ESSENTIAL FOODS THAT CUT DOWN FAT

To cut down fat you need not change your food pattern or introduce new things you may not feel like having. Instead look around your kitchen , there are few ingredients in the racks that ensure weight loss by cutting down fat.

Ayurveda recommends to include all tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty, astringent, pungent in at least one meal each day  This will help balance unnatural cravings. My earlier article The importance of six tastes in Ayurveda describes this.

Turmeric

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake of turmeric may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting, helping to prevent heart attack.

Garlic

It is considered that a garlic a day keeps sickness away. An effective fat-burning food, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a thermogenic herb that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. Cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently. Added in spicy dishes , desserts and in many recipes to maximize benefits.

Chillies

Foods containing chillies are said to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies. Minimize quantity intake to avoid spoiling the day.

Honey

Honey is a home remedy for obesity. Honey mobilizes the extra fat deposits in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with water early in the morning. It boost immune system and contains anti bacterial properties. Be careful to pick the natural variety when you purchase.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss. You can consume this with a little of salt and curry leaves. Relieves tiredness of the scorch heat.

Curry leaves

Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can help you lose weight. Curry leaves flush out fat and toxins, reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.

Moong dhal

The bean sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. Moong dhal is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programs, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fiber content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilizing blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.

Oatsmeal

Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber and that will reduce cholesterol significantly. It will also help flush many acids and fats out of your body. It is important to eat oatmeal without putting sugar and butter on it to make it more palatable. If you have to sweeten it, do it with fresh fruits or natural honey.

Cabbage

Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. Include it as salads or steamed side dish.

Beans

Cooked beans are very good to cut down fat. You can consume cooked beans like kidney beans, white beans. Include them with breakfast. Makes a good diet for the day. The proteins in the beans will help to burn fats. Beans are high in both fiber and protein and can help in burning down fat while delivering great energy and nutrition. Furthermore, beans are low in calories and saturated fats, though you should avoid consuming refried beans which are actually high in saturated fats.

Eggs

Eggs have a perfect balance of amino acids. These are the protein building blocks your body uses to develop muscle fibers. Eating an egg daily can assist with cutting fat. If you have high cholesterol, you can opt for egg white only.

Be cautious of the food you take . Exercise and maintain good health. You can further follow Simple ways to include Ayurveda in everyday life.

CURRY LEAVES EXCELLENT FOR SKIN AND HAIR CARE

Curry leaves are also known as sweet Neem leaves. Curry leaves are extremely popular in various culinary recipes. Indians include curry leaves  or curry powder in the recipes. Indian cooking is devoid without curry leaves . The curry leaf plant belongs to the Rutaceae family.

There are numerous benefits of curry leaves. The health benefits are many and the usage has spread across the world. Curry leaves are good for hair and skin too.

Curry leaves avoid Premature greying of hair

Youngsters both male and female suffer from premature greying of hair. External application helps hair growth and color . Eating the leaves helps in strengthening hair roots, minimizes hairfall and dandruff. To avoid premature greying of hair children should practice eating curry leaves added in food recipes .

• Heat a litre of coconut oil or sesame oil and drop 10 to 20 curry leaves into the oil. Remove from heat when it reaches boiling point. This oil is allowed to cool,  then stored in bottles and used as hair oil before bathing. Apply this oil liberally on the scalp and allow it to soak for about 15-20 minutes. Wash the hair with a mild shampoo or shikkakai powder. Follow this routine once or twice a week.
• Boil some curry leaves, hibiscus flowers, gooseberry, and basil leaves in some coconut oil and cool. Apply this oil to your scalp; leave it on for about half an hour, and then shampoo.

Curry leaves helps to Strengthen bones

The calcium content in curry leaves helps in strengthening the bones. Complementary treatment for people with osteoporosis and other similar conditions of the bone.

Curry leaves relieves skin problems and insect bites

During summer boils and eruptions appear on skin. These boils stay for a short time but are painful. To minimize the condition application of curry leaves poultice / paste gives quick relief. Can be applied on insect bites, snakebite, spots and rashes

• The Curry plants produce fruits that are green in colour when it is raw and purple when it is ripe. The juice of the berries mixed with equal proportion of Lime juice can be used for external application in Insect Stings and bites of Poisonous creatures for immediate relief.

Curry leaves has Anti fungal activity

Due to the anti-fungal activity in curry leaves , it is used to fight bad breath and gum disease.

Curry leaves fights Cancerous cells

Curry leaves help reduce the size of a tumor by fighting cancerous cells.

For a glowing skin

Grind curry leaves into a fine paste and add a little bit of turmeric to it. Apply this paste on skin that has acne for a couple of days and the result is clear and glowing skin. Curry leaves is also used as mild laxative. The juices extracted from the leaves  and other herbs are consumed with buttermilk.

Instill the practice of consuming curry leaves in your dishes. Include this in your daily diet for better health.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CURRY LEAVES

Curry leaves is an essential ingredient of Indian cooking. Curry leaves adds flavour and aroma to the cooking and the recipe is incomplete if curry leaves are not added. The Curry leaf tree (Murraya Koenigii) is native to India. Also known as sweet neem leaves.

Children often wonder why curry leaves are added in the dishes . They find this annoying and remove curry leaves prior to consuming the dishes. Children do this in ignorance. By reading this article you will remind the significance and healing properties of curry leaves.

Curry leaves have vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B2, vitamin C, calcium and iron in plenty. Curry leaf has many medicinal properties. It stimulates digestive enzymes and helps break down food more easily and therefore find a prominent place in Indian cooking. Gradually other countries have started to use Curry leaves . Oil of curry leaves can be used in the absence of fresh curry leaves. However fresh curry leaves are in demand .

Studies reveal that curry leaves consist 66.3% of Moisture, 16.0% of Carbohydrates, 6.4% of Fibre etc. The rest is made of a mixture of carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Many of these are directly responsible for the health benefits you experience.

Curry leaves treats tasteless tongue

Curry leaves can be used to treat a tasteless tongue. It also contains good amounts of amino acids. Excessive use of antibiotics, indigestion etc can result in loss of taste. The leaves tend to excite the taste buds.

• A handful of curry leaves along with ginger, salt, garlic, tamarind and chillies is ground to a fine paste. This is then mixed with hot rice. A few helpings of this mixture help arouse the taste buds. This is repeated two to three times a day till the condition improves.
• When dealing with issues like loss of appetite and tastelessness, have a remedial drink prepared by adding curry leaf paste, cumin seed powder, and black salt in a cup of buttermilk.

Curry leaves treats excessive Pitta condition

Curry leaves can relieve nausea and vomiting in the mornings  which is a symptom of excessive pitta conditions . There may be even vomiting of bile.

• Make a paste of curry leaves with ginger, fried black gram, and salt. This paste is taken with food for a couple of days. This is very effective in treating nausea and vomiting due to excessive pitta.

• Extract juice of curry leaves, squeeze a lime and add a pinch of sugar.

Curry leaves treats morning sickness during Pregnancy

During Pregnancy women experience morning sickness due to hormonal changes which makes them vomit or they have the repeated urge to vomit.

• To relieve morning sickness, take juice of 15-20 curry leaves, mixed with one teaspoon of sugar and two teaspoons of lemon juice in the morning.
• Having buttermilk mixed with a paste prepared from freshly chopped curry leaves provides relief from nausea and vomiting. This mixture relieves fatigue too.
• Soak some curry leaves in four cups of water for two hours, filter the solution and drink half a cup of the mixture three times in a day.

Curry leaves Improves eye sight…minimizes cataract

Curry leaves are also known to improve eyesight, so make sure you do not throw away the leaves while eating. Its richness in vitamin A and antioxidants may help explain its use in preventing early development of cataract. Being a good source of folic acid, the leaves can also help in absorption of iron.

• The fresh juice of curry leaves are also used as an eye treatment for certain eye disorders, especially in arresting the development of cataract.
• Traditional practitioners suffuse the fresh extract of curry leaves in the eyes of patients who suffer from bad eyesight thus helping them to prevent early development of eye disorders.

Curry leaves helps in digestion

They also help in quick digestion. Curry leaves take care of indigestion, stomach ulcers due to excessive acid secretion in stomach, diarrhea and other similar problems. It also prevents deposition of fat in various parts of the body.

• Take a handful of curry leaves, a dry red chilli and sauté them in ghee. Add a pinch of salt and pinch of tamarind to this and grind all of these to a fine paste adding water as necessary. This paste is mixed in hot rice and taken as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, diarrhea, bloated stomach etc.
• Have a glass of buttermilk mixed with a little hing (asafoetida)  and a few chopped curry leaves , after meal for good digestion.

Curry leaves has Anti-Diabetic property

This is an ideal herb for people suffering from the ill effects of diabetes. Common observation in Diabetes patients are having aches and pains in the upper and lower limbs coupled with impaired vision , they often suffer from frequent vertigo ( giddy feeling due to unsteadiness). These patients should take curry leaves at frequent intervals to overcome these problems.

• Diabetes due to heredity factors can be cured by eating ten fresh fully grown Curry leaves every morning for three months. It also helps in curing Diabetes due to Obesity due to the weight reducing properties of the leaves.
• Kashayam made of curry leaves dried in shade and powdered is a very potent remedy that helps stabilize glucose levels in a diabetic patient.
• You can control blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient by chewing and eating a couple of curry leaves along with a few pepper corns first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Curry leaves Reduce Cholesterol

Increase in cholesterol can lead to obesity, increase in blood pressure, lethargy and other ill effects. Cholesterol levels in edible oils can be reduced to a large extent by making use of a handful of curry leaves. Helps reduce blood cholesterol.

• Boil 1 kg of the cooking oil with 15-20 curry leaves and then filter. This oil can then be used in preparing food stuff. This is said to bring down cholesterol level in oils.

Curry leaves effective for Diarrhea

An excellent remedy made using curry leaves is found to be very effective in treating diarrhea.

• Finely powder 40 gm of curry leaves and 10 gm of cumin seeds and take orally. Drink a glass of warm water. A teaspoon of honey is taken after 10 minutes. This routine is continued three to four times a day.

11 RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT DIABETES NATURALLY

Diabetes is spreading all over the world. People of all ages are having diabetes. This is basically due to change in food habits, lifestyle of people at work, lack of physical labour, severe pressure of mental work and stress, fast food culture. The amount of insulin produced by pancreas is reduced in quantity , thereby leading to the increase of sugar in blood . Excess sugar gets eliminated from the body through urine. Diabetes is a life time health problem, it can be controlled by medication and dietary regulations.

There are 2 major types of diabetes mellitus: they are Insulin dependent Juvenile Diabetes Type I in which the body is unable to produce insulin and Non Insulin Dependent Adult Onset Diabetes Type II  in which the pancreas produces insulin, but it is insufficient for reducing the blood glucose to normal levels.

Best home remedies for preventing diabetes naturally as advised in Ayurveda is:

1) Consume Bitter gourd or Bitter melon known as ‘Karela’ in Hindi. You can have bitter gourd in any form raw juice or steamed with salt , onion and green chilly. It is good to reduce blood sugar levels. The blood sugar lowering action of the vegetable in the form of juice or cooked vegetable has been clearly established in both experimental and clinical studies. Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed anti-diabetic properties

2) Consume Indian black berry or black Jamun in any form. The fruit is very good to reduce sugar levels. The seeds can be dried and powdered too.

3) Fenugreek or Methi seeds  is a common home remedy for Diabetes.  Add 2 teaspoons of powdered Methi seeds in milk and consume it daily

4) Curry leaves or Kadi patta in Hindi,  taken early in the morning is also very good for reducing diabetes obtained due to heredity factors. It also cures diabetes due to obesity.

5) A spoonful of Cinnamon , Dalchini in Hindi helps reduce blood sugar levels. Cinnamon has a compound called Methylhydroxy chalcone polymer.  It helps cells absorb glucose faster and converts it to energy so your blood sugar levels remain low.

6) Kidney beans known as lobia in Hindi have a greater fiber content and are rich in carbohydrates. Soak it for few hours and then cook it. Very good to reduce blood sugar levels.

7) Use onion and garlic liberally. Both are now known to have a significant ability to lower blood sugar. You can consume few pods of garlic and few slices of onion raw for better results.

8) Amla,known as goose berryhas high vitamin C content and is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of amla juice, mixed with a cup of fresh bitter-gourd juice, taken daily for two months will secrete the pancreas and enable it to secrete insulin.

9) Quinao  (pronounced as Keen-wah) known as bathua in Hindi is also low in fat, has fiber, and is a good source for manganese which is good for carbohydrate metabolism and helps regulate blood sugars.

10) Take ten tulsi leaves, ten neem leaves and ten belpatras with a glass of water early morning on an empty stomach. It will work wonders in keeping your sugar levels under control.

11) The leaves of Jamun have power to control conversion of starch into sugar and a good example of ayurvedic cure of diabetes.

You need to combine exercise in addition to diet controls. Avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking are most advantageous for individuals with diabetes.

You can balance fruits and vegetables  with your meals. Have Broccoli, zucchini, prunes, cantaloupes, grapefruit, apples, strawberries, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, spinach.

Fats slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream so it’s important we choose the right fats. Mono-unsaturated fats may help lower your risk for increased blood sugars. The best choices to use are Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Flaxseed Oil, Omega-3 rich fatty acids (like those found in most fishes and in walnuts) and Avacados.

Preferably have wheat rava , dhalia in Hindi as porridge or upma. Good meal at dinner time.

Have multiple meals in a day in small quantities. Precaution is better than cure. Keep a watchful eye on the food you take, hygiene practices to avoid health problems later.

HOW TO CONTROL HAIR LOSS – HOME REMEDIES AND TIPS

Hair adds dimension to your personality. Black , lustrous hair is what all of us yearn for. In the recent times it is observed that hair loss is very common and people have started to be conscious on hair care.

Reasons for Hair Loss

Hair is formed in tiny pockets in the skull known as follicles. The upgrowth from follicle is called the papilla. Papilla with the help of a specific group of cells that turn amino acids into keratin, produces hair. Keratin is a type of protein that makes hair. Higher the rate of production of keratin, more will be the hair growth. The rate of production, in turn, depends on the vital nutrients supplied through the diet of a person. If vitamins and other nutrients are provided in sufficient amounts, hair grows at normal rate but if there is a deficiency of vitamins and nutrients then no protein is formed which, on the one hand, stops the growth of hair and on the other hand makes the hair weak leading to hair loss and baldness. Therefore, one of the major reasons of hair loss is deficiency of nutrients. There are some other reasons for hair loss too.

• Lack of vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium etc.
• Stress
• Prolonged Illness
• Improper or irregular cleaning of hair
• Heredity
• Pollution; environmental hazards
• Application of chemicals on hair ( hair straightening, coloring, hair dyes etc.)
• Poor blood circulation

Home Remedies for Hair Loss

The best hair loss home remedy is to have a balanced diet and to keep the hair clean with proper hair care. Massage with some oils too leads to healthy hair and improved blood circulation. Some hair is lost everyday which is a natural process of hair growth and should not be a cause of any worry. However, if someone notices an abnormal falling of hair and worse even- baldness patches- s/he must immediately start natural treatment for hair loss that includes some herbal remedies for hair loss.

• After washing hair (as far as possible hair should be washed with cool water, hot water robs hair off its natural oil), rub the scalp with fingers till you feel some warmth in your fingers as well as scalp. This activates the sebaceous glands (that secrets oil for hair growth) and also improves blood circulation preventing any further hair loss.
• Boil some dry pieces of Indian gooseberry or Amla in coconut oil. Massage your hair with this preparation. It helps in strengthening hair.
• Take some fresh leaves of Amaranth (Amaranthus or ‘Chaulai-ka-saag’) and take out their juice after grinding them. Apply this juice on your hair. It helps in hair growth and makes them soft. Take Alfalfa (Medicago sativa or ‘Jaw’), carrot and lettuce in equal quantity and make them into juice. This juice is excellent hair loss remedy.
• Wash hair with the decoction of margosa leaves or ‘Neem’. It prevents hair loss and make them more black apart from cleaning hair by killing lice and other infesting insects.
• Take 250 grams of mustard oil and sixty grams of Hennaleaves or ‘Mehndi’ and boil them till the leaves get totally burnt. Filter the oil and massage the scalp regularly with this oil. It is a very good home remedy for preventing hair loss.
• Make a paste of fenugreek seeds and water. Apply on scalp and leave for about half an hour before washing it off. Do it regularly for one month to treat hair loss.
• Take honeyand egg yolk to make a mixture of both. Massage the scalp and hair with this preparation and leave for half an hour before washing.
• Take 100 grams each of Goose berry (amla), Sapindus Mucorosai (reetha), and Acacia Concinna (shikakai) and boil them in two liters of water till the liquid remains half in quantity. Use this home made shampoo to wash your hair. It is a good herbal remedy for hair loss.
• Mix Aloe Vera with Triphala. Triphala is a herbal powder consisting of equal parts of three Indian Herbs- Amla, Bibhitaki and Haritaki. Apply this mixture to hair regularly for 3-6 months. It helps in growth of new hair.

Also follow the below mentioned procedures for improving hair growth.

1. Regular Massaging with lukewarm Oils

To stimulate the hair follicles, regular massaging of the scalp with lukewarm oil helps .Hair growth deterrents like dandruff and fungal infections can be easily cured. Regular massaging increases the blood circulation in the scalp. It is also useful for lowering anxiety or stress that is often the underlying reason for thinning of hair. It increases formation of serum and hair growth. Recommended oils for 3 to 4 times-a-week massaging schedule includes coconut oil. You can alternate this with mustard oil. Keep the oil on for at least six hours before washing it off with a mild shampoo. Other oils that can be mixed with coconut oil in trace amounts for faster results include almond oil.

2. Natural Concoctions for Preventing Hair Loss

Coconut milk is among the richest sources of tissue-nourishing, plant derivatives. It is an excellent home remedy for keeping the hair soft without depending upon chemical formulations and regenerating dead hair follicles. You can also use a concoction of coconut oil mixed with half the amount of Amla oil. Just add a tsp  of lemon juice to this mixture and you have an effective, dandruff-fighting and scalp-healing concoction that arrests receding hairline.

3. Nature’s Effective Hair-stimulating Juices

Wheatgrass juice is one of the most effective remedies against hair fall. It is known to decrease the shedding tendency of hair within a few weeks of regular intake. Aloe vera juice has a similar effect. However, aloe gel can be applied to the scalp too. This is helpful for preventing hair loss due to irritated, dry or infected scalp. After massaging the head with aloe gel, wash the hair with lukewarm water. This can be done twice, every week.

4. Very Effective Natural Therapies

You can make your own hair fall-preventing medicine at home by frying some fenugreek (methi) seeds in coconut oil. Strain this mixture and apply it in minimal amounts, rubbed gently into the hair roots. Alternatively, you can boil some henna leaves or curry leaves in mustard oil. After cooling and straining this preparation, add drops of it in your coconut oil container that you are using for regular massaging.

5. Homemade Pastes

You can wash the hair with a paste made from Neem leaves. This is particularly effective for hair loss caused due excessive build up of scalp oil or invasive skin infections. For restoring the alkaline balance of the scalp and preventing hair fall, you can follow this with washing the hair with apple cider vinegar. Other homemade pastes that can be very useful include a mixture prepared from adding honey and olive oil to some cinnamon (dalchini) powder. You can also grind hibiscus leaves to a paste and apply it to scalp. Leave it for 30 mins and wash your hair. This prevents formation of dandruff.

6. Arrest Hair Fall With your house hold preparations

Before washing your hair, apply the juice extracted from crushed coriander (dhania) leaves. You can also use a mixture of curd and gram flour (chana atta) that should be kept-on for at least an hour before bathing.