Ayurveda for Pregnancy

 At over 5,000 years old, Ayurveda is perhaps the oldest system of health and healing on our planet, and it is still widely practised today.

In Ayurveda, pregnancy is viewed as a very special and spiritual time in a woman's life. This is a time when a woman's intuitive abilities are particularly high, and meditation and other spiritual practices are highly recommended at this time.

Pregnancy is a time to bond with your child, and as we well know, self-care is very important during this time. Many physical and emotional changes are occurring during these 9 months. According to Ayurveda, pregnancy is the time to balance the Vata dosha, which is the energy of air and space, which dominates the nervous system. 

Here are 3 ancient Ayurveda self-care tips to follow during pregnancy.

Incorporate Fats and Oils into Your Diet: We should always incorporate plenty of healthy fats into our diet, but especially during pregnancy. It is vital that a pregnant woman consumes enough fats and oils, not only to help her gain enough weight during pregnancy but also to help the baby's brain develop. Fats and oils also balance Vata, which is dominant. Healthy fats can include organic whole milk, coconut oil, olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) and avocado. Favour raw or grass-fed dairy, if possible. Cooking with ghee (clarified butter) helps promote digestion, which can be irregular during pregnancy when the Vata dosha is dominant. All Ayurvedic herbs are fat-soluble -- this means that their nutrients are more efficiently delivered to the cells and tissues when accompanied by a healthy fat.

A secret Ayurvedic tip to help your baby's immunity and vitality is to take one spoonful daily of this golden elixir of life each day of pregnancy: add one teaspoon of warm milk with one teaspoon of grass-fed ghee.

Before bed, take a regular dose of warming turmeric milk to build vitality: Melt 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder in one cup of warm milk, on the stove. When the spices have assimilated into the milk, add 1 tsp of raw honey. This will aid digestion, calm the nerves and help with sound sleep.

Eat Sattvic food: In Ayurveda, Sattvic means pure and fresh. This means: avoid leftovers. No processed foods. It is advised to buy organic and non-GMO produce. An expectant mother needs to consume pure and easily digestible foods that nourish the Dhatus( tissues)  of both her and her baby. Also, cooked food is better than raw during pregnancy, as raw foods tend to aggravate digestion.

A sattvic diet is said to increase the qualities of purity and clarity in the mind. Sattvic and grounding foods such as organic dairy, nuts, whole grains, beans, fruit, and freshly cooked vegetables deliver prana, or cosmic life force, to the body. They also help to build Ojas, or vitality, for both you and your baby.

Nourish The Body and Mind through Oil Massage: Most importantly, nourish yourself. As traditional medicine teaches us, everything that you taste, see, touch, and feel during pregnancy, the baby experiences too. Give yourself a daily massage with warming and grounding Ayurvedic oils to nourish your mind, body and spirit as well as the baby.

In Sanskrit, the word Sneha means both "oil" and "love." This speaks volumes. Abhyanga, Sanskrit for "oil massage," is a timeless Ayurvedic ritual. Applying oil to the body is grounding and relaxing, and provides stability and warmth. This ritual evaporates stress and fatigue. You are literally giving love to yourself and your baby, while also helping to diminish stretch marks, restore skin's elasticity, and relieve that pregnant belly itching. Win-win-win!

Read about more Ayuredic Tips for Happy and Healthy Pregnancy.

Ayurvedic Ways To Ease Acidity

 Hyperacidity is one of the most common ailments seen across all ages and classes of society. Pitta, or acidity, is caused when there is excess acid production in the body, causing stomach acid to leak back into the oesophagus. While acids are detrimental to the digestive process, an imbalance in their production can cause serious health issues and a lot of discomforts. It is, therefore, important to focus on what you eat, how much you eat and how often you eat.

It is said that ‘hurry’, ‘worry’, and ‘curry’ are the three main culprits in acidity. Ayurveda has advised us to eat slowly, becoming mindful of all that we are ingesting. The process of eating food must be calming, helping us to forget our worries.

Here are some effective tips to deal with acidity in the Ayurvedic way. These are suggestions that are time-tested, safe and effective. Try them out to rid yourself of the menace of acidity.

Avoid Too Much Spice -

Excessive use of chilli, cinnamon, clove, mustard or any garam masala powder can aggravate the acidic juices in the abdomen, making it difficult to digest food. Fennel, or saunf, is known to work wonders on an acidic stomach. Infuse a tablespoon of fennel seeds in a jug of water and drink one cup at the end of every meal. You can also chew a few fennel seeds after every meal.

Avoid Salty And Sour Foods -

Especially those that come laden with flavouring agents. Move away, also, from fast food and stale food. Get rid of those chips and other off-the-shelf farsan packets if you experience acid reflux. It will only make the situation worse.

Increase The Intake Of Fluids -

Add more water, fibrous fruits, cold milk and loads of fresh seasonal vegetables to your daily diet. Eat food that is freshly prepared at home.

Know About Incompatible Foods -

And consciously avoid them. Wrong food combinations adversely affect the digestive fire, or ‘Jatharagni’, leading to an accumulation of acidic foods, causing indigestion. Examples of incompatible food combinations are milk and fruits, yoghurt and milk, onions and yoghurt, and eggs and milk.

Reduce Excessive Intake Of Caffeine -

Cut down on tea and coffee. It will make your condition worse, triggering heartburn and aggravating acid reflux.

Create A Schedule For Your Meals -

Eat at least three meals a day and absolutely avoid eating post-sunset. It will help your body to ease digestion and reduce acidity.

Don’t Eat When You Are Stressed Or Upset -

In this state, it is hard for the stomach to digest food effectively. Sit down to eat and chew your food well. There is an old Ayurvedic saying, “If you eat standing up, death looks over your shoulder”. So always sit and eat; let it be a calming, mindful experience.

Stroll After Meals -

Get into the practice of strolling for at least 10 minutes after meals. This Ayurvedic prescription helps food move through the stomach into the intestines faster, aiding digestion.

Try these tips to decrease acid reflux, prevent diseases from occurring, and improve your overall quality of life.

Visit here to know more about Ayurvedic Management for Acidity/ Acid reflux/ Hyperacidity

Heart Diseases Becoming Common Among People Under 40 - Ayurvedic Tips For A Healthy Heart

 Nowadays, Heart diseases are affecting people under the age of 40. Studies have shown that the proportion of people below 40 having a heart attack has been increasing, rising by 2 per cent each year for the last 10 years. Here are some Ayurvedic tips and foods you can include in your diet to reduce the risk.

One of the leading factors that lead to heart diseases is indeed a sedentary lifestyle. Chances of getting addicted to a lazy attitude with no exercise and improper diet are fairly high. 

Ayurveda To Reduce The Risk Of Heart Diseases -

'Heart diseases' is a broad term used for a spectrum of diseases associated with the disorders of blood circulation, heart vessels and muscles. Some of the most common causes of heart diseases include high cholesterol levels, obesity, diabetes, family history, smoking, high-fat and high-sodium diet. You can manage all these problems with Ayurveda, which in turn can help you combat serious ailments like heart attack, coronary artery disease, etc.

According to Ayurveda, depending on your Prakriti - Kapha, Pitta, Vata, there are different kinds of foods you should consume for heart health.

Here are some of the foods you can include in your diet:

Arjuna --

Ayurvedic Herb Arjuna, (recommended for Vata people) with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is extremely beneficial in managing high cholesterol levels by improving the level of good cholesterol.

Cinnamon --

Another very common spice found in each of our Indian kitchens in Cinnamon (Dalchini for Kapha people) acts as a powerful anticoagulant. It also lowers blood pressure and relieves inflammation caused by arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Cinnamon intake with warm water in the morning is also effective in people suffering from heart conditions.

Ashwagandha --

Also known as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha is recommended for Vata people. It is a fairly small shrub with small pale green flowers, simple leaves and red berries. Most of the benefits from ashwagandha are from the root and the leaves. The leaves are commonly used in teas. It can help reduce levels of cholesterol by an average of 17 per cent in a 60-day study of chronically stressed adults. It also alleviates cortisol levels in the body, which is the stress hormone. Stress is known as a risk factor for heart diseases.

Papaya --

An easy home remedy is to consume 'Papaya'. The fruit is rich in antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. If a person takes a diet high in antioxidants, it will significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it's more likely to create blockages that lead to heart disease.

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