Archive for May, 2009

Acne – In Depth Questions and Answers

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009


Acne is a commonplace skin problem for the majority of adolescents and also afflicts a portion of the adult population. People of all different age groups and backgrounds have had to deal with acne at one point or another. Thus, there has long been a long standing desire to prevent it or even cure it.

We will take a look at some of the various causes of acne in addition to some of the various ways in which people are treated. Our hope with this article is that you will gain a better understanding as to the reasons why people get acne and what they can do for prevention and treatment.

What is acne?

For many thousands of years, people have wrestled with acne. Acknowledged in some cultures as a kind of curse from the gods for immoral behavior, acne has mostly been misunderstood. Only within roughly the past century has the medical field been able to distinguish the true causes of acne. As some might expect, this has permitted those who are afflicted with blemishes to gain a certain sense of relief.

An inflammatory disease of the skin, acne is the consequence of serious changes in the skin’s structure. Acne is considered to be the body’s unique response to a relatively natural production of testosterone, a male hormone.

Instead of a sign that one’s skin is not clean, acne is more closely related with the hormonal and bacterial activity underneath the skin, which finally leads to the irritation of the skin. The end result is the red swelling that we know as acne.

What is The Most Common Type of Acne?

One may think that all acne is the alike, but in fact it is not. As with all irritations of the skin, there are several forms involved. Some are believed more serious and harder to eliminate than others. The most usual kind is acne vulgaris, which only means “common acne,” ordinarily signified by a red swelling of the skin. Soon after the initial signs, the white or yellow pus that people associate with acne becomes evident.

This is the type of acne that the majority of teenagers get, caused when excessive amounts of oil from the sebaceous gland combine with dead skin cells to end up clogging the pores of the skin. Since the skin’s pores are blocked, oil continues to build up, hence permitting bacteria and yeast to spread. This surplus of bacteria and yeast is what finally does tons of damage to a persons skin.

What Are The Mental Effects of Acne?

Acne might show a body’s failure to properly deal with hormonal changes. Acne can suggest that a person is not handling stress in an effective manner. It might be an indication of a potentially serious allergic reaction to a medication or other type of element. It is not these effects of acne that tend to do the most damage, though.

Acne is more than a health issue, acne is known to cause people (mainly teens) a sense of shame as well as embarrassment. Acne is incorrectly associated with being unclean. Clear, healthy skin is associated with cleanliness, while severe forms of acne are frequently thought to be the effect of sanitary neglect.

Not just that, acne can be ugly and turn people away. The majority of people who experience severe acne are emotionally scarred by the social rejection, contributing to adolescent emotional insecurity and a sense of self-doubt. Because of this, acne should be treated as rapidly and as thoroughly as possible.

Isn’t it True That Staying Clean Helps Prevent Acne?

It is always a healthier alternative to rid your skin of toxins as well as dirt that accumulate throughout your normal daily routine. So yes, to some extent, it is true that washing your skin can help prevent or decrease acne.

Acne is a chemical element, and it is something that occurs beneath the surface of the skin to a greater degree than on the skin itself. Both cleansing on a daily basis as well as care of one’s skin will help in reducing the bacteria that resides on the surface of the skin, but these actions cannot decrease the testosterone levels below the surface of the skin that help to create acne.

Recognizing this underlying fact should help to reduce some of the stigma that is accompanied with acne. It should also allow people who are enduring their acne to take some degree of comfort in understanding that they are not necessarily less clean than other people. The truth is that they have very little actual control over what is going on beneath their skin.

What Are Some of The Other Elements Involved That Increase the Probability of Getting Acne?

That is a good question, and one that is likely on everyone’s mind. The tough part about acne is that there is not one single element that can prompt it. Several factors help cause acne. Some of them can be circumvented, while others cannot. For instance, one cannot change their family history, but this is one very important factor in influencing the development of some form of acne.

Hormonal activity is another. Women who are pregnant or who are menstruating have been known to abruptly acquire bad cases of acne. Other elements, such as stress and certain medications, can also bring about acne.

Bear in mind, acne is based on the hormonal changes that occur within the body. Any life-changing or stress-inducing occurrence is likely to alter a person’s chemical makeup. Lastly, the accumulation of dead skin cells often contributes to increased acne.



3 Top Running, Fitness and Health Tips!

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009


My first tip of advice is aimed towards the beginners out there, but can also be applied to more experienced runners. Set yourself realistic and achievable goals, both long term and short, write these goals down, for short term goals, plan how many miles you would like to do that week, if your an experienced runner, it may be as high as 60/70 miles including 2 runs on one day. Whereas for a beginner, it may just be a gentle 2 mile jog 3 times a week. For long term goals, for more advanced runners, pick a race that you’d like to enter in a few months time and set a realistic target time e.g. 34 minutes in a 10km race. For beginners, it may just be to complete the race. I advise you keep a diary of your runs, this allows you to analyze how you have improved over the past months of training and you will find it helps keep you motivated and gives you pleasure as you see your improvements!

If you set yourself realistic goals in the short term and the long term, it will help you keep motivated and will lead to success, the secret is slowly building up, if you set yourself goals that are far fetched, and increase’s intensity and distance too quickly, and then you’re on a fast track for injury!

In conclusion, set yourself realistic goals, this gives you motivation and also allows you to keep a record of your improvement as you achieve your goals and continue to set higher and higher goals till you reach your pinnacle!

My second tip is to reduce the stress in your life and so perform to your full potential. It has been reported that over 50% of sick days off work are due to stress, it is a pretty established fact that it really isn’t good for you, and leads to several health problems. Firstly, stress leads to high blood pressure which in turn leads to heart disease, it also encourages strokes! Furthermore all young men should be aware that high stress can lead to impotence, as well as leading to depression, lethargy as well as stomach ulcers and indigestion!

So this is my second top tip, everyday, set about an hour of your time at least to de-stress, everybody releases stress in different ways, and exercise is an obvious choice at it helps you keep fit while reducing endorphins! Other methods could include hitting a punch bag, listening to music, having a relaxing bath, also perhaps just getting a few hours extra sleep a night; not getting enough sleep contributes to this!

By unwinding daily, you are likely to suffer less heart related problems later in life, as well as feeling much more energetic and improving your bodies capabilities for recovery, as well as making you much more productive at work!

My third tip is specifically aimed at the runners out there, rather than just running and running every week, do a new activity as an alternative e.g. biking/swimming. This is known as cross training, for example replace one run a week by an alternative exercise. This reduces boredom of doing the same old routines, encourages you to learn and develop new skills and hobbies. This allows muscle groups and certain body parts (e.g. knees) to be rested which usually get pounded when running and work other muscle groups that are usually ignored, this leads to improved overall conditioning! Furthermore as your usual muscles for running are being rested, it reduces the chance of injury as it gives those muscles much needed recovery time!

Follow these three tips to a happier and healthier life! Happy Running!



Natural Health Tips and Advice For Greater Well Being

Monday, May 11th, 2009


Taking good care of your physical and mental health can be a great challenge for anyone. There are certain things you must consider if you want to maintain good health long term and live with more energy and vitality. Proper diet and exercise are the first things to consider however one must not forget the importance of learning to manage mental stress. Here are some simple tips anyone can follow to attain better levels of health and fitness:

Tip 1: Eat more whole foods

It can be very difficult for most people to completely avoid processed and junk foods however do your best to minimize your consumption of these. Also most restaurants and fast food places have a healthy choices menu option so go for that once in a while as it is usually better in nutritional value than the other items on the menu. Bring a packed lunch to work whenever you can and use whole food ingredients that you cooked yourself that are free from preservatives and other chemicals that most processed foods come with.

Tip 2: Exercise properly

There is no doubt that exercise is critical in order to maintain optimal health. You need both cardiovascular and aerobic exercise in order to burn calories effectively and keep good muscle mass which is essential to maintain strength levels. Aerobic exercise can be done many ways including joining a gym, taking a one hour walk or using a treadmill or bike at home. It is always a good idea to have some fitness equipment at home as this will make it very easy and convenient to exercise which makes it more likely you will stick with it and see better results.

Weight training helps to build and maintain muscle mass, keep in mind that muscles are very effective at burning calories constantly so even women should weight train to add some muscle so that they can maintain a healthy weight for as long as possible. If you have never trained with weights before then it is important that you consider taking a few personal training sessions at a local gym to familiarize yourself with the exercises and the equipment so as to avoid unnecessary injury.

Tip 3: Manage Stress

Mental stress can also affect your overall health in a very negative way. Your mind can release chemicals into your body based on how you think and if you constantly worry or are always angry then your mind will release potentially harmful chemicals into your system.

Learn to control your mind through meditation and calm your thoughts as this will provide you with great stress relief and will also help you solve problems in your life faster as a calm mind can often see solutions more quickly than if you are worrying too much and have a ton of thoughts racing through your head. There are many ways to learn meditation, the simplest approach is to just get a book or take a local yoga class. Make it a habit to spend some time each day doing some meditation and apply the principles you learn even when you are not meditating. Consider applying some of these natural health tips to help you become healthier and stronger.



3 Health Tips for Your Kids

Monday, May 11th, 2009


The health of children is a major issue in the US and UK not only for each individual family but also for the governments. More and more children are falling prey to bad eating habits and are suffering from childhood obesity. What can be done to ensure that they don’t end up developing a huge potbelly and protect their health.

Here are 3 health tips for your kids to help them avoid obesity problems in both childhood and when they become adults.

1. Start training them early:

Training your kids on how to lead a healthy life should start early. When they are very young teach them healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Avoid putting sugary products on their soother or giving them sweet snacks and sugary drinks just for an easy life. If you train them in good health right from an early age, they would be able to make health choices for themselves when they become older.

Some parents indulge their children with unhealthy foods when they are young and then can’t understand why they won’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables when they are older. Parents should encourage children to eat healthy foods right from the start!

2. Eat as a family:

A family which eats together stays healthy together. It is common practice nowadays for parents to eat separately or in front of the television set. It is far better to sit round the table as a family so that you can ensure that they are following the healthy eating habits that you have taught them.

Eating as a family has the added advantage of each person having the opportunity to discuss their day and for you to know if there are any problems to be addressed. Share all your ups and downs!

Children also learn about social skills required for when they grow up. It has been found in the UK that a number of children entering primary school for the first time do not even know how to use a knife and fork because they are so used to eating pizza or other finger foods in front of the TV. How sad is that?

3. Be a role model for your kids:

How can you expect your kids to follow your advice if you do not practice what you preach. Practice what you preach; your kids too will follow you! Children, especially very young children imitate their parents and copy what they do. If they see you following a healthy and perfect lifestyle they will more than likely, do the same.

Keep in mind that kids, even though younger in age than you, are not fools! They see and understand more than what you think. By walking the talk and living a healthy lifestyle yourself, you will not only serve as a role model for your kids, but also improve your own health condition!

Get them involved with meal planning, preparing the meal, and cooking it with close supervision and according to their age. Teach then well and let them make healthy choices for their own lunch boxes.

Even if your kids follow any unhealthy eating habit, you can rectify it early before it turns into a bad habit!

Follow these three easy tips to ensure that your kids have the knowledge to be able to start to live healthily throughout their entire life!



Feng Shui Health Tips Can Change the Way you Lead your Life

Monday, May 11th, 2009


Health is wealth believes many and as we go through life the truth of this saying hits us with great force from time to time. Each time we fall ill or any of our loved ones are sick we feel that the only thing which matters is good health. We know that a little care towards the kind of life we lead will enable us to be healthy and happy individuals but often our busy schedules do not allow us much time for ourselves. As a result health problems have become a common occurrence in every home. Besides negligence on our part, we may fall ill due to certain factors beyond our control like too much imbalance, stress and negativity in our immediate surroundings. Feng shui health tips can help us understand the inexplicable causes that may relate to our health problems.

According to Feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of balancing the elements to achieve peace and harmony in our lives, health problems occur when our environment is disturbed and we do not realize the imbalance and negativity that we are inviting into our lives consciously or unintentionally. Feng shui health tips can therefore effectively help us in eliminating the negativity in our surrounding space and enhance the positive effects of the four elements like earth, water, air and fire. Feng Shui health tips and rules may often help us understand as to why we tend to fall sick at when we shift to a particular house or change offices or simply when we change the arrangement of furniture and décor of a particular room in our living space.

Feng Shui health tips give great importance to the way we sleep as that is the time when our body is most receptive to energies from our environment. Feng Shui health principles strongly advice against the use and storage of any electronic items in the bedroom as they are known to emit harmful and negative rays that adversely affect the individuals using that room. Also mirrors in the bedroom are best avoided under the Feng shui health tips. This can be explained with the logic that bedroom should be an area of rest and relaxation whereas mirrors are reflectors that will bounce of energies and create too much of energy movement within the room. Hence a bedroom should be devoid of any material that can act as reflectors.

Feng Shui health also recommends that the lighting should be sufficient but never harsh and the colors used on the bedroom walls should be soothing rather than garish. An individual’s personal number which is known as the kua number helps a Feng Shui consultant is calculating the relevant direction for one’s health. If a person can sleep with his head placed in the right direction and eat his meals facing his health direction it will be tremendously beneficial for the individual’s health. Various Feng shui health objects are also easily available in the market like the energy balls, the three immortals, special pebbles and even the lead crystal sphere besides others. If the objects are correctly placed and principles of Feng Shui health are properly implemented, one can be blessed with a healthy, wealthy and long life.



Daily Health Tips to Stay Fit Forever

Sunday, May 10th, 2009


Health should be the first and foremost priority of every individual. As with good health only you can feel energetic and fresh all the time. Healthy mind and body boost up your morale to work more efficiently. You cannot perform well without a healthy body.

Maintaining a good health is not at all an easy job to do. You need to take out time to focus on your health like by doing exercises, proper diet, gym etc.

You can find plenty of websites available on the internet that keep you updated with daily health tips. These sites provide you plenty of information about how to keep your body fit all the time. You just need to search the internet carefully to grab best information which you can follow on regular basis.

There are some tips which can be useful for you to keep your health in tone that is, drink as much water as you can. Much of our body and brain is made up by water. So, it is necessary to keep hydrated and flush out toxins. Exercise is very important factor or tip to keep your body in shape and energetic. The various types of physical exercises generate flexibility and strength in the body. One should eat well. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most important foods to eat to keep your body healthy. A proper diet plan should be from breakfast to dinner which should contain a balanced diet.

Sleeping is also one of the important tips to relax your body and mind from hectic schedule. When you sleep your muscles relax and grow. It is essential to sleep at least 6 hours at night. You are suggested to sleep well and do not take tension at all if you want a healthy body.

A regular adherence to these tips may increase your chances of living a healthy and enjoyable life.

Daily health tips providing sites work 24X7 for the welfare of the people. You can ask all your health related queries anytime and these sites also offer you expert approval guidance. These daily tips are not bound with any age group. No matter whether you are an adolescent or old aged, everyone can find numerous health tips daily. They understand the stress of work on your life; likewise they suggest you some exercises or technique which you can obtain while sitting at office only.

The experts from these sites guide you with best healthy vitamins and other pills available in the market which suits your body. So, start taking your health seriously to stay fit forever.



Looking To Naturally Treat Your Acne? Look At These Tips!

Thursday, May 7th, 2009


Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that acne is a common condition that almost everyone has to deal with at some point in their life. Teenagers and young adults have a particular struggle with acne, as hormones and stress are especially common during those ages, which produces acne breakouts. So, are you currently dealing with acne? If so, you may have tried several popular (and expensive!) store-bought treatments, but you might find that you can get great results from natural acne treatments. This article is going to talk about some effective all-natural remedies you can try.

Of course, acne always pops up at the worst times, although we’re not so sure there ever is a good time to have acne! But for those last-minute, emergency treatments, there are a few things you can try without having to run to the store and shell out for an expensive name-brand product.

The first all natural acne treatment is found in almost every bathroom, but the thought of putting toothpaste on your face could seem a bit…odd. That’s right—toothpaste! Put a generous amount of toothpaste on each pimple right before bed. The toothpaste will help dry up the excess oil and greatly reduce redness while you sleep. Of course you can put toothpaste on your acne in the day time, just make sure you’re able to leave it on for a while so that it has plenty of time to soak up the excess moisture from the pimple. A good tip for those red pimples is to apply a bit of Visine eye drops. It won’t treat the pimple, but it will get rid of the redness.

Did you know that Neosporin could help you? Neosporin is an antibiotic that will kill the bacteria in the area you apply it to. Before bedtime, you should apply it to the acne in order to cause it to have a short life span. Honey is something that has natural antibacterial properties in it and it is perfect to use in the homemade acne treatment. In the end, some of the other types of homemade acne remedies you could use consists of baking soda, garlic, ice cubes, crushed aspirin (our favorite to use), potatoes and much more.



Create an Atmosphere Conducive to Good Health Through Feng Shui Health Tips

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009


A little extra luck and guidance never hurt anybody and this is the reason why more and more people are welcoming the wisdom of Feng Shui guidance in their life. Feng Shui (pronounced as Fung Shway) is a 3000 year old Chinese practice that balances the various elements of wind, water, earth and fire and the male and female energies to achieve peace, harmony and success. The four major aspects of every individual’s life are career, health, wealth and relationships and this practice can play a positive role in each of these aspects. All the four aspects are equally important in every individual’s life and if one is negatively affected it can cause immense dissatisfaction and trouble. One such crucial area of our life is our health and Feng Shui health tips can ensure that we maintain a positive environment conducive to the health of all the family members.

If we have noticed that someone or the other constantly falls ill and there seems to be a lot of negativity in the atmosphere, maybe its time to reanalyze the way your house or office layout has been designed and the décor of the living space. At times all that Feng Shui health tips suggest is the re-arrangement of the existing set of furniture in your house or office. This kind of shuffling allows the chi (energy) to flow in a positive manner and bring in good health and prosperity into your life. The direction in which we sleep is also a crucial factor under the Feng Shui health tips and guidance. Each of us has a number calculated according to our date of birth and this is known as the kua number. The kua number provides the auspicious and inauspicious directions for each of the four areas of our life, health being one of them.

The kua number guides us in knowing the right direction for an individual to sleep in and another direction that promotes good health. If you are genuinely interested in implementing Feng Shui health tips, then it would be best to memorize the directions and use them accordingly to the best of your advantage. Also, ensure that you have no dead or dried flowers in the house, as they contain an excess of Yin energy which is negative for the health of the individuals in the house. Alternatively you could consider keeping artificial or synthetic flowers to achieve your aesthetic satisfaction.

The lighting and décor of every room also plays an important role while implementing the corrective Feng Shui health tips. The light should be moderate and never too harsh to induce positive vibes in an environment. Also the entrance of a home or office should be well lighted to attract positive energies into your life. The ulu is another popular object used to positively influence the health of the individuals living in the house. In order to upgrade your life and invite prosperity, peace and harmony into your life, get the advice and counsel of an authentic Feng Shui expert and see the positive changes taking place.



Alternative Health Tips

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009


Alternative Health Tips

Naturopathy is Swasha Vritha or the prophylactic or preventive aspect. Ayurveda is the Athura Vritha or Therapy. Both are related sciences.

Daily Routines or Dinacharya, according to Ayurveda

The ideal time to get up is 04.30 AM. This is known as Brahma Muhurtha or the Time of Brahman, the Absolute.After getting up, one should know the condition of the body. Then one should brush one’s teeth and go to toilet for bowel movement. One should brush teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Then one should go in for an Oil Bath. Oil, preferably coconut oil should be used. This oil should be pasted all over the body and one should wait for at least 30 minutes and then take a bath. Cold bath is ideal but for those suffering from diseases hot water bath is good.

Oil bath gives you good sleep. Weakness of the body will disappear. Your body will grow in strength. Your eyes will sparkle. ” Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam ” says Ayurveda ( Daily you should go in for Oil Bath ). But those suffering from indigestion and excess Kapha should not go in for Oil Bath.

Pathya – Diet Control

When Ayurvedic medicines are taken, one should observe Pathya or Diet Control.

The Six Tastes of Ayurveda are – Sweet, bitter, astringent, sour, pungent and salty. Those suffering from Hyperacidity or Ulcer should not take in foods that are Sour or Pungent. This is known as Pathya.For every disease, there are foods that should not be taken in. For people suffering from heart trouble, cholesterol containing eggs, meat, beef etc should not be taken in. This is Pathya.

Now there is a saying in Ayurveda that for one observing Pathya, there is no need for medicine, as negative food is phased out and Spontaneous Cure takes place. Also for one not observing Pathya, as intake of medicines become useless, as negative food devastates his disease.Pathya means the Way to Health. Apathya means taking in the negative food which foster the disease.

Banana – Nature’s Tonic

The Banana is full of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron, phosphorus and vitamins like Niacin and Riboflavin. A big banana can confer more than 200 calories.

The fructose contained in banana turns to energy after intake. Along with protein and starch, it contains minerals like sulphur, iron, magnesium, copper & calcium. There is less fat content in bananas.Bananas will reduce the acidity in blood. It contains Vitamins C, A, B, D & E.

Along with bananas, warm milk should be taken. This is the ideal food for growing children. But then the obese should not take milk along with bananas.As Bananas have Rasayana properties, use of it will keep you young. You can live for months only on bananas.Bananas can be used as medicine for patients with liver complaints and for digestive tract disorders. Also it can be taken by those suffering from Malnutrition and Scurvy. Also for patients suffering from eye and dental diseases. ( as it contains Vitamin A & Cacium ).

Continence or Brahmacharya

By Continence or Brahmacharya, we mean the control of libidinal life. Both Ojas ( Light ) and Veerya ( Virility ) are based on the Seventh Tissue Element, Semen. Avoid the misuse of this great Dhathu, says Ayurveda. Too much indulgence in sex makes you lose this Seventh Tissue Element and this will result in weakness of body. Body ache, headache etc will be the result. Loss of semen adversely affects reversely the other Six Tisssue Elements.

If you observe Brahmacharya ( practise Continence ), improved memory, grapsing power, physical strength, discriminative intellect, mental happiness, increase of Ojas or effulgence on the face etc will be the result. In order to have good health, you have to control sex. But then as pure Brahmacharya is impossible for married men, controlled Brahmacharya or celibacy is advocated.

Insomnia

Lack of sleep is due to many factors – Anxiety, mental tension, over exercise, emotional suffering etc. When Anger and enmity are suppressed, sleeplessness is the result. Constipation, digestive tract disorders, coffee, tea etc will destroy sleep. Thoughts about sleeplessness will only compound the problem. Use of sleeling pills is not ideal. You may have to depend on such pills. And increasing the quantity is asking for trouble. If Alcohol is taken along with pills, there will repercussions.

Avoid beverages like Cola, tea and coffee. And take in less fatty foods. Avoid fried foods. Take only small quantity of food at night. If you have warm milk before going to sleep, if you keep the mind tranquil, you will doze off to slumberland. You should take food 3 hours before going to bed. It will be better if you can hear peaceful music. Reading is also a good habit which will take you to slumberland. You should walk at least half an hour before going to sleep. It will help to digest the food taken. Meditation will give you good sleep.

Constipation

The modern fast food culture is responsible for Constipation. Anxiety, fear, mental tension – all these create Constipation. Naturopaths averr that Constipation is the root cause of all diseases.Some antacids also create Constipation. In certain conditions, water will be absorbed in the Colon and faecal matter may solidify. Such hard stools are difficult to dislodge.Lack of proper timing of food, anxiety, mental problems etc all cause Constipation. Constipation will create back pain, weight in the stomach, headache, loss of appetite etc.

Intake of fruits and vegetables organically grown, 12 glasses of water daily, ensure mental peace, correct bowel movements – all these will cure Constipation

Gas Trouble or Hyperacidity

This is a very common disease. In India, there are very few homes without antacid tablets ! On one side, we take a lot of antacids and on the other take in acidic foods ! Amongst the Six Tastes, that which is Sour, Pungent and Salty foster Hyperacidity.

Fried foods, foods containing Masala, very cold drinks,potato, plantains – all these foster Gas Trouble. Lack of exercise is one of the causative factors. Also working seated for long hours.Mental tensions also foster this disease. It is not what you eat, but it is what eats you that is the cause of this common disease.

Mental pain, thoughts of revenge, fear – all these pave the way for this malady. There is an Emotional Center in the brain. When we have mental upsets, this Emotional Center stimulates the oxintic cells in our stomach to secrete Hyrochloric Acid.Lots of gas going from the rectal tract, indigestion – all these are the symptoms of gas trouble. Naturopaths averr that Constipation is the cause of this disease, nay, for all diseases !

Hurry, Worry and Curry are the main causative factors for this disease. Eating food fast, overeating, foods with masala, sour, pungent, salty foods, pickles, chillies, potato, soda, cola, chilled beer, nictoine, alcohol, very hot foods, chewing gum – all these cause Hyperacidity.Prevention is better than Cure. Avoid the Apathya foods and be healthy !

More information about Ayurveda can be had at

http://www.eastrovedica.com/html/ayurveda3.htm

Contradictory Foods

Contradictory Foods are known in Ayurveda as ” Samyoga Viruddha”. When contradictory foods are taken in, it will increase the Doshic imbalance and becomes the cause of many diseases.Shrimp and Milk, Fish and butter, Sour fruits & Milk – are some examples of Contradictory Foods. They are to be avoided at all costs.

Chicken & butter should not be taken in simultaneously. Honey and ghee in equal quantities also is prohibited in Ayurveda

Colon Hydrotherapy

Naturopathy says that diseases are caused by the accumulation of morbid matter. Natural Hygiene says the cause is Toxemia, or the infusion of toxins into the blood.

One of the methods of cleaning the Colon is Enema or Colon Hydrotherapy.I have been practising Enema for the last 18 years. In 1989, while I was participating in an Exhibition Stall in Trichur ( a 41 day affair ), the nearest stall was a Naturopathy stall and the Chief Naturopath told me that the best way to get rid of Gas trouble was to take 15 light enemas.

I bought an enema can and have been doing this when I have any rectal block. This therapy is effective as we can see putrified faecal matter going out 10 minutes after the enema is administered.This is Jalopasana or Water Therapy or Hydro Therapy. All the ancient cultures advocated Hydro Therapy, as Water has got tremendous medicinal properties. Not only faecal matter, but gas, mucous and toxins go out of the rectal tract.

Fasting Therapy

Fasting Therapy is one of the best therapies. The digestive system gets rest during fasting. ” Lankhanam Paramoushadam ” – Fasting is the best medicine. Water Fasting, Fruit Fasting, Juice fasting — there are many types of fasting. Juice Fasting is superior to Water Fasting as the body is supported nutritionally.

The basic principle of Naturopathy is that Nature has healing power and that the Five Doctors are the Elemental Five -Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. ( Annam Brahma ). By Annam is not meant Food, but the Five Doctors, the Five Elements. ” The Five Doctors are the best, as the Five Elements are prior to all “, declares the Upanishads. ( Annam hi bhoothanam jyeshtyam, thasmad Sarvoushadam Uchyathe )

Ghee – The True Rasayana

Rasayana Therapy is Rejuvenation Therapy. That which rejuvenates the body is Rasayana. Ghee is considered to be the True Rasayana. All Ayurvedic preparations are based on ghee, I mean, almost all the Rasayanas. Ghee contains Vitamins A E, K D etc. Vitamin E and Vitamin A are anti-oxidants. Diseases are caused by the excessive production of Free Radicals and these two are antidotes to Free Radicals. The famous Chyavan Prash is based on Ghee. It is said that the Rasayanas confer beauty, longevity, intelligence, youthfulness, health etc. Ghee, taken in moderate quantities, will confer these.



Your Winter Health Tips

Monday, May 4th, 2009


Winter is commonly associated with the coming of the Christmas season and of course cool breeze, snow, snow, and more snow. For some, winter is an exciting time of the year because of the student break and the winter sports. However, winter can also spell to additional weight and unhealthy lifestyle. Well, “what can I do?” you cry, “Is winter the time to hit the couch and watch football and movies all day and night?”

But there are many things you can do for better health in the winter and better and healthier life style in general, here are some tips you can do the moment you realize that the air is getting colder and colder every time you wake up in the morning:

Workout

Not because you are in the midst of vacations, family visits, holidays, and other time devourers, you simply have to set aside your scheduled workout. A routine physical exercise can help you more than just improving your overall fitness, it is something that will effect your mental and spiritual sides as well.

Stick to it come hell and high water. Avoid missing one or two sessions because it may become a habit and may completely remove workout period from your system. Okay, it’s nice to relax and enjoy the season but at least, try to maintain what you have started. If you are working out 4 times a week before the winter, you can make twice a week workout schedule.

This also applies when you are on a vacation. Never let your trip destroy whatever you have built before the winter. Find a time to maintain your strength anywhere you are.

Control your drinking, moderate alcohol consumption during the holidays and in the winter in general.

Two glasses of eggnog can supply your day’s calorie and saturated fat needs. If you go beyond that, then it’s up to you to do the math. The thing is, too much drinking is not healthy in any way.

Instead of calorie-based party drinks, prefer health ones such as dark beer and red wine. A zip of water while drinking alcohol could keep you hydrated and maintain your metabolism (alcohol is known to slow down metabolism which equates to slower digestion).

Colds, influenza, and other winter related illnesses are acquired from direct contact with the host. You may not tell other people to wash their hands before they shake with yours, but you certainly can maintain your good hygiene. Take a bath even if it is freezing outside. Anyway, you will stink if you don’t take regular bath and you can also become more prone to such illnesses.

Wrap up:

Taking good care of yourself and right discipline to prevent unhealthy practices are the best way to stay healthy during the winter season.