Tips to Stay cool in Hot Summer... - Part 2

Useful tips to beat the Heat.. Continued

3)   Diet : Eat cool

Take electrol twice a day. Mix it with coconut water, khus sharbat or lemonade. This will replenish minerals lost due to excessive sweating.

Have more succulent veggies that rehydrate bottle gourd, turai, pumpkin, lotus stem and the like.

Avoid heavy, deep fried stuff. They contain transfatty acids that aggravate acidity.

Adopt different cooking techniques steaming, grilling, baking and roasting. These don't need too much spices.

Use spices in moderation. If possible avoid jaiphal, cinnamon, cloves as they generate heat.

Avoid coffee as cocoa activates sweat glands further leading to dehydration.

Have poha, porridge, fruits or idli for breakfast instead of dosas and parathas. Khichdi with multi-grain dal, chaas and green chutney is a good option for lunch and dinner.

4)   Clothing : Drape right

The obvious choice of fabric for summer has to be natural ones such as cotton, linen and its derivatives such as mul, voile, or bamboo fabric.

These fabrics are woven in patterns that allow air flow. They absorb perspiration rather than cause it. Fine yarns, such as mul, dyed using natural dyes are even better for the skin.

For the evening, wear mixed fabrics 60 per cent cotton and 40 per cent silk for comfort and sheen.

Open designs allow air circulation.

5)   Beauty : Keep it fresh

Kokum sharbat is the best way to beat prickly heat from the inside.

To remove a tan, powder masoor daal and soak it in milk for an hour or half. Massage it over your body and let dry. Rub it off in circular motions. This bleaches and exfoliates your skin. 

Rice powder does the same wash and dry rice, then powder it. Soak in water for half an hour and rub over yourself. Let it dry and then rub off.

To get rid of a lice infestation, powder naphthalene balls and mix with coconut or any hair oil till it dissolves completely. Divide hair into sections and apply this tip to root. Tie up your hair and cover with a white cloth for three 3 to 4 hours. Some irritation is expected. Be careful not to touch your hair and then touch your mouth or eyes. Shampoo it off.

Put papaya pieces through a mixer and massage the pulp into your hair, section wise. Rinse after two hours to get shiny, smooth hair.

After eating a mango, massage your face with the seed for 10 minutes. The pulp will tighten, clean and moisturise your skin. Wash after 15-20 minutes.

To control over active sebaceous glands, steam your face and gently remove blackheads using a steel remover. Apply a mask of Multani mitti plus besan and turmeric, mixed with honey and rose-water. Let it dry and wash off.

Warning :

The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.

Concluded

Tips to Stay cool in Hot Summer... - Part 1

Useful tips to beat the Heat..

It's official. Experts say, the temperatures recorded last weekend  have been the highest in five years. The mercury may show no sign of dipping, but you can arm yourself with some of these very useful tips and tricks to brave the heat :

1)   Fitness : A hot workout 

Avoid dark colors while working out as they absorb heat. Wear apparel that's breathable. Give track pants a miss, wear shorts instead. Stop tying your sweat shirts around your hip, you are just trapping heat.

While Exercising, your feet sweat, so avoid wearing synthetic socks.Powder the feet with a prickly heat powder and ensure you dry your shoes after exercise.

Have a glass of water before you start as it takes time for fluids to get absorbed into the system. Ideally, you need 100 ml of water every 20 minutes of exercise.

210-220 celcius is the best temperature at which you should exercise.

Best time to get your body moving is before 8 am or just after sunset. Never exercise mid-morning when you experience the maximum effect of the sun's UV rays.

If you are working out outdoors, try and pace the intensity. 

E.g. if 20 minutes of cardio burns 400 calories, space it out to over 30 or more minutes and do not do it intensely.

Avoid steam and sauna as your normal body temperature is 370 degree C and a sauna will work adversely. 

2)   Health : Grasp ailments 

Headaches and migraines get precipitated by heat. Avoid walking in the sun or wear a hat. Avoid fermented foods  and citrus fruits.

Those who do not sweat a lot are prone to heat-related exhaustion manifested in fatigue, light-headedness, etc. At an extreme level, it leads to a heat stroke or you may be paralysed or unconscious.

Skin allergies like psoriasis too get aggravated because of dehydration.

The body is composed of 60-65 per cent water, distributed 2/3rd in the cells and 1/3rd outside them. When the body is dehydrated, the organs complain through aches and pains. At its worst, dehydration can lead to renal failure and unconsciousness.

Excess sun causes nose bleeds because of excess pressure of heat on the nostrils. Boils and sun burn are also common. 

The best way to counter them is drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and smoking. Have instant energy boosters such as honey, electrolytes or glucose.

Maintain immunity with fruits such as papaya and pineapple.

To Be Continued......

Reduce Weight by Natural Ways - Part 3

Preparation of Home Remedies

According to ayurveda home remedies are prepared in the same way and with the same purpose as other ayurvedic medicines. The main aim is to obtain the maximum therapeutic benefit while making it palatable.

Some common methods of preparing home remedies are:

Juice

The juice may be taken from the fresh leaves, flowers or stems of the herb. The part of the herb used should be crushed or ground in a mortar and pestle, to make a paste. This paste should be put in a piece of cloth and squeezed to take out the juice.

Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.

Powder

Dried herbs are used for powders. The herbs are usually dried in a cool, shady and well-ventilated place, although some herbs are dried in direct sunlight. The herbs are then ground into a fine powder and stored in a dry, airtight bottle. The powder may be taken with water, or if specified, with milk or honey.

Dosage: Half to one teaspoon twice a day

Decoction

A decoction is prepared by boiling the herb in water (ratio: 1 part herb to 16 parts water). The herbs are broken into pieces and soaked in water overnight. This mixture is then boiled until it reduces to one quarter of the original volume. It is then filtered and stored in a glass bottle.

Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day.

Infusion

Herbs are soaked in water to make an infusion (ratio: 1 part herb to 8 parts water). Hot infusions result from adding herbs to hot water, or gently heating but not boiling the mixture. This is strained and taken internally. Herbal teas are forms of hot infusions. Cold infusions are made from soaking the herb overnight. Honey can be added.

Dosage: half to one cup once or twice day.

Paste

A paste can be made from either fresh or dried herbs. The flowers, roots, stems, leaves or bark are ground and mixed with water. Pastes are mainly used for external application, in cases of cuts, burns and swellings. The paste should be thick enough to be applied in a layer to the skin.

Tablets

The herbs should be first dried separately and then mixed together in a powder form, in fixed proportions. Water or herbal juice can be added to this powder to make a paste, from which tablets of a specific size or weight are made. Tablets remain potent longer than juices, powders, pastes or decoctions.

Dosage: 1 or 2 tablets twice a day.

Medicated ghee and oil

Ghee is cooked with herbal juices, decoctions or pastes. The ghee should be heated with the herbal mixture at a moderate, controlled temperature. High temperatures can easily burn the ghee or oil, destroying its effectiveness. Medicated ghee and oils are either used internally or massaged externally.

Dosage: Half to one tablespoon.  

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Warning : The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Concluded

Reduce Weight by Natural Ways - Part 2

Home Remedies for Losing Weight

Increase the quantity of fruits and vegetables and low calorie foods.

Avoid intake of too much salt as it may be a factor for increasing body weight.

Milk products like cheese, butter etc. and non-vegetarian foods should be avoided as they are rich in fat.

Mint is very beneficial in losing weight. A chutney of green mint with some simple spices can be taken with meals. Mint tea also helps.

Spices like dry ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight and can be used in a number of ways.

Regular intake of carrot juice.

Avoid rice and potato, which contain a lot of carbohydrates. Among cereals wheat is good.

Vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela), and bitter variety of drumstick are useful in loosing weight.

Honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions.

Dosage: One should start with small quantity of about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning. A teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice may also be added.

Fasting on honey and lime- juice is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of energy and appetite. For this, mix one teaspoon of fresh honey with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water.

Dosage: Take several times a day at regular intervals.

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

Exercise is an important part of any weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body as fat.

Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming or rowing.

The gum of Commiphora Mukul called 'guggulu' is the drug of choice for the treatment of obesity.

To Be Continued .....

Reduce Weight by Natural Ways - Part 1

  

The chief cause of obesity or overweight is often overeating, irregular eating habits and not following the rules of eating such as improper mixing of food items in one meal.

In ayurveda, Charak Samhita describes eight different types of bodies that are disease prone. Out of these, the obese body is described as the one afflicted with the most diseases and troubles. Obesity is the condition or physical state of the body when excessive deposition of fat takes place in the adipose tissue. 

Extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and the joints such as the hips, knees and ankles and thus, overweight people are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver and gall bladder disorders. Chief cause of obesity is overeating, irregular eating habits and not following the rules of eating or mixing non-compatible food items in one meal. 

To decrease weight and get rid of obesity three things must be kept in mind :

• Controlling eating habits.
• Regular exercise.
• Avoiding the causes of weight gain

Diet recommended to lose weight

Early morning

Juice of half a lemon mixed in a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey.

Breakfast

Wheat or Mung bean sprouts and a cup of skimmed milk.

Midmorning

A glass of orange, pineapple or carrot juice.

Lunch

Salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beet, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes. Steamed or boiled vegetables

Whole grain bread or whole wheat chapatis (Indian bread) and a glass of buttermilk.

Roasted cumin seeds, green coriander leaves, a little salt and some grated ginger mixed in the buttermilk.

Mid-afternoon

Coconut water

Dry fruits

Lemon tea

Fresh vegetable soup

Dinner

Whole grain bread or chapatis

Steamed vegetables

Seasonal fruits except banana and apple.

To Be Continued .....