ayurvedic tips

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~~~ Ayurvedic Tips ~~~ How to drink water Ayurvedic way to drink water:

1) First off, sit down to drink (just as you should sit down to eat). 2) Take sips, not full-glass chugs. Small sip, swallow, breathe. Repeat. 3) Sip water throughout the day. If you chug too much water at once your body doesnt actually absorb all

of it. Most of it will run right through you.

4) Drink at least room temperature water. Warm is even better. Cold and iced water literally douse the digestive fire.

5) Only sip a small amount of water with your meals. If you drink too much while you eat, your belly wont have enough room for digestive action. Remember this rule: fill your stomach 50% with food, 25% with water, and leave 25% empty for the digestive juices and process.

6) For the same reason, dont drink loads of water before or after your meals. Fill 50% with food, 25% with water, and leave 25% empty.

7) Drink when youre thirsty. Thirst is a natural urge that should be heeded. It means your body needs water.

8) As far as how much, were all different sizes with varied diets and lifestyles. One set rule of eight glasses a day simply cannot apply to everyone. Naturally, the miraculous human body has its own built-in measuring system: thirst. If youre thirsty, drink water. When you listen to thirst cues and sip water throughout the day youll be drinking the right amount.

9) Your urine is a secondary confirmation to know if youre amply hydrated. It should be fairly clear and straw coloured. If its dark yellow you need to drink more.

10) Your lips are yet another indicator. If theyre dry you might be dehydrated. The rules are so straightforward, perhaps even obvious or intuitive. But they might make a serious difference in the way you feel on a daily basis. Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which slows digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

How to eat food Ayurveda gives us upayoga samstha: the art of eating. Here are the guidelines: 1) Eat when your food is warm. It shouldnt be too hot or too cold. Warm food ensures we dont snuff out the agni (digestive fire) and makes for good digestion.


2) Eat freshly cooked food. Fresh food is full of prana (life force) and nutrients. These start to diminish soon after its cooked. By the time its a leftover, the properties have changed and its heavy for the body to digest. Cooking every single meal may not be realistic but at least try to avoid food thats been cooked more than 24 hours before. 3) Eat the right quantity of food. Overeating leads to indigestion and undereating leads to loss of strength. Theres no standard amount thats right for everyone because were all different sizes and have different needs. Find your right amount by filling your belly 50 percent with food, 25 percent with liquids and leave 25 percent empty for digestive action. 4) Chew your food thoroughly and eat at a moderate pace. Digestion starts in the mouth. Chewing your food properly makes it easier for the rest of the system to process. 5) Wait until the previous meal is digested before eating again. Ayurveda says that feeding the system too soon is a major cause of ill health. How to know if youre food is digested? You should feel light, enthusiastic, hungry, and thirsty. 6) Eat around the same time each day. The body thrives on routine. The digestive system does well when it can expect its meals at a certain hour. Its prepared and ready for action. 7) Eat when youre hungry. Hunger (meaning true hunger, not the munchies) is a natural urge that should not be suppressed. Once youve got an eating routine going, youll find that youre hungry when its meal time and wont crave snacks. Listen to your bodys hunger cues when given. 8) Never eat when youre upset. Wholesome food will lose its wholesomeness in the digestive tract if its eaten with a negative state of mind. If youre upset, angry or crying, postpone eating until you feel better. 9) Eat in a quiet, settled atmosphere. A calm environment promotes a calm mind. And the state of mind has a direct impact on the physical body and the process of digestion. 10) Always sit down to eat. Try your best not to eat in the car, while walking or even while standing. The body doesnt want to multitask when youre eating. Sitting ensures that all your energy is given to digestion. 11) Concentrate on your food. When you give it your full attention it will taste better, youll enjoy it more and youll be less tempted to overeat because youll notice those cues of satiation. Avoid distractions like eating in front of the TV, reading or working. 12) Sit for a few minutes after each meal. Dont eat and run. Just be still for a little while to let your digestive system do its thing. These guidelines are simple but make a big difference. When you choose seasonal, local, organic foods appropriate for your body and eat them in the right manner, your body can process the food the way its supposed to.


How to eat fruit We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit. What's the correct way to eat fruit? IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON ANEMPTY STOMACH. Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.. FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so. In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat! Greying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all of these will NOT happen if you eat fruit on an empty stomach. There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight. When you need to drink fruit juice, drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste... Cooking destroys all of the vitamins. Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look! Kiwi: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fibre. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

Eating 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.


Watermelon: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene(the cancer-fighting oxidant). Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C & Potassium.

Guava & papaya: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

How to chew Why is it important for me to consciously chew my food? Improper chewing can lead to many problems in the body, such as: Gas/ Bloating Indigestion/ Heartburn Poor absorption Underactive Stomach/ Low HCl Overeating The Rhythm and Pulse of Digestion The pace at which we chew sets the rhythm for the rest of our digestion. If we just shovel food into our mouths and get it down the hatch as quickly as we can, this trend will continue right through our whole digestive tract. If our food is passing quickly through our digestive tract, there is less time for our system to absorb the nutrients present in our food. The rhythm, in the case of our digestive system, is called peristalsis. Peristalsis is initiated once the food from your mouth starts to move towards your stomach from the esophagus to the anus. This rhythmic movement mixes food with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes ensuring maximum surface area of food is exposed to enzymes so that food is broken down. When food moves slowly through the intestines it has a good transit time for nutrients to be absorbed. Ever notice that you have a pulse in your belly? Well that is blood flow to absorb nutrients from your food. Starting at the mouth, without chewing, it would be nearly, if not, impossible to swallow. It is the initial method of breaking down our food. Carbohydrates are digested primarily in the mouth. Salivary amylase is produced in the mouth and is the primary enzyme of carbohydrate break down. The more we can mechanically break down our food in our mouth, the easier it is for our stomach to break down the food. Lets remember our poor stomach has no teeth. The stomach is a firey acidic environment where food is churned and broken down. It has very little to do with carbohydrate digestion (so it was a good thing you chewed and produced lots of saliva!). Undigested carbohydrates are the source of fuel for bad bacteria in our gut that create the uncomfortable side-effects of gas production. The more efficiently food is chewed and mixed with saliva the less likely you are to experience gas and bloating. Chewing stimulates the production of HCl, and without that protein digestion could not occur. Our immune system depends on the acidity of HCl to kill many of the pathogens we ingest before they can make us sick. Then food moves through the small intestine where fat digestion occurs and most nutrients are absorbed. If food was chewed properly there is a low chance of gas production or support for Candida overgrowth since the carbohydrates are already broken down. Enzymes upon enzymes are produced by the liver, pancreas and cells of the intestines to break food into smaller and smaller pieces until they can be transported to the blood stream.


The large intestine is where bacteria will degrade any leftover food; usually fibre. Their by-products are B vitamins, Vitamin K, and other immune supporting molecules. Remember that if you didnt chew your food properly a by-product can be Gas! Water is absorbed from food and any garbage that needs to be eliminated is done so with the Beat and the Pulse of our digestion: Peristalsis. Proper chewing helps to prevent overeating. If we take our food in faster than our stomach can talk to our brain, the stomach will not be able to communicate it is full until after it is too full! Taking the time to slow down and enjoy a meal will provide a greater sense of satiety. Also, having food in our mouths longer helps us to realize the quality of food going down the hatch. Often, foods we think we enjoy dont seem as desirable once they are chewed thoroughly, particularly in the case of processed foods and foods with synthetic flavours and/or colours. It is important to remember food is one of lifes greatest gifts. We can enjoy food every day! Try to enjoy chewing 30 50 times per bite. Sometimes it helps to put the fork/spoon/chopsticks down between bites. Try to really taste your food. Enjoy it and let it nourish you.

General Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Life Dietary measures: No fried, spicy, bakery, synthetic or processed food. No heavy foodstuffs i.e. take light, easily digestible food. Avoid refined flour (maida) prefer wheat flour with husk Avoid eating stale and leftover food, as it is the biggest source of oxidants Reduce excess of cold, heavy, oily, sweet, sour and salty food. No ice creams, cold or iced drinks, packed fruit juices, junk food or preserved food. Do not eat fruits just after meals. Do not drink water just before/after meals; take a little amount of water with food if required. Take it 1

to 1and1/2 hours after having meals. Drink lots of warm water to purify entire body Avoid overeating as well as under eating Do not skip meals because it can aggravate the liver and bile secretions. And do not eat if you dont feel

hungry, and if it is during meals time you can have fruits or water. Avoid tea or coffee as much possible especially after meals. In between meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), do not take anything except water, fresh fruit juices,

fruits, lemon water/shikanji. Do not eat food too quickly; chew it properly. Avoid swimming, running, stair climbing and sex just after having food (any physical activity). Do not divide your attention by reading, watching TV, working while eating food. At meals, eat until you are about full. Have your last meal at least 2 hrs before going to bed Regular daily elimination is must. Life style measures: Early to bed and early to rise goes long way in keeping one fit. Go to bed by 10:00 pm. Avoid intense

entertainment before going to bed Exercise on daily basis is necessary. Dont overdo - exercise only 50% of your capacity. A brisk walk is beneficial for everyone Learn and practice some technique of reducing everyday stress like reiki, pranayam, sudarshan kriya,

meditations etc. Walk a mile after dinner Be careful about the hygiene of your body Have a positive attitude


Calming music may reduce restlessness; boosts brain chemicals and improves behavior. Always stay active, physically as well as mentally Avoid extremes of temperatures A warm oil scalp massage, once or twice a week, stimulates the scalp and helps balance the mind. A full body massage is good for everyone If your job is sedentary, take short breaks and regular walks. Engage your brain continuously in some sort of mental activities to keep it working well. Recommended daily routine: (in the following sequence) Walk for 20-30 minutes after dinner. Drink at least 300ml of warm water an hour after dinner. Do not

take anything after this (this will help in cleansing digestive tract). This habit will make your mornings more fresh and energetic.

Wake up early in the morning in BrahmaMuhurtta (between 4:00 to 6:00 am). After gargling drink 300 ml of warm water before going to the toilet.

After brushing, massage any DantManjan (herbal gum powder) mixed with mustard oil. Massage it gently over teeth and gums and after 3-5 minutes of application spit and wash it thoroughly. This is a must if you want your teeth and gums to stay healthy for the rest of your life. You can repeat this process after dinner also

A full body massage (of mustard/olive/sesame oil) at least thrice a week is beneficial Do some stretching Asanas like Tadasana, Tiryaka Tadasana and Kati Chakrasana). Go for a brisk

walk for at least 30 minutes. Do Shavasana for 5-10 minutes and after that do some Pranayam like Nadi-Shodhana, Kapalbhati, Anulom-Vilom etc in any comfortable asana like Sukhasana or Padmasana

Have bath with lukewarm water. Breakfast options - Sprouts, Fruits, Dalia (sweet/salty), Upma, Poha, Dhokla, Idli-Sambhar or Porridge

(halwa). Take herbal tea or green tea or Kashmiri tea (kahwa) along with.

Lunch and Dinner - have light and easy to digest food. Avoid spicy, fried and sour food. Do not sleep immediately after taking meals.

In Between meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), do not take anything except water, fresh fruit juices, fruits, lemon water/shikanji

7 Things you should know before taking Ayurvedic medicine If your Ayurvedic doctor has prescribed you any Ayurvedic medicine, it is better if you know following facts, beforehand. These are based on Ayurvedic textual reference blended with my own experience in Ayurvedic clinical practice. 1) If not specified by the doctor, the usual time to take kashayam is before food. 2) If not specified by the doctor, the usual time to take Asavas and Arishtas is after food. 3) If not specified by the doctor, the usual time to take Guggulu tablets is after food. 4) Time to take Chyawanprash is in the morning, before / after food, with half a glass of milk. 5) Jar containing Churnam, opened once, should be completed (or discarded) within 6 months. 6) Jar containing Ayurvedic gulikas (or tablets) should be completed (or discarded) within 1 year. 7) If you have purchased any kashaya, it is always better to shake it well, before it is consumed.


What are curds? How to make curds? Curds are one of the common kitchen ingredients, used in various curds recipe. Ayurvedic books have explained different types of curds, how to make curds etc in detail. What are curds? A curd is a dairy product. A curd is prepared from milk. Curds have their own special health benefits. How to make curds? During evening time, take 500 ml of boiled and cooled milk in a vessel. Take previously made curds two spoons. Add this to the milk and keep it for one night. Next day morning, curds are ready. If you do not have two spoons of curds, pre-hand, then you can add one spoon of lemon juice to half a

glass of milk. Then milk curdles. Use this curdled milk two table spoons to the 500 ml of milk during evening and keep it for one night. Curds will be ready next day morning.

If you wish the curds to be sour, then add about three to four table spoons of curds to 500 ml of milk. Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine explains curds benefits based on different types of curds. These types are explained as per the taste and method of production. If used wisely curds can be an excellent Ayurvedic home remedy for many health conditions. General curd benefits: Curd has: o Amla rasa sour taste o Amla paka undergoes sour taste conversion after digestion o Grahi - absorbent, useful in diarrhoea, o Guru heavy to digest o Ushna hot in nature o Vatajit balances Vata o Increases Meda (fat), Shukra (semen), Bala (strength), Kapha, Raktapitta (bleeding disorders), Agni

(digestion strength) and shotha (inflammation). o Rochishnu increases taste Useful in: o Aruchau useful in anorexia o Vishamajwara chronic, recurrent fever o Peenasa rhinitis o Mutrakruchra dysuria o Grahani malabsorption syndrome Types of curds according to Ayurveda: Thick curds Sweet curds Sweet-sour curds Sour curds Very sour curds. But the sweetness or the sourness of the curds depends on

How old is the curds Older the curds, more the sourness. Amount of curds added to the milk during making curds.


Chemically or microscopically there might not be much difference in these types of curds. But according to Ayurveda, different tastes have different effects over the body. Ayurveda considers the physical nature as well as the chemical nature of any food or herbs. Curds benefits based on types: Thick curds (semi formed curds): This type of curd is not fully formed and does not has any particular

taste. It is not good for consumption. It causes Tridosha imbalance and ill-health.

Sweet curds: It is the sweet and thick curds. It increases body fat and Kapha Dosha. It calms Vata and Kapha. Useful in certain blood and Pitta related diseases. It is a natural aphrodisiac.

Sweet-sour curds: Its qualities are similar to that of sweet curds. Sour curds: It increases digestive fire, hot in nature and increases Pitta and Kapha. Very sour curds: It also increases digestive fire, hot in nature and increases Vata and Pitta. A few other types of curds and their benefits:

Curds prepared from goats milk are an excellent remedy to balance Tridosha. Used in respiratory conditions and to improve digestion.

Curds prepared from Buffalo milk takes a long time for digestion. Increases Kapha and calms Vata and Pitta. It is a natural aphrodisiac.

Curds prepared from fat-free milk are a natural coolant. Improves taste and digestive power. It is useful in digestive problems.

Curds mixed with sugar are an excellent thirst reliever. So also curds mixed with jaggery. It is also an aphrodisiac. It is good for those who wish to become fat. Overall, sweet curds are cold in nature and sour curds are hot in nature and improve appetite. Note: Curds with sugar, on a daily basis are contra indicated, in healthy people for long term use. In disease conditions involving excessive thirst, emaciated and persons seeking aphrodisiac treatment, curds with jaggery or sugar is indicated as part of the treatment. Interesting Ayurvedic facts about Curds: Curd should not be heated. It loses its properties due to heating. It is best to avoid curd in people with obesity, Kapha disorders, bleeding disorders and inflammatory conditions. Sour curds: Sour curds should be avoided if you have gastritis. Curds is sour in taste, hot in potency, is heavy to digest (takes a longer period to undergo digestion). It increases fat, strength, kapha, pitta, digestive power. Whenever there is swelling or inflammation, if curds are taken, it worsens the inflammation. Note that these properties are attributed to sour curds. Sour curd should not be consumed by making it hot (ushna). Curds should not be consumed during night (nishi), It should also not be consumed during spring and summer seasons. However, sour curds mixed with soup of green gram, honey, ghee, sugar and amla is helpful in relieving Dysurea (difficulty in urination) and indigestion.


Curd consumption at night? Can You Take Curd At Night? Curd At Night - Ayurveda explains curd as having sour mixed sweet property and it increase Kapha dosha in the body. The mucus generation is also attributed to the effect of Kapha. During night period, there is natural predominance of Kapha in the body. So, curd consumption at night will further increase Kapha leading to many complications. This is quite similar to exposing yourself to hot Sun in the afternoon hours, which is not recommended, because, afternoon period is naturally Pitta predominant period and sun exposure also increases Pitta. Solution: Avoid consuming curd at night because night is basically Kapha predominant period. If at all you are accustomed to take curd at night, I know that old habits die-hard. So, mix a small pinch of pepper powder to curds and consume. (Do not add too much. It may cause burning sensation). You may also try adding fenugreek powder if you can tolerate a slight tinge of bitterness. (But this superb combination will relieve all kinds of stomach pain generated due to indigestion). Mixing sugar and drinking curd at night is a strict no-no. Buttermilk is best substitute to curds at night. Buttermilk clears the channel and chucks mucus secretion.

Buttermilk benefits Ayurvedic explanation Buttermilk is one of the widely used diet article, in Ayurvedic treatment. Buttermilk is called as Takra in Sanskrit. Ayurveda uses buttermilk both to maintain health and to treat diseases. Buttermilk is easy to digest, has astringent and sour tastes and is hot in nature. Buttermilk improves digestion and mitigates kapha and vata. In Ayurvedic treatment, it is useful in the treatment of inflammation, digestive disorders, gastro intestinal disorders, lack of appetite, spleen disorders and anaemia. Buttermilk is home remedy for haemorrhoids. Buttermilk is highly beneficial during winter, in indigestion and in Vata imbalance related disorders. It is given in cases of excessive ghee consumption. How to make buttermilk from milk: 1) First you need to prepare curds from milk. 2) Take 400 ml of curds. Add 100 ml of water to it. churn the curds just for one to two minutes. You can

churn it in a bottle / jar / mixer. 3) This 100:25 = curds:water ratio buttermilk is the most widely used type of buttermilk. There are a few

other types of butter milk.

Lassi recipe to ward off gas and bloating: 1 cup room temperature water 1/4 fresh homemade yogurt 1 pinch ground ginger 1 pinch ground cumin 1 pinch ground coriander 1 pinch salt Blend yogurt by itself on low for 3-5 minutes. Then add cold water to yogurt. Blend again on low for 3-5 minutes. Collect and discard the fatty foam on top. Repeat blending and remove further fatty foam if yogurt still seems thick or solid white (should appear watery but cloudy in colour when finished). Add the three spices/herbs and stir by hand briefly, just enough to mix the spices evenly. Serve at room temperature.


Digestive Lassi: Blend to taste: 1 part cold yogurt 3 parts water Pinches of ginger, cumin, salt and black pepper Types of buttermilk and benefits: Full cream buttermilk: Full cream buttermilk added with sugar calms Vata and Pitta. Very nourishing

in nature. It is similar to curds in qualities. Curds are prepared from milk with cream. Such curd is churned without adding any water.

No cream buttermilk: It calms Kapha and Pitta. It is good for people with diabetes. Curds are prepared from milk devoid of cream. Such curd is churned without adding any water.

Buttermilk: Qualities are explained above. Half water buttermilk: Improves strength and digestive power. Take 100 ml curds add 50 ml of water

and churn it to get half water buttermilk.

No fat buttermilk: Calms Pitta, natural coolant, relieves tiredness, calms Vata and Kapha. Churn curds till it becomes butter. Remove butter. The remaining watery part is no fat buttermilk. It is also commonly used as buttermilk.

According to Ayurveda, Curd at night is contra indicated. During night, curd is substituted with buttermilk. Buttermilk contra indication: Since Buttermilk is hot in nature, it is to be avoided - during summer, - in persons with injury - in debilitated persons - person suffering from giddiness, and in diseases related to Pitta imbalance. Important points: 1) Buttermilk at night is recommended in all seasons except for summer. Because it may increase body

heat. In Pitta imbalance diseases, buttermilk is not recommended at night. For healthy people, except for summer, buttermilk is the dairy product of choice at night.

2) Sour curds are hotter. Sweet curds are almost a coolant. Plain fat-less buttermilk is hot in nature. Curd is not dry, but buttermilk is a bit dry.

3) Buttermilk is to be avoided in summer 4) Sourness of buttermilk increases Pitta. Fat in buttermilk increases Kapha and astringent taste of

buttermilk increases Pitta. Water is a natural coolant. It calms Pitta. Hence, different combinations of water-fat ratio are explained in case of buttermilk.

How to make paneer? Making paneer is very easy. Take 500 ml of milk. Boil it. While it is still hot, add lemon juice extracted from half a lemon (or vinegar). Keep on adding lemon juice till the solid and liquid layer are visibly separate. Tie the solid part in a cloth (preferably cheesecloth) and drain out all the water. Usually it is tied in cloth and left hung till all the water is drained out. Then it is pressed so that no water is left in the solid mass.


While it is still wrapped in cloth, keep it in a clean place. Put a heavy stone or any heavy object on it for 2 -3 hours. Remove it and slice it to small cubes. Paneer is done. Paneer benefits: It is rich in protein and fat. Ideal for those seeking weight gain. Calms Vata and increases Kapha May worsen indigestion Ideally to be taken only during morning or afternoon hours. To be avoided at night. Those who cannot avoid it, can take it after processing with spices like ginger, pepper etc, in lunch. Who should avoid paneer: People with high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis During indigestion Those who wish to diet While having respiratory problems, infection cough and cold and asthma Students who are preparing for examinations, because light food is ideal for them, rather than a heavy-to-digest food like paneer recipe.

Night food is very important. Watch what you eat at night. According to Ayurveda, night food is one thing that you need to be very careful about, if you are really serious about your health. Light night food is highly recommended both by Ayurveda and the modern science. One of my usual recommendations will always include a list of food to avoid at night. If we divide a day into three equal parts, the last part is dominated by Kapha, naturally. So, in this period, the food that we eat should balance Kapha and should not increase Kapha dosha. Foods to avoid During night, oily food, junk food, sweets, chocolates, heavy-to-digest food, non vegetarian food, cold or frozen food, ice creams, large quantity of food, curd, etc foods should be avoided or taken in very little quantities. These are the food to avoid eating at night. If these foods are taken, then it increases kapha leading to complications such as running nose during morning, worsening of cough and cold, allergies, excessive weight gain, excessive salivation during morning, worsening of vomiting, indigestion etc. Over a period of time, it causes toxic substance accumulation to cause further complications. So the persons suffering with all these should definitely avoid the above mentioned food articles. In many cases it is found that this simple diet adjustment alone cures or improves many of the respiratory conditions. Diet plan for night healthy low carb diet, which is easy to digest, are preferred during night. Curd at night is to be replaced with butter milk. Chapattis are better than rice. The quantity of food should be limited. Curry leaves, dal, turmeric, small quantities of ginger, etc are good to have at night. The rule of thumb is the food that you take should make your stomach feel light. You should not get a sense of heaviness. Generally during sleep, we require less energy. So, if we eat in large quantities at night, most of the energy produced out of the food is stored in the body, causing fat deposition and weight gain. Hence, modern science also recommends one to follow light diet during night.


Ayurvedas List of Incompatible Foods: Things that Dont Go Together. Food can be poison or it can be medicine - it all depends on what we eat and when we eat it. The concept of incompatible food combinations in Ayurveda (called virudh aahar) took a while for me to grasp and incorporate into my own diet. Incompatible foods are everywhere: in restaurants, on cooking shows, and even cookbooks are rife with these unhealthy combos. Foods may be incompatible because they create a negative reaction in the body, generate additional water in the body (called kleda) that can lead to skin conditions, block the bodys channels, contribute to heart disease or simply lead to indigestion. And certain foods may be incompatible because they are simply not right for a particular season. When it comes to a seasonal diet, balancing the doshas that tend to increase or get aggravated during that time of year is key. So eating chillies in the summer is not recommended as the added heat will lead to pitta disturbances like rashes, cold sores, acne, and heartburn. Allergies can stem from eating ice cream, iced drinks, pickled/fermented foods, and incompatible food combinations, especially in the spring when kapha dosha is highest. Heres a short list of incompatible foods: - Milk with meat - Salt and milk - Cheese and fruit - Fruit with milk - Stale food (including leftovers) - Fish with yogurt or milk - Milk and yogurt in excess - Excessive intake of wet, green, leafy veggies (like spinach) or salads - Excessive amounts of pickled or fermented foods - Ice cream at night - Improper seasonal diet Milk I cringe when I see yogurt and fruit packaged together or smoothies that mix milk and fruit. Not because I dont think those things are delicious. They are! Seriously. However, according to Ayurveda, milk and melons (or any fruit for that matter) are not to be consumed together because milk is a laxative and melon a diuretic. Also, the fruit is digested very quickly and milk takes longer for the body to process. During that processing time, the fruit curdles the milk potentially creating a sour stomach and lots of acidity. Milk should not be eaten with fish as the two foods are incompatible: milk is cold and fish is heating. Combining the two vitiates the blood and causes obstruction of the bodys channels (called srotas). Salt and milk together is another combination that should be avoided due to antagonistic qualities in the two. Banana should not be eaten with milk, curds, or buttermilk because the combination can diminish digestion and produce toxins in the body. Eating this combination can lead to cold, cough, and allergies. Curds (yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese) are ideal to eat in winter, but should not be consumed at night. According to Ayurvedic text Caraka-Samhita (sutra 225-227), curd is generally discarded in autumn, summer, and spring.


When you do eat curds, enjoy them at lunch when your digestion is strongest. Curds can cause swelling and aggravate blood (rakta), pitta, and kapha. Cheese can take a long time to digest and can cause constipation so those with weak digestion should avoid cheese and yogurt consumption no matter what the season. Takra, also called buttermilk, is a good alternative. To prepare a spring takra, mix 1/4 cup organic whole milk yogurt, 3/4 cup room temperature water and whisk briskly, add a pinch of rock salt and a dash of cumin. This light beverage is digestive and great to drink before a meal. (Skip it at night or if you have a cold.) Cold Drinks Avoid cold or iced drinks during or directly after a meal. The cold diminishes digestive power (called agni) and causes a host of digestive problems, allergies, and colds. (The same goes for ice cream and frozen yogurt.) Raw and Cooked Leftovers Its best to avoid leftovers if you can. Food loses its vital energy after a night in the fridge and gets slimy and heavy, too. If you do eat leftovers on occasion, saut them in ghee and black pepper. Dont mix leftovers with fresh food either. Honey Always use raw, uncooked honey. Baking with honey or heating it in general turns it into a sticky glue that clogs the bodys channels and produces toxins. This includes having honey in your tea or drinking something hot after eating honey. Dont mix equal quantities ghee and honey as they have opposite reactions in the bodyhoney has a heating, drying, scraping action, whereas ghee has a cooling, moisturizing quality. When eating ghee and honey together, mix in a larger quantity of one or the other.


The Three Doshas Vata: Quality Sleep Supple Skin Proper Elimination Vata governs all movement in the mind and body. It controls blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. Since Pitta and Kapha cannot move without it, Vata is considered the leader of the three Ayurvedic Principles in the body. It's very important to keep Vata in good balance. If Vata dosha predominates, movement and change are characteristic of your nature. You will tend to always be on the go, with an energetic and creative mind. As long as Vata is in balance, you will be lively and enthusiastic, with a lean body. Physical Characteristics: Those with a predominance of Vata dosha are usually have a thin, light frame and excellent agility. Their energy comes in bursts, and they are likely to experience sudden bouts of fatigue. Vatas typically have dry skin and hair and cold hands and feet. They sleep lightly and their digestion can be sensitive. When the Vata dosha becomes imbalanced, it manifests in the body as weight loss, constipation, hypertension, arthritis, weakness, restlessness, and digestive challenges. Emotional Characteristics: Vatas love excitement and new experiences. They are quick to anger but also to forgive. When Vatas are in balance, they are energetic, creative, and flexible. They also take initiative and are lively conversationalists. When unbalanced, they are prone to worry and anxiousness and often suffer from insomnia. When they feel overwhelmed or stressed, their response is, What did I do wrong? Do you need to balance Vata? Vata dosha governs flow and motion in the body. Answer these questions to see if you need to balance Vata. Is your skin dry, rough, thin? Are you underweight? Is your mind constantly in a whirl? Do you worry incessantly? Are you constantly restless or agitated? Do you experience constipation? Do you suffer from insomnia? Do you suffer from vaginal dryness? Do you have spells of forgetfulness? Do you experience discomfort in the joints? Are you easily fatigued? If you answered yes to most of these questions, you need to balance Vata. If excessive stress in your life leads to your Vata force becoming imbalanced, your activity will start to feel out of control. Your mind may race, contributing to anxiety and insomnia. You may start skipping meals, resulting in unintended weight loss, and your digestion may become irregular. If you notice these early symptoms of a Vata imbalance, slow down, take time to meditate, dont skip meals, and get to bed earlier. A regular lifestyle routine helps ground Vata so you are not carried away into the ethers. Tips for Balancing Vata


Abhyanga (daily ayurvedic massage with sesame oil) Warm temperatures. Stay warm in cold, windy weather. Avoid becoming chilled. Wear adequate

clothing appropriate for the season and keep your head covered when the weather is cold.

Warm, cooked foods (less raw foods) Favour warm, oily, heavy foods and sweet, sour, and salty tastes Reduce light, dry, cold foods and pungent, bitter and astringent tastes Regular daily routine Avoid stimulants Regular, daily elimination Early bedtime, lots of rest. To balance Vata, make choices that bring warmth, stability, and consistency

to your life. Try to get to bed before 10pm, awaken by 6am, and eat your meals at regular times.

They experience periods of high energy, but they also tire easily. Light exercise that enhances balance and flexibility is best for a Vata body type. Take care not to push yourself too far and exceed the limits of your energy. Beneficial activities for Vatas include: yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, walking and short hikes, light bicycling, light tennis, golf, dance, and aerobics.

Fresh ginger root is beneficial and can be used frequently. During the cool weather, sip ginger tea throughout the day.

Vata-Pacifying Diet Eat larger quantities of food, but not more than you can digest easily. Cook your food for easy digestion. Dairy. All dairy products pacify Vata. Always boil milk before you drink it, and drink it warm. Milk is

easier to digest when warm or heated. Don't drink milk with a full meal. Soft non-aged cheeses (such as ricotta, paneer, cream cheese)

Sweeteners. All sweeteners are good (in moderation) for pacifying Vata. Keep your sweets to a minimum and use low-fat milk products.

Grains. Rice and wheat are very good. Reduce intake of barley, corn, millet, buckwheat, rye and oats. Fruits. Favour sweet, sour, or heavy fruits, such as oranges, bananas, avocados, grapes, cherries,

peaches, melons, berries, plums, pineapples, mangos and papayas. Reduce dry or light fruits such as apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, and dried fruits.

Vegetables. Beets, cucumbers, carrots, asparagus and sweet potatoes are good. They should be cooked, not raw. The following vegetables are acceptable in moderate quantities if they are cooked, especially with Ghee or oil and Vata reducing spices: peas, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, zucchini and sweet potatoes. Sprouts and cabbage tend to produce gas and should be minimized.

Spices. Cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves, mustard seed and small quantities of black pepper are acceptable.

All nuts are good. Beans. Reduce all beans, except for tofu and mung dal. Oils. All oils reduce Vata. Fats and oils are beneficial in the digestive system and help reduce Vata. Use

up to 3 teaspoons daily of ghee or extra virgin olive oil.

Vata Governs

o Prana Vata: The senses, creative thinking, reasoning, enthusiasm, leader of all 15 categories of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.


o Udana Vata: Quality of voice, memory, movements of thought. o Samana Vata: Movement of food through digestive tract. o Apana Vata: Elimination of wastes, sexual function, menstrual cycle. o Vyana Vata: Blood flow, heart rhythm, perspiration, sense of touch.

Vata out of Balance

o Prana Vata: Worries, overactive mind, sleep problems, difficulty breathing. o Udana Vata: Dry coughs, sore throats, earaches, general fatigue. o Samana Vata: Slow or rapid digestion, gas, intestinal cramps, poor assimilation, weak tissues. o Apana Vata: Intestinal cramps, menstrual problems, lower back pain, irregularity, diarrhoea,

constipation, gas. o Vyana Vata: Dry or rough skin, nervousness, shakiness, poor blood flow, stress-related problems.

Ayurvedic Diet: Khichdi for Vatas Ingredients: 1 cup Basmati Rice 2 cups Mung Dal 7 cups water salt 1 tsp ginger root 2 tbsp ghee 2 tsp mustard seeds 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 tsp fennel seeds 2 tsp cumin powder 2 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp coriander powder 1 Asafoetida 1/3 cup zucchini 1/3 cup asparagus 1/3 cup squash Directions: Wash the lentils and rice separately in at least 2 changes of water. Place aside. In a medium-sized pot, saut all the seeds in the ghee until they pop on medium/high heat. Then reduce the heat and add the other powdered spices and ginger for a few seconds. Add the mung dal and salt. Saut for 1 or 2 minutes. Add boiling water. Bring the entire mixture to boil and then simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until the dahl is about 2/3 cooked. Now cut the vegetables into small pieces. Add the rice and vegetables to the lentils. Stir, adding extra water if required. Bring back to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is fully cooked. Cook until there is minimal water remaining, leaving the lid on the pot. Note: An alternative to cooking on a stove top is to add all of the ingredients to a crock-pot and allow to slowly simmer over 6 hours. Saut the spices in ghee separately and add them to the entire mixture in the crockpot.


Dietary Guidelines for Vata NOTE: Guidelines provided in this table are general. Specific adjustments for individual requirements may need to be made, e.g., food allergies, strength of agni, season of the year and degree of dosha predominance or aggravation. *okay in moderation, ** okay rarely Before making any changes to your diet, it is recommended that you check with your physician. This ayurvedic dietary guide is educational and is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. FRUITS -- Yes Generally most sweet fruit

FRUITS -- No Generally most dried fruit

VEGETABLES -- Yes In general vegetables should be cooked

VEGETABLES -- No Generally frozen, raw or dried vegetables

Applesauce Apricots Avocado Bananas Berries Cherries Coconut Dates (fresh) Figs (fresh) Grapefruit Grapes Kiwi Lemons Limes Mangoes Melons Oranges Papaya Peaches Pineapple Plums Prunes (soaked) Raisins (soaked) Rhubarb Strawberries Tamarind

Apples (raw) Cranberries Dates (dry) Figs (dry) Pears Pomegranate Raisins (dry) Prunes (dry) Watermelon

Asparagus Beets Cabbage (cooked) Carrots Cauliflower* Cilantro Cucumber Daikon radish* Fennel (anise) Garlic Green beans Green chillies Jerusalem Artichoke* Leafy greens* Leeks Lettuce* Mustard greens* Okra Olives, black Onions (cooked)* Parsley* Parsnip Peas (cooked) Potatoes, sweet Pumpkin Radishes (cooked) Rutabaga Spaghetti squash Spinach (cooked)* Spinach (raw)*

Artichoke Beet greens* Bitter melon Broccoli Brussels sprouts Burdock root Cabbage (raw) Cauliflower (raw) Celery Corn (fresh)** Dandelion greens Eggplant Horseradish** Kale Kohlrabi Olives, green Onions, raw Peppers, sweet & hot Potatoes, white Prickley pear fruit (fruit & leaves) Radish (raw) Tomatoes (cooked)** Turnips Wheat grass sprouts


Pitta: Balanced Temper Healthy Hair Decreased Acid Pitta governs all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. It controls how we digest foods, how we metabolize our sensory perceptions, and how we discriminate between right and wrong. Pitta governs the important digestive "Agnis" or fires of the body. Do you need to balance Pitta? Pitta dosha governs metabolism and transformation in the body. Answer these questions to see if you need to balance Pitta. Do you tend to be demanding or critical? Are you often frustrated, angry or intense? Is your skin ruddy and prone to rashes and eruptions? Are you often irritable or impatient? Is your hair prematurely gray or thinning? Do you wake up in the early hours and find it difficult to fall asleep again? Do you feel discomfort in hot weather? Are you a perfectionist? Do you experience hot flashes? Do you have excess stomach acid? Do you experience loose bowel movements? If you answered yes to most of these questions, you need to balance Pitta. Tips for Balancing Pitta Keep cool. Avoid hot temperatures and food. Favour cool, heavy, dry foods and sweet, bitter and astringent tastes. Reduce pungent, sour, salty tastes and warm, oily and light foods. Moderation, don't overwork. Allow for leisure time. Regular mealtimes, especially lunch at noon. Abhyanga (ayurvedic oil massage) with a cooling oil such as coconut. Pitta-Pacifying Diet Dairy. Milk, butter and Ghee are good for pacifying Pitta. Reduce yogurt, cheese, sour cream and

cultured buttermilk (their sour tastes aggravate Pitta).

Sweeteners. All sweeteners are good except honey and molasses. Oils. Olive, sunflower and coconut oils are best. Reduce sesame, almond and corn oil, all of which

increase Pitta.

Fruits. Favour sweet fruits, such as grapes, cherries, melons, avocados, coconuts, pomegranates, mangos, and sweet, fully-ripened oranges, pineapples and plums. Reduce sour fruits such as grapefruits, olives, papayas, and unripe pineapples and plums.

Vegetables. Favour asparagus, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, okra, lettuce, green beans and zucchini. Reduce hot peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, radishes and spinach. Spices. Cinnamon, coriander, cardamom and fennel are all right. But the following spices strongly increase Pitta and should be taken only in small amounts: ginger, cumin, black pepper, fenugreek, clove, celery seed, salt and mustard seed. Chili peppers and cayenne should be avoided.


Pitta Governs

o Alochaka Pitta: Functioning of the eyes. o Bhrajaka Pitta: Healthy glow of the skin. o Sadhaka Pitta: Desire, drive, decisiveness, spirituality. o Pachaka Pitta: Digestion, assimilation, metabolism for healthy nutrients and tissues. o Ranjaka Pitta: Healthy, toxin-free blood.

Pitta out of Balance

o Alochaka Pitta: Blood shot eyes, poor vision. o Bhrajaka Pitta: Skin rashes, acne. o Sadhaka Pitta: Demanding, perfectionist, workaholic. o Pachaka Pitta Acid stomach. o Ranjaka Pitta: Early greying, anger, toxins in blood.

Dietary Guidelines for Pitta NOTE:Guidelines provided in this table are general. Specific adjustments for individual requirements may need to be made, e.g., food allergies, strength of agni, season of the year and degree of dosha predominance or aggravation. *okay in moderation, ** okay rarely Before making any changes to your diet, it is recommended that you check with your physician. This ayurvedic dietary guide is educational and is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. FRUITS -- Yes Generally most sweet fruit

FRUITS -- No Generally most sour fruit

VEGETABLES -- Yes Generally most sweet & bitter vegetables

VEGETABLES -- No Generally most pungent vegetables

Apples (sweet) Apricots (sweet) Avocado Berries (sweet) Cherries (sweet) Coconut Dates Figs Grapes (red & purple) Limes* Mangoes (ripe) Melons Oranges (sweet) Papaya* Pears Pineapple (sweet) Pomegranates Prunes Raisins Watermelon

Apples (sour) Apricots (sour) Bananas Berries (sour) Cherries (sour) Cranberries Grapefruit Grapes (green) Kiwi** Lemons Mangos (green) Oranges (sour) Peaches Persimmons Pineapple (sour) Plums (sour) Rhubarb Strawberries Tamarind

Artichoke Beets (cooked) Bitter Melon Broccoli Brussel Sprouts Cabbage Carrots (cooked) Carrots (raw)* Cauliflower Celery Cilantro Cucumber Dandelion Greens Fennel (anise) Green Beans Jerusalem Artichoke Kale Leafy Greens Leeks (cooked) Lettuce Okra Olives, black Onions (cooked) Parsley

Beet Greens Beets (raw) Burdock Root Corn (fresh)** Daikon Radish Eggplant** Garlic Green Chillies Horseradish Kohlrabi** Leeks (raw) Mustard Greens Olives, green Onions (raw) Peppers (hot) Prickley Pear (fruit) Radishes (raw) Spinach (cooked)** Tomatoes Turnip Greens Turnips


Parsnips Peas Peppers (sweet) Potatoes, sweet and white

Kapha: Corrected Weight Increased Energy Decreased Congestion Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body. It controls weight, growth, lubrication for the joints and lungs, and formation of all the seven tissues -- nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues. Do you need to balance Kapha? Kapha dosha governs structure and fluid balance in the body. Answer these questions to see if you need to balance Kapha. Do you tend to be overweight? Are you often over-settled and lethargic? Do you experience sinus problems? Do you sleep long hours yet wake up unrefreshed? Are your skin and hair oily? Do you find that you are possessive and over-attached? Do you feel discomfort in cold damp weather? Do you feel lazy, complacent? Do you experience bloating, water retention? Do you feel stiff and heavy, especially in the morning? Do you experience congestion? If you answered yes to most of these questions, you need to balance Kapha. Tips for Balancing Kapha Vigorous regular exercise, a little each day. Warm temperatures. Fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes. Favor pungent, bitter, astringent tastes and light, dry and warm foods. Reduce heavy, oily, cold foods and sweet, sour and salty tastes. Seek out variety and new experiences. Stay warm in cold, damp weather. Early to bed, early to rise. Kapha-Pacifying Diet Dairy. Low-fat milk is better. Always boil milk before you drink it -- which makes it easier to digest --

and take it warm. Do not take milk with a full meal or with sour or salty food. You might add one or two pinches or turmeric or ginger to whole milk before boiling it to help reduce any Kapha-increasing qualities in the milk.

Fruit. Lighter fruits, such as apples and pears, are better. Reduce heavy or sour fruits, such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, figs, dates, avocados, coconuts and melons, as these fruits increase Kapha.

Sweeteners. Honey is excellent for reducing Kapha. Reduce sugar products, as these increase Kapha.


All beans are fine, except tofu. Reduce all nuts. Grains. Most grains are fine, especially barley and millet. Do not take too much wheat or rice, as they

increase Kapha.

Spices. All are fine, except for salt. It increases Kapha. Vegetables. All are fine, except tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and zucchini. They all increase

Kapha.

Kapha Governs

o Tarpaka Kapha: Moisture for nose, mouth, eyes and brain. o Bhodaka Kapha: Sense of taste, which is essential for good digestion. o Kledaka Kapha: Moisture of the stomach lining for good digestion. o Avalambaka Kapha: Protects the heart, strong muscles, healthy lungs. o Sleshaka Kapha: Lubrication of the joints, soft and supple skin.

Kapha out of Balance

o Tarpaka Kapha: Sinus congestion, poor sense of smell. o Bhodaka Kapha: Poor sense of taste, food cravings due to lack of fulfilment. o Kledaka Kapha: Impaired digestion, poor absorption. o Avalambaka Kapha: Lethargy, respiratory problems, lower back pain. o Sleshaka Kapha: Weight gain, oily skin, loose or painful joints.


Dietary Guidelines for Kapha NOTE: Guidelines provided in this table are general. Specific adjustments for individual requirements may need to be made, e.g., food allergies, strength of agni, season of the year and degree of dosha predominance or aggravation. *okay in moderation, ** okay rarely Before making any changes to your diet, it is recommended that you check with your physician. This ayurvedic dietary guide is educational and is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. FRUITS -- Yes Generally most astringent fruit

FRUITS -- No Generally most sweet & sour fruit

VEGETABLES -- Yes In general most pungent & bitter vegetables

VEGETABLES -- No In general, sweet & juicy vegetables

Apples Applesauce Apricots Berries Cherries Cranberries Figs (dry) Grapes* Lemons* Limes* Peaches Pears Persimmons Pomegranates Prunes Raisins Strawberries

Avocado Bananas Coconut Dates Figs (fresh) Grapefruit Kiwi Mangoes** Melons Oranges Papaya Pineapple Plums Rhubarb Tamarind Watermelon

Artichoke Asparagus Beet greens Beets Bitter Melon Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Burdock Root Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cilantro Corn Daikon Radish Dandelion Greens Eggplant Fennel (anise) Garlic Green beans Green chilies Horseradish Jerusalem Artichokes Kale Kohlrabi Leafy Greens Leeks Lettuce Mustard Greens Okra Onions

Olives, black or green Parsnips** Potatoes, sweet Squash, winter Taro Root Tomatoes (raw) Zucchini


What does your poo reveal about you? What comes out of your body can say a lot about what's happening inside it? So just what is poo? Poo is made up of water, fibre, bacteria, bile and sloughed-off cells from the inside of your intestinal tract. Although some people find bowel habits a source of embarrassment, studying your movements can give you useful insights into your wellbeing. After all, a healthy digestive system is the basis for good health. Your faeces are a veritable treasure trove of information and are far too valuable to flush down the loo without a second glance. The perfect poo The perfect poo is about the size and shape of a banana, not too hard nor too soft. Normal pooing frequency is three times a week to three times a day. However, most people feel their best with one or two nicely formed bowel movements each day. The colour should vary between Mission Brown (hard to forget if you were around in the 1970s) and burnished bronze. Here is a guide to some poos you may have had. Dj Poo Seeing pieces of undigested food in your poo is cause for concern. Either you have not chewed your food well enough or your digestive system is in need of support. The exception to this rule is the odd kernel of corn or piece of tomato skin that can be devilishly difficult to digest. If you have undigested food in your poo, slow down when you eat and chew each mouthful at least 10 times before swallowing. If you still have issues, take a digestive enzyme with each meal. Pebbly Poo If your poo looks like that of a sheep, goat or, worse, a guinea pig, it is generally a sign you hold stress in your bowel. A stressed poo may exit like a log but falls apart in the toilet bowl into small pebbles. Learn how to breathe deep into your belly, relaxing the muscles of the bowel wall. Take a magnesium supplement daily. Magnesium helps relax muscles, including the muscle that lines the bowel. Stress-relieving herbs include passionflower, valerian, zizyphus and St Johns wort. Floaters and Sinkers Perhaps the most controversial topic in the world of poo is that of floaters and sinkers. Floaters are preferable to sinkers. A floating poo is a sign your diet is high in fibre. The fibre attracts bacteria, which create gas, and this allows the poo to rise in the water. If your poo sinks, eat more wholegrains such as rolled oats and brown rice, and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and baked beans, and increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Darth vader poo A dark poo can indicate you have eaten a lot of spinach or you are taking iron supplements. It can also be a sign of constipation. However, a dark poo can indicate more serious health problems, such as bleeding in the bowel. By the time the blood has travelled down the digestive tract, the iron has oxidised and darkened. A black, tarry poo may indicate blood loss further up the digestive tract and is a sign you should visit your doctor. Slime city Visible mucus that resembles a gel on your poo or on the toilet paper may be a sign of inflammation. The digestive tract is lined with mucous membranes that secrete mucus which allows for the easy passage of poo.


In general, you should not be able to see the mucus. If you do, it may indicate inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the bowel. This could be a sign of infection, gluten sensitivity or an inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis. Slippery elm powder is a gentle demulcent fibre that helps reduce inflammation in the bowel. If you still see mucus, see a doctor. Skid mark poo The poo that leaves indelible skid marks on the toilet bowel and is sticky, smelly and difficult to flush is a sign there is fat in your poo. The skid mark poo may also be khaki, a colour that may be de rigeur on safari but is not a good look for poo. There is a chance your gall bladder or liver are in trouble. Drink some lemon juice in hot water each morning and give alcohol a miss. Transit time Transit time is the length of time your poo takes to travel out of your body. What is the correct amount of time for the voyage? Bowel length varies considerably from person to person and this influences transit time. The average transit time in Western countries is between 18 and 36 hours, whereas in people eating less refined diets with more fibre, transit time is 12 to 18 hours. How can you tell your transit time? Eating a cup of grated raw beetroot and a handful of sesame or sunflower seeds, without chewing them, and noticing when the last remnants have been excreted, will give you an approximation of your own personal transit time.


Dry Brushing Garshana Massage Garshana Massage (abhyanga) assists in mobilizing and removing excess kapha dosha. It is ideal for those of Kapha constitution, but anyone will benefit. It is traditionally done with dry, raw silk or may be performed with a dry bath brush or with a loofah. I prefer using the bath brush of natural bristles. There are numerous benefits to adding this massage into your daily routine. Here are a few of the advantages you will gain: The skin is the main eliminative organ of the body. The sweat glands are constantly releasing bodily impurities. If your pores are blocked with old, dead skin cells, this process is greatly reduced. Doing Garshana Massage will exfoliate the dead cells. With this exfoliation comes a clearer, healthier complexion. Your skin will look younger and livelier. You will be able to absorb more of the health giving properties of the oils that you apply. It will increase circulation and facilitate your body processing fat and cellulite. It will improve lymphatic circulation and drainage.


HOW TO PERFORM THE MASSAGE The Garshana Massage is done on a dry body before your shower. If you desire, you may do the oil abhyanga after you have completed the dry garshana. Then take your shower. If you are accustomed to performing the oil abhyanga, then you know that massage uses strokes going away from the heart (hip to foot). Garshana is done in the reverse - foot to hip. This is one of the reasons that it is a lymphatic massage. Using either a bath brush, raw silk gloves, or a loofah, begin at the soles of your feet with quick back and forth movements. At first, you may use a light pressure. As your skin becomes familiar with the massage, you may increase your pressure. Make circular movements on your joints and up & down movements on your long bones. Continue with these strokes up your leg. Pay particular attention to areas that have extra fat or cellulite. Do your abdomen with horizontal and diagonal strokes. Be gentle over your chest. Continue with your hands, forearms, and upper arms. If you use a natural bristle bath brush, purchase one with a long handle. This will facilitate a complete cleansing of your back. Keep this brush just for your dry massage - do not use it in the bath.

Hot water bath or cold water bath? The choice between hot water bath and cold water bath can make or break your health. The choice between these two is subjective. The choice needs to be made considering various points such as age, body constitution, season, the age-old practice, habit, disease condition etc. Here is a description about how to make that choice. How to choose between hot and cold water for bath? What Ayurveda says? As a general rule, Ayurveda advises to use hot water for the body and cold water bath for head. Ayurveda opines that having hot water head bath is bad for eyes and hair. Based on Body type: If you are of Pitta body type, then it is better to use cold water for bath rather than hot water. If you are of Kapha or Vata body type, then it is better to use hot water rather. Based on disease: For patients with Pitta diseases such as liver disorders, indigestion, burning sensation etc, cold water bath is good. For patients with kapha disorders such respiratory diseases, allergies, cough, cold, etc and for Vata disease such as joint pains, foot pain, arthritis, etc, hot water bath is preferable. For patients of epilepsy, it is better to avoid both hot and cold water bath. Luke warm water is good for them for bathing. Based on age: For young children and for people of old age, hot water is good. For youngsters cold water is good. For students, who wish to dedicate more time for studies, with limited sleeping hours and increased alertness, cold water bath early in the morning is beneficial, provided they do not have any health complaints.


Season: Hot water during winter and cold water during summer is good. Time in the day: If in the morning, cold water is fine, but if you take bath in the night, after a tiresome day, nothing is as refreshing as a hot water bath. The evening time is dominated by Vata, hence hot water is beneficial. Habits: If you exercise regularly, then hot water is preferable. If you are habituated with daily oil massage (which indeed is a very good habit), then taking bath after half an hour of the oil massage is really good. A few of the practitioners advise to take alternative hot and cold water baths, which is very fine. Irrespective of above rules, or any other rules that exists, if you are accustomed for hot or cold water, over a period of time, then it is the natural choice of your body and that is good for you. A quick tip: For good skin health, add a few leaves of neem, a little sandal wood to the water and leave it for a while and take bath.

How And When To Apply Hair Oil? Ayurveda Details Applying oil to hair is one of the ways to improve hair strength and hair quality as per Ayurvedic principles. Apart from improving hair qualities, applying hair oil also has other benefits such as sleep improvement, calmness of mind, remedy for headache etc. Based on the desired effects, the time and method of application of hair oil changes. How and when to apply hair oil to improve quality of hair? If you wish to improve the quality of hair, to promote hair growth, to prevent early grey hairs, and split hairs, etc, it is better to apply hair oil at night and take warm water head bath on the next day morning. Suppose you are taking head bath twice in a week, according to this rule, you may apply hair oil, twice a week, on the nights before the head bath day. Applying hair oil on the day, after bath is not desirable because, the oil may attract dust over the hairs, when you go out in the sun. But if you are at home only and love applying hair oil during day, only a minimum quantity of one teaspoon is sufficient. Apply directly to hair roots. For the purpose of hair growth, the oil can be applied to the hair root, scalp and to the length of hair. Some people heat the oil in water bath, before application, which is perfectly fine, provided it is only mild heat. People with headache, red coloured rashes on the scalp, people with pitta imbalance should not opt for hot oil hair treatment.


If you are accustomed to apply hair oil daily, then a little quantity of hair oil can be applied daily in the morning. As a general rule, it is better not to expose hair to direct sunlight or dust, especially after applying hair oil. How and when to apply hair oil for dandruff - If you are using hair oil particularly for dandruff or for scalp conditions, if the oil is processed with neem and other herbs having bitter odour, then it can be applied half to one hour before head bath. Hot water head bath is helpful. The oil can directly be applied to hair roots and the whole of scalp. Oil to relieve headache - If your Ayurvedic doctor has advised oil for headache, then it makes sense to apply the hair oil in the evening time, around 5 6 pm because, usually the headache is associated with Vata. If we divide a day into three parts, last part is dominated with Vata. Hence, when the Vata is just getting the dominance, it makes sense to apply the oil for headache. Hair oil for a good night sleep - Hair oil for a good night sleep is better to apply after food at night. It will be better to do a gentle massage over head after hair oil application. Coconut oil for people with cold and sinusitis - Hair oils with coconut oil base may worsen sinusitis and cold in a few. If still you wish to enjoy benefits of coconut oil, take 100 ml of the oil, add 5 grams of pepper powder to it and heat it in mild heat for five minutes and filter the oil when it is still hot. Use this oil for applying to hair.

Sesame and Sesame Oil Benefits Used parts: Sesame seed, oil and whole plant. The whole plant is used in the preparation of special Ayurvedic medicine called Tila Kshara. Sesame oil composition: Sesame is rich in Vitamin E. Hence acts as a natural antioxidant. It also contains Vitamin K. Sesame contains magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B6. Sesame benefits: Ayurveda details: Master Charaka Of all the varieties of oil, sesame oil is best for improving strength and imparting oiliness to the body. (Charaka sutrasthana 13th chapter). Master Sushruta enlists Ayurvedic properties of Sesame with the following terms. All these terms can be attributed to sesame seed benefits or benefits of sesame oil. - Dantya - Good for teeth. Hence sesame is used in three ways for good teeth. Advised for chewing. Its paste is kept at the place of tooth ache. sesame oil is used for oil pulling. In conditions like tingling of the teeth, weak teeth, and disease of the mouth caused by Vata imbalance, water mixed with sesame seed paste is held in the mouth for 3 5 minutes. It is called as Gandusha treatment. Pathya - One of the things to be taken regularly. Hence sesame oil is one of the widely used oil for cooking in the Indian household.


Agni janana Improves digestive power. Medha janana Improves intelligence. Vranashodhana Cleanses wounds. Sesame is made into the form of paste is traditionally applied over wounds for quick wound healing. Sesame oil is used for oil pulling to heal mouth ulcers. Sesame oil is processed with many herbs having wound healing property to prepare wound healing oils. Twachya, Balya, Keshya Improves the quality of skin and hair. Improves overall strength. If you ever wish to do a massage with some oil, please consider sesame oil. Sesame oil is used as the base for most of the herbal oils. Sesame calms Vata and increases Kapha and Pitta. Sesame oil is an excellent laxative. Sesame oil is an excellent skin moisturizer and skin softener. Sesame oil is a safe oil for massage of babies and children. It helps to strengthen the bones, muscles and joints. Sesame oil is used for massage, Shirodhara, etc procedures which help to calm the mind and induce deep relaxation and helps to have natural sleep and relieves headache. Various uses of sesame Sesame oil is used in Ayurveda for food preparation, massage, oil pulling. Sesame oil is used as a base to prepare many medicated oils which are used in panchakarma procedures like Basti. Sesame paste is used for internal administration and also for application over wound. Oil prepared with Sesame oil base is used for nasal installation, as ear drops etc. Sesame seeds are used in various food recipes. A simple tip: If you use sesame oil for massage, better to follow it up with hot water bath. It helps to calm Vata, and also to get rid of oil from skin. The gap between the massage and bath can be half an hour to many hours. Longer the gap, better the effect.

How To Make Hair Oil At Home With Amla Amla oil is a very effective hair oil for most of the hair problems. It also helps to relieve headache, dizziness and other Pitta related symptoms. Here is a traditional Ayurvedic way of preparing Amla hair oil. How to make amla hair oil at home? What you need: Amla powder 250 grams + 100 grams Water 4 liters Coconut oil 500 ml Why coconut oil? Most of the Ayurvedic oils are prepared with sesame oil base. But for hair, coconut oil is a better choice because of high nutritive value. But people with sinusitis, cold problem may not tolerate coconut oil. They may use sesame oil / mustard oil in place of coconut oil. Procedure: 1) First Amla kashayam is prepared. Kashayam means water decoction.


Add 250 grams of amla powder to 4 litres of water and boil and reduce to 1 litre. The rules for making Kashayam like maintaining low flame, continuous stirring, using a wide mouthed vessel etc. After the decoction is boiled and reduced to 1 litre, the liquid is filtered to get Kashayam.

2) Take the Kashayam in a wide mouthed vessel. 3) Take 100 grams of amla powder in a small bowl; add a little water to it to make it into Amla paste. 4) Add this amla paste and add 500 ml of coconut oil to the amla kashayam. 5) Heat this mixture of oil, Amla kashayam and Amla paste in mild heat till only the coconut oil remains. Signs to observe: Initially the whole mass turns into muddy. Slowly as water starts evaporating, the oil starts getting separated. The liquid starts getting clearer.

Initially the water bubbles will be visible. At the end stage, when water is completely evaporated, the bubbles stop and frothing sets in. Indicating to stop the oil heating.

Initially if you take the amla paste from the oil and put it onto fire, it makes noise, indicating the presence of water.

When the water is completely evaporated, there will not be any noise, when amla paste is put on fire.

It may take upto 3 hours to complete the procedure.

After when you are sure about complete loss of water, stop heating and filter it when it is still hot.

You will get 400 450 ml of final yield of the oil.

Proportions to prepare 10 oz of Amla oil - If you are not familiar with grams and ml calculations, here is the calculation to prepare 10 oz of Amla hair oil. Step 1: For Kashaya preparation: Amla powder for Kashaya preparation 5 oz Water for Kashaya 80 oz Boil water with Amla powder and reduce the Kashaya to 20 oz. Step 2: Oil making Kashaya 20 oz (got from the above technique) Coconut oil 10 oz Amla powder made into paste with water 2 oz. Final product expected around 10 oz or just slightly lesser. Principle behind this procedure: This technique of making amla hair oil is based on Ayurveda principle. The Kashayam contains water soluble active phyto-nutrients of Amla and Boiling Amla powder along with Kashayam with coconut oil extracts Fat soluble phyto nutrients of Amla into the oil. Coconut oil itself is a rich source of nutrients that are required for hair care.


Benefits: Relieves split hair, dry hair problem Promotes hair growth both in men and women Relieves dandruff, nourishes the hair root and scalp. Relieves headache, dizziness Relieves nasal bleeding in children, which usually occurs due to excessive sun exposure and during summer. How is it better than market available amla hair oil? You know all the ingredients, you know the genuineness of amla powder and hence you are aware and assure of the quality of hair oil. No preservative is added. No chemical perfume is added. The product is 100 % natural. Shelf life: The oil can be stored for a period of 1 1.5 years in air tight container.

The Ayurvedic View on Drinking Milk According to ayurveda, milk provides special and unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other type of food. Milk, when digested properly, nourishes all the tissues, promotes balanced emotions, and helps to balance all the doshas. It is one of the most important foods to promote ojas. According to ayurveda, ojas is a refined substance the body produces from the most subtle level of proper digestion. Ojas brings strength, strong immunity, happiness, and contentment according to Ayurveda. Therefore milk is a very important food to include regularly in one's diet especially if you follow a vegetarian lifestyle. In order to digest milk properly, one should avoid drinking cold milk right out of the refrigerator. Milk should be brought to a boil. Allow the milk to foam up and then bring the heat down so the milk is on a slow boil for about 5 to 10 minutes. Heating the milk changes the molecular structure of the milk so it is much easier for human consumption and it reduces kapha, making it lighter to digest. While cooking it you may add a pinch of ground turmeric, a pinch of ground black pepper, a cinnamon stick, or a few pinches of ginger to reduce the heaviness of the milk and reduce any mucous causing side effect. If you have trouble digesting milk and have not consumed it for a while then it is recommended that you start again in a gradual fashion to help your body acclimate to it. Start with drinking 1/8 of a cup of the boiled milk with ginger. Then gradually increase the amount to about a cup over a ten-day period. Milk should be organic, whole and non-homogenized. Homogenized milk is very difficult to digest and can easily clog the finer channels of circulation. It is probable that milk that is not certified organic may contain rBGH. These are hormones that artificially increase milk production in the cow. The only way we know to avoid rBGH is to purchase organic milk because currently the FDA does not require labeling on milk products that may have come from cows injected with the hormone. Cow's milk is considered to be the best but raw goat milk is fine to use too. Milk should not be mixed or eaten with sour, bitter, salty, astringent, or pungent tastes. That means the old American tradition of drinking a glass of cold milk with dinner should be avoided and the milk replaced with pure drinking water or juice. When combined with incompatible tastes, milk becomes indigestible and causes the build-up of harmful toxins in the body. Meals cooked with milk and fish or meat should be avoided such as in the popular clam chowder. However, warm milk may be consumed with sweet tastes such as rice, cream of wheat, dates, mangos, and almonds. If you wish to have warm milk then it is best to wait at least one hour after you have eaten a meal.


Warm milk consumed 30 minutes before bed can aid in falling asleep or a cup of warm milk can make a good late afternoon snack that provides nourishment and energy and is also very satisfying if you are hungry or have a sweet craving. Warm milk with a little natural sweetener makes a great afternoon snack for children when they come home after school.

How To Do Water Fasting? Benefits Of Water Fasting To Lose Weight Water fasting to lose weight is the next best thing to complete fasting. It is relatively a safer method. One of the main benefits of water fasting is its effectiveness to lose weight. Here is a guide on how to do water fasting. What is water fasting? Water fasting is one of the best methods of fasting. Here, you will have no other food or drink through out the day than water. You will drink only water throughout the day. How long can water fasting be done? It can be done for many days at a stretch. But if you are new to fasting, it is better to limit fasting to only one day. If you want to do it frequently, better to do one day water fast, once in a week or a fortnight. What you need? Firm resolution Consent from your doctor A strong body and a stronger mind One day for yourself Few glasses of water How to prepare for water fasting? Consult your doctor whether you are eligible for a water fast. Have good amount of food, the night before the fasting day. Plan your fasting day well ahead for complete rest, or minimal activity. Some people get a colon cleanse. But I do not recommend it as such. [reason is explained below] How to do water fasting? On the morning of the fasting day, wake up early in the morning, have hot or cold water head bath, do prayer and pranayama. When to drink water? The basic purpose of fasting is to avoid any kind of food or drink for as long as possible. Hence even water drinking is a licensed activity in water fasting, you should drink water only when you are completely thirsty. Hot water or cold water to drink? Very hot water is best avoided. Because it increases appetite. Ideally, in the morning session of water fasting, it is best to drink lukewarm water. A few people recommend a colon cleanse before the fasting day. Colon refers to small and large intestine. The idea is to cleanse off the intestines from toxins to enjoy washing effect of water. This is not really necessary in water fasting, if you drink warm water in the morning session. Warm water itself has colon cleansing nature. It also stimulates liver and stomach. Hence if you drink warm water for initial few hours, it is just fine.


From around 11 am onwards, it is ideal to drink cold water. Because, afternoon is naturally dominated by Pitta, warm water also increases Pitta so also fasting. Hence, cold water helps for Pitta balance. What are the other activities to do? All the general activities and rules of fasting can be followed. How to end water fasting? As a general rule, any fasting should not be ended with heavy food. Light sugarless nourishing fruit juices like grape juice, apple juice are good ones to take. What are the benefits of water fasting? Stomach Helps to cleanse stomach, to rest the enzyme secretions. Intestines - Helps to cleanse intestine and entire digestive tract. In Ayurvedic terms, it helps to relieve Ama. Ama is undigested food enzyme toxin mixup generated in the stomach and intestines. Liver and pancreas - Water fasting helps to stimulate liver and pancreas. Detox It is actually a natural detox method. Kidney and bladder cleanse If you are drinking good amounts of water during fasting, it will help to flush off kidney and bladder. Water fasting to lose weight - It helps to keep hunger under check, helps to use up the stored fat in the body, while you avoid calorie intake. Water fasting, if done repeatedly over a scheduled period of time, is an awesome way to lose weight. Variations of water fasting to lose weight Often fasting is considered as a spiritual practice. If that is the case with you, then you are not supposed to take anything but water till the time the intended time period is complete. But if you are doing it just to enjoy health benefits of water fasting, try the below method - Hot water with honey - In the morning hours of fasting, take one cup of warm water with one teaspoon full of honey. Repeat it for 3 4 times, before 11 am. Honey, though sweet in taste, is a prime Ayurveda product, with weight loss benefit. Hot water with honey is one of the authentic Ayurvedic traditional weight loss recipe. Carbohydrates in the honey keeps you nourished during the fasting day. Honey also has astringent principles, which helps to check hunger. In the initial hours of water fasting, drink 2 3 doses of the hot water with honey. This will have bonus benefits to lose weight quickly.

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