Happy New Year!

Today is December 31st, 2013 - last day of the year.
I wish every one a wonderful celebration and a new year filled with love, happiness, perfect health and success.

Here's a little something for you all who will be drinking tonight - definitely try it.

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Tip of the Day

1 cup of Yogurt has about 13 grams of protein, B complex, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, folic acid.
Fresh yogurt takes about 1 hour to digest compared to the 3 hours it takes milk to digest.
That's why yogurt should be only taken during the day and not at night.
The digestion process slows down if taken during the night due to the cold quality of the yogurt.
Also, best to have yogurt with other foods and never alone.

Uses Of Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is getting more and more recognition these days because of it's many and positive effects.  This oil has a rich source of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Here are a few uses for coconut oil -

• acne
• eczema
• massage oil
• sunscreen
• moisturizer 
• pre shave
• after shave
• herpes
• body scrub
• hair conditioner 
• skin problems
• soothes pain and menstrual cramps
• use as sunscreen 
• boosts energy
• clears cellulite
• clears stretch marks
• relieves stress
• weight loss
• heart health
• healing
• used in cooking
• removes eye make up
• chap stick
• athlete's foot, fungus
• reduce itch of mosquito bites
• improves sleep
• natural deodorant
• helps treat yeast infections
• rub on cuticles to help grow nails

Wonders of Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the most popular ingredients in the kitchen, but it can also be found in the medicine cabinet and even on a night stand.  In fact that it is rich in vitamin E and essential antioxidants, makes it one of the most efficient measures to balance blood pressure levels and cholesterol, to precent heart attacks, cancer and fight aging.  And if you thought that's where its benefits end, you are sorely mistaken.

Here are 25 more uses for this excellent material - the olive oil

1 - to precent snoring - swallow a spoon of olive oil before bed

2 - to reduce stretch marks - massage olive oil before bed

3 - to treat acne - prepare a mix made of 3 table spoons of olive oil with 4 table spoons of sea salt, put on your face for 1-2 minutes.  The mix will clean the pores and keep the moisture of your skin.  Wash with hot water and soap.

4 - to alleviate ear pain - spill one drop of warm olive oil in your ear

5 - to reduce stomach ulcers and pain - mix one table spoon of live oil with a 3/4 cup of citrus juice or vinegar and drink

6 - olive oil can serve as a substitute for shaving cream

7 - to strengthen your fingernails - soap them in a bowl of olive oil

8 - to rehabilitate your skin - to treat dry skin of the hands, elbows and knees, warm a few table spoons of olive oil (until it's luke warm) and smear on the relevant areas.

9 - to treat colds - warm a mixture of 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup of sesame oil, 4 drops of thyme, 2 drops of rosemary oil and massage the warm mixture on the chest area 

10 - to treat dandruff - massage olive oil into your scalp and leave overnight.  Wash your hair in the mooring and wash with a regular shampoo.  Try this treatment for a week.

11 - to treat dry hair with split ends - warm the oil and smear on scalp for 45 minutes

12 - to treat after hair coloring - soak a soft cotton towel with olive oil and wipe the spotted skin, it may take some time but the color will come off the skin

13 - to prevent hair loss - mix 2 eggs with 2 table spoons of olive oil.  Smear on the scalp and hair for 40 minutes and then wash with cool or luke warm water.  It's recommended to repeat this 3 times a week.

14 - to treat lice - mix 1 table spoon of olive oil with 5 drops of the the tree oil and smear on the scalp for several minutes.  Then comp your hair with a live comb and wash with hot water.

15 - Relieve toothache - mix drops of clove oil with drops of olive oil, in about a ratio of 3:1 and use a cotton ball to put on the aching area.  Not recommended for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. 

16 - remove mascara - drip a bit of olive oil on a cotton ball and wipe the make up from your eyes.

17 - relieve coughing - swallow a spoon of olive oil mixed with a spoon of honey.  Another option is to massage the upper back and chest with the oil at body temperature. 

18 - treating swollen/red gums - wash your mouth with a mix of olive oil and water.

19 - prevent diaper rash - mix 2 spoons of olive oil with a spoon of water and smear on baby's rear

20 - to polish furniture - mix olive oil and lemon juice at a ratio of 2:1.  Use a gentle towel soared in the mix to polish the furniture 

21 - to maintain garden tools - smear a bit of olive oil on garden tools to keep them from accumulating filth and corrosion.

22 - to prevent squeaks - smear some olive oil on screaming hinges to make them silent 

23 - for digestive problems - swallow a spoon of olive oil every morning on an empty stomach.  Another option is to drink a glass of water with a spoon of olive oil and spoon of lemon juice.

24 - to maintain knives - after washing thoroughly with water and soap, wipe the blades well and then use a small amount of olive oil and gentle rub it on the blades with a towel. 

25 - prevent wax from building up in the candlesticks - just drip a bit of olive oil and it won't stick. 

Best Remedy For Headaches

By sniffing on fresh juice drawn from the leaves of a lemon tree helps remove the chronic headaches.

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings & Happy Holidays. 

Beware Of The Wax

Useful information

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Exercises for Lower Back Pain

Saw three patients yesterday and 2 out of the 3 are suffering from lower back pain.

Hope this helps. 

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Surya Namaskar - Sun Salutation

Thought I'd keep with the roll of yoga.

Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutations.

Surya, the sun, is the Hindu solar deity.

A sequence of asanas or poses are performed to build strength and awareness to the physical body, mind and soul.  There are a total of 8 different asanas in the sequence of 12 asana changes.

Benefits of Surya Namaskar - 

• your consciousness is raised
• develop inner peace 
• rekindle your drooping spirit
• face glows - balance of mind, body and spirit
• detoxification of body and mind
• mental clarity and concentration
• immunity is increased 
• loosens excess belly fat
• regulates menstrual cycle
• reduces anxiety and restlessness 
• enhances strength and vitality 
• various poses help regulate blood flow
• tones arms
• strengthens spine 

Special Features of Yoga

Yoga - yog - union - mental - physical - spiritual - practice - India - Hindu - philosophy.

Yoga and its special features - 

• natural
• holistic 
• systematic
• scientifically validated
• culture's perfect health
• develops higher state of consciousness
• authentic
• time tested
• cost effective 
• easy to practice
• free from harmful side effects 
• oriented towards correcting the root cause of imbalance 

Benefits of Yoga

Now that you've familiarized yourself with yoga from the previous blog, here is some more information about its benefits -  

Scientific research validating the benefits of yoga:

Physical benefits:

• improved physical activity
• fitness
• lung functioning
• athletic performance
• greater physical endurance
• normalization of weight
• important mind and body coordination
• reversal of aging 
• improves heart functioning 
• improves digestion

Mental benefits:

• improves memory
• increased positivism
• restful alertness by increasing alpha brain wave patterns
• improves cognitive performance (thinking, reading, problem solving)
• reduces mental fatigue
• improves mental health
• reduces neuroticism

Prevention of disease:

• lowers blood pressure
• reduced obesity
• lower serum cholesterol level
• relief from constipation and gas
• reduced incidents of common cold
• decreased insomnia
• improved kidney functioning
• improved liver functioning
• decreased backache
• normalization of blood sugar level
• alleviation of asthma 

]

How Yoga Changes Your Body, Starting The Day You Begin

A great read.
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The Eastern practice of yoga has become a modern-day symbol of peace, serenity and well-being in the West. More than 20 million Americans practice yoga, according to the 2012 Yoga in America study, with practitioners spending more than $10 billion a year on yoga-related products and classes.

The mind-body practice is frequently touted for its ability to reduce stress and boost well-being, but it also offers wide-ranging physical health benefits that rival other forms of exercise. While the scientific research on yoga's health benefits is still young, here's what we know so far about its potential effects on the body. View the infographic below and scroll down for more detailed information.

After Class.

Improved Brain Function. 
Just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga -- an ancient form of the practice that emphasizes physical postures rather than flow or sequences -- can improve cognitive function, boosting focus and working memory. In a University of Illinois study, participants performed significantly better on tests of brain functioning after yoga, as compared to their performance after 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.

Lower Stress Levels. 
Yoga's stress-busting powers may come from its ability to lessen the activity of proteins that are known to play a role in inflammation, according to a study published last year from University of California, Los Angeles researchers.

Alter Gene Expression. 
A small Norwegian study suggested that yoga's many healthy benefits might come from its ability to alter gene expression in immune cells.

Increased Flexibility. 
A recent Colorado State University study found that Bikram yoga -- a form of yoga in which a series of 26 postures are performed for 90 minutes in a heated room -- is linked with increased shoulder, lower back and hamstring flexibility, as well as greater deadlift strength and decreased body fat, compared with a control group.

After A Few Months.

Lower Blood Pressure. 
People with mild to moderate hypertension might benefit from a yoga practice, as a study from University of Pennsylvania researchers found that it could help to lower their blood pressure levels. Researchers found that people who practiced yoga had greater drops in blood pressure compared with those who participated in a walking/nutrition/weight counseling program.

Improved Lung Capacity. 
A small 2000 Ball State University study found that practicing Hatha yoga for 15 weeks could significantly increase vital lung capacity, which is the maximum amount of air exhaled after taking a deep breath. Vital lung capacity is one of the components of lung capacity.

Improved Sexual Function. 
A 2009 Harvard study published in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that yoga could boost arousal, desire, orgasm and general sexual satisfaction for women. Yoga can also improve women's sex lives by helping them to become more familiar with their own bodies, according to a review of studies published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, as reported by CNN. 

Reduced Chronic Neck Pain.

A German study published in The Journal of Pain showed that four weeks of practicing Iyengar yoga (a type of Hatha yoga that stresses proper alignment and the use of props) is effective in reducing pain intensity in adults suffering from chronic neck pain.

Anxiety Relief. 
A 2010 Boston University study showed that 12 weeks of yoga could help to reduce anxiety and increase gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels in the brain (low levels of GABA have been linked with depression and anxiety disorders).

Relief from Chronic Back Pain. 
Researchers at West Virginia University found Iyengar Yoga to be more effective in reducing pain and improving mood than standard medical treatment among those with chronic lower back problems.

Steady Blood Sugar Levels in People with Diabetes.
Adding yoga to a typical diabetes care regimen could result in steady blood sugar levels, according to a 2011 Diabetes Care study. Reuters reported that just three months of yoga in addition to diabetes care resulted in a decrease in body mass index, as well as no increases in blood sugar levels.

Improved Sense of Balance. 
Practicing an Iyengar yoga program designed for older adults was found to improve balance and help prevent falls in women over 65, according to a 2008 Temple University study. 

After Years.

Stronger Bones.
A 2009 pilot  study by Dr. Loren Fishman showed that practicing yoga could improve bone density among older adults.

"We did a bone mineral density (DEXA) scan, then we taught half of them the yoga, waited two years, and did another scan,"Fishman previously told The Huffington Post." And not only did these people not lose bone, they gained bone. The ones who didn't do the yoga lost a little bone, as you would expect."

Healthy Weight.
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found an association between a regular yoga practice and decreased weight -- or at least a maintained weight -- among more than 15,000 healthy, middle-aged adults.

"Those practicing yoga who were overweight to start with lost about five pounds during the same time period those not practicing yoga gained 14 pounds," stud researcher Alan Kristal, DPH, MPH told WebMD. 

Lower Risk Of Heart Disease. 

As part of a healthy lifestyle, yoga may lower cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, according to Harvard Health Publications. 

Juicing Greens

My father is obsessed with juicing - fruits and vegetables.
He juices every morning for his family and gets our metabolism on check for the day.

Here are some benefits when juicing greens -

• bone and joints are improved
• improves focus and mental clarity 
• aids in weight loss
• boosts energy
• gives healthier hair, skin and nails
• digestion is improved
• builds a strong immune system
• loaded with nutrition 
• anti-aging 

Parsley & Asthma

Parsley is a great herb which helps relive cough and soothes the throat.
Use it in a tea.
It allows the mucus in the airways to be coughed out.

A Handful of Sunflower Seeds

A handful of sunflower seeds a day can lower cholesterol, are anti-inflammatory and has a great source of magnesium.

Natural Skin Remedies

Your face is the first thing a person sees when interacting with you.
There are 20,000 pores on the face.
Majority of the face products that are sold are chemical based which definitely clears the skin to an extent, but in the long run will cause some problem.
I have been putting lemon juice all over my face for about a month now before bed time.  And it's definitely looking good.
Below are some natural skin remedies for you all to try.
Take one from below and apply all over the face once a day, twice a day for better results.

Lemons - removes the skin of dead cells
Turmeric - lightens blemishes and pigmentation
Cucumber - prevents pimples, blackheads, wrinkles and dry skin
Coconut - wash your face with coconut water - your face will be blemish free
Neem - gets rid of pimples and cleans out pores

Dark Chocolate Lovers

Lately, I've been wanting dark chocolate every day, especially Kit Kat dark chocolate - it's great.

After knowing the benefits of dark chocolate, having a couple of these kit kat bars everyday makes me happy! 

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Signs & Symptoms of Undigested Food Particles

If you have experienced any of these below, then the food you're eating is not getting digested.
Below are some signs and symptoms of undigested food particles -

• blocked channels
• deranged strength
• heaviness
• laziness
• indigestion
• repeated spitting
• constipation/obstruction of excreta
• no taste for food
• mental and physical fatigue
• dullness
• pain in joints
• white coating on tongue 

Tip Of The Day - For Kids!

Did you know, if you give your child 2 of the Cuties, Clementines or the Citrus tangerine/oranges - it is equal to 300 grams of Vitamin C.  And because of it's natural vitamins, it helps rid the child from any coughs, colds and flu.  Stock up for your kids this winter.  I know I have for my nephew and niece!

How To Determine If An Egg Is Fresh

This is pretty interesting!

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Kale

As you all already know, my mother makes us all eat healthy by giving us a variety of fresh vegetables everyday!
We've been eating a lot of kale.
And it's delicious!
Especially the many different ways my mom cooks it.
Here's why we have kale once a week.

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Cabbage

I eat all my vegetables.
As an Indian, we sure do eat all types of vegetables and my mother cooks them all!
Cabbage is my least favorite so my mom always makes something else along with that.
But I just learned that the sulfur in cabbage gives you radiant skin and hair.
Bring on the cabbage mom!!!

Cloves & Toothache

I had a check up at the dentist today and all looks well.

My dentist asked if I was feeling any discomfort or pain anywhere in my mouth especially the teeth.

I said no, but if I were to what can I do.

He said I can use Orajel or Anbesol.

These medicines can cause allergic reactions and other side effects. 

That's when I told him about cloves and if used properly it can relieve toothache! 

Cloves have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anesthetic properties that help relieve tooth pain.  

You can chew on a clove to release tooth pain or use clove oil around the teeth and gums. 

Ginger - The Natural Pain Killer

I recently had someone reach out to me asking what he can do naturally to relive some joint and muscular pain.

Here's what I recommended -

Believe it or not - ginger reduces joint pain and inflammation.  The antioxidants in ginger reduces the production of pro-inflammatory compounds in the joints.

It can be used in different ways - 

- add a good amount of ginger in your meals

- chop 2 inches of fresh ginger - add a quart of water and let boil - add a pinch of sugar if needed and drink 2-3 cups daily

- finely grate ginger and mix about a tablespoon into a small cup of sesame oil (since it's Vata season).  Massage in clockwise motion to the affected area.  Best to do before shower and before bedtime - rinse off lightly if massaging before bed 

- take ginger tablets daily 

- make fresh ginger tea - boil a cup of water and grate some fresh ginger in the water as it boils

Sinus Relief Remedy

The weather is changing.
Our bodies are changing.
We are the universe and the universe is us.
Here's a great sinus relief remedy that can help during the weather change in and around us.

• 1 cup of boiled hot water
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 1 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 pinch of turmeric powder
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper 
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 

Drink this mixture a couple of times a day.

It will help improve your sinus symptoms, break up congestion and kill pathogens. 

Did You Know.

20 Things To Start Doing In Your Relationships

Greetings.

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends. 

Here's something that we all should practice with those we surround ourselves with.

I can definitely resonate with this.

A Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.
Here are some tips to follow that will make you feel good -

• have some breakfast before the thanksgiving feast begins - by having breakfast, you'll having some control during the thanksgiving feast
• have fruits instead of pies and ice cream
• drink water instead of sodas and alcohol
• use spices and herbs instead of salt and sugar
• favor milk over heavy cream
• whole wheat flour is better than white flour 
• make sure half of your plate has some vegetables 
• go for a nice walk 2 hours before eating if possible - this will help boost your metabolism and digestion before the big feast
• organic turkey is best
• watch your portions
• drink a few glasses of room temperature water 2 hours before the feast 

Eating Colors For Health

I love this!

The Amazing Health Benefits of Pomegranates

No wonder my father gets 6 at a time!

Besides being nutritious fruit rich in antioxidants, pomegranate has been considered as a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life for centuries, and is especially popular for its juice, seeds and oil.

Records of pomegranate can be found in many cultures and religions, and pomegranate is considered to be one of the oldest fruit trees known to mankind.

Most studies confirm that it is one of the world’s most healing fruits due to its useful impact on cardiovascular, nervous and bone structure.

Pomegranate contains large amounts of vitamin C, it is an excellent source of vitamin B5, potassium, organic acids and sugar.  Nutrients found in pomegranate inhibit the growth of breast, prostate and colon cancer, leukemia, and prevent changes that encourage tumor growth.

It has been proven that a glass of pomegranate juice daily has a stronger antioxidant effect than a glass of red wine or green tea. 

Pomegranate juice helps reducing the risk of some types of cancer, protects against osteoporosis, improves immune system, protects your teeth, destroys bacteria such as Escherichia coli and staphylococci.

For better immunity, experts advise consuming 2.5 deciliters of fresh pomegranate juice.

Also, pomegranate is rich in phytoestrogens that facilitate menopause and pre-menopause symptoms, mood swings, night sweats and lack of libido.

The use of pomegranate in household is wide-ranging, it is used in preparing cookies, syrups, juices, liqueurs, wine, vinegar and tea.

Pomegranate oil is ideal for massage and can be used orally and locally. It is used in production of ​​soaps, luxurious face cosmetics and other beauty products.

Kapha Pacifying Diet

Is your kapha out of balance?
Here's what you can do to pacify your kapha.

Favor the Following Foods -

General - lighter diet.  Dry, warm foods and warm drinks.  Pungent, bitter, astringent tastes.

Grains - old grains, barley, millet, corn, buckwheat, rye, oats, wheat, quinoa, cous cous.

Beans/Daal - all except tofu

Vegetables - green leafy vegetables, asparagus, artichoke, potato, carrot cabbage, beet root (small amounts), cauliflower, broccoli, celery, peas, pepper, sprouts, white pumpkin, zucchini, okra (only dry fried, non-slimy preparation), green papaya, tomato, tender eggplant, tender radish.

Dairy - lassi and buttermilk, low fat milk, small mounts of ghee and while milk

Sweeteners - honey

Oils - mustard, corn, sesame, all in small amounts

Nuts & seeds - sunflower and pumpkin

Spices & condiments - all except salt; especially pungent and sharp spices (pepper, ginger, cumin, etc.), lemon juice in small amounts

Fruits - pomegranate, apple, pear, papaya, jambu, grapes, persimmon, cranberry, raisins, figs, dates (best with honey), peaches, guava.

Avoid or reduce the following foods -

General - large quantities of food, especially at night.  Unctuous, cold, heavy food; sweet, sour and salty tastes

Grains - new grains, especially wheat and rice

Beans - tofu (soy beans)

Vegetables - sweet potatoes, tapioca, other tubers

Dairy - yogurt, cream, butter, whole milk, and ghee in large quantities

Sweeteners - sugar cane products

Nuts - all nuts

Spices & condiments - Salt

Fruits - avocado, banana, pineapple, orange, melon, plum, prunes, mango, coconut, apricot

Pitta Pacifying Diet

Is your pitta out of balance?
Here's what you can do to pacify Pitta.

Favor the following foods -

General - Food not too hot.  Cool or luke warm drinks according to preference.  Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes.

Grains - wheat, rice, barley, oats.

Beans - yellow mung daal, small kidney beans, soy bean products

Vegetables - asparagus, artichokes, white pumpkin, okra (lady fingers), zucchini, spinach, chard, kale, chicory (bitter vegetable), cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, celery, potatoes, peas, green sweet pepper, green papaya, sprouts, lettuce, daikon (white carrot), tender eggplant.

Dairy - ghee, milk, butter, sweet buttermilk, sweet lassi, cream, cream cheese

Sweeteners - white or semi-refined sugar, honey in small amounts when person is not afflicted with heat.

Oils - coconut, olive, sunflower

Spices & condiments - coriander, cumin, ginger (in small amounts), turmeric, saffron, fennel, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon juice

Fruits - grapes, pomegranate, cashew, banana, avocado, mango, coconut, melons, apples, pears, raisins, dates figs, apricot, sweet orange, sweet pineapple, persimmon, papaya (small amounts), kiwi fruit.

Avoid or reduce the following -

General - pungent, sour and salty tastes

Grains - millet, corn, buckwheat, rye.

Beans - adzuki beans

Vegetables - tomatoes, beet root, carrots, radish, hot peppers, raw onions.

Dairy - sour milk products, yogurt, cheese (especially old and salty), salty butter, quark, sour cream.

Sweeteners - molasses, brown sugar.

Oils - almond, corn, safflower, sesame.

Nuts - all (except coconut)

Seeds - all except sunflower and pumpkin

Spices & condiments - chili pepper, cayenne, black pepper, mustard seeds, cloves, celery seeds fenugreek

Fruits - papaya, grapefruit, olive, sour orange, peach, sour grape, sour pineapple, berries, cranberries, prunes

Vata Pacifying Diet

Is your vata of balance?
Here's what you can do to pacify Vata.

Favor the following foods -  

General - sufficient quantity, unctuous food, warm food and drinks.  Sweet, sour and salty tastes.

Grains - wheat products, rice (whole rice is best), cooked oat flakes in small amounts.

Beans/Daal - yellow mung beans (green skin removed)

Vegetables - white pumpkin, zucchini, okra (lady fingers), artichokes, asparagus, tender eggplant, carrot, beet root, sweet potatoes with fat, tomato, cucumber, tender radish, celery, green papaya spinach in small amounts.

Dairy - All dairy products, cheese should be soft and fresh.

Oils - All

Nuts & Seeds - All except peanuts, seeds in small amounts.

Spices & condiments - cumin, ginger, mustard seeds, fenugreek, hinge (asafoetida), cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, anise, fennel, black pepper (small amounts), salt, lemon juice, tamarind.  All others in small amounts.

Fruits - ripe, sweet and juicy fruits.  Dried fruit is better soaked.  Sweet grapes, pomegranate (sweet and sour), mango, papaya, sweet pineapple, banana, avocado, sweet and juicy apples and pears, sweet oranges, melons, plums, cherries, raisins, dates, prunes, figs, kiwi fruit, peach, apricot.

Avoid or reduce the following foods -

General - light and dry foods.  Cold foods and drinks.  Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

Grains - barley, corn, millet, rye, buckwheat, raw oats.

Beans - all except yellow mung beans and red lentils

Vegetables - large quantity of green leafy vegetables, orange pumpkin and squash, peas, potato, sprouts, mature eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery.

Fruits - unripe, dry sour fruits.  guava, jambu, cashew, cranberries, persimmon (dried), chicory.

Seven Side Effects of Soda

We need to STOP!

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Tip Of The Day

Cucumbers should not be taken much with food because it takes the meal a longer time to digest.

What Your Urine Says About Your Health

You would be surprised by how much information can be gleaned from the urine that you produce each day (one to two quarts, on average). For example, the simple “dipstick” urine test that doctors often use to check for a urinary tract infection also can help them diagnose kidney disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions. But there is more.

What you may not realize: If you know what to look for, you can tell a lot about your health just by being aware of the physical characteristics of your urine—such as color, smell and frequency. What to watch out for…

COLOR

When you’re healthy and drinking enough water, your urine should be mainly clear or straw-colored with just a hint of yellow. The yellow color comes from urochrome, a pigment produced by the breakdown of a protein in red blood cells.

Urine is naturally darker in the morning because you don’t drink water while you sleep. If a color change persists, however, it could be a problem. For example…

Brown or dark brown. Pay attention if your urine is dark for more than a week.

What this usually means: Liver disease. The liver normally breaks down and excretesbilirubin, a pigment that’s produced by the turnover of red blood cells. Patients with liver disease accumulate bilirubin. This initially will cause jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. As more bilirubin accumulates, it can cause the urine to become brown. A combination of dark-colored urine and jaundice means that liver disease might be getting worse. See your doctor right away.

Dark-colored urine also can be a side effect of some antibiotics, laxatives and muscle relaxants. Eating large amounts of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe can cause brown urine as well. In some cases, dark-colored urine can signal kidney failure.

Red or pink. Urine that’s tinged with red or pink could simply mean that you have been eating beets. (The medical term for beet-induced urine changes is beeturia). Or it could mean that you’re urinating blood.

The amount of blood will affect the color. If the urine resembles cabernet wine, you’re bleeding a lot…urine that’s pinkish or just slightly red contains only traces of blood. A microscopic amount of blood won’t be visible—it can be detected only with a laboratory test.

What this usually means: Blood in the urine is always a problem. Make an appointment to see your doctor. If you see blood and it also hurts when you urinate, you could have an infection—in the urethra, bladder or kidney or even a malignancy in the bladder, for example. Bleeding without pain also can indicate these conditions.

Green. Though rare, a person’s urine can turn a greenish color.

What this usually means: Green urine can appear when you’ve consumed a chemical dye—from food coloring, for example, or from taking medications such as amitriptyline(Elavil), an antidepressant, or indomethacin (Indocin), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In some cases, urine with a greenish tint can signal a urinary tract infection with certain bacteria (such as pseudomonas) that affect the color.

If your urine is greenish, increase fluid intake to see if it clears. If it doesn’t in two days, see your doctor or a urologist.

ODOR

If you’re healthy, your urine should be highly diluted, consisting of about 95% water, with only small amounts of dissolved chemical compounds and metabolic by-products. It typically has no—or only a faint—odor.

Of course everyone is familiar with the effect that asparagus and some other foods, such as onions or fish, have on the smell of one’s urine. This strong “rotten” smell is due to the chemical compounds in certain foods, particularly molecules that are not completely broken down by the body. The smell usually disappears within a day or so.

Some other less common urine smells include…

Ammonia-like. If your urine is concentrated, with a larger-than-normal amount of urea (a chemical compound in urine), you might smell an aroma that resembles ammonia. Or you might just notice that it has a stronger smell than usual.

What this usually means: Dehydration. The less water you drink, the higher the concentration of urea and other substances—and the stronger the smell. You can diagnose this yourself by drinking, say, one extra glass of water an hour for several hours to add water to your urine. The strong urine smell will probably disappear within a few hours. If it does not, see your doctor.

Foul-smelling. If your urine smells foul or unusual in any way for more than a few days, pay attention to the odor.

What this usually means: If it’s not caused by a food that you’ve eaten, it could signal an infection in the bladder or kidneys. Less often, it’s due to a metabolic disorder that reduces the body’s ability to fully break down foods during digestion.

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause an abnormally sweet odor, and penicillin can cause a distinctive medicinal odor.

Even if you have no other symptoms, such as pain while urinating, but your urine continues to have an unusually strong smell for more than a couple of days, talk to your doctor.

FOAMY OR BUBBLY

It’s natural to see foam in the toilet when you really have to go and have a heavy stream. But urine that’s consistently foamy or bubbly could mean that you’re losing protein.

What this usually means: Kidney disease. Large amounts of protein in the urine is one of the main signs of chronic kidney disease. See your doctor right away.

MUCUS OR CLOUDY

Mucus in urine could indicate inflammation in the urinary tract.

What this usually means: Urinary tract infection. See your doctor.

Cloudy urine also can be related to infection but often is just an indication that your urine is alkaline, which is harmless at low levels.

VOLUME AND FREQUENCY

The average adult typically urinates four to eight times in 24 hours. A change in the frequency of your urinary habits, including getting up more than twice a night to urinate, or an increase or decrease in the amount that you urinate, warrants attention.

What this usually means: An increase in the frequency of urination, along with an increase in volume, is one of the telltale signs of diabetes.

If the amount of urine seems the same but you’re urinating more often, you could have a urinary tract infection. If this is the case, you’ll probably have very strong urges to urinate even when just a small amount comes out.

Frequency of urination and/or urinary urgency in the absence of a urinary tract infection can indicate an overactive bladder.

In men, enlargement of the prostate gland can trigger urinary urgency. Patients with neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, can also have this symptom.

Don’t worry if there’s been a decrease in the amount or frequency of urination. You probably just need to drink more water. If this doesn’t help, see your doctor.

Source: Jonathan M. Vapnek, MD, a urologist and clinical associate professor of urology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. A member of the American Urological Association, he’s been named by New York Magazine as one of New York City’s best urologists. Dr. Vapnek has authored or coauthored more than 35 papers on urological topics.

Why India Is The World's Fastest Growing Wellness Tourism

Even before the Beatles went on their famous pilgrimage to Rishikesh with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1969, India has been a popular travel destination for American tourists seeking serenity and spiritual growth. But in recent years, wellness travel to India has exploded.

Mia Farrow, Steve Jobs, and Oprah are just a few of the many Westerners who have flocked to India for life-changing trips to visit meditation retreats and spiritual sites. Now, the southeast asian country is the fastest-growing wellness travel destination, with a projected 22 percent annual growth rate. In comparison, the United States -- the leading country for wellness travel -- has an average annual growth rate of 5.8 percent.

Wellness travel -- any tourism associated with the goal of maintaining or enhancing one's personal well-being -- is now a $439 billion industry worldwide within the $3.2 trillion global tourism industry, representing 14 percent of all tourism spending. It's estimated to have a trillion dollars worth of economic impact.

"As more people embrace overall healthier lifestyles at home, we are now seeing those behaviors translate and be integrated into their travel and vacation habits," Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO of the Global Spa & Wellness Summit, said in a statement. "For others, vacation provides an escape from the non-stop activities of their daily lives. As these two trends converge, we are seeing many people commit their vacation time and dollars to wellness travel, as evidenced by their increased spending and specific global destination choices."

Spa experiences, healthy eating, opportunities for personal growth, yoga and meditation, fitness, stress reduction and holistic health are among the experiences sought by wellness travelers, according to the 2013 Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report.

Ellis explains that the recent mindfulness boom may be playing a part in attracting more visitors to India.

"India's wellness offerings are very understandable -- they have yoga, meditation and Ayurveda," Ellis tells the Huffington Post. "Right now, those are things that are really resonating with people... the kind of things that people want and need are the things that India is offering."

Since the 2002 "Incredible India" tourism ad campaign, travel to the country has been on a fairly steady rise. The campaign sought to bring higher-yield tourists to India -- the country had long been attracting hikers and travelers staying at low-cost ashrams, but the tourism board knew that if they attracted wealthier tourists, the rest would follow.

And they were right: Using bright colors and promising "thousand-year-old recipes for eternal youth," the campaign generated a 16 percent increase in tourism in its first year.

The country's latest high-profile wellness travelers are Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, who are currently on their first nine-day tour through India. The British royal couple will be touring some of the holy cities and spending time at an ashram in Rishikesh.

Visitors going to India for wellness-based trips will often spend a fair amount of time visiting there, learning about the ancient arts of yoga and meditation, as well as Ayurveda (the Indian "science of life," a system of traditional medicine) on an extended week or two-long trip, according to Ellis.

"To go to India and detox and spend a week and really feel what it's like to be in a state of mindfulness, that's life-changing," says Ellis. "And it would attract the people who have the time and resources to do that."

Several upscale destination spas in India that have become popular among such travelers are Ananda in the Himalayas (a palace that was formerly home to the Maharajah of Tehri-Garhwal) and the Soukya Holistic Health Center in Bangalore, says Ellis.

A growing number of wellness retreats and spas are cropping up across India, from Dharamsala to Mysore, to accommodate the growing demand for holistic health-based travel. Lonely Planet event ranked Sikkim, India one of the top 10 travel destinations for 2014.

Along with India, China, South Korea, Russia and Germany are some of the other top wellness tourism destinations. Still, the U.S. remains the top destination for wellness travel, with $167.1 billion in expenditures and a total of 141.4 million wellness trips taken annually (followed by Germany at 49.3 million).

Tips For Healthy Hair

Tips for healthy hair -

• include lots of leafy green vegetables and sweet juicy fruits
• coconut is best
• favor fresh yogurt, milk, buttermilk, ghee 
• favor seeds, nuts and grains 
• eat less of processed, canned food - no nutrition is given to body and mind
• cumin, turmeric, black pepper are good for the hair - include these spices in your cooking
• stress is a huge factor for hair loss and graying of hair - practice TM or any other meditation technique
• harsh chemicals in hair products is a big NO - it damages the hair - read the labels
• oil massages to the scalp once or twice a week stimulates the hair follicles, provides nourishment to the scalp, stimulates the mind and clears any impurities on the head
• do not comb or brush your hair when wet - more hair will break and fall
• blow drying hair is a big NO - excessive heat damages the hair, is not good for the mind and gives you split ends
• it's good to brush the hair regularly to stimulate the scalp and keeping the hair looking healthy and lustrous! 

Hair Care Remedies - Dandruff & Lice

Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp.

Fenugreek helps with dandruff. 

Take 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds (methi) and soak in water over night.

The next morning, take the seeds and grind them into a paste. 

Apply on scalp.

Let it set for 30-60  minutes.

Wash off.

Lice hair or louse hair are wingless insects that live on human hair and feed on the small blood drawn from the scalp.

Apply onion juice on the scalp 3-4 times a week.

Let it set 30-40 minutes.

Wash off. 

Best Herb For Any Hair Growth

The best and main herb for hair care is Bhringraj.
Take the plant, crush it and make a paste.
Apply paste on scalp.
Let it set for an hour and then wash off.
Recommended to do this for 3 months.
New hair follicles with emerge on bald areas.

Vata Pitta Kapha & Hair Oils

Here's a chart for you to better understand what hair type you have and which oil to use - 

Dosha	Hair type	Hair oil
Vata	frizzy, dark, coarse, easily tangled, split ends	almond or sesame oil - nourishes the scalp and hair
Pitta	brown, blond, silky, oily, premature baldness, premature graying of hair	coconut oil - cooling for pittas and helps with thinning and premature graying
Kapha	thick, heavy, dark or light, wavy, lustrous	sesame or olive oil - olive oil has purifying properties that keeps pores open