Organic Food-Live and Let Live

Mother Nature has given all necessities required for a man to live in peaceful harmony. It is due to the exploitation of its resources, unmindful of the consequences by unscrupulous elements of the society that cause depletion of its fertility. Due to population explosion, usage of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum based fertilizers, sewage sludge-based fertilizers. etc. has been encouraged in order to increase growth and production of food grains. This has resulted in malnutrition amongst all, because such non-organic food does not provide energy or nourishment. The day has come when people have realized the bogey of non-organic food, which is manufactured in large quantities, with huge factories and large numbers of employees. Organic food has become highly popular now, although the earliest food and crops were only organic. It is only later that chemicals and fertilizers entered the field and brought about carcinogens in food material.

Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, without the usage of chemical input. Food implies grains, vegetables and fruits and food products made from them. According to a study, organically grown fruits and vegetables contain more Vitamin C, antioxidants and minerals. It also serves as anti-allergic to some people, since no preservatives are added to improve its life. Due to continuous consumption of non-organic food, our body is exposed to accumulated pesticides. This leads to weakening of our immune systems. Antibiotic treatment gets supplemented by usage of organic food. By cultivating products in the organic way, we are assisting Nature to regain its lost strength. It reduces air, water and soil pollution, conserves water to an extent, lessens soil erosion and improves its fertility. Birds and animals too are benefited by organic farming. Organic farming relies on biological diversity and natural fertilizers like manure and compost. The weeds are removed by hand, there is crop rotation, tilling etc. Insects are eliminated by natural methods such us preying insects, traps, birds etc.

Because of the large scale manufacturing and network, non-organic foods are able to sustain the tempo of their consumption. We must encourage organic farming everywhere. This will pave the way for farmers to get their due benefit; employment is generated in their own area; they do not move to urban areas, leading to congestion; they need not transport products to urban area which again causes considerable use of fossil fuels. The local economy is strengthened leading to establishment of many infrastructural facilities. Organic meat and dairy products are made from livestock which are given organic food. No antibiotics, hormones or pesticides are used on the animals. Such animals are protected from disease with healthy diet, normal grazing and clean surroundings. But due to lesser production and lack of network facilities, organic foods are costlier. But it is up to us to choose foods which we eat most and buy these foods alone in the organic version. Instead of high-end stores, we can get organic products from local farmers in the weekly market, or the street vendor. Still you can enlarge your buying by organizing a consumer club or society and through them buy organic products at a lesser rate. By eating organic food, our generation and future generations will live longer, healthier and ultimately Mother Nature will bless us with her bounty forever.

Medicinal And Health Benefits Of Ash Gourd

Ash gourd consists of many medicinal and nutritional properties thus having lots of health benefits. Biological name of ash gourd is Benincasa hispida. It has long been used in Ayurvedic treatments. Ash gourd is also called as winter melon,white gourd, white pumpkin,wax gourd.

 

Health Benefits

• Ash Gourd is one among the best foods for diabetic patients.
• It has low calorific value.
• Intake of ash gourd regularly will helps to reduce excess weight.
• Ash gourd helps to stay the body cool.
• It is good to have ash gourd juice for constipation problem.
• It is a good detoxifying agent.
• Intake of ash gourd juice in empty stomach is good for ulcer.

Constipation

The best feature of ash gourd is its fiber and water nutrients. So it helps for digestion. Regular consumption of ash gourd in our morning food helps to get cure from constipation problem.

Stomach related disorders

Winter melon has the property of strengthening the intestines. The anabolic activity of ash gourd seeds helps to grow new tissues. Water and fiber nutrients in it has the property of balancing the acidity. So when there is indigestion or during hyper acidity it is best to have ash gourd juice. It also has the property of balancing the alkaline in body and intestines.
Ash gourd also acts as a blood coagulant.

Ash Gourd for Cold Relief

Generally we avoid winter melon due to its cooling effect and thought it will cause cold and cough. But it is not so. It has the nature of balancing vata, pitta and kapha (tridosha balance). Because of this nature it helps to get cure from cold affecting continuously. It is also useful for treating asthma.

Insomnia

Consuming ash gourd is good for insomnia problem. People affected by insomnia due to various reasons like stress,work load,tension will get eradicated from this problem by intake of ash gourd regularly.

Urinary problem

In summer due to excess sweat our body will get dehydrated. This will cause urinary problem. Intake of ash gourd juice helps to balance the water level in the body. It increases the urine secretion thus helps to remove small urinary stones at initial stage of the problem.

Other advantages of ash gourd

Due to low count of red cells in blood causes anemia. Ash gourd is better food for anemic.
This controls high cholesterol by dilating blood vessels thus good for heart.
It also enhances the memory power.

In ayurvedic treatments,ash gourd is used in many ways. It is helpful for treating obesity,destroying intestinal worms and diabetics.

Benefits of Tender Coconut Water

Tender coconut which is under 30 days old will yield 400-450 ml of coconut water. The sugars present in this can be easily digested by people of all ages. The protein present in coconut water is formed in a very simple manner. This not only helps growth but also repair damaged tissues in the body. It also contains the near necessary level of vitamin C needed daily for an average human.

But also contains substances like sodium, sulphur, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorous and chlorine as well as other elementary salts in adequate amounts. It also contains niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, riboflavin boric acid and thiamine which are found in the vitamin B group.

Tender coconuts contain various enzymes which helps digestion. A cup of coconut water only contains around 46 calories. The edible white layer in tender coconuts contain ample amounts of fats and sugars. A recent study said that the level of salts in coconut water matched that of our blood. Hence, it is also known as the water of life.

 

                                               Medicinal uses of coconut water

It can also be a sweet medicine to help various diseases.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

 UTI is one of the primary infections caused in the human urinal organs.

The disease, which is caused by the effect of the viruses present in the kidneys,  gets frequently remedied by doctors who prescribe the intake of coconut water.

Kidney-friendly

Coconut water helps divide urine and helps those who suffer from kidney problems. Doctors often prescribe coconut water for people who suffer from certain kidney diseases.

A tonic for children

Giving coconut water mixed with lemon juice and a little honey is considered a natural tonic for children.

To remove parasites

In order to remove parasites in the gut, consuming unripen, tender coconut can be a medicine.

Liver disease

Coconut water can act as a natural remedy and helps in aiding sufferers from jaundice, kidney stones and associated illnesses.

Athletes

During exercise or when engaging in strenuous training for athletics, our body loses a lot of water and salts in the process. Coconut water can act like a natural energy drink in replacing the lost water and electrolytes. Hence, it is used as a natural drink for athletes. Hence, it is also called a natural sports drink.

Indigestion

Consuming tender coconut with coconut water can aid indigestion, upset stomach and flatulence.

Curbing cholera

The diarrhoea caused during cholera can seriously deprive the body of its essential salts and water. In order to compensate for this loss, a teaspoon of coconut water can be mixed with newly squeezed lemon juice can be given to the sufferer frequently. This can help curb the loss of salts during cholera.

Emergency glucose

Coconut water is produced naturally and is protected from pollution in the hard coconut shell. It also contains various minerals, salts and sugar needed for the body. Hence, sometimes when there is a shortage of bottled glucose, it can be injected intravenously to stabilise dehydration.

It may be unsuitable

People suffering from kidney failure should refrain from the intake of coconut water because it contains a lot of potassium which is an unsuitable mineral for those suffering from kidney failure.

That being said, this can be a sweet, natural and nutritious alternative to the many novel and artificial drinks that are being sold in many colours. We should consume this natural drink to fortify our hydration and nutrient needs. It is a sweet gift of nature.

Turkey Berry Health Benefits

Not many people like the lonely turkey berry plant (known as Solanum torvuml and in Tamil Sundakkai)  which is grown in our garden because we are not aware of its medicinal value which cures many diseases. You all will be amazed to know the uses of this small plant that we commonly find in our house garden if you come to know about its characteristics.

Turkey Berry belongs to the plant species and its flowers are white in colour and are found in clusters. The Turkey Berry fruit is green in colour and it appears like a very small brinjal. Turkey Berry plant grows in our house garden and also in hilly areas. The Turkey Berry that grows in hilly areas has a more bitter taste than that of the berries that are grown in our house garden.

 

Turkey Berry

COMPOSITION OF TURKEY BERRY:

Turkey berry is composed of the following essential nutrients and minerals which are very helpful in preventing and curing the diseases.

• Vitamin A
• Iron (24.5 mg)
• Calcium (0.28 mg)
• Fat (1.7 mg)
• Fiber (56.9 mg)

USES OF TURKEY BERRY:    

We can use consume the fresh Turkey Berries plucked from the plant and also we can consume it in the dried form. It is better to have the fresh Turkey Berry than the dried one. It has the potential to kill the germs and also acts as a medicine for cold, and also helps in problems related to the chest and stomach. And people who have diarrhea, stomach ache, piles, tuberculosis should use Turkey berry as a part of their food. And taking Turkey Berry regularly will help in strengthening the nerves.

Fried Turkey Berry

ADVANTAGES OF TURKEY BERRY

 TO KILL GERMS:

We used to eat lot of sweets because they taste good and as a result they produce a lot of germs in our body. Once the bacteria and other germs formed in our body, it creates a lot of problems to us. These problems are prevented by eating Turkey Berry in the form of gravy. (In Tamil it is called as Sundakkai Vathal Kuzhambu).

TO CONTROL DIABETES:

If we eat the Turkey Berries for 4 days in a week in any form (dried or gravy), diabetes will come in to control.Frying the dried fruit using oil and then adding them to kuzhambu and eating them will help us avoid digestion problems

TO STRENGTHEN THE BONES:

Consuming the Turkey Berries on the daily basis will strengthen the bones and nerves and also helps in the physical development of our body.

TO PREVENT GAS TROUBLE:

Gas problems are totally controlled if we take the Turkey Berries which is deep fried in the oil.

TO CURE PARALYSIS:

If the people who are affected with paralysis problem consume Turkey Berries, the disease will be cured.

TO PREVENT TEETH RELATED DISEASES:

All the teeth related problems are cured if we take the powdered Turkey Berry added with salt.

Because of all these medicinal values we should not neglect this plant. We should start growing them in our garden and eat them regularly to stay healthy in our life.

Ways To Prevent Prickly Heat

Who gets Sweat Rash / Prickly Heat??

How do we prevent it?

Prickly Heat / Sweat Rash is a major complaint for people living in the regions where heat and humidity are high.

Though prickly heat can affect anybody, those people who sweat more are increasingly prone to it.

People, who are obese, get more prickly heat too.

In some families, it affects all members severely.

Those who wear nylon clothes during summer season, instead of cotton clothes, may also get affected.

The chances of prickly heat are high for people who work in hot and less ventilated environment.

                                         

Where does it appear?

It appears anywhere in the body, except palms and feet, without any constraints.

Sweat rashes may be present on the skin for a period ranging anywhere between 1 week to a month.

These rashes start troubling the affected people and continue to do so till they are cured, the first trouble being itching. Then succeeds, burning sensation and irritation. As a continual effect, it causes skin infection, thereby leading to wounding and allergy. To restrict these effects, we need to prevent prickly heat.

How can prickly heat be prevented?

To prevent prickly heat, we have to first control sweat, thereby restraining prickly heat.

To attain this, we:

Should avoid going out in the sun.

We may work in air-conditioned rooms or well ventilated environment.

Select and eat easily digestible food.

Avoid intake of alcohol / coffee and tea in large quantities.

Further, high-fat food items like meat, egg etc. should be avoided. Similarly, spicy food items prepared with food with strong masala should also be avoided.

The affected people should also shift to light, cotton clothes instead of wearing artificial clothes like nylon, terlin, polyester etc. Also, the clothes worn should not be holding the body very tight, but must be loose-fitting. Coconut oil should be applied less on the skin. It is said that these practices prevent occurrence of prickly heat.

It is also advised that supplementing such people with a 50,000 IU of Vitamin A, twice a day yields good results.

Treatment:

The medicine prepared by mixing the ingredients including Salicylic acid, camphor, menthol, glycerin and spirit helps to cure prickly heat. This formula has to be applied on the affected area twice a day for a week for aid. Bathing twice a day in pure water also gives relief in 7 days.

Effects of Stress

Are you aware of the effects of stress on your body??. It causes worse effects and affects the entire health. In this competitive world we have to run fast to achieve things. But it creates stress in our mind. It is said that poor food habit has also impact on this.

Stress creates unusual feelings. It creates unnecessary negative thought sand hypothetical fear. And if one is having stress he/she is not sure about the things they are doing. They have low confidence and would underestimate their efficiency.

Stress differs from person to person depends upon the factors like age, their living atmosphere etc. So it can be generally of three types.

* Short term stress

* Mid Term Stress

* Long Term Stress

Short Term Stress

This type of stress lasts for short period only. For example when we rush to catch the bus or train, late to office or some other places depends upon the situation. This creates stress which lasts some minutes to one or two hours.

Mid Term Stress

This type of stress lasts up to few months. For example during exam times, expecting exam results, promotion in office etc. Even we are not aware about this type of stress. Because we are accustomed to that frequently.

Long Term Stress

This type of stress lasts even through our lifetime. When we loss some close relatives, if we have some chronic disease may cause this type of stress.

Effects of Stress

Stress causes worse effects on our health. Primarily it affects the blood vessels. Blood vessels are very important to our body since it transports blood throughout the body. These blood vessels are helpful for supplying energy throughout the body and also removal of wastes from the body. So once it gets affected, overall body functioning will be collapsed.

So, if there is stress, it makes the blood vessels to get shrunk. Because of this one cannot able to have sufficient amount of blood flow throughout the whole body. Automatically functioning of heart increases to get more blood flow for the whole body. Thus it leads to high blood pressure. Since there is more functioning of the heart and insufficient blood flow, there may be body tremor also.

It also affects the digestive system. This is due to insufficient blood flow to the stomach and intestines. Glands are not able to produce acids that helps for digestion. Since there is no complete digestion, the body cannot able to observe the energy from the food taken. This makes the body weak and also unnecessarily stimulates appetite. This causes food cravings particularly on sweet and carbohydrate rich foods.

Because of incomplete digestion, the remaining food stayed in the stomach becomes sour and cause gastric problem, bloating of stomach, constipation and also burning sensation in stomach and chest. These all effects are caused when a person is in stress. We should overcome this condition by regulating the blood vessels and makes it to work properly. Blood vessels should be relaxed to make the blood flow uniformly all over the body. This can be done even through proper food practice also.

Another essential thing one should follow to overcome the effects caused by stress is walking. Because when we walk briskly, blood vessels gets relaxed.This helps for proper blood flow all over the body. Brisk walking also helps for easy digestion. Toxins present in the body are removed through sweat, urination and stool.

So, proper food habit along with regular brisk walking results in good improvement for persons with stress

AUM Chanting and its Benefits

Can you pronounce some word without using your tongue? A U M is the three different word can be pronounced without using our tongue.  This AUM is called as Pranava Mantra. Now-a-days in most of the vedic chants AUM is pronounced as OM. But it is not correct pronunciation. A U M is the correct pronunciation. In some places this OM chanting is called as OMKAR chanting. OM or AUM is the most important and significant word of Mantra tradition. It is considered as the root mantra in all vedas. All other words we are speaking are mixture of this basic three words AUM.  AUM is a typical combination of words which affects the surrounding and human beings through the vibrations. AUM should to be chanted for enormous number of times to get the results. We can get many health benefits by chanting this AUM. AUM chanting is prescribed as a corner stone in any yoga therapy program due to its outstanding healing benefits.

How to do AUM chanting

Aum is a universal mantra for all people and one not need the initiation of a master or guru to reap it’s endless benefits. Sit comfortably either in Padmasana or Artha Siddhasana or Sukhasana. Place your hands upon your thighs, and palm’s facing upwards. Hold Yoga Mudra in both hands and eyes should be closed. Inhale slowly through your nose, once your lungs is full exhale from your mouth by pronouncing AUM until your full breath come out from the lungs. All three word chanting should be approximately equal in time. While chanting Aaaaaa focus vibration one inch below your navel. It is the Manipura Chakra, one of the seven chakra in human body. When you chant Uuuuuu focus vibration in chest area. It is the Anahata Chakra. After that close you mouth and chant Mmmmmm. When chanting focus vibration in your throat and nose.  Similarly continue deep inhalation by nose and exhalation through mouth with chanting AUM. For better health benefit this chanting to be done 15 minutes in morning and 15 minutes  in evening.

Yoga Mudra

Benefits of AUM Chanting

• AUM chanting is a potent tonic which increases the efficiency of the human organism in a profound manner.
• By chanting this word OM or AUM one can achieve ultimate self-realization.
• The repetiton of Aum leads to excellent mental and physical health.
• This chant helps to improves the production of endorphin so making you fell relaxed and refreshed every time.
• It has positive effect for cardiac vascular health lowering blood pressure and increasing efficiency of all the cells and organs in the body.
• In essence AUM relaxes and rejuvenates the mind increasing concentration and memory therefore the ability to learn.
• It helps in Cleansing the mind.Controlling the emotions.
• It relives the stress levels by supplying more oxygen to the body. So you get relive from stress related headaches