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

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

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

There are times when our hair feels lifeless, dull and limp. While sometimes, all that is needed is a good wash and conditioning to get the bounce and shine back, there are times when we need to look at the root causes and work on a more elaborate regimen to get healthy hair.

Stress, pollution, over exposure to intense heat, constipation, chronic cold are only some of the causes that can make your hair limp and lifeless. If you find any of these afflicting you, ACT…de-stress, cover your head when you are out in the heat and pollution, try some easy to use home remedies for constipation or get expert help for your common cold. Include Kapalbhat pranayam in your daily morning exercise regimen. Kapalhati pranayam not just eliminates toxins from the body but also helps purify the brain’s frontal area and thus helps in improving blood circulation to the roots of the hair on the scalp. And in that sense, it also helps hair fall and reduces graying of hair. 

Pay attention to your diet. The health of your hair depends on the general health of your body. A good protein rich diet will ensure healthy hair. Iron rich diet will help the problem of hair fall. Try and include amla soup or juice in your diet daily. The vitamin C content of amla aids in general health as well as arrests premature greying.

Gently massage coconut oil or mustard oil once a week (you could increase or decrease frequency based on your hair type). Keep for half an hour and then wash off. Oil massage nourishes the hair roots and gives shine to the hair.

Soak amla, curry leaves, neem leaves, reetha and shikakai in hot water, preferably in an iron vessel. Leave overnight. Strain, add henna and apply on the hair. Leave for half an hour and then wash off. Do note that if you leave this on your hair for longer periods, henna might impart a reddish tinge to your hair. 

Massage onion juice on the scalp – its said to boost hair growth.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, healthy hair, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

Problems of the digestive tract lie at the heart of a number of diseases. Thats because when the digestive system is flawed, the body does not receive proper nutrients to ensure proper functioning. Good digestion ensures a healthy body. There are some simple things you can include in your food that will aid digestion. Having certain fruits and adding some simple ingredients to your meals while preparing them can keep digestive problems at bay. For example, papaya is considered a wonder fruit when it comes to be used as a home remedy for digestion. The fruit of Papaya contains a natural digestive enzyme. The pulp of the fruit is high in fibre and so even helps in bowel movement. Papaya is rich in Vitamin C and E and aids protein digestion. 

Bananas: help digestion and are considered a wonder food for those suffering from ulcers. Bananas because of their bland taste neutralise the acids in the stomach and are hence favored in acidity. Their soft texture coats the stomach lining and protects it from high acidity of gastic juices. 

Bananas being rich in pectin which is water absorbent, helps regulate colonic activity and aids in constipation. On the other hand, ripe bananas when mashed with some salt are said to cure dysentry.

Caution: Bananas are rich in potassium and should be avoided by those with kidney disorders.

Peppermint: We all know peppermint has a cooling, calming effect. It works much the same way in our stomach too. It relaxes the stomach muscles and aids in flow of bile juices which digest fats. And so peppermint helps in digestion.

Lemon: because of its anti-bacterial, antiseptic properties prevents the build up of harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. Fresh lemon juice taken with a pinch of salt acts as an appetizer and also gets the digestive juices flowing. 

Avoid ice-cold water with food. Cold water when taken with or after meals slows down the digestion. Infact if you can, avoid drinking water altogether with meals. If you must have, then prefer lukewarm water or at least that at room temperature.

Herbal tea: The Chinese tend to have herbal tea after a meal as they believe it helps digestion.

Probiotics: There are several probiotic options available in the market today – probiotic curd, probiotic milk, probiotic ice-cream. It is said that probiotics, which are essentially live bacteria or yeasts aid in digestion. They are also said to reduce generation of toxins and cancerous compunds in the intestines.

Exercise:  Lack of physical exercise slows down general body metabolism, thus affecting digestion. Try and build an exercise routine though avoid going for a walk immediately after a meal. 

Food ingredients:

Certain foods like beans, pulses are difficult to digest and as such adding a pinch of asofoetida, some garlic or ginger when preparing these dishes, helps in better digestion.

Prevention is better than cure. Avoid eating too much too fast. It helps to have a number of small meals than to skip a meal and have two king-sized ones. It also helps to go easy at dinner and have a good hearty breakfast. Most of us, ironically tend to do the opposite. We have a light breakfast when our body needs a lot of energy to get us going through the day. And take a hearty supper when ideally we should be doing good with lesser load on the stomach. 

It is also advisable to have your supper two to three hours before retiring to bed. Chew each bite properly and don’t gulp food down even if you are getting late for that appointment! 

Avoid having too many nuts as they can cause a feeling of bloatedness.

And if you are already suffering from indigestion, skip a meal or have something very light. Drink a lot of water or fresh lime juice with rock salt or have a banana, whatever suits your body type and system better. And sometimes, remember, it just helps to throw up!

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, healthy eating, healthy living, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

Got this simple Home Remedy for common cold from a fellow tweeter(camellia_).

Called Salabat, this is a Filipino home remedy involving brown sugar, boiled water and ginger. Camellia shares instructions on how to prepare this remedy for cold on her blog. Try it out and see how it works for you!

I think we have something similar in Ayurveda that uses honey and lemon juice (instead of brown sugar) with boiled water and ginger. But Camellia’s remedy sounds easier to make…good for the lazy ones amongst us and that includes me…

Thanks for sharing buddy!

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, common cold cure, home remedy for cold, natural cure, 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

• Mix some gram flour with grated potato. Use it as a soap substitute.
• Use powdered oats mixed with sandalwood powder and your favorite aroma oil to get a fresh feeling.
• Mix a mashed banana with some milk, honey and yogurt. Apply and leave for a few minutes. Wash off, preferably with lukewarm water. This paste works wonder for the skin, though some may find it a bit sticky. 

Tags: ayurveda, healthy living, natural health

Corns and calluses are often caused by pressure due to wearing improper shoes. Corns are small and round areas of dead skin that form on the bony areas of toes. Calluses, on the other hand, are dead skin areas that develop on the balls or the heels of the feet. To treat corns and calluses at home, try these:

• Apply lemon juice to the affected area.
• Apply onion juice on the corn.
• Apply castor oil on the corn or callus.
• Tie a moist tea bag on the corn. Keep for half an hour. Do this daily till corn peels off.
• Wear shoes that are comfortable, have padded insoles and fit nicely.
• If your feet have high arches, use arch supports.
• Take a  cotton ball and dip it in vinegar. Squeeze and remove extra vinegar. Keep over corn overnight or till the cotton ball is dry. Repeat.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, cure for corns, home made remedy for bruise, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health