Fasting is one of the important spiritual practices in Indian lifestyle. It is called ‘Nirjara’ meaning freedom from the effects of old deeds (Karmas) in Lord Mahavir’s way of spiritual practices. Fasting is as important as eating.

One should have full knowledge of diet i.e. what to eat, when to eat, how to eat and how much to eat.

Diet and fasting

Our physical as well as emotional health is affected by fasting. All our lower glands adrinal,gonads get stimulated when we eat normally. During fasting these glands get relaxed. An army that does not get food cannot move ahead. Similarly, our glands will not be active while fasting is done.

Spiritual basis of fasting

Fasting improves our tolerance power and increases determination. It reduces the stimulation of lower glands which results in reducing impulses, urges and sexual emotions.

Right way of fasting

First day take light meal, second day fasting should be done and third day again light meal should be taken. Following this routine will give the maximum benefit of fasting. In general, people start spiritual practice from yoga but Lord Mahavir started with fasting. If one can control hunger, other controls are easier.

Fasting – A Natural cure

Everyone knows that many diseases are caused due to overeating. One should fill half the stomach with food and one quarter with water. Last quarter should be left for the gas produced as a result of digestion. Fasting is a great medicine. Many diseases like asthma, hypertension, piles, axima, diabetes have been cured by fasting. Fasting is a good cure for diptheria, indigestion and other related diseases. Fasting delays aging. Immune system becomes stronger by fasting.The risk of cancer is reduced by fasting.

Duration of fasting

It can be done from 2-3 days to 2 months. Long duration fasting does not cause any harm if done properly.

Limitations of fasting

• It does not help in the following cases
• T.B. patients at second or third stage of disease
• Diabetic patients at the last stage
• Heart disease
• Kidney problems

Fasting of longer duration is like a shock treatment. So it should be done under the guidance of an experienced person.

Did you know that bottled water is not just bad for the environment but also for your health? Take a look at this presentation to find out more about why you shouldn’t drink bottled water…

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by aSGuest17618

Tags: healthy living, Save Earth, Stop Wasting, Sustainable Living, Water Conservation, why save water

• Cloves are rich in eugenol, which is a natural antioxidant. Eugenol has anti-bacterial properties and is particularly effective against vibrio cholerae,  Gartner’s bacillus and swine Erysipelas bacteria.
• Cloves are useful in treating gastric ailments and dyspepsia.
• Cloves are useful in relieving nausea and vomiting.
• Because of its anti-bacterial properties, cloves are used to fight gum diseases, toothache and other dental conditions.
• Cloves also find use as a local analgesic in dental problems.
• Oil from cloves is also used to treat muscle cramps.
• Cloves are also used to strengthen the respiratory system.

Tags: healthy eating, natural cure

May has just begun and already the heat is scorching. Makes one cringe at the thought of how hot the next two months are likely to be. And so out comes our list of do’s and don’ts to beat the summer heat. Simple changes in diet and lifestyle can help us breeze through the hot summers.

• Ok, top of the list. Drink lots and lots of water. As much as you can. It is important to keep our bodies hydrated, keeps our bodies healthy and skin glowing. If you can’t have too much of plain water, make some lemonade or buttermilk – some light, salty chass or cool lassi are irresistable in summers. You could also add some juice concentrate or RoohAfza to water, for taste. Just make sure you aren’t dehydrated. However, avoid drinking ice-cold beverages. 
• Go easy on fried foods and consume more of fruits, especially those with high water content, like musk melon, water melon. 
• Salads of tomatoes, cucumbers (both water rich) are good.
• Yogurt or curd are great in this season as they are cooling and are easy to digest. They are also rich in Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium and Vit. B Complex. Cool cucumber raita is a delight at times when you don’t feel like having food because of the intense heat. Here’s how to make it:

             Take a medium sized cucumber. Grate it and add to a bowl of whipped curd. Add salt and jeera (ground cuminseeds) to taste. Enjoy with a meal or as a stand alone. Works as a good rehydrator.

• Wear cotton clothes.
• Bathe twice a day.
• If you have a tendency to develop rash on your skin in summers, you could try these:

1. Apply ice-packs on affected area
2. Apply cooled cucumber juice on the rash. 
3. Use a mix of curd and fuller’s earth as a face-pack.
4. Maintain good hygiene. Use a good talc or baking soda if you sweat excessively.
5. Use a good scrub to exfoliate and ensure pores do not get blocked because of excessive oiliness in summer.

Tags: healthy eating, healthy living, natural health

Ok, this is a topic I love the most. It pleases me no end to think that chocolates are not just ‘only taste’ but are a health food. It takes away the guilt feeling that one is eating plain fat, sugars & calories and sort of gives one the license to indulge. However, most of the benefits I am about to recount are associated with dark chocolates. So if you love dark chocolates, you are going to love this…

• Chocolates are a good source of energy and make for a good snack on the go.
• Cocoa liquor which goes into making chocolates is rich in polyphenols which are superb antioxidants. The concentration of these antioxidants in dark chocolate is more than that found in green tea or red wine! Dark chocolates have the highest Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity.
•  Reearchers have found that flavonoids present in dark chocolate help bring down blood pressure. They stimulate the production of Nitric Oxide, which in turn acts as a vasodilator on arteries, relax the inner surface of blood vessels,  causing the blood pressure to lower.
• Dark chocolate is a good source of Calcium.  
• Chocolates can also help reduce the risk of certain types of cancers.

So what are you waiting for? Go grab a big bar of dark chocolate!

Tags: healthy eating

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience has found that chronic backaches can result in shrinkage of gray matter by about 5-11%, which is the equivalent of shrinkage that takes place in 10 to 20 years of aging! 

The shrinkage, it appears, is related to the duration of the pain. It is a 1.3 cu. cm. of gray matter loss for every year of chronic pain.

Well, who could have thought of that! But now that we know, don’t take that back pain lightly. 

Again, remember that chronic back pain may not necessarily be because of bad posture. It is advisable to consult a qualified orthopaedic doctor when you have back pains. Osteoporosis (weakening of bones) is one of the major causes of back pains. If you have chronic back pains, consult your doctor now.

Tags: healthy living, natural health

Mango, also known as the king of fruits, is eagerly sought after every summers. Though savoured mainly for its taste, it is a little known fact that mango has several health benefits. 

• Mangoes should be dipped in water for a few hours and then kept in the refrigerator before consuming. Eating cooled mangoes provides a refreshing feeling and fight dehydration.
• Mangoes are good sources of energy.
• Mangoes, being fibre rich, are good for digestion. They help prevent constipation, piles etc.
• Mangoes are rich in Vitamin A, and C. 
• Vitamin E and K are also found in mangoes.
• Mangoes are rich in antioxidants and hence good for skin.
• They are also rich in beta carotene and so protect skin from tanning in summers.
• Mangoes, being rich in Vitamin B, iron and folate help boost metabolism.
• Mangoes are good sources of potassium, calcium and iron.
• Mangoes have low sodium content!
• Mangoes are also good at fighting acidity.

Tags: ayurveda, healthy eating, natural health

Ok, here is an interesting piece of advice I got from a gym trainer. She suggests vociferously that one shouldn’t over-exercise. Doing so can leave one dehydrated and hence cause nutrients to be sapped from the skin. This results in premature ageing of the skin. If there is substantial loss of fat, the facial skin begins to sag!

Moderate exercise though is very important. It increases circulation and helps metabolism and therefore helps body get rid of toxins and helps keep the skin clean and refreshed.

Tags: Natural detox, natural health, skin care

Do you find yourself tossing in bed for a long time before you fall off asleep? Do you get up in the mornings felling tired and drained of energy? You may not be getting proper and the  required amount of sleep. A good sleep acts as the best natural rejuvenator. Lack of enough sleep or insomnia can result in lethargy and lack of concentration and also affect overall health. It is important to get atleast 6 hours of sleep every night and an hour of sleep before 12 am is worth two after 12 am. So sleep early, sleep well and sleep enough for good overall health.

Here are some tips to help you do just that…

• Avoid having tea or coffee at night.
• A glass of warm milk before retiring to bed helps.
• Make sure you have your meal atleast 2-3 hours before sleeping.
• If possible, have a warm water bath just before sleeping.  Use a calming essential oil (lavender, sandalwood) in bath.
• Try to sleep at the same time everyday.
• Wake up early. If you get up early in the morning, you fill feel sleepy and tired by the end of the day. And thus be able to sleep in time and get sound sleep too.
• Exercise during the day. Physical exercise done earlier during the day will help you get a good night’s sleep.
• Eat well during the day but make sure you have a supper of a pauper. However, do not go to bed on an empty stomach.
• If you find it difficult to sleep because you are too stressed or too excited, switch on some soft, meditational music. Switch off all lights and try and relax. Imagine each muscle of your body relaxing and breathe slowly and deeply as you do so.
• Avoid watching TV in bed or just before sleeping.
• If you have a habit of reading just before sleeping, make sure its something light.
• Lavender has a soothing, calming effect on the nerves. Drop a couple of lavender oil drops on your pillow and see if it works for you.

Tags: home remedies, natural cure, natural health

Recently my little nephew, he is six going on seven, was diagnosed with nearsightedness. Came as quite a surprise to me…he doesn’t watch that much of TV and nor is he addicted to computers. Does his home work in a well lit room…Ok, he is a fussy eater but one can’t really say his diet is seriously deficient in vital nutrients. His mom never suffered from myopia and dad developed it well into his late teens. So, what caused it really? It got be searching the net and I chanced upon this article on research on the relationship between outdoor activity and myopia in 6-12 year olds.

The article says that it is the time spent outdoors in the Sun that is important rather than engagement in some form of active sport. Thats exactly what my nephew does not do. He likes to play indoors and more often than not the only time he steps out of home is to go to school (where he is indoors again) or to visit a friend at his home (again indoors) or for an outing in the evening with his mom and dad.

According to the research it is the intensity of outdoor light that may be an important factor. And they use it to explain the lower prevelance of myopia in children in Australia. It goes on to suggest  that public health measures would do well to encourage children to indulge in some form of outdoor activity, to reduce their chances of developing myopia. 

Alright, gives me enough reason to push him to go outdoors and play. And just be! All the synthetic environment gets to me anyway and I can’t imagine why kids these days want to be indoors all the time, when they can very well be playing out in the open! Perhaps we need to introspect and see if we are creating an environment of too much comfort for them indoors and if it is that which gives them little reason to step out.

Tags: cause of shortsightedness, healthy living, myopia, natural health, prevent nearsightedness