Did You Know - About Cherries

Did you know that cherries ease joint pains and alleviate headaches and migraines?  A study by researchers at East Lansing's Michigan State University showed that if you have arthritis or chronic headaches, having a bowl of cherries a day might alleviate your pain, minus the stomach upset so often triggered by painkillers.  Eating cherries can also reduce uric acid in the blood, which is the cause of arthritic pain and swelling.

Definitely have a bowl everyday.

Consultation With Me!

Now that most of you have been familiarized with Ayurveda and if you're in the New York City area, contact me for an Ayurvedic consultation.  This consists of your past medical history, pulse diagnosis and recommendations for specific diet and herbs.

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Have a great weekend!

TMseema@aol.com

Dosha Sleep Recommendations

For those with a vata sleeping disorder  -

• favor more sweet, sour and salty foods
• eat three warm cooked meals at the same time every day
• bed time should be before 10 pm and rise by 6 am
• take your time with day to day activities - do not rush

For those with a pitta sleeping disorder - 

• avoid spicy foods in the night
• favor more sweet, bitter and astringent tastes
• avoid skipping meals
• eat enough dinner so you won't feel hungry
• if you feel lots of heat in the head during the night time, mix 3 tablespoons of coconut oil with 5 drops of lavender oil and massage it on the crown of your head

For those with a kapha sleeping disorder - 

• rise before 6 am
• favor to do self massages in the mornings before shower
• exercise everyday
• avoid eating heavy, sweet, sour, salty foods
• favor a light and warm dinner 

Your Dosha And Sleep

"The goal of the Ayurvedic approach is to create more Ojas, the finest product of digestion that provides energy, enthusiasm, happiness, clarity of thinking, better coordination between the heart and mind and immunity.  Only the deepest, most restful sleep, called Stage Four Sleep by researchers, creates ojas," says an Ayurvedic expert from The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians.

Ayurveda identifies 3 types of sleep disorders -

1 - Vata sleep disorder - this is when you find it difficult to fall asleep (this is caused by a vata imbalance or mental stress).  You tend to toss and turn a lot, mind is over active, tends to correlate with worry and anxiety of day to day stresses.

2 - Pitta sleep disorder - this is when there is intermittent awakening - you fall asleep fine, but wake up every 90 minutes due to muscle tension, racing heart, emotions, fear, anger, sadness.  Or there is another pattern where one wakes up between 2-4am and has a ton of energy.

3 - Kapha sleep disorder - this is when you sleep long hours and wake up unrefreshed.  You feel sluggish, tired and completely exhausted even though you had a full nights sleep.

Which one most relates to you?
Look out for tomorrow's post, I'll give you some recommendations for each of the doshas.

Benefits Of Sleep

Sleep -

• reduces stress
• makes you smarter
• may reduce risk of depression
• prevents cancer
• makes you more alert
• keeps the heart healthy
• clears up under eye circles
• improves memory
• increases lifespan
• curbs inflammation
• boosts creativity
• sharpens attention
• maintains weight
• lowers stress

Hope you all get a good night's rest every night! 

Did You Know - More About Sleep

Here are some disturbing statistics about sleep in America -

• America is increasingly becoming a society that lives to work, not works to live
• 40% of adults report getting so little sleep that resulting daytime drowsiness interferes with productivity several days in a month
• over half of adults surveyed said they have driven while drowsy in the last year
• almost 70% report having one or more sleep problems several times a week

Did You Know - About Sleep

Did you know that the body heals itself during sleep?
Ayurveda recommends sleeping by 10 pm.
And by eating a light and well cooked dinner helps ensure a good nights sleep.
Your body knows best, listen to it!