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

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

Some of us continue to have acne well into our adult hood, even though we are long past our teens and even though we long gave up on binging on chocolates, fried food and spicy snacks. Adult acne is a common problem and one or more of these could be its precipitating causes:

• Stress – Bust that stress. Skin is one of the first body part to show the effects of stress. Make sure you have your to-do list ready when stress strikes. A few minutes of deep breathing and other meditation exercises in the morning can help you keep your cool during the day.
• Pollution is a common cause of adult acne – Make sure you use a good protector against pollution. Calamine acts as a good defense against pollution and is also soothing for the skin.
• Seasonal changes can cause adult acne – Well, can’t really help this one  
• Allergic reactions could also cause a break-out. For example, my daughter is sensitive to heat and standing next to a heat source makes her skin break out into a rash. Sometimes, it isn’t too difficult to figure out what is causing the allergic reaction. If you are prone to an allergy, try figuring out if there is a pattern every time your skin develops acne/rash.  Once you have identified the cause, its easy to tackle it. Well, almost! I know of a friend who underwent some allergic tests and was found to be allergic to plants. Nothing much you can do in that case unless you decide to stay indoors all the time!!
• Using wrong make-up is another big cause of a break out in adult women. What suits one person’s skin may not suit another. Its as simple as that. Make sure you do a patch test before you use it on your full face. And steer clear of any brands or products that don’t suit your skin. 
• Avoid greasy creams and lotions. Products containing lanolin, propyl myristate sodium lauryl sulphate can be too greasy for some skin types.
• Keep your face clean. Make sure you wash your face when you get back home with a good cleanser. If you use make-up remove it thoroughly before you retire to bed. Let your skin breathe.

Once you have pimples, make sure that you 

• do not keep touching the pimples.
• do not squeeze the pimples.

In terms of dietary habits,

• Drink lots of water. Can never over-emphasize this!
• Have a fibre rich diet.
• Include fruits and salads in your daily diet.
• Keep your stomach clean.
• Have some aloe juice or pulp every morning. 

You can also try some of these home remedies* for acne:

• Rub garlic paste on the pimples. Helps tackle acne scars as well.
• Mix rose water in fullers earth and apply every evening. Wash off gently when it dries.
• Mix one tsp. turmeric powder, one tsp. honey, a little bit of curd(just enough to cover your face), one tsp. lemon juice. Apply and leave on the face till it dries. Wash off.
• Take a tsp. of gram flour and add half a tsp. of turmeric powder. Make a paste with rose water. Apply on face and leave till it dries. Wash off.
• Use a paste of fenugreek (methi) leaves on your face.
• Wash acne with this leaf infusion. You can make it by boiling some finely chopped neem and guava leaves in water for 10 minutes.

* Do a patch test with these before you apply them on your face. It is common to be allergic to honey, lemon juice and other common ingredients when applied on face. A lot also depends on the condition of your skin at that time.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, fruits and health, home remedies, natural cure, Natural detox, Natural healing, natural health

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

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

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