Papaya - a nutritional goldmine

Found abundantly in India almost through the year, papaya is a nutritional goldmine.Papaya has high nutritional benefits. It is rich in Anti-oxidants, the B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid; and the minerals, potassium and magnesium; and fiber. Together, “these nutrients promote the health of the cardiovascular system and also provide protection against colon cancer.”
In addition, papaya contains the digestive enzyme, papain, which is used like bromelain, a similar enzyme found in pineapple, to treat sports injuries, other causes of trauma, and allergies. Vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya may therefore be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.

Health benefits of Papaya

* Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain and therefore valuable for aiding digestion.

* The unique protein-digesting enzymes; papain and chymopapain have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns in addition to helping in digestion of proteins. The antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, are also very good at reducing inflammation.

* The ripe fruit is easily digestible and prevents constipation.

* Case studies indicate that this food taken alone for two or three days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.

* The juice of the papaya aids in relieving infections of the colon and has a tendency to break down pus and mucus reached by the juice.

* May help prevent cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue (ripe papaya). Papaya’s fiber is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. In addition, papaya’s folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E have each been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

* Prevents nausea (includes morning sickness and motion sickness).

* The seeds are antihelmintic, for expelling worms and they are given with honey. Chew and swallow two teaspoonfuls of seeds after each principal meal (three times a day).

* Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C as well as a good source of vitamin E and vitamin A (through their concentration of pro-vitamin A carotenoid phytonutrients), three very powerful antioxidants.

* Papayas are also a good source of fiber, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels.

Introduction to Pranayama

A very good video on introduction to pranayama

link

Triphala - a miraculous herb

Triphala is a classical ayurvedic preparation that has three main ingredients. These are Amalaki, Bhibitaki and Haritaki. These are known as Emblica officinale, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia belarica in biological terms respectively. Triphala is prepared by mixing all three ingredients in equal quantity.

Triphala is an herbal supplement that has the potential to target each and every system of the body like nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system, reproductive system.Owing to its miraculous benefits, Triphala is widely used in making ayurvedic medicines.

Some Health Benefits of Triphala

• Firstly it acts as an antioxidant agent preventing any free radical formation in the body. This property of triphala helps it to prevent early aging signs like wrinkles and premature graying of hairs.

• Secondly it is helpful in regularizing the normal peristaltic movements that are very essential for proper passage of food from one organ to another. This helps in aiding the digestion of food in proper amount of time.

• Thirdly it acts as an appetizer as it helps in proper digestion of the food.

• Fourthly it is very effective in stimulating the liver for its functioning to the optimized level. More over it also helps in secretion of the bile juices that are very much required for fat metabolism.

• It is very much helpful in reducing the plaque formation in the arteries thereby reducing the risk of heart related problems caused due to arteriosclerosis.

• Triphala helps in maintaining the proper levels of the cholesterol in the body thereby preventing us from fatal and deadly heart problems. It helps in curbing the formation of low density lipoprotein (LDL).

• It is very much effective in suppressing any kind of infection or foreign invasion in the blood thereby helpful in preventing any kind of skin related diseases and other infectious conditions in the body.

• It is helpful in maintaining the proper secretions of the endocrinal system that are responsible for maintaining the proper homeostasis in the body and aiding the proper functioning of all the physiological processes in the body.

• It is an excellent remedy for eyes related problems and helps in improving the eye vision and strengthens the muscles of the eyes.

• Last but not the least, being a mild laxative it helps in evacuating the bowel and therefore is considered as one of the best body detoxifier and facilitates expulsion of toxins out of the body.

Jal Neti

The process for the cleaning of the nasal path is known as neti. The aim of the process is to purify the breathing path right from the nostrils to the throat. If the aim is achieved using water, the process is known as Jalneti.
Well, to put it simply, jalaneti is a cleansing practice of the sinus passages with warm saline water. Yogis have practiced it for centuries for its innumerable and powerful benefits. It is also called Neti or Saline Nasal Irrigation.

Benefits:

Jalneti helps solve the sinus infection and allergy problems without the use of drugs with immediate, immense and sustained results AND without side effects.

1.At the immediate level, neti is a great tool for any kind of respiratory disorder – sinusitis, allergy, asthma, hay fever to name a few. People invariably notice an immediate relief, which drugs fail to achieve. Neti helps to re-program the body’s natural mechanisms against respiratory complaints including sore throats, coughs, postnasal drips etc.

2. It can be of great benefit to problems associated with the eyes ears such as certain types of deafness and myopia. But the great mental and spiritual effects overshadow these tremendous physical benefit.

3.Neti has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain and is therefore beneficial for headaches migrain.,depression, mental tensions and even epilepsy, hysteria and temper tantrums.

4.It stimulates better powers of visualization and concentration and gives a feeling of lightness and clarity to the mind.

5.But the best part is that it is excellent for those trying to give up smoking.


How to do it?

1. Put warm water into the utensil and add a little salt in it. Tilt the neck and touch the tip of spout to one of the nostrils. Open the mouth and continue breathing through it.

2. Gradually pour water into the nostril. Since the breathing is continued through the mouth, the water straightway goes through the food pipe into the throat to the stomach. Just as we drink water through the mouth, in the same way it can be drunk through the nose. When some water is drunk though one nostril, perform the process with the other one. This is process is not neti, but when one is accustomed to drinking water through nose, then practicing neti is easier. During Jalneti, the position of the head and pot are adjusted to allow the water to flow out of the other nostril.

3. To help flow water out of the other nostril, tilt the neck further. It is essential to find the pose of the neck here. When the pose is found, the rest of the process is easier. The water poured through one nostril can easily come out of the other. The breathing is naturally through the mouth at this time. Pour water into the left nostril and take it out of the right, then drink it by the right one and take it out of the left. If you have a 1/2 liter vessel, then you can fill the vessel again for the second nostril.

4. The stream of water from both the nostrils will not be same depending on the blockade or nervous spasms. Do the whole exercise gently and in relaxed posture. One can wipe the nostrils with clean linen/towel in between while changing the nostrils.

5. Having finished with the water part just keep both arms at back and start blowing nose vigorously from alternate nostril(15-20 times) in order to remove every drop of water. Now look up for 15 seconds and while looking up again blow 10-15 time to blow off any residual water left.

6. Having finished with the blowing part now go to your exercise room or in open space, lie down in Shawasan (corpse position) for 10 minutes.

You can practice Jal Neti in the morning or in the evening and continue for about a month and review your health. If you start feeling better then you can do this exercise as and when required.

Note: Use Jal Neti vessel only, as other vessel may cause some problem in the movement of water. A beginner should seek the help of an expert in learning this technique.

(My sister had a problem of constant headaches, she use to have headaches for 25 day out of 30 days we tried many allopathy medicines but they provided only temporary relief.She learnt jal neti from a naturopath and had amazing results .)

Surya Namaskar

"Surya Namaskar" is Sanskrit which means obeisance or prostrations (Namaskar) to the sun (Surya). It implies that one rise before sun rise in order to do this exercise or pay obeisance to the rising sun. This is around 5 to 5:30 AM. Of course, this exercise is good no matter what time you may use it, but it is best done while the stomach is empty, before eating. It is a yogic exercise which consists of ten particular postures, one following another, in a fixed, cyclic order to ensure improvement and good health in one's digestion, agility, rejuvenation, beauty and longevity. It will also help one lose weight and trim the waist. There is no equipment to buy, or membership to a gym or fitness club that must be purchased. You just need a little space in your apartment or home. If, however, you begin to feel short-breathed or dizzy, then take a break. Also, pregnant women should not practice it, but can continue it during their period because it can help digestion and the flow of energy and outflow of waste needed at this time.

POSTURE 1: First you stand erect, ready to face the early morning sun. Stand straight with chest out and spine erect, looking forward with hands folded in respect in front of the chest where heart is located. It is like a stance of prayer. Once you start doing the routine, you spend about one second in this pose, and the others that follow. Of course, if one is weak or aged, or if you are new to the routine, you may take this a little slower.

POSTURE 2: Now, while inhaling, raise your arms up in the air while keeping the hands together, and arch your self backwards as far as you can go, forming a crescent-like curve from your feet to the hands. This posture helps retain the flexibility of the spine.

POSTURE 3: Now, while exhaling, bring your hands down to your feet so that you quickly bend forward at the waist, while keeping the legs as straight as possible. The best position is to bring the hands flat to the floor on either side of your feet, while keeping the head as close to the knees as you can. If you are not that flexible, then just do the best you can. The most important aspect of this pose is that it squeezes the stomach and assists in digestion to extract any vitamins and nutrients in one's food, which helps turn it into blood. It also loosens any fat that has accumulated there. Postures 2 and 3 are actually the easiest to do, so if you cannot do the others, at least do these.

POSTURE 4: From position three, while inhaling, put your hands on the floor and lower your hips and stretch your left leg back as far as you can, letting the foot rest on the toes and the knee touch the ground, while you bend your right leg in a crouching stance, letting the right knee come up to your chest. Keeping your hands flat on the ground, your arms straight, arch your head upward and back so you are looking at the ceiling or sky. This forms a crescent shape from the left heel up to the top of your head. This position helps ensure flexibility of the spine and immunity from diseases in the left leg muscles and ligaments.

POSTURE 5: While exhaling, now keep your hands flat on the ground and carry the right leg back to parallel the left leg, sided by side, both feet pressing firmly flat against the floor, while bringing your hips up into the air as high as they will go. Keep your arms and back in a straight line as your head faces the ground, and bring the chin to the chest, making you look at your knees. This makes your body form an upside down "V" or a triangle between you and the floor.

POSTURE 6: Now, while keeping the hands and feet in the same places, having fully exhaled hold the breath and bring your hips down while moving the head and shoulders forward, straightening the whole body near the floor. Keep the face downward with the forehead, the chest and knees lightly touching the ground, and the hips slightly raised. With the forehead, chest, and two palms, knees, and feet touching the floor, it is called Sashtang Namaskar, or prostrations with eight points touching the floor.

POSTURE 7: The next posture, while inhaling, flows from position 6, which is done merely by straightening your arms and lifting your chest upward and arching your head back so that you are looking at the ceiling. Your feet and knees rest on the floor while your arms hold the rest of your body a little above it. Again you form a body-length crescent, from your feet up to your head. This yogic position is known as "the cobra".

POSTURE 8: Now exhale and let your body flow into position 5 again by lowering your head and chest, keep your arms and legs straight, and raise your hips as high as they will go. As your head faces the ground, keep your arms and back in a straight line and bring the chin to the chest, making you look at your knees, which forms an upside down "V" again.

POSTURE 9: Now, while inhaling, we flow into the same position as number four, but stretch the other leg. So we first bend the left leg and bring the left foot forward on the floor. Keeping your hands flat on the ground, bring your hips down while moving the chest and head forward, allowing the left knee to reach up to the chest, and then arch your head up and back. The right foot stays in its place, letting the foot rest on the toes, which makes the right leg get stretched backward when your chest moves forward. This gives the body a crescent shape from the right heel up to the top of your head. This position helps ensure flexibility of the spine and immunity from diseases in the right leg muscles and ligaments.

POSTURE 10: Now we go back into posture three. Keep your hands in place as you bring your right leg forward to be parallel with the left leg. With both feet flat on the floor (if you can keep them that way), and the legs kept straight, the body is bent at the waist, while exhaling, with the forehead touching the knees (if you can bend this much). If you are not this flexible and cannot bend like this, then simply do it as best you can and keep the head as close to the knees as possible.

From this position you straighten your body to stand erect as in posture number one and inhale. Then join the palms in front of your chest as in prayer. Hold this for a second and then begin to go back into posture number 2 to start the whole cycle of postures again for the next Surya Namaskar.

You may want to do each posture separately the first time you do this to familiarize yourself with each one. Then begin to do it as a flowing movement from one to the other, through all ten postures. You will certainly notice the difference in your health, weight, flexibility, energy level, and even overall attitude.

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Eight Things for Balanced Living

1.Wake up Early

Early morning is the time when ambrosia is showered by nature. When you wake up at that time, you get to drink this nectar and receive a boon of living long and healthy life. Nature works systematically – all animals, mammals, birds, and insects, wake up early morning and go to sweet sleep by late evening. Aren’t we humans, part of Mother Nature’s system? Yes, we are - so rise and shine early morning and derive all health benefits by following simple thing - sleep on time and wake up early.

2. Clear your bowel

If you wish to live long and healthy, do not store faeces in your intestines- clear it every day. Golden rule is – if you eat twice then clear bowel twice. This will keep your colon clear and when colon is clean- body is disease free. Your 32 feet long intestines can store ten to twenty pounds of faeces easily. So loose all the odorous bad smelling weight by simply making sure that you go to bathroom regularly. As a result- your skin, stomach, even your swinging moods, all will settle very well.

3. Do asana

Yogic Asana is not exercise! Exercises work on your skeleton and muscles where as asana works on your cardiovascular, endocronological, circulatory, glandular, eliminatory and lymphatic system. When you do forward, backward bending and spinal twists, you are energizing your spine, making it flexible. Yogic masters have said, “You are as young as your spine is” - so keep your spine young and remain young for a longer time.

4. Divine tonic – pranayam

Pranayam is not just deep breathing. But pranayam is a process, which energizes your whole body. Daily practice of pranayam can connect you to the source of divine cosmic energy from where everything has come from. Do it every day and you will never need any tonic ever to increase your strength, immunity and energy.

5. Drink ten glasses of water and eat more fibers

Water is life - so drink enough water to remain hydrated. Drinking water will clear out all toxic wastes from your body; as a result it will save you from various diseases. Drink water slowly, consciously and you will see that magically simple water will begin to taste like wine. Eating fibrous food adds bulk to food, which gives extra bounce to health, and results in good bowel movement, healthy shiny skin and lower levels of cholesterol; best part is that right amount of nutrition absorption will begin to happen in the body.

6. Do chanting

Power of mantra can solve your biggest problems. Mantra gives your mind power and it balances your brain. When our left and right hemispheres are balanced, we make right decisions- quick decisions. Mantra chanting makes us emotionally strong. Don’t you need to be strong to deal with day-to-day challenges of life? Thank god and enjoy mantra chanting - those who do this will never be lonesome, frustrated or weak.

7. Never leave the room in anger

Anger is carcinogenic. Anger kills you, not on whom or what you were angry about. When you become angry, you waste your energy and your precious time. Be cool-headed, solve the problems and encounter difficult individuals with wisdom. Anger is just wastage of energy; anger means you are not capable to handle situations. Be wise – be cool – deal with it- do not run away from it.

8. Enjoy every moment

Life is a real time drama. Everyday it offers new scenes. Watch every scene and enjoy. No drama is complete without a villain or vamp. Don’t be one of villains! If you can be a witness to life then every single moment will become an enthralling experience. Be a receiver but never hoard anything. Let it pass.

courtesy gurumaa.com

Wheat Grass Juice

Wheat grass Juice refers to the juice from the young grass of the common wheat plant, Wheatgrass juice is a complete food with no toxic side affects. It contains all of the vitamins and most of the minerals needed for human maintenance and well-being. It is also a complete protein with about 30 enzymes and is approximately 70% crude chlorophyll.

Ann Wigmore, who was the first person to investigate and promote wheatgrass juice includes evidence in her books of the blood cleansing and building abilities of chlorophyll, its effect on the circulatory system and oxygen supply, and its role in detoxifying and regenerating the liver. She thought that deficiency and toxemia are the causes of all disease. By eating the modern American diet of mostly cooked, highly processed, nutritionally empty food we cause our bodies to become clogged, like pouring sugar in your car’s gas tank. By cleansing the body with wheatgrass juice you give it more opportunity to heal itself. Drugs may take away symptoms, but at some cost to the body, while cleansing our systems will actually allow the body to heal itself from disease.

Wheatgrass juice is a potent source of enzymes. When you are young you have a natural inheritance of enzyme concentration in all of your cells and friendly bacteria in the GI tract. As you get older the high demand for enzymes due to cooked foods, pathogenic microbes and viruses as well as chemicals, leads to more and more depletion. Tests have shown that a 70 year old has about half the enzymes of the 20 year old. The cells of the elderly have lost over 90% of the enzymes concentration as found in infants. Aging is enzyme exhaustion.

The pancreas, which produces our digestive enzymes, becomes less efficient as we get older due to reduced enzyme availability. This means two things: indigestion and reduced absorption of nutrients from food. You might eat a balanced diet yet be lacking the enzymes to extract the nutrients from the food, which can result in nutritional deficiency. More than any other biochemical cause, this deficiency results in weight gain. People dealing with obesity are usually extremely malnourished. Lack of enzymes and obesity are the “Bonnie and Clyde” of weight regulation. Further, this imbalance causes premature aging and vulnerability to most forms of disease.

Wheatgrass is an energizer: The vitality obtained from wheatgrass juice is remarkable.Two ounces of wheatgrass juice is equivalent to the nutritional value of roughly 4 pounds of organic green vegetables in vitamin and mineral content. On an empty stomach, it is assimilated into the blood in about 20 minutes. The vitality lasts throughout the day.

Wheatgrass is a blood builder: Both chlorophyll (as in wheatgrass juice) and hemoglobin (red blood cells) are molecularly similar. The only actual difference is that the central element in chlorophyll is magnesium and in hemoglobin it is iron. Chlorophyll has the ability to break down poisonous carbon dioxide and release free oxygen. This inhibits and reduces the action of anaerobic bacteria (a disease-producing micro-organism). Wheatgrass juice has been shown to build red blood cells quickly after ingestion. It normalizes high blood pressureand stimulates healthy tissue-cell growth.

Cleanse your body with wheatgrass: The many detergent factors of wheatgrass juice can drain the lymph system, carrying away many toxins from all body cells. When an imbalance or injury exists (examples: sore tendons or joints; degenerative disease, etc.), there is a natural build-up of mucous in the lymph particular to that area. This mucous is encapsulated, helping to ensure the proper flow of lymphatic fluid. Wheatgrass juice helps to breakdown the mucous and allow it to drain. This relieves pressure to allow healing.Wheatgrass juice's high enzyme content helps dissolve tumors. It is the fastest, surest way to eliminate internal waste and provide an optimum nutritional environment. Wheatgrass juice can also be used as a poultice, wash, douche or bath, stimulating healthy new cells and fighting infections.

Wheatgrass juice can dissolve scars that are formed in the lungs from breathing acid gasses. The effects of carbon monoxide is minimized since chlorophyll increases hemoglobin production.

Wheatgrass juice helps to reduce high blood pressure as the juice helps to reduce toxins from the body and gives the blood iron which helps circulation.

It helps overcome dandruff and stop hair from greying. Rub the juice into the scalp, wait ten minutes, shampoo and rinse.

When held in the mouth the juice can prevent tooth decay, relieve a sore throat, cure pyorrhea and soothe a toothache.

Douche with wheatgrass juice for vaginal infections.

Wheatgrass juice and living foods are helpful in reducing outbreaks of psoriasis and eczema. Applied to the skin the juice can reduce age spots and tighten skin. It also has beneficial effects on the capillaries.

It can be used as a sterilizer for water and to clean vegetables of toxic residue. Combined with living foods, it is great for blood disorders of all kinds including anemia.

After an enema, wheatgrass juice implants are great for healing and detoxifying the colon walls, as well as cleansing the internal organs.

Wheatgrass juice is excellent in a case of constipation in keeping the bowels open.

It helps overcome aging and gives energy to the sex hormones.

Toxic metals stored in the body - lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, and excessive amounts of copper- can be successfully removed with small amounts of wheatgrass juice, in increasing dosages.

Wheatgrass is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is also an excellent source of calcium iron magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur, cobalt, zinc, and protein.

Bundles of wheatgrass suspended in aquarium water purify and disinfect the water and can heal sick fish.

How to grow wheat-grass

1. Soak adequate quantity of unpolished wheat-grain overnight in water in any container (after cleaning and washing it thoroughly).
2. Keep a few pots (preferably 7 to 9 pots- one to be sown each day of the week) ready with ordinary soil. Do not add any chemicals or fertilizers. Cow-dung or goat-dung may be added as manure if needed.
3. Spread the soaked wheat on the surface of the soil so that the grains are touching one another.
4. Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on the wheat grains .
5. Cover the pot with a newspaper to provide darkness which helps the sprouting and also to prevent the birds from eating the wheat.
6. Keep the pot in a balcony or a windowsill or a covered verandah.
7. Next day uncover the pot and spray on some water and again cover it with the newspaper.
8. Repeat step 7 everyday until you see green leaves sprouting through the soil. Stop covering the pot as soon as the green leaves appear.
9. Everyday water the pot lightly but adequately depending upon the season and also depending upon the pots used - whether they have holes or not. Beautiful green blades of grass keep growing in height everyday.
10. As soon as the grass is about 8 inches tall ( which usually happens around the 7th to the 9th day from the date of sowing) harvest the grass by cutting with a clean pair of scissors about 1/2" above the surface of the soil.
11. The harvested wheat grass is now ready to be chewed or juiced or stored.
12. A second round of wheat grass will again grow in about 6 to 7 days with daily watering as before.
13. After the second harvest from the same pot, remove all the soil in the pot onto a newspaper- breakup all the roots and mix them with the soil. Add a bit of cowdung to this to rejuvenate the soil.
14. The soil is now ready for reuse for a fresh sowing of wheat.

Choice of pots

Clay pots with or without holes can be used. However we find plastic basins of about 6 to 8 inches diameter and about 3 inches deep ideal. These can be filled upto 2 1/2 inches with soil. Also trays made from wood or plastic or steel may be used.

How much wheat to sow everday?

For a family of 4 healthy persons, about 100 grams can be sown every day in a new pot or basin so that a continous supply is available. 7 to 9 pots would ensure a fresh harvest every day of the week.

For a person who is sick the amount of wheat required to be sown everyday is about 50 to 100 grams. Again 7 to 9 pots growing at any given time would ensure one pot maturing for cutting everyday (since it takes about 7 to 9 days to get the harvest).

How to store wheat grass

The wheat grass can be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic container or a good quality cellophane bag for about 3 days. but the juice must be drunk as soon as juiced orwithin1/2 hour of juicing.

How to juice wheat grass

Please do not use electric blenders for juicing as the rapid blade movement causes oxidation of the chlorophyll and renders it useless.

A manual mince maker maybe used or you can use any stone crushing method available in the home for making chutneys.

Add a little water while grinding or pounding- strain the juice through a clean cloth into a cup or a glass. Grind again adding water - repeat this process until the remaining grass is almost white. Do not throw the leftover grass. Put it in your plants as manure.

How to use wheat grass

1. For a healthy person - a good mouthful (fairly well stuffed) and more if you wish, should be taken early morning and chewed until the remaining cud in the mouth is almost white. This can be eaten or thrown out. (Constipated people are advised to eat the cud as it provides roughage for a better bowel movement).

If being taken in juice form, a healthy person can take 1/4 to 1/3 of a glass everyday. but remember that the juice must be drunk immediately on juicing.

2. For a sick person - 1/4 to 1/2 glass of wheat grass juice is required to start with. If possible this should be spread over 2 to 3 times during the day - the important thing of course being to drink the juice soon after juicing.

The quantity should be gradually increased to about 8 ounces a day (approx one glass full).

3. Wheat can be crushed thoroughly and applied externally on Cancers and Ulcers as a poultice.
4. Wheat grass juice can be used as a rectal implant for cleansing and rejuvenating. Use an enema syringe to implant the juice in the rectum. Try and retain it for 20 minutes.
5. Wheat grass juice is also effective as an eye-bath (using an eye-cup).

(few years back i had hemoglobin deficency, i drank wheat grass juice and my hemoglobin level came to normal within 15 days from when i started drinking it .I still drink wheat grass juice every day for my good health.)