Halitosis is a term used for bad breath. My fellow contributor gave some interesting home remedies to counter bad breath. I am going to take it a step further and elaborate on what causes bad breath.

There are several causes of bad breath. The most common being:

• Dry mouth – Not having enough water, taking medication that causes dryness in the mouth can cause bad breath. The reason is simple. Our saliva controls the growth of oral bacteria. A dry mouth helps bacteria to build up and hence causes bad breath
• Certain foods, for example taking raw red onions can cause bad breath
• Smoking
• Consuming certain drinks (even tea and coffee) can lead to bad breath
• Poor oral hygiene, not brushing often or well enough can cause halitosis
• Any gum diseases
• Stress

Home remedies for bad breath:

To counter bad breath, attack the root causes. And so if you look at the list above, here is what one needs to do to remedy bad breath:

• Have plenty of water. And have frequent sips.
• When you consume foods and drinks that cause bad breath, make sure you brush your teeth soon after.
• Avoid smoking Its not good for your health anyway.
• Try and brush your teeth after every meal, if possible. If not, then atleast after breakfast and before retiring to bed.
• Use a dental floss every night to clean your gums.
• Bust stress. 
• This one is more reactive than preventive, but popping peppermint, clove or an elaichi(green cardamom) helps.

Know of any more natural, easy ways to tackle bad breath? Do share!

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, bad breath, home remedies, natural cure

This is a very simple and convenient remedy that I heard from a fellow tweeter @emergencyoh. When you have a headache thats driving you crazy, try chewing on a cinnamon stick. As simple as that? Wow! Sounds like something thats quick and easy to do even when you are at work, though you need to carry a few cinnamon sticks in your bag. Am going to try it the  next time I have a headache.

Headaches inflict us so often and for different reasons. Some of the common ones are:

• Flu
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of oxygen and natural light
• Stress
• Excessive heat

Honestly speaking I don’t like the idea of taking medicines anytime headache strikes. And so try one home remedy or another. I’ve found different things to work for me at different times. And the most common ones:

• If at work, the first is to treat myself to a cup of strong tea.
• Use a herbal headache balm. I always keep one in my bag.
• Get up from my desk and take a shortish walk. 

But my all time favorites are:

• Apply a herbal balm on the forehead. Take a short nap. Get up and have a good cup of tea or coffee. Super if its flu
• Or go out into the open for a walk. Nature walk works wonders if the headache is because of lack of O2, natural light or because of stress!
• Catch up with someone you like to be with, go out, have a good chat and a good laugh even if its over trivial things. Sounds odd but it often works for me. Especially when I am stressed.

Tags: healthy living, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing

Fully ripe olives are purple-black in color. These black olives are natural artery protectors. They contain mono unsaturated oils which help lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol without lowering the good (HDL) cholesterol.

Olives are rich in Vitamin E and therefore good for the skin. And hence is also considered a very good anti-oxidant.

Olive oil is known to be beneficial in ulcers and gastritis. It is easy on the stomach. Olive oil is said to prevent the formation of gallstones in the body as it activates secretion of bile and pancreatic juices. It also aids in metabolism and finds wide use in the Mediterranean diet.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, healthy eating, High Cholesterol, natural cure, natural cure for heart ailments, natural health

Today is World Health Day. And I thought why not just remind ourselves of some basic do’s and don’t for good overall health. And in the process make some resolutions

So here goes my list of resolutions…

• Exercise – Build any form of exercise into daily routine. Meditation and deep breathing, yoga exercises, aerobics, walking, running, gyming…could be anything. 30 minutes of exercise, especially in the morning help improve our metabolism and also keep us fresh and active during the day.
• Five to ten minutes of Kapalbhati pranayam over and above the above. It improves the functioning of the respiratory system, improves blood circulation, improves digestive system, tones abdominal muscles, cleanses and purifies both the mind and the body, fights stress and helps lose weight.
• Eath healthy – Include nuts and fruits in breakfast and salads in lunch.
• Have a hearty breakfast so I have energy for the day. Also helps improve metabolism to have a good breakfast after the night long gap.
• Go in for a decent lunch but have a frugal dinner.
• Avoid skipping meals even when there seems to be no time for one. Am going to carry a banana or some almonds or one of those Protein bars and po-in any time I feel there isn’t time for a sit-down meal.
• Better still, try and have 5-6 small, healthy meals during the day.
• Have atleast 8-10 glasses of water every day. I find it difficult to have so much of plain water. So am going to try lemonade, RoohAfza, orange squash to get my full quota of water for the day.  Worth doing for good metabolism and happy skin!
• Avoid stress – That is something that is going to be tricky for me. And this will probably be my most important Health Day resolution.
• Avoid late nights as far as I can – whether it is for work or partying. Am going to follow the “Early to bed and early to rise…” dictum. That isn’t going to be tough though as I am mostly a morning person.
• Get atleast 6 hours of sleep everynight. A good, sound sleep allows the body to heal itself and get ready for the next day.
• Catch 40 winks, if I can, during the afternoons. Its like a quick refuel for me!
• Go for nature walks, and just immerse myself in the sights and sounds of nature…pure bliss!
• Laugh as often as I can…not waiting for a big joke to be cracked.

Ok, so thats my list. What’s yours? Do share!

Tags: ayurveda, healthy eating, healthy living, Natural detox, Natural healing, natural health

Ok, we are approaching that time of the year again when we love to shut ourselves up in AC environs, at office, on the road and at home. And with the ads from AC companies being bombarded at us, it is easy to assume that when we confine ourselves to an AC room, we are safe in a pollution free environment. But is that really so?

A report by NASA confirms the opposite and advises on how the problem of indoor air pollutants can be tackled. The main cause of indoor air pollution is the increasing use of resins and solvents being used in modern home and office materials. Because of increased indoor air pollution, health problems like irritation of eyes, throat and lungs, and various allergies can arise.

And as my grandmother would say, staying in AC environs all day long prevents our body from sweating, a natural mechanism of flushing out toxins. Besides, lack of natural light and fresh air makes me feel tired and stressed. So I am one of those who prefer to open a window when I can and just do with a fan. And depend more on summer coolers (read drinks) to keep myself cool. And now that I chanced upon this report, I am just going to do that more often. But there are times when one can’t afford this ‘luxury’. What does one do then?

NASA’s research has found that indoor plants can absorb these harmful pollutants. 15 indoor plants have been recommended to help purify indoor air. Take a look at the list of these indoor plants here. I am going to try and find the common names of these plants and find out which of these are locally available. Their beneficial effect on cleaning indoor air notwithstanding, I just love the sight of plants in my room. It just feels to be good to be surrounded by plants, something green and alive to remind us even in our modern rooms, that we are a part of nature.

By the way, plants are also known to absorb CO2 and release O2 in the air,  help decrease sound levels and increase humidity. So much more reason to do up our homes and offices with plants!

Tags: green living, healthy living, natural health

Did you know that prunes contain natural aspirin? Try some prunes next time you have a headache instead of popping in a pain-killer.

Prunes or dried plums are also a good source of fibre and sugar. It is advantageous to use prunes (a source of natural sugar) as sweetners instead of refined sugar.

Prunes are also said to be a good laxative( dihydrophenylisatin) and are often used to treat constipation. 

Prunes are known to be good anti-oxidants too.  They neutralise the damaging effects caused by oxidation and so fight against aging.  The Chinese use a drink made with prunes to counter acidity.

Prunes are rich sources of Vitamin A and therefore beneficial for eyes, skin and the immune system.  Prunes are a rich source of Magnesium, which is a vital mineral needed in the body. Perhaps because of their rich magnesium content, they are also known to help in prevention of bone loss in post-menopausal women.

Prunes are rich sources of dietary fibre as well. Pectin, the soluble dietary fibre found in prunes helps lower blood cholesterol levels.

So what are you waiting for, go grab a box of prunes or better still buy some ripened plums and dry them naturally!

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, healthy eating, healthy living, High Cholesterol, natural cure, natural cure for heart ailments

The mineral Magnesium is vital to proper functioning of the human body.  It is important for proper metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fat. Some 50-60% of magnesium present in our bodies is in bones and teeth, the rest being in musles, tissues and organs. Small amount of magnesium is also present in blood.

Why does our body need Magnesium?

• To convert blood sugar into energy
• In potassium, calcium, phosphorous and sodium metabolism
• To counter stress
• To activate over 400 enzymatic activities in our body

Healthy levels of magnesium in our body are vital for:

• strong bones and strong teeth – apart from being a vital component of bones and teeth, it also helps assimilate calcium into them
• relaxing muscles and thus helping in cases of musular spasms/ muscle contractions
• regulating body temperature
• a healthy heart
• lowering high blood pressure levels
• lowering high blood sugar levels – hence beneficial for diabetics
• protein metabolism
• digestion, energy production in the body
• smooth functioning of the nervous system – hence relieves anxiety, stress, irritability and mild depression

What are the dietary sources of Magnesium?

Magnesium is found in whole, non-processed foods like whole grains, legumes, wheat germ and pumpkin seeds. Baked or jacket potatoes, corn, bran, soyabean, radishes, almonds, apples, bananas,  pink grapefruit, pomegranate, lychees, milk and milk products are other rich dietary sources of this mineral. Green leafy vegetables are also considered a good source of magnesium.

For normal functioning of muscles, nerves and digestion ensure that your diet includes the above in good quantities.

Tags: healthy eating, natural cure, natural health

Do you wake up in the mornings feeling stiff and tired? Try these simple tips to wake up to a fresh you in the mornings.

• Sleep early: While it may sound improbable given your hectic schedule, try and hit the bed by 10pm. It is believed that the sleep that you get from 10pm to 12am is more effective than what you get when you sleep later than that.
• Ensure 8 hours of sleep: While a lot of people can do with 6 hours of sleep, experts say an 8 hours sleep is what the body needs. 
• Have a glass of hot milk before retiring to bed.
• Right posture: Its important to have the right sleeping posture that ensures good blood circulation. Improper posture can impair blood circulation and therefore a build up of lactic acid, hence causing stiffness. Some experts believe that sleeping on a side, specifically in a foetal posture is good for the body.
• Stretch: Try some light stretching exercises in the morning to stretch and loosen the stiff muscles.

Tags: Natural healing, natural health

Lemon has a special place in home remedies. And it carries a special meaning for those of us living in hot climes. A glass of Nimbu Pani (lemonade) is all you want after a day out on a hot summer day. Lemon has significant therapeutic properties and finds use in a wide variety of treatments, some of which I have tried to list below.

As a cooler

• Lemon makes for a refreshing drink in summers. It cools the body and lemonade with a pinch of salt helps replenish body salts lost due to heat.
• Lemonade with salt & sugar is recommended in loose motions.
• Sweet lemonade is recommended in fever.
• Essential oil of lemons is used for cooling.
• Its essence also finds use in soaps, body washes and deodorants to convey a “cooling effect”.

For the skin

• Lemon acts as a natural bleach. Applying lemon juice on face regularly brings glow to the face.
• Because of its high Vitamin C content, lemon helps ward off scurvy.
• Used with glycerine, it works as a good moisturiser.

As a cleanser

• Rubbing the inside of a rind of lemon on elbows and knees cleanses them.
• Lemon rinds have long been used for cleaning brass and copper utensils.

For healing

• Lemon has antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
• Lemon juice creates a soothing effect when applied on insect bites and stings.
• Lemon taken with honey, ground black pepper, crushed cardamom and hot water helps heal sore throat.

In detox

• Lemon, because of its acidic nature, cleanses the system. It acts as a blood purifier and helps the body get rid of toxins.
• Lemon strengthens the immune system of the body and helps protect against infections.
• Its high potassium content makes it useful for brain and nerve cells, and safer for those with heart troubles.
• Lemon taken with warm water and honey, on an empty stomach early in the morning, is known to assist in weight-loss.
• Lemon detox diets, which consist of fresh lemon juice, water, cayenne pepper and maple syrup are known to help cleanse the body of toxins and thus help lose weight quickly while improving general health and well being.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, benefits of lemon, lemon in ayurveda, Natural detox, Natural healing, natural health

Are you spending thousands of bucks on those oh-so-attractively packaged anti-ageing creams that claim to have potent combinations of aloe, gold, diamonds, sea weeds and what have you! May be they work, may be they don’t. May be they’ll suit your skin, may be they won’t. May be you can spend thousands every month on these creams and botox, may be you can’t. But if you fall in the latter category and yet, like everyone else, want to keep the glow in your skin, try one of these natural anti-ageing treatments.

• Plant an aloe plant at home and use its juice as a face pack.
• Apply a swab of almond oil under your eyes every night.
• Mix 3 tsps of almond oil with 1 tsp each of apricot oil and soya oil. Massage your face and neck with this mixture. Take a face towel and dip it in warm water. Squeeze and spread on your face. Keep for 10-15 minutes, after which you can wipe the extra oil off your face and neck.

Tags: ayurveda, healthy living, Natural detox, natural health