5 Healthy Takeaways from "Perfect Digestion" by Deepak Chopra {Five Series}

Finally, I have also started reading some of the books which would be useful for the blog and me :) And, this one has scored high on my list. For a beginner health enthusiast, it can serve as one of the foundation books. It explains ayurveda in a simpler way than I could ever understand it till date. So, check out 5 new things I learned from the book.

One holistic system

Ayurveda treats our entire body as a single unit with each part having its own portion of intelligence as opposed to a machine controlled by a central engine. The nutrients from our food enhance the said intelligence. Ayurveda also believes that perfect digestion is the key to keep the body free of any disease.

Our thoughts, our imaginations, our feelings, desires and energies are as much "us" as are our fingernails, our blemishes and our digestive tracts.

Ayurvedic Doshas

Pitta characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!

Ayurveda understands a body as a part of three doshas - Vata, Kapha and Pitta. 

Vata - controls movement like breathing, blood circulation, food passing through the digestive tracts, nerve impulses sent to and received from the brain. 

Pitta - represents metabolism or digestion like processing food, air and water and facilitate proper intellectual functioning. 

Kapha - governs body structure, holds cells together and forms muscles, fat, bones and sinew, also governs digestive fluids int he body. 

Everyone has all 3 doshas in equal measures but some imbalances in the body may lead to one or other dosha dominating over the others in which case the said dosha must be pacified and balanced . Our body is in a harmonious state when all these three doshas are in perfect balance. 

Digestion is considered a heating process in Ayurveda which is why it is denoted by the agni or digestive fire. 

• Too high digestive fire means pitta dosha which leads to excessive appetite.

• Too low digestive fire means kapha dosha which leads to low energy and weight gain. 

• Too variable digestive fire means vata dosha which leads to extreme hunger or loss of appetite. 

• Perfect digestive fire in which all doshas are balanced. 

Kapha characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!

Small Intestine and Its Role

Small intestine is one the major organs where the maximum digestion and extraction of the intelligence from the foods happens. To keep it healthy,

• eat variety of foods everyday

• foods should not be over-cooked or raw

• foods must not be too hot or too cold  

That is why ice cold water is not a preferable option, as much you might crave it!!

Spice to eat to keep the digestive system in healthy order - black pepper, ginger and nutmeg.

Vata characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!

Ama and Ojas

When the body is in perfect harmonious state, it produces a biochemical called Ojas which represents the positive flow of energy in the body. It means the body is in complete harmony with the mind.

A complete opposite to this harmonious state is when the body feels sluggish. A sticky biochemical called Ama is produced in such a state. It can be due to improper lifestyle, improper diet or improper digestion.

Signs of ama production in the body - lethargy, feeling of  heaviness, weakness, weak immunity, fatigue, emotional instability, low energy levels.

Visible sign - white coating on the tongue which is also present throughout the digestive canals of the body. That is why tongue scraping should be done right after brushing your teeth.

How to eliminate Ama from the body?

• Eat in a settled and quiet atmosphere where there is no television or talking. 

• Rest quietly for a few minutes after a meal to begin the digestive process in a effortless way. 

• Always eat while sitting. it helps the body relax. 

• Do not eat while upset. Wait for a few minutes to stabilize your emotions and then start eating. 

• Do not overeat. Always eat only 3/4th of your total capacity. leave eating when you feel almost full and still feel light. 

• Always avoid cold drinks or foods. Cold freezes the digestive fires and may lead to creation of ama. 

• Always eat slowly. After a bite, chew and wait till you swallow it before taking another bite. 

• Do not eat till your preceding meal is digested. It takes 3-6 hours for the previous meal to digest so if you feel heavy but crave something to eat, snack on a fruit or any warm beverage. 

• Always eat fresh food. 

• Drink hot water throughout the day, as often as possible, to dissolve the ama in your body. 

sort of diet you should maintain according to your specific dosha

6 Ayurvedic Tastes

Ayurveda identifies 6 tastes in order of digestion - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. It is important to incorporate all these tastes in all our meals throughout the day. And, one should eat them in their order of digestion as specified.

For example, sweet should be eaten before anything sour which should be eaten before a salty dish which should precede a pungent one which should precede bitter and lastly, follow with an astringent. That is why dessert should be taken first and salad should be the last meal.

Have you read the book? Do you think digestion is the key element to our well-being? 

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Ayurvedic tips I have incorporated in my daily routine! {Health}

Have you ever tried Ayurveda in your daily routine? I did it. It had started with one day my mom telling me to wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. She had seen it on some program which imparts the ayurvedic tips for healthy living. And, then, some other tip came and then something else! And, on and on.

But then how many things can you incorporate in the routine so I just left it at that. But, these tips were something which were not so intrusive and could be followed easily. And, their benefits were too good to pass up. I have been doing these things on and off for the past one month or more. And, I can talk about the benefits I have seen in my skin or hair or body!

Triphala Eye Wash

Every morning right after I get up, I wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. And, the results?

Brighter eyes, clearer eyes, whites are more prominent, eyes do not get dry, they do not get tired of staring at the laptop, and the best is yet to come - lesser finer lines under the eyes :D The infusion hydrates the skin there and makes it moisturized so that helps with lesser wrinkles and fine lines. Of course, moisturizer and sunscreen do their part as well :)

How to make infusion?

Take a 1/2 tbsp of triphala powder in a glass and dissolve it in glassful of water. Leave it overnight. Strain the morning and use it as eyewash.

I have to warn you here that this infusion stains the washbasin and where it falls so when you are washing your eyes, get either eye wash cups or do something to prevent spilling.

Almond Oil Nose Drops

This has to be done just before dozing off!! Just a drop of almond oil in both of your nostrils and you are good to doze off into deeper realms. Results?

Amazingly this helps with headaches, helps you sleep better, greases your air pipe and the nostrils, cleans them of any dirty things and the list is actually quite long. But, the main thing is deep and calm sleep for me and lesser headaches.

How to use?

Get a bottle of Badam Rogan and a dropper from the pharmacy. And, that is it. Keep them by your bedside and do not forget to use them.

Oil Pulling

This has to be the most heavy tip I have incorporated in my routine. And, I think it is difficult given that you have to take a tablespoon of oil in your mouth right after you get up and swish it for 20 minutes before throwing it off. And, yeah, the first time you do it, you WILL surely gag! Results?

I am not sure if I really saw any benefits till now but I think its a routine which does not show the benefits immediately or even in the long run. The benefits are more internal and not visible. It sure does make my teeth more white and cleanse out the cough and phlegm from the body. Swishing for 20 minutes surely makes me feel wide awake but I doubt if it was supposed to be one of its benefits :D

How to do it?

Traditionally, sesame oil is used for this method. I use coconut oil, though. Take a table spoon and swish it all around the mouth gently without making your jaw hurt and then it will turn watery and foamy by the end of 20 minutes when you can spit it out. Rinse your mouth with salt water, preferably mineral or rock salts not the table salt. And, brush. Yes, it has to be done before brushing your teeth and on empty stomach right after you get up.

The benefits are multi-varied. First, it is a detoxification ritual for the body. The oil pulls all the toxins and turns watery and foamy because of them. That is also the reason why you should not ingest even a bit of that oil and throw it all off and cleanse your mouth properly. Second, I think it is extremely helpful for people with respiratory issues as it helps clean the mucus canal and improves sinusitis issues and if you are suffering from cold, you can do this to get rid of the phlegm. It is also great to maintain the healthy teeth and gums and oral care. It helps prevent bad breath.

That's it for me now. If I include any more tips in my daily routine, I shall surely let you know :)

And, what about you? Do you practice ayurveda in your daily routines? Do you find them beneficial?

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Should you eat curd/yogurt at night? {Health}

Well, so you would already be aware that dinner should be the lightest meal of the day! But since I miss a decently filling lunch, I miss all the important ingredients like curd and such which I make up for in my dinner.

But, few months back some body warned me not to eat curd at night. That was because curd at night in winters is extremely cooling for the body. Also, curd is heavy on the stomach and doesn't get digested easily!

And for people suffering with sinus issues, curd at night can lead to congestion and breathlessness as it pours the toxins into the lungs (that is not quite literally right but a metaphor)! Also, it can interfere with sleep. 

Ayurvedically as well, one is suggested to avoid curd at night. But if at all you are interested in having curd, mix a pinch of pepper powder. That's what I read somewhere! Also, it is best if you can manage buttermilk instead but curd mixed with sugar is a complete no no. 

Do you eat curd at night? I shall mix pepper powder from now on!!

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"The Washed Ghee" - my Version {DIY}

Tags : Home >> Skin Care >> Home Remedies >> DIY

As soon as I read this post on dry skin and how to combat it by Tanveer, I had to try out this DIY. So, ghee is traditionally used in ayurveda for umpteen remedies. 

So, this is called Shata Dhaut Ghrita (100 times washed ghee) which basically means washing cow ghee (clarified butter from cow milk) in water 100 times. It is extremely messy to make but I am pretty sure the end result is worth it. So, let us check out how to make it. 

Btw, for a detailed process with pictures, you should check out this post.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cow ghee
• Mineral / Filtered Water - as much as needed

Method

1. This should be traditionally made in copper vessel but I did not have one so I skipped it. And, I also guess it should not be made with electricity so that it retains the natural ions and natural properties unaltered by any foreign influence but I used electric blender. 
2. So, take one cup of ghee in a bowl. Take a glass bowl, preferably, so that there is no reaction. Add a cup of water. 
3. Whip the mixture with the blender. Beware that there will be a LOT of splashing around. It is an extremely messy process.
4. After 5 minutes of whipping, pass the mixture through a sieve to filter out the extra water.  
5. The steps 3 and 4 are basically what is washing the ghee. So, traditionally, these steps must be repeated for 100 times for a great end result. If you are not so patient, do it for 25 times. 

My Notes

• Now, I am not really a patient person and the splashing in the beginning made me quite impatient to get over with this DIY so I repeated the washed the ghee for only 5 times.

• Also, if you repeat this washing process for 25-100 times, the smell of the ghee goes away. Well, it did not really go away in 5 times so I added patchouli and french cypress essential oils. 

• A small amount of ghee can give you huge amount of cream at the end so make sure you start with a very small batch for the first time. 

• Since it uses water, I am not sure how long it will keep. So, for now, I am storing it in the refrigerator.   

Results

As of now, I have used it only once so not much to talk about in this section. But, yes, it does get absorbed extremely quickly and keeps you moisturised. Yes, it does smell ghee types when you do not add essential oils so I would suggest adding them or washing the ghee for said number of times. And, I would report back on how it did for me after I finish my first batch. 

Now, it is your turn! So, have you ever heard of washed ghee process? For me, it was a first. Do you think you would be trying it out? I would definitely suggest you do. So, do try it out and let me know if you liked it!

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