. Wash raw fruits and vegetables in potassium permanganate water. Wash hands frequently. Protect food from flies with a fly swatter. Get vaccinated – oral or injectable. Take enough bed rest. Drink plenty of fluids, juices, and soups. Coldwater sponges bring down the fever. After few days on semi-fluids, go for a low roughage diet. Don’t take aspirin and paracetamol as they may irritate the bowel lining and stomach. The immunity lasts for a year.

Hepatitis A:  Symptoms – Tiredness, joint pains, pain below right ribs, jaundice, amenorrhoea (absence of periods) in women, liver and spleen enlargement, ascitic-fluid in the abdomen, and hepatic encephalopathy.

Remedies: A diet of glucose, peeled fruits, home-made fruit juice, soup, toast, rice, and buttermilk is recommended.
a. Acupuncture helps in strengthening liver conditions.
b. Naturopathy remedies – Apply gastro-hepatic, castor oil, and mid packs on the right side of the abdomen. Hip-bath with cold water for 20 minutes daily. Liquid or fruit diets. Have plenty of soups, sugarcane juice, coconut water, and fat-free buttermilk.
c. Ayurvedic remedies – Low fat, high carbohydrate diet, jeera water, sugarcane juice, and external application of herbal preparations.

Eye Infections :

Conjunctivitis: Symptoms – redness and watery eyes, gritty feeling in the eye, blood clots visible around the cornea. In the case where conjunctivitis moves on to the cornea of the eyes, the patient can experience some more severe symptoms such as pain, glare, intolerance to light, and sighting colored halos near lights. Sometimes, one can experience pain and discharge which usually starts with one eye and spreads to the other eye gradually.

Remedies: Use antibiotic eye drops which the doctor has prescribed and keep lubricating the eyes with these drops.
b. Consult an ophthalmologist to examine the eyes and give proper medications. You should never avoid a visit to the doctor when you have conjunctivitis, as it may lead to serious complications.

  1. It is better that the patient stays isolated from other people during this time.
  2. The patient with conjunctivitis should not touch his/her face with their hands. Wash your hands very well with soap and cleanser every day when you come back home from outside.

Corneal Ulcers: Symptoms – redness and watery eyes, photophobia in one eye, pain. Corneal Ulcer is a bacterial infection occurring at the cornea of the eye.

Remedies: This is a serious infection of the eyes and so it is compulsory that a person affected with this infection must visit the ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Stop wearing a contact lens as soon as you contract the infection. Corneal Ulcers are treated using antibiotics depending on their severity.

 

Click here for Do’s and Dont's for the monsoon season –

Monsoon season is when people eagerly look towards the sky, for the cool refreshing showers which come as a relief to the scorching heat of the summer. Although it rejuvenates every living organism,
one should be careful about the health problems it brings. If you aren’t prepared for it, you may get sick.
Don’t let these reasons dampen your spirit to enjoy the monsoon. Simple precautions and small changes in lifestyle will keep you healthy and help relish the joy of this season.

Enjoying rain is not a grave matter if you are taking some on-time precautionary measures as sometimes a little carelessness will lead to serious consequences.

Here are some dos and dont’s of monsoon care.

  • Go for green leafy vegetables
  • Drink only boiled/filtered water
  • Add Dettol / Savlon to water for bathing/cleaning bruises
  • Use Mosquito repellent and nets
  • Eat moderately to avoid abdominal discomfort
  • Use a moisturizer to protect your skin from getting dehydrated
  • Properly wash fruits and vegetables
  • Eat barley, brown rice, and oats
  • Add garlic to soups, stir-fries, and curries
  • Cleanse your skin thoroughly daily
  • Include pungent and astringent foods
  • Drink herbal teas like the ones infused with ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and cardamom.
  • Eat steamed salads
  • Enjoy warm beverages
  • Dress your kid in multiple layers so that he can add or subtract clothing depending on the weather
  • Stay dry with rain gear like an umbrella or raincoat
  • Consume only pasteurized dairy products
  • Drink more water and fluid throughout the day
  • Use anti-bacterial soap and face wash
  • Spray the house with insecticides
  • A hot water bath is recommended as it helps to curb vata
  • Use talcum powder to keep skin dry
  • Allow damp hair to dry before you tie them again
  • No oily food, street food, or spicy food
  • No watermelons or muskmelons
  • Avoid eating late at night
  • Avoid milk, have curd
  • Don’t wear heavy shoes that enclose your feet
  • Don’t Overload your skin and hair with cosmetics.
  • Not too much of mangoes
  • Don’t wear heavy or voluminous trousers
  • Avoid delicate fabrics for example chiffon or silk, don’t wear light-colored dresses.
  • Intake of dairy products should not be high
  • Cut down on caffeine intake
  • Don’t ignore skin problems and allergies as this could be a sign of dengue
  • Avoid contact with an infected person
  • Avoid driving into a flooded area
  • Avoid pain killers
  • Avoid raw vegetable salad
  • Avoid frozen foods such as ice creams
  • Avoid self-medication
  • Avoid driving fast/rashy
  • Avoid seafood
  • Avoid Street food
  • Do not ignore the early symptoms and consult your physician.

Being prepared for changes and being knowledgeable is the right way of facing weather changes, which are beyond our control. Follow the above tips and keep yourself and your child protected against the challenges of changing weather. Exercise, eat well, and be happy – the mantra to keep fit!

The rainy season is a beautiful season – you get cool weather with storms and rains. People enjoy this season with a smile on their faces but this smile is lost if they get infected due to rains. Above given essential dietary rules – it will give you the strength to win over the incessant showers!

 

Click here for Best Foods to eat in monsoon –

Monsoon is a very tricky season when you have to be careful with what you eat and drink. With the cold rain outside, you are sure to go for hot and oily food that may result in digestive disturbances. You must focus more on foods that will help you in avoiding digestion issues like gas formation and indigestion. You must take a moment and ponder on what foods should be eaten in monsoon.

The monsoon season may reduce metabolism and increase fat storage. This again leads to a whole lot of health issues. So you should look for healthy foods for monsoon. Prefer foods that will keep you energetic and hydrated while providing a lot of nutrients. Your immunity level will be low during monsoon season and this may put you at the risk of getting infections frequently. So, consume foods that will improve your immunity in the monsoon season. Listed below are 10 healthy foods to eat during the monsoon.

1. Water Chances are more that you will reduce your fluid intake during monsoon. Ensure that you are keeping yourself hydrated. Also, try to drink boiled and filtered water to avoid infections.

  1. Steamed Foods The best foods to eat in monsoon are steamed foods. Make sure that you avoid oily and fried foods. Grilled food is also considered perfect for monsoon. These are great for digestion.
  2. Rich in Anti-oxidants Eat foods that are rich in anti-oxidants as it will fight against free radicals, keep illness at bay, and improve the immune system. A few options are pumpkin, capsicum, and berries.
  3. Juices This is among the best healthy foods to eat in monsoon and also a good way to stay hydrated. You can choose fruits and vegetables for your juice.
  4. Fruits Stick to fruits that are rich in Vitamin C, which will give you immunity. Fresh papaya, plums, guava, and peaches are the seasonal fruits found in monsoon. They are sweet, nutritious, and healthy. They also help in strengthening the immune system. Few options that you can try are pomegranates, kiwis, and oranges. If you are prone to cold or fever during monsoon, avoid fruits rich in water.
  5. Vegetables This is one of the best foods to eat in monsoon. You will need to ensure that these are completely cooked before you consume them. Also, make sure that you wash them well prior to cooking them.
  6. Cooked Food Irrespective of the food that you eat, make sure that it is well cooked. Try to avoid any foods that are raw during this season. This includes vegetables, dairy products, and meat products.
  7. Meat You will need to have a fair share of meat during the monsoon season. Ensure that meat is well cooked and contains less oil. Grill and boil meat, rather than frying them as these are healthy ways to cook them in monsoon.
  8. Warm beverages Keeping your body warm is important during the monsoon. Sipping a hot beverage during the day is sure to help with this. Try ginger and lemon tea or green tea. Your food choice should be designed depending on the season. Monsoon is a time that demands much care in the food you eat to keep you free from infections and to improve your health.
  9. Tea – Especially the herbal ones, tea replenishes the body’s immunity system and helps against various infections. Also, the warm, ginger, and cinnamon tea gives a soothing feeling to the throat in the windy and rainy weather.
  10. Soups – While it is pouring outside and you’re in the safety of your house, there is no better choice for a warm drink than soup. It is filling, healthy, and nutritious. Vegetable soups made at home also include spices that strengthen the immune system. Strictly avoid canned soup – it could be full of preservatives and have high-salt content as well.
  11. Ginger – Make use of ginger in your meals and tea. Ginger is known to have remedial effects on the common cold, sore throat, and also weak immune systems. Make a paste of ginger, salt, and chili ready to be used in meals or in sandwiches.
  12. Dry Foods – Consider consuming dry foods in monsoon rather than watery meals. This is because dry foods watery foods come with a risk of contracting a fungal infection and may cause bloating. Dry foods include oats, corn, wheat, barley, etc.
  13. Yogurt – Yogurt works wonders for the digestive system during monsoon. Include yogurt in your meals or have flavored yogurt while enjoying the rains.
  14. Eggs – As long as the shell of the egg is clean and intact, eggs are also healthy and yummy in the rainy season, especially egg yolk. Omelets, egg-bhurji, egg-paratha, and anda-pav are the favorite Indian egg delicacies during monsoon.
  15. Garlic – Any food with garlic is a good bet in the monsoon, mainly because garlic is packed with antioxidants. It helps boost the body’s immunity and also regulates metabolism. You can also make a garlic chutney as a treat.
  16. Almonds – These nuts are a great snacking option any time of the year, but during monsoon, they give an extra protective cover against various diseases. Almonds are packed with digestive fiber which regulates the metabolism and prevents the onset of tummy issues – otherwise a common problem during monsoon.
  17. Beetroot – Beets are choc-a-bloc with vitamins and minerals, including potassium and folic acid. It is wonderful to detox the body and keep it healthy and energized. We recommend beetroot to keep kids lively and high on stamina even when the rains make everything seem dull.

19. Cumin & Fenugreek (Jeera & Methi) – These are the two best spices to add in your kids’ food this rainy season. They will keep the digestive system working well. In fact, you can even use them with water as a cure for any tummy upsets your child might encounter.

20. Tofu – Dairy products are not recommended during the monsoon, at least not in excess. This is mainly due to the perishability risk of dairy items in the humid weather. However, tofu can be a great substitute. It is rich in calcium, iron, and essential amino acids. Tofu can be a nutritious and tasty option to boost overall health in the rainy season.

  1. Karela / Bitter Gourd – We understand it is difficult to feed karela to kids, but hear us out – the bitter gourd has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibiotic, and even antiviral qualities! These are terrific plusses at a time when kids are at high risk for common cold and flu. The karela is in particular known to battle respiratory diseases.
  2. Kadha / Herbal drink – You can serve your herbal drinks with boiled water during the monsoon. Simply add spices like cinnamon, peppercorn, ginger, and tulsi. Add some honey to sweeten the mix. This is a great beverage to strengthen the child’s body from the inside.
  3. Daal – You can take your pick based on your kids’ tastes – Toor dal, Masoor dal, or Moong dal. Pulses are healthy food for the rainy season and are recommended mainly due to their high-protein and high-energy nature. This helps the body get strong enough to fight off seasonal infections. You can also feed your kids daal soup if they’ve fallen prey to cold and cough – it works like a charm to help them recover.

 

Click here for Best Fruits to eat in monsoon –

While monsoon brings out a craving for all foods fried and tasty, there are also plenty of fruits available in the market this season, which help fight infections and increase immunity. Monsoon fruits will help prevent any major disease from affecting you. The following are a few fruits to eat in monsoon. However, remember to wash them well and check whether they are ripe and ready to eat

Jamun / Jawa Plum

With its sweet, sour, and slightly acidic taste, the jamuns with their light purple flesh inside are best eaten as a fruit or in the form of juice. Jamuns are good for reducing blood sugar levels and thus effective in treating diabetes. They are also good for treating gastric disorders and good for the kidney and liver.

This fruit is low in calories and packed with nutrients like iron, folate, potassium, and vitamins, which is good to be consumed in the monsoon season.  Jamuns have strong astringent properties making the skin look healthy and fresh. The extract of the bark and leaves of the Jamun tree strengthens gums.

Litchi

With lots of dietary fiber, litchis are high in vitamin C, B, and potassium. The fiber in litchi helps keep digestion clean and aids in cases of acidity while vitamin C helps in fighting the common cold. Litchis are useful for weight loss and protect the skin from UV rays. They nourish the skin by reducing acne and skin spots. The bark, root, and flowers of the fruit are boiled in water and used as a gargle for sore throats.

Plums

This will help in improving the immune system, and protect the body from infections like flu and cold, which is very common in the monsoon season. Plums are a very good source of vitamin C & K, copper, dietary fiber, and potassium. They help relieve constipation and absorb iron, thus preventing anemia. The reddish-blue pigment anthocyanins found in plums may protect against cancer by cleaning up free radicals. While the antioxidants in the fruit can act as an anti-aging skincare agent, plum juice can rejuvenate boring and lifeless hair.

Cherries

Cherries help in fighting infections. This contains antioxidants that give a soothing effect to the brain and relaxes the brain. High in potassium and low in sodium and low in calories They slow down the aging process and a paste of mashed cherries on the face gives a soft feel to the skin.

Regular consumption can prevent hair fall and vitamin A in it can help maintain good eyesight. Cherries help fight heart diseases since they lower bad cholesterol and have anti-carcinogenic properties. They also aid in reducing high blood pressure and lower the uric acid level too, and so are useful for those suffering from gout and arthritis.

Kiwi

Known for its high Vitamin C content, Kiwi is loaded with health benefits. Kiwi has the ability to lessen respiratory issues like asthma, wheezing, and respiratory tract infections. Kiwi and other Vitamin C fruits provide protection against a range of ailments, boost the immune system, prevent cold and flu, and keep the digestive system robust.

Peach

Peach is low in calories and is high in fiber content, which will help with weight loss. Also, it is rich in Vitamin C which will help with immunity. With loads of vitamin A, B carotene, and vitamin C, peaches help protect the skin and improve vision too. Peaches are also known to have fluoride which helps prevent dental caries.

Peach is referred to as the ‘Fruit of Calmness’ due to its ability to relieve stress, anxiety, and achieve calmness of mind. Regular use of the juice and pulp of the fruit on the skin helps remove dead cells, acts as a moisturizer, has anti-aging and UV protection properties.

Pomegranates

Pomegranate is infused with nutrients. This will help with improving immunity during the monsoon season. Pomegranates contain a huge amount of antioxidants. Pomegranates and pomegranate juice are full of immune-boosting vitamin C known are an essential and quickly depleted nutrient especially during cold seasons. pomegranate juice not only protects your liver, but it also helps to regenerate after the liver has been damaged. It also peps up the immunity power, thus helping you combat the various illnesses.

Apples

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol-free. A medium apple is about 80 calories. Apples are a great source of fiber pectin. One apple has five grams of fiber. Apples are useful in kidney stones, Iron contained in the apple helps in the formation of blood, raw apples are good for constipation. Cooked or baked apples are good for diarrhea. Apples are of special value to heart patients. They are rich in potassium and phosphorus but low in sodium. It is also useful for patients with high blood pressure. It also makes sure that your digestive system is functioning properly.

Bananas

Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals. Bananas are high in potassium, which keeps high blood pressure in check and reduces the risk of heart disease. In conjunction with sodium, they help maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance in body cells, thus maintaining healthy nerve and muscle function. This will also help your stomach to ease the digestion process. Care must be taken as eating bananas in large quantities can lead to a cold.

Pears

During the monsoon season, a large number of vitamins are required to help fight infections. Pears are a good source of dietary fiber and a good source of Copper, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. Most of the vitamin C, as well as the dietary fiber, is contained within the skin of the fruit.  Pear is a natural antipyretic agent as it helps in cooling the body and thereby easing the fever.

Papaya

Papaya is rich in Vitamin C, which will help in improving the immune system by fighting against illnesses. This also contains high fiber content, which will help indigestion. Papaya gives you glowing skin,  helps in digestion, Papaya leaves increase the appetite in your body, and cures menstrual pain and It is used for weight loss treatment.

Have a safe and healthy monsoon

 

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