Carrot Apple Soup

1 cup sliced shallots
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp ground ginger or 2 tsp fresh grated
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp dried thyme or 1 Tbsp fresh chopped
1/4 cup olive oil (I prefer 1/8 ghee + 1/8 olive oil)
1 cup chopped potato or squash
1 1/2 lb carrots, peeled and chopped (about 6 large carrots)
2 cups salt-free vegetable broth
1 cup apple cider
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
lemon

Cook shallots, bay leaf, ginger, curry powder, and thyme in oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes.

Add carrots and potato or squash to the pot, then add broth, cider, water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, around 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Puree soup in 2 batches in a blender, or using a wand-style blender, until silky smooth. Add more water or apple cider if you'd like to achieve a thinner soup. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkled with almonds. Serves 3 to 4.

NOTE: This is a very smooth soup, but if you like more texture, reserve some of the chopped carrots before blending the soup, and fry some extra shallots or onion in olive oil, and stir into the blended soup or dollop overtop (as seen in the photo above). To make it a larger meal, serve with bread, tomatoes and avocadoes, or a slice of frittata.

VATAS choose squash or sweet potato
PITTAS use fresh ginger; replace thyme with basil or parsley
KAPHAS reduce oil to 1 Tbsp; choose potato; replace almonds with toasted seeds (sunflower or pumpkin)

Carrot Coriander Soup

3 Tbsp (freshly) ground coriander
2 Tbsp olive oil*
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, crushed*
2 Tbsp marjoram
3 large carrots, chopped
1 small sweet potato, chopped*
8 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste*

Heat the oil in a large soup pot and add the coriander, toasting for a minute until lightly browned and fragrant. Add the onions and cook 5 minutes. Add the garlic and marjoram and cook a minute longer, then add the carrots and sweet potato. Saute for a minute then pour in the vegetable stock (I used 1 vegetable bouillon cube), bringing to a boil. Let simmer until the carrots and sweet potato are soft, about 20 minutes.

Add the chopped fresh cilantro, sea salt and optional cayenne pepper to taste, and puree until silky smooth, either by using a hand blender in the pot or transfering to a blender. Serve garnished with a sprig of cilantro. Serves 4.

KAPHAS reduce oil to 2 tsp, omit sweet potato and add another large carrot
PITTAS reduce garlic to 1 clove and omit cayenne
VATAS add 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger

2 large or 3 small perfectly ripe avocados
2/3 cup yogurt
3 or more cups broth
1 tbsp fresh coriander
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp fesh lime juice
Pepper or a few drops of Tabasco

GARNISH
Chopped green onions
Fresh chopped coriander
Fresh tomato, peeled, seeded and cubed
Tortilla chips

Cut the avocados in half, remove pits and scoop out the flesh with a tablespoon. Place in a blender, add yogurt, half the broth, coriander, salt and lime juice. Puree until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a pot and blend in remaining stock, or as much as you like for your desired consistency. If serving hot, reheat over very low heat, making sure the soup does not boil. If serving chilled, refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Serve sprinkled with a little garnish in each bowl and place tortilla chips on the table or around each serving bowl. Serves 4.

The soup will keep for 1 day in the refrigerator, but must be covered with plastic wrap that touches the surface of the purée. It can be frozen for up to 3 month. Whisk well once thawed to restore its texture.

It is good for Vata, Avoid pepper, onion and tomatoes for Pitha, For Kapha it is not good

Food Plan to Balance Kapha Dosha

Taste preferences - pungent, bitter, and astringent . Reduce use of sweet, sour, and salty tastes. Sweets must be avoided. Also try to restricting the consumption of excessive pungent foods in summer, instead prefer foods with a sour taste.
Among dairy products, cottage and other types of cheese are the best options for you. Butter should be avoided and only toned milk be used. All frozen desserts are to be avoided.
For your Kapha prakriti, very little of fats and oils are required. Treat your body occasionally, with a warm oil therapy of mustard oil with a little amount of Apple vinegar.
To balance Kapha you need Warm, light and dry food, cooked without much water, minimum of butter, oil and sugar Kapha need to restrict the consumption of too much sweet foods or fatty foods. Keep an eye on the salt consumption also, which tend to result in fluid retention
Light meals are to be favored such as light breakfast and dinner. Avoid deep fried foods. Eat lightly cooked foods or raw fruits and vegetables. Eat spicy, bitter and astringent foods. Watch out for eating too much food, a typical kapha tendency. Select hot food over cold food whenever feasible. Dry cooking methods (baking, broiling, grilling, sautéing) are prefered than moist cooking such as steaming, boiling or poaching. As an appetizer eat bitter or pungent foods instead of salty or sour. Foods such as romaine lettuce, endive, or tonic water are good to stimulate your appetite. Take ginger tea or a pinch or ginger to stimulate appetite. Other preferred spices are cumin, fenugreek, sesame seed and turmeric. Any food that is spicy is good for kapha such as very hot Mexican or Indian food, especially in winter.
Foods that are good for kapha breakfast are hot spiced cider, buckwheat pancakes with apple butter, corn muffins, and bitter cocoa made with skim milk and a touch of honey. Avoid cold cereals, cold juice or milk, and sugary pastries. Bacon and sausage aggravates kapha due to their salt and oil. For kapha types, breakfast is optional. (You may skip it if you like).
To pep you up in the morning, take honey, hot water, lemon juice and ginger. Try hot ginger tea. Try skipping a meal or two and take a spoonful of honey in hot water to keep you going. You have a sweet tooth. So, cutting down on sugar is difficult but it is recommended. Take honey instead. Avoid taking more than a spoonful of honey a day.
Don't overindulge on dairy foods. Butter, ice cream, and cheese are among the worst foods you can take as it aggravates the kapha. Take warm low fat milk. Avoid hamburgers and milk shakes. Eat raw fruits, vegetables and salads. Watch out the restaurant foods, especially oily, salty, sweet or deep fried foods - these are all kapha aggravating. Eat salad with minimum salad dressing. Take a glass of hot water instead of ice water. Eat salad instead of soup especially in hot weather.
Kapha dosha is aggravated and increased in the spring of the year. During this season, eat less and choose more dry, fibrous foods. During wet, cold seasons,
If your basic constitution is mixed, include smaller portions for the second dosha

Food Plan to Balance Pitta Dosha

Taste preferences - sweet, bitter and astringent Pungent foods should be to the bare minimum. Ayurveda suggests the intake of bitter and astringent foods during both summer and winter to promote Vata in summer and Kapha in winter. You could feast on sweets all year round.
You should avoid oily foods. Ayurveda recommends a reduced intake of oils and fats, as these promote the fire in your prakriti. Clarified butter is a better option. Among dairy products, yogurt is good for you. Milk, cheese, and cottage cheese can be used moderately. Indulge in all kinds of frozen desserts.
Considering the fire element domination in the Pitta , Ayurveda advises you to cultivate a handful of simple habits.Favor Cool or warm but not steaming hot foods. As far as practical use less butter and added fat. Consume food with moderately heavy textures.Since Pitta promotes strong efficient digestion, you can generally eat just about everything. Take cool, refreshing food in summer. Reduce the consumption of salt, oil, and spices, all of which are "heating" to the body. Salads are good, so is milk and ice cream.
Avoid pickles, sour yogurt, sour cream, and cheese. Avoid vinegar in salad dressing; use lemon juice instead. Alcoholic and fermented foods should be avoided. Their sour Rasa aggravates Pitta. Coffee is also pitta aggravating due to the acid in coffee. Herb tea is good. Prefer mint, licorice root or other pitta pacifying tea.
Breakfast: Cold cereals, cinnamon toast, and apple tea is a good breakfast for Pitta. Avoid coffee, orange juice and doughnuts - they aggravate pitta. The vegetarian foods are the best for pitta. Consuming red meat tend to heat the body from the fat. Consume abundant amounts of milk, grains and vegetables.
Avoid oily, hot, salty, and heavy foods such as fried food. Instead consume starchy foods such as vegetables, grains and beans. Avoid the tendency to overeat under stress.
Avoid processed and fast foods as they tend to be heavy on salt and sour tastes. Japanese and Chinese food are good choices. Avoid highly spicy food such as is found in Mexican restaurants.
To bring down aggravated Pitta, take two teaspoons of ghee (clarified butter) in a glass of warm milk. (Avoid taking the ghee if you have problem with high cholesterol).
Spices: black pepper, coriander, and cardamom.
If your basic constitution is mixed (pitta-vata or pitta-kapha), to maintain balance, include smaller portions for the second dosha.
Pitta dosha is aggravated and increased during summer. During hot, dry seasons, all mind-body types can choose some of the above foods and decrease others. Mental and emotional peace and constructive lifestyle routines are important to restoring and maintaining balance.

Food Plan to Balance Vata Dosha

Taste preferences - sweet, sour and salty. Avoid anything pungent. It has a drying effect on your system. Ideally, in summer, prefer sour and salty tastes. Consume salty and pungent foods in winter. Use sweet taste as a supplement during both seasons.
Most non - vegetarian diets suit your prakriti. Aquatic meats help to promote your Kapha levels.Dairy products like butter, cheese, yogurt and clarified butter are generally considered good for you. Of the frozen desserts, Kulfi is a better option than ice - cream. Oil is a vital requirement of Vata bodies. Your prakriti needs frequent oil massages.
Favor warm food, moderately heavy textures, added butter and fat. All soothing foods are good for settling disturbed Vata. Use foods such as: warm milk, cream, butter, warm soups, stews, hot cereals, fresh baked bread. Since vata is a cold dry dosha, warm, nourishing foods such as these are good for stabilizing vata. On the other hand cold foods such as cold salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables and greens are not very good for persons with vata imbalance.
Breakfast is highly recommended. Use hot cereals such as cream of rice or wheat or any other breakfast that is warm, milky, and sweet. Take a hot or herbal tea with snacks in the late afternoon. Avoid drinks with high caffeine as vata gets disturbed by it.
Use spicy foods such as spicy Mexican or Indian foods that are cooked in oil. Use warm moist foods such as cooked grains and cereals, bowl of hot oatmeal or cup of steaming vegetable soup. Warm milk is good. You can add a little sugar or honey to it if you prefer. Avoid eating candies as it disturbs vata. Prefer salted nuts that are heavy and oily as opposed to dry salty snacks. All sweet fruits are Ok for vata. Avoid unripe fruits as they are astringent. Take warm or hot water instead of ice water and drinks.
Spices: cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger, cloves in moderation.
If your basic constitution is mixed (vata-pitta or vata-kapha), include portions for the second influential dosha.
Vata dosha is aggravated and increased during autumn and early winter. During these seasons all mind-body types can include some of the above foods and decrease others. Mental and emotional peace and constructive lifestyle routines are important to restoring and maintaining balance.

Diet for Kapha

KAPHA DOSHA
The qualities of kapha dosha are cold, heavy, liquid and unctuous.
KAPHA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : To balance kapha dominance, eat smaller amounts of food and emphasize food with vata properties of light and dry. Also, foods which are dry, hot or sharp are recommended, so look for foods with pungent, bitter or astringent tastes. Examples include puffed cereals such as puffed rice or corn; small, astringent grains, such as millet, amaranth, and quinoa; and light, bitter vegetables such as leafy greens. Spices like ginger, turmeric and chili are generally good for kapha people.Favour : Warm light food, dry food cooked without much water, minimum of butter, oil and sugar, stimulating foods (ginger, chillies, pickles), raw foods, salads, fruits. Vegetables : Generally all vegetables are good, but if you are suffering from any kapha disorder like lung congestion, congestive asthma, sinuses, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high cholestrol, then avoid all sweet juicy vegetables such as cucumbers, pumpkin family, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tori, ghiya etc. Fruits : Apples, apricots, pears, pomegranates, dried fruits in general (apricots, figs, prunes, raisins) Lentils & Legumes : If the dosha is not aggravated all except tofu and kidney beans are acceptable. Spices : All are good - ginger is best for improving digestion, turmeric is excellent for drying out the mucous, chillies are excellent for removing mucous.
KAPHA AGGRAVATING FOODS :
General : Foods such as dairy products, wheat, avocados and oils have these qualities and will increase kapha in the body. Sweet, sour, salty; heavy, oily, cold. Desserts, sweets, ice cream, deep fried foods, possessiveness, miserliness, laziness. Vegetables : all sweet juicy vegetables such as cucumbers, pumpkin family, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tori, ghiya etc. Fruits : All sweet juicy fruits in general.Lentils & Legumes : Tofu and kidney beans.Spices : excess salt.

Diet for Pitha

PITTA DOSHA
Pitta's properties are hot, sharp, oily and light.
PITTA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : you can balance excess pitta with foods that are cool, dry and heavy with a mild, naturally sweet, bitter or astringent taste. For example, milk, rice, beans, steamed vegetables and fruit are good for pitta people. Mild spices like cumin, coriander and cilantro are particularly beneficial for pitta. Sweet, bitter, astringent; cold, heavy, dry. Moderation, coolness, ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, green coriander (dhaniya), coriander seeds, cardamom, sprouts and raw foods. Vegetables & Fruits: can eat most vegetables and fruits. Exceptions are given below.Grains : Barley, oats, wheat, parboiled rice.
PITTA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General : pungent and oily foods such as curry, fried foods and spicy condiments, as well as spices such as cayenne, garlic and dry ginger, should be avoided by pitta constitutions. Pungent, sour, salty, hot, light, oily. Stimulants like smoking, alcohol, coffee, pickles, vinegar, fried foods, spicy foods, fermented foods, curds, almond, corn, til, mustard oil. Vegetables : Beets, carrots, brinjal, garlic, hot peppers, onions, spinach, tomatoes. Fruit : Sour and unripe fruits. If there is aggravated Pitta avoid grapefruit, papayas, peaches, bananas, apricots.Grains : Brown rice, corn, millet, rye.

Diet for Vata

VATA DOSHA

The qualities of vata are cold, dry, light, hard, and rough.

VATA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : excess vata can be counterbalanced with nutritive and tissue-building foods that are warm, moist, heavy, soft and oily, as well as foods with a sweet, sour and salty taste. For example, vata pacifying foods include ghee, soft dairy products, wheat, rice, corn and bananas. A person with a vata constitution should favor foods like hot cereal with ghee, hearty soups and vegetables, and whole cooked grains and chapatis. Spicy foods are generally okay for vata.
Vegetables : Asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, green beans, okra (bhindi), onions and garlic , radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips.
Fruits : Bananas, coconuts, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, all sweet fruits in general.
Grains : Oats, rice and wheat

VATA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General : Foods with the vata qualities, such as crackers, frozen desserts, and large amounts of raw vegetables and salads, will aggravate vata. Also, refined foods such as white flour and sugar, have light and dry qualities and would be best avoided by people with vata constitutions.Pungent, bitter, astringent; light, dry, cold foods,stimulants like smoking, alcohol, junk food, sugar, tea (esp. long leaf teas and green tea), brown rice.
Vegetables : Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, brinjal, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas, peppers (simla mirch) potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, zucchini (tori). If you do have these vegetables cook them in pure desi ghee or unrefined til oil. Tomatoes are best avoided except as a small addition to salads.
Fruits : Apples, pears, pomegranates.
Spices: Vatas can have almost all spices and herbs in moderation When there is aggravated Vata, the following are to be taken with caution : coriander seeds (dhaniya powder), fenugreek (methi seeds), saffron, turmeric, parsley. Avoid too much hot, dry spices such as dried chili, which will aggravate dryness.

Stroke

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R. Please read: STROKE IDENTIFICATION: A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally . He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough. RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: S * Ask the individual to SMILE. T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today) R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999/911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke.

Liver damage__don't always sleep late

Take note...don't always sleep late!!

Good rest and sound sleep is very
Important... if u don't sleep well,
The toxic in your body will accumulate..
Affecting your health and your mood...

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are the main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3. Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming overly done foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our body to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'


Because: Evening at 9 - 11pm : is the time for eliminating unnecessary/ toxic chemicals (de-toxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on her health.


Evening at 11pm - 1am : The de-toxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state. Early morning 1 - 3am : de-toxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am : de-toxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the de-toxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am : de-toxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.


Morning 7 - 9am : Absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 -10am rather than no meal at all. Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood.

Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

Please note that another name for Lady's Finger (Bhindi ) is " OKRA "


Since I am diabetic, I tried it and it was very useful and my Sugar level is in control now.
In fact I have already reduced my medicine. Take two pieces of Lady Finger (Bhindi) and remove/cut both ends of each piece.
Also put a small cut in the middle and put these two pieces in a glass of water. Cover the glass and keep it at room temperature during night.
Early morning, before breakfast simply remove two pieces of lady finger (bhindi) from the glass and drink that water.
Keep doing it on daily basis.

Within two weeks, you will see remarkable results in reduction of your SUGAR.


My sister has got rid of her diabetes. She was on Insulin for a few years, but after taking the lady fingers every morning for a few months, she has stopped Insulin but continues to take the lady fingers every day.

But she chops the lady fingers into fine pieces in the night, adds the water and drinks it all up the next morning.

Please. try it as it will not do you any harm even if it does not do much good to you, but you have to keep taking it for a few months before you see results, as most cases might be chronic.

'Importance of having Breakfast'

Breakfast can help prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death. Advice on not to skip breakfast!

Healthy living
For those who always skip breakfast, you should stop that habit now! You've heard many times that 'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.' Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast.
Why?

Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6: 00a.m. and noon, with the highest incidence being
between 8: 00a.m. and 10:00a.m.What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early
morning hours?
We may have an Answer.
Platelet, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to Death if we get a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to
cholesterol or laque buildup in the artery lining. It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes. Studies performed at Memorial University in St.Johns, Newfoundland found that eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice, fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk. So if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research. Develop a simple plan to eat cereal, such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes, along with six ounces of grape juice or orange juice, and perhaps a piece of fruit. This simple plan will keep your platelets from sticking together, keep blood clots away from forming, and perhaps head off a potential Heart Attack or stroke. So never ever skip breakfast
Hope after reading this? You will not skip BREAK FAST J !!!

Vegetables

Start a Love Affair with Healthy Vegetables

Do you love healthy vegetables? I mean plain and simple healthy vegetables, just as they are – high in vegetable nutrition, not deep-fried, drowning in butter, cheese sauce or salad dressing.

Vegetable nutrition for healthy vegetables is very high in nutrients and very low in calories.

But do you know which vegetables are worth a love affair? Which ones have a good enough character for a long-term, nurturing relationship? If you don't like them now, would you be willing to learn to love healthy vegetables – without trying to change them into something they're not?

Healthy Vegetables for Optimum Vegetable Nutrition

Eating healthy vegetables is essential to your optimum health and fitness.

Vegetable nutrition has long been known as an excellent source of important vitamins, minerals, high fiber and healthy complex carbohydrates. But recently science has discovered that certain vegetables and fruits are also rich in powerful disease preventing antioxidant phytonutrients.

• Carotenoids are found in bright yellow, orange, red and green healthy vegetables and fruits. Carotenoids are potent antioxidants proven to greatly boost your immune system and reduce your overall risk of both cancer and heart disease. The highest carotenoid levels are found in carrots, red bell peppers, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables.
• Flavonoids are the phytonutrients found in brilliant blue, purple and emerald green vegetables and fruits, plus some yellow, red and orange not attributed to carotenoids. Flavonoids are also powerful antioxidants shown to help prevent cancer and heart disease. They’re found in beets, kale, red onions, French beans, endives and berries.
• Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and collard greens, contain some special phytonutrients that are not found in other vegetables. These cruciferous compounds have been shown to help prevent cancers of particular organs, such as prostate, uterus, lung, colon, digestive tract and breast cancer.

The most nutritious vegetables and fruits, highest in phytonutrients, have also been found to prevent cataract formation, hypertension, birth defects, diverticulosis, obesity and diabetes.

Protect Your Health with 5 to 9 a Day

The National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the National Research Council all recommend that you eat at least 5 to 9 servings of colorful phytonutrient produce every day.

But are you doing that? Maybe not! Most people in the U.S. fall far short of the minimum goal.

And studies show that when people from modernized countries, like America, do eat produce, they usually don't choose colorful healthy vegetables and fruits. The most popular produce is Iceberg lettuce, potatoes and bananas. These contain very little of the important phytonutrients.

So maybe it's time to start a love affair with healthy vegetables and fruits.

You can invite your friends over for a healthy vegetable medley. Add bright berries to your morning cereal. Munch on a big dark green salad with tomatoes and cauliflower florets for lunch.

For dinner, feast on whole-wheat pasta with tomato marinara sauce and sautéed healthy vegetables. And, in-between meals, snack on raw carrots, steamed broccoli or fresh fruit.

Ayurvedic Diet

Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Pungent and Astringent

In ayurveda, foods are classified into six tastes--sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Ayurvedic healers recommend that you include all of these six tastes at each main meal you eat. Each taste has a balancing ability, and including some of each minimizes cravings and balances the appetite and digestion. The general North American diet tends to have too much of the sweet, sour and salty, and not enough of the bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.

A fruit-spice chutney or a spice-mix can provide a little of each of the six tastes if you are in a hurry, but it is ideal to choose foods from each category for complete, balanced nutrition. Just in the category of fresh vegetables and herbs, for example, you could choose fennel bulb or carrot for the sweet taste, fresh lemons for sour, arugula or endive for bitter, radish or white daikon or ginger root for pungent and cabbage or broccoli or cilantro for astringent.

The Amalaki Rasayana, made from the Amla fruit, offers five of the six ayurvedic tastes--all except salty.

Anemia

Home remedies :

• Eat a lot of dates, leafy greens & iron products.
• Drink daily 2-3 cups of white cabbage juice.
• Take vegetables like beets, potato, tomato, carrots, cabbage, grapes, apples, strawberries like fruits.
• Peanut butter and candy bars have a lot of iron in them.
• Dark green leafy vegetables are good source of absorbable iron, salmon and mackerel are good source of B12, and black eyed peas,beans and lentils for folate.
• Cold water bath is the valuable method in curing anemia, two baths are recommended daily.
• Take sunbaths are also beneficial as sunlight stimulates the production of red cells.
• Lemon and honey is highly beneficial when taken during morning.
• Massaging the body daily also helps to keep the blood level in the body high.
• A liberal intake of vita-C is necessary for the proper absorption of iron . Amla provides natural vita-C.
• Deep breathing and light exercise like walking also tones up body and blood level.
• Various yoga asanas like sarvangasana, paschimotanasana, uttanpadasana, shavasana are beneficial and good.

Herbal remedies :

• Afsanthin (worm wood) is iron rich content.
• Ajmoda (celery) is also extremely rich source of dietry iron.
• Methi (fenugreek) works as an effective blood tonic.
• Sowa (dill) is taken to regulate the flow during the menstrual cycle. About 60 grams of sowa taken with a 1 tsp of parsley juice.

Sarvangasana

Sarvangasana

This is one of the most important asanas. Sarvangasana literally means "all parts pose".These inverted asanas work by reversing the effects of gravity on certain parts of the body. When this asana is practiced, all the parts of the body are exercised. So it is called Sarvangasana.

Technique :

• Lie on your back with the body fully stretched, palms by your side facing down.
• Slowly raise the legs together up 30, then 60, then 90 and then around 130 degree .so they are extended behind your head.
• Stay in this position , breathing normally,for a few seconds.
• Now, gradually exhale again and straighten your legs up to 90 degrees, until they attain a vertical position. Support the back on two sides with both the hands. Keep the elbows on the ground.Let the shoulders and the neck touch the ground. Keep the body steady.
• Keep the legs raised straight up. Breath normally.Look at the toes of the feet.
• Bend the legs towards the head. Relax the body and bring the legs back to the ground without jerking the spine.
• In this asana, the weight of the entire body is borne by the shoulder. Concentrate your mind on the thyroid gland in the lower part of the throat.
• This asana can be practiced twice a daily. Practice this asana for two minutes in the beginning gradually increasing the time to the limit of half an hour.

Benefits of Sarvangasana :

• This asana diverts the flow of blood into the thyroid glands and promotes their health. It tones up the blood circulatory system, the respiratory system, the gigestive system and the excretory system.
• It awakens the Kundalini and stimulates gastric juices.
• It eliminates the longtime diseases of the intestines like indigestion,constipation.
• It tones up the functioning of the nose and the ears. It purifies blood.
• It preserves the elasticity of the spinal column and prevents it from being slugging.
• It eliminates the pain in the heels and other disorders of the feet.
• It tones up the blood circulation and the digestive system.
• It prevents nocturnal discharges effectively and helps in observing celibacy. It is a remedy for the diseases of the genitals and the anus.
• Women can safely practice this asana. This asana eliminates the disorders of the overy.
• Recommended for women after child birth and for those suffering from painfull menstruation, other female disorders and seminal weakness.
• It is beneficial to those who suffer from anemia and leprosy.
• It supplies abundant flow of blood to all the roots of the spinal column.
• This is an ideal and strength giving asana. It energies and invigorates the body.
• It eliminates kidney troubles and the diseasesof the bladder.

Contraindications :

Don't try if you are suffering from organic disorders of the thyroid gland & chronic nasal catarrh.

Hair Loss and Dandruff

Ayurvedic Remedies for Dandruff:

* Mix up a spoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut oil. Instead of coconut you can use neem oil otherwise. Keep this mixture in a air tight container, preferably a glass container and use this oil to massage your scalp before going to bed. Practice this continuously for at least 15 days and feel the difference of your healthy scalp. After 15 days do it for alternate days for the best of result.
* Add a spoon of castor oil, mustard oil and little coconut (or neem) oil and massage your scalp every night and have a shampoo the day next.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair loss:

* Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes.
* Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it.
* Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, Soya beans, whole grains and nuts.

Look Beautiful, The Natural Way

Look Beautiful, the Natural Way

Our skin faces a constant barrage of chemicals everyday from pollution to harsh chemically formulated products that strip the skin of its natural balance. These simple Ayurvedic home remedies help you to attain a clear, healthy and glowing complexion. Ayurveda mentions many simple natural ways to maintain a healthy and glowing skin. Using these natural ways, one can stay beautiful for a longer period without having to suffer the side effects of the chemicals.

Below are some simple 'secrets' to achieve a naturally beautiful skin.

• Mix equal quantities of cucumber juice, rose water and lime juice. Wash the face and apply it overnight. Rinse off in the morning. This clears the complexion and keeps it healthy.
  
  
• Take 50 ml. of raw (not boiled) milk and mix a pinch of salt and two teaspoonful of lime juice in it. Use it as a cleansing lotion. It helps to clean the deep pores of skin.
  
  
• Mix equal quantities of lime juice, glycerin and rose water. This lotion if applied to the face regularly at bed time is very useful in removing pimples, blackheads and other stains of the skin. It makes the skin soft, and can also be applied to other parts of the body (hands, feet etc.)
  
  
• Take 50 ml. of tomato juice and mix with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the face. It helps to make the skin soft and glowing.
  
  
• Take equal quantities of turmeric powder and wheat flour and make a paste with sesame oil. Apply it to the face to remove unwanted hair.
  
  
• Apply orange juice to the face for smooth and soft skin.
  
  
• Take 30 ml. of cabbage juice and mix one teaspoon of honey in it. This mixture, if applied regularly to the face, helps to keep the wrinkles away.
  
  
• Make a paste of raw carrots and apply it to the face. Wash it after one hour. The skin will become glowing.
  
  
• Regular application of mint juice to the face helps to remove stains.

Try out some of these simple natural remedies for smooth, clear and radiant complexion.

Honey

Honey

The Predigested Natural Food Since ancient times, humans have used honey as a natural food, as a sweetener, for medical use, for beautification and for many other purposes.

Benefits of Honey

• Eyesight
  Regular use of honey mixed with the carrot juice helps to improve the eyesight. It should be taken one hour before meals in the morning.
  
  
• Cough
  Mixture of equal quantities of honey and ginger juice is a good expectorant. It gives immediate relief in symptoms like cold, cough, sore throat, congestion of chest and runny nose.
  
  
• Asthma
  Mix half a gram of black pepper powder with honey and ginger juice mixture (equal quantity). Take this mixture at least three times a day. It helps to cure asthma.
  
  
• Blood Pressure
  Take one teaspoonful of garlic juice mixed with two teaspoonful of honey. It can be taken twice a day in the morning and evening. Regular use of this mixture is beneficial for high blood pressure.
  
  
• Blood Purification and Fat Reduction
  Take one glass of warm water and mix 1-2 teaspoonful of honey and one teaspoonful of lemon juice. Take this preparation daily before evacuation. It helps to purify the blood. It also helps to reduce fat and to clean the bowels.
  
  
• Heart Tonic
  One teaspoonful of anise powder mixed with one or two teaspoonful of honey acts a very nice tonic for the heart. It strengthens the heart muscles and improves its functions.

Reduce Body Weight by Natural Ways

Reduce Weight by Natural Ways

The chief cause of obesity or overweight is often overeating, irregular eating habits and not following the rules of eating such as improper mixing of food items in one meal.

In ayurveda, Charak Samhita describes eight different types of bodies that are disease prone. Out of these, the obese body is described as the one afflicted with the most diseases and troubles. Obesity is the condition or physical state of the body when excessive deposition of fat takes place in the adipose tissue.

Extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and the joints such as the hips, knees and ankles and thus, overweight people are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gall bladder disorders. Chief cause of obesity is overeating, irregular eating habits and not following the rules of eating or mixing non-compatible food items in one meal.

To decrease weight and get rid of obesity three things must be kept in mind:

• Controlling eating habits.
• Regular exercise.
• Avoiding the causes of weight gain

Diet recommended to lose weight

• Early morning
  Juice of half a lemon mixed in a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey.
  
  
• Breakfast
  Wheat or Mung bean sprouts and a cup of skimmed milk.
  
  
• Midmorning
  A glass of orange, pineapple or carrot juice.
  
  
• Lunch
  • Salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beet, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes. Steamed or boiled vegetables
  • Whole grain bread or whole wheat chapatis (Indian bread) and a glass of buttermilk.
  • Roasted cumin seeds, green coriander leaves, a little salt and some grated ginger mixed in the buttermilk.
  
  
  
• Mid-afternoon
  • Coconut water
  • Dry fruits
  • Lemon tea
  • Fresh vegetable soup
  
  
  
• Dinner
  • Whole grain bread or chapatis
  • Steamed vegetables
  • Seasonal fruits except banana and apple.

Home Remedies for Losing Weight

• Increase the quantity of fruits and vegetables and low calorie foods.
• Avoid intake of too much salt as it may be a factor for increasing body weight.
• Milk products like cheese, butter etc. and non-vegetarian foods should be avoided as they are rich in fat.
• Mint is very beneficial in losing weight. A chutney of green mint with some simple spices can be taken with meals. Mint tea also helps.
• Spices like dry ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight and can be used in a number of ways.
• Regular intake of carrot juice.
• Avoid rice and potato, which contain a lot of carbohydrates. Among cereals wheat is good.
• Vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela), and bitter variety of drumstick are useful in loosing weight.
• Honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions.
  Dosage: One should start with small quantity of about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning. A teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice may also be added.
• Fasting on honey and lime- juice is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of energy and appetite. For this, mix one teaspoon of fresh honey with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water.
  Dosage: Take several times a day at regular intervals.
• Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.
• Exercise is an important part of any weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body as fat.
• Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming or rowing.
• The gum of Commiphora Mukul called 'guggulu' is the drug of choice for the treatment of obesity.

Preparation of Home Remedies
According to ayurveda home remedies are prepared in the same way and with the same purpose as other ayurvedic medicines. The main aim is to obtain the maximum therapeutic benefit while making it palatable.

Some common methods of preparing home remedies are:

• Juice
  The juice may be taken from the fresh leaves, flowers or stems of the herb. The part of the herb used should be crushed or ground in a mortar and pestle, to make a paste. This paste should be put in a piece of cloth and squeezed to take out the juice.
  Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.
  
  
• Powder
  Dried herbs are used for powders. The herbs are usually dried in a cool, shady and well-ventilated place, although some herbs are dried in direct sunlight. The herbs are then ground into a fine powder and stored in a dry, airtight bottle. The powder may be taken with water, or if specified, with milk or honey.
  Dosage: Half to one teaspoon twice a day
  
  
• Decoction
  A decoction is prepared by boiling the herb in water (ratio: 1 part herb to 16 parts water). The herbs are broken into pieces and soaked in water overnight. This mixture is then boiled until it reduces to one quarter of the original volume. It is then filtered and stored in a glass bottle.
  Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.
  
  
• Infusion
  Herbs are soaked in water to make an infusion (ratio: 1 part herb to 8 parts water). Hot infusions result from adding herbs to hot water, or gently heating but not boiling the mixture. This is strained and taken internally. Herbal teas are forms of hot infusions. Cold infusions are made from soaking the herb overnight. Honey can be added.
  Dosage: half to one cup once or twice day.
  
  
• Paste