Men Secret Health Issues
The popularity of Ayurvedic herbs for penis enlargement is increasing by leaps and bounds with each passing day. Shilajit, an Ayurvedic preparation, is extremely popular in countries such as the US and in the European countries. Several other herbal products such as Vrishya Vati etc. are available which help for both penis enlargement as well as a cure for impotence.

HERBS FOR DIABETES-
These are –
1.Saptrangi – Salacia oblonga
2.Vizaysaar – Pterocarpus marsupium
3.Gurmaar – Gymnema sylvestrae
4.Jamun – Syzigium cumini
5.Bilva Leaves- trees of Aegle marmelos
6.Karela – Momordica charanatia
7.Methi – Trigonella foenum graecum
8.Neem – Azadirachta indica
9.Tulsi – Ocimum office
10. Daruhaldi – Berberis aristata
11. Haridra – Curcuma longa
12. Sadabahar- Vinca rosea
13.Amla – Emblica officinalis


1. Saptrangi – Salacia oblonga
This is a fantastic remedy for diabetes. It is a hierarchy whose bark is effective popular scheming diabetes. It is extensively considered all the rage the western herbal schools, except clothed in Ayurveda it is living being worn because ages. The herb comprise been bring into being headed for comprise diabetes scheming properties.
2. Vijaysaar – Pterocarpus marsupium
This is a cumbersome hierarchy whose bark is self-same beneficial for diabetes. The bark of the hierarchy is ended hooked on a impassive flute afterward the flute is termed being “The miracle cure for diabetes”. a number of irrigate is reserved all the rage the impassive flute overnight in addition to is consumed beforehand daylight next to diabetes patients. The dye of the run changes headed for chocolate also flute is altered past more or less 1 month at what time the run dye does not change. Diabetes hold contains wring of bark of this miracle tree.
3. Gurmaar- Gymnema sylvestrae-
all the rage Hindi language, ‘Gur’ wealth darling after that ‘Maar’ entail Kill. Gurmaar wealth “The baby killer”. It is a wrap around with the intention of is acknowledged because ages clothed in Ayurveda for its baby scheming properties. topical studies illustrate with the intention of it contains Gymnemic acid molecules liable for its anti-diabetic action. They attach in the midst of glucose molecules popular the guts in addition to inhibit their entrance hooked on the blood stream. along these lines it is effective clothed in scheming baby levels.
4. Jamun – Syzigium cumini-
It is a accepted fruit hierarchy emergent mad popular plains of India. The seeds of this hierarchy are dried cheery with at that moment a powder is ended of them. The powder of the seeds of Jamun fruit is self-same effective popular scheming darling levels. It is contracting popular nibble which is contrary headed for sweet. whatever thing contracting popular nibble is of use for diseases caused via too much lovability comparable corpulence moreover diabetes.
5. Bilva – Aegle marmelos-
This hierarchy has three trees concurrently taking place its branches. whichever hierarchy who has recipe of three trees is well thought-out clothed in Ayurveda to the same degree divine then seat of lady Brahma, Vishnu with Mahesh. The trees are untaken all Mondays popular Shiva temples. This fruit of this hierarchy is beneficial popular short-tempered bowel syndrome. The trees of Bilva are first-rate for diabetes. The trees are dried also powder is ended with varied together with additional herbs for top results.
6. Karela – Momordica charanatia-
The juice of this fruit is a miracle popular treating moreover preventing diabetes also its complications. 30 ml of Karela juice all daylight vacant stomach is optional for greatest results. It bottle be in use down by Amla juice for outshine results, because Amla is full popular unaffected vitamin C next is additionally effective popular diabetes. Karela contains organic chromium along with additional micronutrients, but Amla is and creamy popular organic anti-oxidants comparable vitamin C moreover others.
7. Methi- Trigonella-foenum-graecum-
because ages Fenugreek is living being worn in the function of a medicine popular India, Egypt, medium east also additional antediluvian civilizations. Fenugreek has first-rate properties headed for convey baby levels when fine in the same way as cholesterol levels underneath control. The seed powder of Methi is worn headed for worse timetabled darling levels. It bottle be varied together with herbs described above.
8. Neem – Azadirachta indica-
Azadirachtin, Nimbin after that Nimbidin are effective alkaloids bring into being all the rage neem. They ham it up not solitary for instance blood purifiers except what’s more wheel baby raze to the ground self-same effectively. Neem is what’s more of use popular countless skin diseases comparable eczema, psoriasis, rashes. The skin diseases connected in the midst of diabetes too counter headed for this herb quickly. It moreover helps all the rage defrayal missing the blocked channels furthermore maintains the current of fury commencing in the liver furthermore improves liver function.
9.Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum-
It is commonly recognized in the same way as ‘The Holy Basil’ is a sacred bury according headed for Hindu mythology. ancestors clothed in India worship this bury being it has tremendous medical properties. expected manipulate of trees of this bury wheel blood baby levels self-same effectively. It is moreover of use all the rage countless types of cancers, viral furthermore bacterial infections, sore throat, cough after that chill etc.
10.Daruhaldi – Berberis aristata-
This is a bulb emergent generally popular South India. The roots of this herb are in use outdated as well as grinded well. The herb powder stimulates pancreas headed for pump extra insulin hooked on blood. It too helps clothed in preventing insulin resistance amongst cells. It acts in the same way as a waterway icebreaker for glucose hooked on the cells. This moreover purifies the blood.
11.Haridra- Curcuma longa-
This is self-same accepted herb as well as is usually called Turmeric. Turmeric powder is an effective anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory after that individual of the greatest unaffected anti-diabetic. It factory popular the similar route in the same way as Berberis aristata. It helps clothed in purifying the blood, waterway opener, helps popular sinking the insulin resistance after that along these lines creation the street for glucose hooked on the cells.
12.Sadabahar- Vinca rosea-
It is each time peak plant, emergent just about popular all accommodation clothed in India. It is recognized to the same degree periwinkle clothed in English. The bury contains self-same precious alkaloids ‘ vincristine’ after that ‘vinblastine’ which are worn clothed in allopathic medicine being anti-cancer injections. The herb trees are self-same beneficial all the rage scheming the diabetes. The herb trees are assorted by additional herbs described higher than headed for find nice results.
13.Amla – Emblica officinalis –
Amla is world’s richest organic find of vitamin C along with is nature’s super anti-oxidant. individual amla contains 30 era extra vitamin C than an orange. It prevents ageing along with thus delayes the inception of complications of diabetes. Amla powder, Amla juice bottle be consumed frequently headed for progress the settlement all the rage diabetes as a consequence additional diseases.

‘Rasayanas’ can stretch life span
(deccan Chronical Report)

Hyderabad, July 10: Rasayanas or herbal preparations mentioned in the ancient ayurvedic texts — Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita — are capable of fighting ageing and increasing longevity, reveals a pioneering experiment on the common fruit fly, Drosophila.
Drosophila and human beings share 13,601 common genes and most of the experimental results obtained from the fruit fly can be extrapolated on humans. Ayurveda doctors at the Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore, have proved that the life span of Drosophila can be extended by almost half through administration of ayurvedic rasayana. Doctors from Uppsala University, Sweden, also collaborated in the work.
The life span of Drosophila melanogaster increased between 51 and 55 per cent when it was fed with a standard rasayana preparation, suitably adapted for insects.
A Drosophila fly normal lives for minimum of 40 days to maximum of 53 days. In the experiment, the life span of the fruit fly shot up to 81 days to 91 days. Every fruit fly fed with the ayurvedic rasayana had an increased life span of minimum 28 days.
“Rasayana' forms the seventh of eight subdivisions of ayurveda’s earliest extant text, Charaka Samhita. Sushruta says rasayan ‘reverses naturally occurring senility’ (swabhava vyadhi nivarana) and so ‘prevents death’ (marana nivarana), further indicating that rasayanas are considered ‘Special herbal formulations’ conceived through prolonged consideration of their components,” said Dr S. Priyadarshini, the assistant professor.

12 Indian foods that cut fat

You don't have to acquire a taste for olive oil, seaweed or soya to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet. Indian cuisine can be healthy too, if it's cooked with oil and ingredients that take care of your heart and health. Ayurveda suggests you include all tastes - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent - in at least one meal each day, to help balance unnatural cravings. Here are 12 foods/ingredients that can help you lose weight and gain health:


Turmeric: Curcumin, which is the active component of turmeric, is now an object of research thanks to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake of curcumin may also help to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting thereby helping to prevent heart attack.
Cardamom: The Indian spice is known as a thermogenic herb, one that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. In Ayurveda, cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.
Chillies: Foods containing chillies are considered to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.
Curry leaves: Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can also help with your weight loss plan. These leaves are known to flush out fat and toxins, thereby reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.
Garlic: One of the most effective fat-burning foods, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.
Mustard oil: The pungent-tasting oil has low saturated fat as compared to other cooking oils. It basically consists of fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It has antioxidant and cholesterol-reducing properties and is good for the heart. It is also loaded with essential vitamins.
Cabbage: Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.
Moong dal: The bean sprouts contain rich quantities of Vitamin A, B, C and E and are an excellent source of many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. The dal is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programmes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fiber content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.
Honey: It is a home remedy for obesity. Honey mobilises the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.
Buttermilk: Leave cola, drink buttermilk. The traditional homemade buttermilk is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake of buttermilk provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add many fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss.
Millets: Fiber-rich foods such as millets - jowar, bajra, ragi, etc - absorb cholesterol and help increase the secretion of the bile that emulsifies fats.
Cinnamon and cloves: Used extensively in Indian cooking, the spices have been found to improve the function of insulin and to lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.
Eisha Sarkar[Mumbai Mirror]
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You can read more about weight management by Ayurveda & Yoga in our ebook - 'Losing weight with Ayurveda and Yoga'

Ayurveda? For My Thyroid? What Is It & What Does It Have to Do with Me?
Post Published: 02 September 2010
Author: Dear Thyroid
Category: Ayurveda? For My Thyroid? What Is It & What Does It Have to Do with Me?, Guest Bloggers
This post currently has 3 responses. Leave a comment


I’m always interested in the following question: How can I revive my thyroid beyond what is offered by conventional medicine? Let’s toss around this question together as part of integrating western medicine with Eastern wisdom traditions such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Often the integration part become arcane and my eyes glaze over as I read monotonous tombs of information on these ancient systems. So, let’s try to keep this lively and accessible.

Today: Ayurveda, or “knowledge of life,” — an ancient healing system that acts as a sister science to yoga. I’m a yoga teacher but not an Ayurvedic Physician – please keep that in mind as you read my words. I have been a student of yoga for 30+ years, and a student of Ayurveda for only 10 years. Ayurveda is based on understanding your constitution and imbalances, with the goal of manifesting your optimal health and wellbeing but customized to you and your uniqueness.

OK, but why is Ayurveda actually interesting to me, a 43-year-old mom with no free time and little patience for an archaic system of healing? Well, Ayurveda initially captured my attention because it fills a gap we encounter in Western medicine: Ayurveda actually engages with not simply the medical science but also with the nature, scope and purpose of life. Ayurveda’s basic tenet is that the purpose of life is to express divinity in our daily experience.

Hmmm, say more.

Ayurveda believes that the original cause of disease is forgetting our true nature, as my current guide, Jessie Holland, puts it. With Ayurveda, our goal is to keep our body healthy so we can fulfill our dharma or purpose. This happens with reprioritizing the environment, philosophically, and also balancing the five basic elements (air, water, ether, fire, earth); or put more specifically, with herbs, food, how you eat, how you perceive stress and configure your life.

Let’s circle back to the practical info on the thyroid and what Ayurveda offers.

One Ayurvedic herb I use a lot in my practice is ashwagandha, which regulates both the adrenals and the thyroid. It is known as an adrenal double adaptogen, meaning that it helps tonify your cortisol levels – so that your cortisol doesn’t get too high or too low. Ashwadandha can make your thyroid make more thyroid hormone, and in folks who take thyroid aumentation, particularly Synthroid, I recommend starting with a quarter- or half-dose.

What about iodine? Here’s one of my favorite Ayurvedic therapies for those with hypothyroidism: bladderwrack (or as I like to call it: bladderwhack). What’s especially thrilling about bladderwrack is that it’s TONIFYING, meaning that it not only lifts your thyroid function – it acts in an adaptogenic fashion. Here are more details on bladderwrack, paraphrased from my favorite online medical journal, Wikipedia: Bladderwrack helps women with abnormal menstrual cycling, at doses of 700-1400 mg/day, and has been demonstrated to decrease estradiol levels (so it helps correct estrogen dominance, referred to in my previous posts). Care must be taken in people with hyperthyroidism – excess doses can cause tremor, increased pulse, high blood pressure.

Another herb is suggested for some with hypothyroidism: shilajit, which is considered to be divine nectar given to mankind to live youthfully. Shilajit increases our vitality when it has withered as a result of stress and anxiety. While it is literally translated as an herb that allows you to conquer mountains and destroy weakness, more physiologically, it helps with movement of minerals – specifically calcium, phosphorus and magnesiu, which is often derailed in thyroid dysfunction.

Some of the Ayurvedic texts are rather impenetrable. Here’s an example from Textbook of Ayurveda by Vasant Lad, noted Ayurvedic scholar and Director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico (note: agni refers to your “fire” or “radiant energy”):

“Jatru agni. There are two schools of thought about jatru agni. One says this refers to urdhva (upper) jatru granthi (the thyroid gland), which maintains metabolism. Another says it is adha (lower) jatru granthi (the thymus gland), which maintains immunity. I like to make it simple and say jatru agni refers to both. These glands of the endocrine system are part of majja dhatu, so they are related to the chakra system. Jatru agni in the thyroid is important for regulating cellular metabolic activity. The thyroid is a bridge between bhuta agni and the seven tissues, maintaining the functional integrity of the bhuta agni and dhatu agni. The agni present within the thyroid relates to T3 and T4 hormones and it kindles agni at the cellular level. Cellular metabolic activities are governed by jatru agni and, if jatru agni in the thyroid is sluggish, a person’s metabolism becomes slow and they easily put on weight. If jatru agni is hyperactive, a person loses weight at the beginning, but the increased appetite can make the person eat a lot and their weight can vary. If there are certain repressed emotions, such as grief, or sadness, these can also impair the function of the thyroid gland.”

Huh? I get the part about the repressed emotions, and love that aspect of Ayurveda – that undigested emotions result in disease – but the stuff on jatru, bhuta and dhatu agni is completely opaque. Someone explain it to me, please.

In Ayurveda, here are the foods that are good for those of us with thyroid problems: old rice, barley, mung dal, cucumber, and milk products are recommended (assuming you’re not allergic). Sour and heavy substances are contraindicated.

Another favorite recommendation from Ayurveda, which sends me into a happy dance, is coconut oil. According to Ayurveda, coconut oil offers promise today to sufferers of hypothyroidism and slow metabolism. Fatty acid chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer worthy health benefits and not found more abundantly in nature outside coconut oil. For my hypothyroid friends, coconut oil may help rev up your sluggish metabolism. I drizzle one tablespoon on my vegetables at lunch, and use it to cook. I especially like Spectrum’s spray coconut oil for cooking.

It’s been a rapid tour of what Ayurveda offers your thyroid, and just the very tip of the iceberg, but hopefully this post will have you thinking outside of the box about other ways of tonifying your thyroid.

Written by, Dr. Sara Gottfried

Read more about Ayurvedic management of thyroid in our ebook - Ayurvedic Management of thyroid Disorders.

Sinusitis is just not a simple headache that you may experience occasionally. It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the sinus cavities behind the forehead, cheekbones and between and behind the eyes. While an occasional attack is understandable, there are many people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. The reasons could be a weak immune system, environmental pollution, allergies caused by pollen, wheat and dairy products, or intolerance to strong fragrances and perfumes.

Miracle Herbs:
While severe cases require the administration of antibiotics, you cannot use them for a lifetime. The best way to stave off recurrent sinus attacks is to boost the immune system by including some miracle foods in your diet. Some of these are:

Ginger: Ginger is critical in fighting colds, coughs, sinus and bronchial infections. Since it has antioxidants, ginger inhibits the formation of inflammatory compounds and helps to reduce swelling and pain.

Black pepper: It is very effective in preventing bacterial infections in the mouth, colon, digestive system and urinary tract. In fact, it disinfects foods in which it is added and infuses them with its protective properties. A concoction prepared with black pepper, clove, ginger, tulsi leaves and cinnamon, can serve as an effective
remedy for sinusitis. You can add some honey to it for flavour.

Pimpli: Pimpli is a traditional Ayurvedic herb sourced from roots and fruits of the pimpli plant. It helps to relieve cough, cold and sinusitis. It is also useful to treat chronic bronchitis, asthma and diseases of the spleen.
Combination of powders of these three herbs is called "Trikatu choorna" and is very useful in these conditions.
You can get it here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/paypalstore/choorna.html

Growing Basil For Its Excellent Health, Medicinal Benefits and Ayurvedic Remedies
Basil is also known as “Sacred Tulsi” or “Holy Basil”. It is cultivated and known for around 5000 years. The tropical regions of Asia, Iran and India were the producers and consumers of basil for a long time till it became a popular herb thanks to the extremely beneficial properties of basil.

Brief meditative exercise helps cognition

Brief meditative exercise helps cognition
Read more about Yoga(meditative exercise) here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/yoga/yoga.html

Greatly Relieve Your Daily Stress with Tulsi Tea
(NaturalNews) Tulsi tea originated in India and the tropical regions of Asia over 5,000 years ago. This herbal wonder is respected and honored for its rich antioxidant and adaptogenic properties, both of which are beneficial to reducing stress and promoting mental clarity. Commonly referred to as Holy Basil, this sacred plant is a principle herb in India's holistic health practice of Ayurveda.

Ayurved sure cure for heart ailments: US experts
Times News Network

Indraprasth - Medical experts in the US have turned to
Ayurved after findings that India's alternative system
of healing can make a dent in the heart attack rates.

Baffled by the fact that enormous resources and latest
medical technology have failed to lower the incidence of
cardio-vascular diseases, they have come here to explore
possibilities of productive research in herbal medicine.

"We are bringing the technology to promote the medicine
system of an ancient civilisation," says Robert
Schneider, one of the 15 American experts currently
participating in a workshop along with the Ayurved
practitioners here.

What brought the focus on the Indian healing system was a
paper in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart
Association, which claimed that with meditation one could
open up the clogged heart arteries.

Global Ayurveda Summit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with the Ayush (Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Sidha and Homoeopathy), Union Government and the State Government will organise a global ayurveda summit from March 24 to 26 at Hotel Le Meridien in Kochi. The event will have three components; an international conference, exposition and a focused business to business meeting platform.
The conference is the first major international leadership forum with the theme, ‘Global Health Challenges: Ayurveda solutions’, which is expected to have a participation of over 500 industry leaders and experts from India and abroad.
For more information on the summit and registration, log on to www.globalayurvedasummit.in

Indian bitter melon may harbour breast cancer cure

Washington, DC: An extract from bitter melon, a vegetable common in India and known as 'karela' in Hindi, helps trigger a chain of events that kills breast cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying, claims an Indian-origin researcher at Saint Louis University.

Ratna Ray, PhD., professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University and lead researcher, said she was surprised that the extract from the bitter melon she cooks in stir fries inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells.

"To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells," Ray said. "Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread."

Triphala for Cancer patients
Recently, a human clinical research study on an Ayurvedic formulation Triphala Choorna was conducted at Vydehi Institute of Oncology and Research center.

The formulation used is an oral rinsing solution with water and honey. It proved to be effective in treating oral mucosistis (inflammation and ulceration that occurs in the mouth of cancer patients undergoing chemo or radiation therapy.

Method of usage
5gm (01 Tsp.) of Triphala fine powder was mixed in 200ml of water and boiled. The decoction was cooled to room temperature and one teaspoon of honey was mixed with it. The patients were encouraged to rinse vigorously for at least 30 seconds and retain the decoction in the mouth for 3-5 minutes before spitting/swallowing.

Conclusion
The patients who were on regular oral rinse with Triphala did not produce mucositis above grade two until the end of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This has helped them continue radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions without taking any treatment breaks.

Ayurvedic Cooking
Gourmets groan when asked to switch to a health diet as it usually means giving up yummy, tasty stuff for bland food. But not anymore. Ayurveda teaches that you can be healthy even while indulging your taste buds. You can make mouth-watering dishes that are nutritious and healthy too. Most health problems are caused by an improper diet. In Ayurveda every food has its own taste (rasa), a heating or cooling energy (virya) and a digestive consequence (vikapa). You upset your system if you combine foods of different nature such as fruits with milk. Ayurveda teaches a rational way to prepare food keeping in mind the dietary need of the individual based on his or her body type and prakurti (body constitution of vata, pitta and kapha).
The focus of Ayurveda cooking is healing, prevention and health care. Food prepared in Ayurveda style also reduces stress and helps cure heart ailments, diabetes and asthma. Cloves ease toothache, fennel with dry coriander reduces acidity, ginger shoos away the cold and turmeric has antioxidant properties.

Indo-Swedish health week to start from tomorrow

INDIA TO OFFER EXPERTISE IN YOGA AND GENERIC DRUGS
The Indo Swedish week, to commemorate the first anniversary of the signing of the MoU between the two countries,is being observed from 1-5 th February. Ms. Maria Larsson, Hon’ble Minister of Elderly Care and Public Health, Government of the Kingdom of Sweden would leading a delegation.She would also be accompanied by Ms. Karin Johansson, State Secretary to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs,and around 70 delegates from Sweden. The health week would be inaugurated jointly by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Swedish Minister on Monday .

The two countries have their traditional strengths which they would like to share. India would like to offer its expertise in traditional medicines like yoga and ayurveda as well as good quality and cheap generic drugs; while Sweden would like to offer its expertise in the field of diagnostics and medical education.

The two countries have identifed common areas of collaboration for which thematic workshops in six fields viz antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, medical research, health policy research, alcohol policy and adolescent health is being organised at the National Institute of Health and family Wellfare on the 2nd February. Activities for the week are planned at Hyderabad, Bangaluru and Mumbai.

Invite for US experts to learn Ayurveda
Anuradha Mascarenhas(Expressindia.com)

Pune The Union Health Ministry has invited a team of US-based medical experts on January 27 to encourage Indo-US ayurvedic research and give them an opportunity to understand ayurveda and its practice. The government will also send a team of ayurveda experts to US where they will impart lessons of yoga, meditation and oil massage treatments.
The five-day visit will explore the possibilities of introducing evidence-based ayurveda, yoga and meditation in the United States medical education, research and patient care areas and promote research between the two countries under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.

Dr Navin Shah, former president of American Association Physicians of Indian Origin, told The Indian Express via email, that the Health Ministry has invited top medical experts and researchers to New Delhi. Shah will lead the delegation — Dr David Eisenberg, Harvard Medical School, Dr Anastasia Rowland-Seymour, Johns Hopkins University, Dr Benjamin Kligler, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr Aviad Haramati, Georgetown University, Dr Victoria Maizes, University of Arizona and Dr Anne Nedrow, Oregon Health and Science University.

“Under Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), in some of the US medical schools, information is provided on herbal medicine, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. However, no recognised course on ayurveda is taught in the US medical schools,” said Shah.

The presentations will focus on benefits of ayurveda in five major diseases and benefits of five herbs (simple or in combination) in treating various diseases. A special lecture will deal with the role of diet in both health and diseases.

“The team will scrutinise 10 proposals put forth by ayurveda experts for joint Indo-US research. This will help Indian ayurveda institutions and faculties to interact with their US counterparts for research collaborations,” said Shah.

“The National Institute of Health, USA, has also evinced interest in such joint projects,” Shah said adding the delegation will visit Ayurved Medical College and Hospital in Jaipur. India has 150 ayurveda colleges; 50 post-graduate ayurveda institutions; 70,000 students; 10,000 faculty members; and 3,000 ayurveda hospitals.

The delegation will also visit one ayurveda pharma factory to understand the drug formulation, production, preservation, safety, and research areas.

Two ayurveda professors from India will visit six US institutions and provide evidence-based lectures to medical students, faculty members, and the practicing physicians.

Food and mood: Awareness can lead to healthier path

Cindy Sutter Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 10:52:40 AM MST

If you made a New Year's resolution, chances are it had to do with your how you eat -- the perennial No. 1 change people say they would like to make in surveys.

And chances are that almost two weeks into that resolution, you may be wavering a bit when it comes to your healthy intentions. Maybe you feel cranky, irritable and hungry, even though you're eating healthy food and the right number of calories. Or perhaps you just don't feel satisfied by what you're eating, even though you're stomach is full.

That could be because you haven't stuck the right balance between food and mood.

"It's kind of like the chicken and the egg," says Esther Cohen, a nutritionist and holistic wellness coach. "They both have a profound effect on one another."

Nutritionists describe the food-mood cycle of the typical American diet thusly: The day starts with coffee and a high-carbohydrate breakfast, which leads to a mid-day crash, and a hurried lunch, often with more carbs and caffeine. A mid-afternoon crash is fixed with a bar or candy, the energy from which dissipates just as the harried worker arrives home to interacting with the family's similar cycle. That might lead to a glass of wine, a quick dinner and the urge for something sweet afterward.

It's this real estate bubble-like relationship with food that led to the cabinet currently being full of whole grains and the fridge full of fruits and veggies. Yet, perhaps that great feeling you were expecting hasn't quite arrived.

Quality food

Cheer up. Every school of nutrition agrees that whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats are the building blocks of healthy, sustainable eating habits, whereas processed foods never will be.

"The more refined a product is, the more it has been altered from its whole or original state, the more rapidly it, too, is processed within us, causing a greater insulin imbalance and a greater stress on neurotransmitters, which are what affect our mood," Cohen says.

You just need to figure out the best way to consume that bounty of whole foods.

First they should taste good.

Nutritionist Jennifer Workman of the The Balanced Approach in Boulder, combines western nutrition and sports medicine concepts with Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old Indian nutritional framework that takes into account with a person's individual constitution and the seasons of the year. It also stresses the taste and enjoyment of food.

"Is your diet balanced? Do you have all six tastes," Workman asks. "If you're only eating sweets, you're going to set yourself up for cravings."

The six tastes, according to Ayurveda are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent.

"Most people know when they sit down to a decent meal," Workman says, adding that such a meal would be a healthy protein such as tofu or chicken, vegetables, good spices and flavors, finished with a cup of tea.

"If (people are) grabbing bars, eating the wrong things at the wrong season, it sets them up for cravings and feeling out of balance."

Listening to your body

Understanding your own body and how food affects it is key to finding balance in your diet.

"Everyone is different," Workman says. "There has yet to be the one diet that's going to fix everybody. Individuation is very important, finding the right balance for a person."

Finding that balance is made easier working with a professional who has knowledge of food and can spot trends in your personal habits, but you can learn to listen to your body and draw some conclusions yourself.

Feeling the effect of a particular type of food is an intuitive part of being human that has been lost to busy schedules, food marketers and diet books, not to mention the siren call of concentrated sugars our evolutionary ancestors never encountered.

Cohen, who also is director of Seven Bowls School of Nutrition, Nourishment and Healing, says she frequently has clients who tout a particular nutrition book they've just read.

"They're so removed from having any type of body sense," she says. "It's really wonderful ... to begin to experience how our foods feel ... as opposed to reading (how to eat.)"

Cohen says it's important to eat slowly and consciously.

"Maybe the food is perfect, but if I'm eating standing up and talking on my cell phone, I'm not getting the benefit," she says.

She recounts the story of one client who ate a lot of fast-food burgers.

"Once he had to sit down and chew, he discovered he really didn't like them," she says.Nutrition Counselor Debbie Sarfati-Steinbock says one key to body awareness is noticing the effect of a food on your mood, energy and level of cravings afterward.

"When we evaluate how a food is, we can't only evaluate it on taste," she says. "That would be like walking into a store (and saying) 'This sweater is soft. I want it,' without looking at the price or size or color."

She says many people who complain of low energy are spiking up their energy with caffeine and sugar, so that they don't know what healthy energy feels like.

"They're used to so much artificial energy," she says. "(Healthy energy) is not elation and depression. It's a much more consistent type of energy."

A good start

How, then, to get on that healthy path and to figure out what works for you?

Sarfati-Steinbock advises starting with breakfast. She has clients try a high-carbohydrate, whole-grain type of breakfast one day and a high-protein breakfast such as a vegetable omelet the next.

She says which is best depends on individual metabolism. Clients are asked to pay attention to how they feel by lunchtime. If that bowl of oatmeal lasts till lunch, they should stick with that approach. If they feel better with more protein, fewer carbs and some fat, that the path to stay on.

One of her clients, Rachel Smith, who lives in Westminster, noticed a big change in the way she felt when she started eating according to Sarfati-Steinbock's advice. Smith originally sought out the nutritionist when her then-6-year-old son was experiencing behavior problems. In the process of changing his diet, the whole family got a nutrition makeover, mainly adding more fruits and vegetables.

Before changing her diet, Smith says she had problems such as skin rashes.

"I would get headaches. I felt tired, grouchy and kind of overwhelmed," she says.

Smith tried the breakfast test, and realized she felt much better eating a higher protein breakfast. A typical breakfast now might be a large plate of sauteed kale with a couple of eggs cooked in.

"I noticed I had more energy when I ate protein and vegetables in the morning," Smith says.

She also found that she ate less during the day and felt more satisfied. The higher carbohydrate breakfast left her wanting more.

"I'd open the cabinets, sort of looking for something," she says.

Now she eats her carbs later in the day when she wants to wind down.

"I might eat oatmeal as a bedtime snack," she says.

Cohen says paying attention to what we eat can be life changing. She asks clients to tell her what foods make them feel good and then suggests similar foods to help boost their system.

"Often the food chooses us, rather than us choosing the food."

Take Help of Ayurveda

It's a week and more into 2010 – what's happened to your New Year's health resolutions? We usually make the same ones year after year: to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, etc. And we find that most of our resolutions have fallen by the wayside in a month or two.

So to help break that habit, we have borrowed from ayurveda, a science of medicine from ancient India that has been in practice for more than 6,000 years. This form of medicine seeks to re-establish the harmony between the mind, body and environment. Ayurveda's premise is that keeping this balance maintains health, and, conversely, a loss of balance leads to physical ailments

Online Ayurveda Courses

There are many alternative healing, and holistic healing educational programs out there. From Massage Therapy, Reiki, Aromatherapy and Oriental Medicine – the list is endless.

However, Ayurveda – the health system from VEDAS and India is still catching on. Besides Deepak Chopra, Dr. Vasant Lad, and California College of Ayurveda, there are still no big Ayurveda Course providers.

This is why we are SO excited to bring you the past, present and future of AYURVEDA through website- http://ayurveda-foryou.com