Category: Nutrition

A Remedy for Summer Anger & Irritability

7/19/2013

If you were going to try one new recipe to keep your cool this summer, try rosewater lemonade. The heat of summer can provoke anger and irritability, especially when a person is dehydrated from sweating, spending long hours under the summer sun or up late at night socializing. Altogether, these strains on your body may make it all too tempting to fight with your loved ones. Fortunately, you can recover your composure and find relief with cooling, refreshing beverages like rosewater lemonade.

When the thermometer seems relentless, the key to a kinder
personality lies in the understanding that summer is a firey season of
aggravated Pitta. When provoked, Pitta generally reacts with irritability,
resistance, and aggression. Pitta people have a basic need for sweetness and
beauty. When overheated, Pitta needs a gentle yes to calm them into a more
amiable easiness. They respond best to cooling, calming balms like sitting under
the moon, in the shade of a tree, and sweet foods with a pleasant aroma.
Rosewater Lemonade brings sweetness and beauty into the day, calming their
agitated mind. The mere smell of a rose cools their anger and criticism. Knowing
this about Pitta helps you to please and nurture yourself or a loved one, rather
than provoke them.

Rosewater relieves and cools inflammation. It's great
for spraying on your sunburned skin or summer rashes, but it also heals and
soothes internal tissues as well. It has a mild astringency that tones tissues,
including the digestive tract.

Lemons cool the skin because they help
you sweat. Lemons cleanse the blood of impurities, aid digestion and quench
thirst. Although lemons are heating in the digestive tract, they are a cooling
astringent in the blood. Sour taste focuses a scattered mind and helps nudge
your thoughts from the head back to the heart, the seat of kindness. For an even
more Pitta cooling effect, add lime instead of lemon and maple syrup instead of
raw sugar. Kapha may prefer honey.

A wonderful, refreshing substitute for iced
tea. It is inspired by a Tunisian drink with lemons and orange blossom water.
Rosewater is the water leftover from the production of rose essential oil. It
has an uplifting rose fragrance. As Ayurveda students, we sprayed ourselves with
rosewater mist on hot days to keep cool. Rosewater is available in most Indian
and Middle Eastern grocery stores.

Ingredients
1/8 whole Lemon
1 tsp. Raw Sugar
1/8 tsp. Rose Water
2 c Water
Recipe from www.joyfulbelly.com

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Ayurvedic Medicine

7/2/2013

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Definition
Ayurvedic medicine is a system of healing that originated in
ancient India. In Sanskrit, ayur means life or living, and veda
means knowledge, so Ayurveda has been defined as the "knowledge of living" or
the "science of longevity." Ayurvedic medicine utilizes diet, detoxification and purification techniques,
herbal and mineral remedies, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, and massage therapy as holistic healing methods. Ayurvedic medicine is widely practiced in modern India and has been steadily
gaining followers in the West.
Purpose
According to the original texts, the goal of Ayurveda is
prevention as well as promotion of the body's own capacity for maintenance and
balance. Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used
safely as an alternative therapy or along-side conventional therapies. Ayurvedic
physicians claim that their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic, and
chronic conditions. Ayurveda has been used to treat acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation, depression, diabetes, flu, heart
disease, hypertension, immune problems, inflammation, insomnia,
nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.
Ayurvedic physicians seek to discover the roots of a disease
before it gets so advanced that more radical treatments are necessary. Thus,
Ayurveda seems to be limited in treating severely advanced conditions, traumatic
injuries, acute pain,
and conditions and injuries requiring invasive surgery. Ayurvedic techniques
have also been used alongside chemotherapy and surgery to assist patients in
recovery and healing.
Description
Origins
Ayurvedic medicine originated in the early civilizations of
India some 3,000-5,000 years ago. It is mentioned in the Vedas, the
ancient religious and philosophical texts that are the oldest surviving
literature in the world, which makes Ayurvedic medicine the oldest surviving
healing system. According to the texts, Ayurveda was conceived by enlightened
wise men as a system of living harmoniously and maintaining the body so that
mental and spiritual awareness could be possible. Medical historians believe
that Ayurvedic ideas were transported from ancient India to China and were
instrumental in the development of Chinese medicine.
Today, Ayurvedic medicine is used by 80% of the population
in India. Aided by the efforts of Deepak Chopra and the Maharishi, it has become
an increasingly accepted alternative medical treatment in America during the
last two decades. Chopra is an M.D. who has written several bestsellers based on
Ayurvedic ideas. He also helped develop the Center for Mind/Body Medicine in La
Jolla, California, a major Ayurvedic center that trains physicians in Ayurvedic
principles, produces herbal remedies, and conducts research and documentation of
its healing techniques.
Key ideas
To understand Ayurvedic treatment, it is necessary to have
an idea how the Ayurvedic system views the body. The basic life force in the
body is prana, which is also found in the elements and is similar to the
Chinese notion of chi. As Swami Vishnudevananda, a yogi and expert, put
it, "Prana is in the air, but is not the oxygen, nor any of its chemical
constituents. It is in food, water, and in the sunlight, yet it is not vitamin,
heat, or light-rays. Food, water, air, etc., are only the media through which
the prana is carried."
In Ayurveda, there are five basic elements that contain
prana: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements interact and are
further organized in the human body as three main categories or basic
physiological principles in the body that govern all bodily functions known as
the doshas. The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Each
person has a unique blend of the three doshas, known as the person's
prakriti, which is why Ayurvedic treatment is always individualized. In
Ayurveda, disease is viewed as a state of imbalance in one or more of a person's
doshas, and an Ayurvedic physician strives to adjust and balance them, using a
variety of techniques.
The vata dosha is associated with air and ether, and in the
body promotes movement and lightness. Vata people are generally thin and light
physically, dry-skinned, and very energetic and mentally restless. When vata is
out of balance, there are often nervous problems, hyperactivity, sleeplessness,
lower back pains, and headaches.

Ayurvedic Body Types
Vata
Pitta
Kapha

Pitta is associated with fire and water. In the body, it is
responsible for metabolism and digestion. Pitta characteristics are medium-built
bodies, fair skin, strong digestion, and good mental concentration. Pitta
imbalances show up as anger and aggression and stress-related conditions like gastritis,
ulcers, liver problems, and hypertension.
The kapha dosha is associated with water and earth. People
characterized as kapha are generally large or heavy with more oily complexions.
They tend to be slow, calm, and peaceful. Kapha disorders manifest emotionally
as greed and possessiveness, and physically as obesity, fatigue, bronchitis, and sinus problems.
Diagnosis
In Ayurvedic medicine, disease is always seen as an
imbalance in the dosha system, so the diagnostic process strives to determine
which doshas are underactive or overactive in a body. Diagnosis is often taken
over a course of days in order for the Ayurvedic physician to most accurately
determine what parts of the body are being affected. To diagnose problems,
Ayurvedic physicians often use long questionnaires and interviews to determine a
person's dosha patterns and physical and psychological histories. Ayurvedic
physicians also intricately observe the pulse, tongue, face, lips, eyes, and
fingernails for abnormalities or patterns that they believe can indicate deeper
problems in the internal systems. Some Ayurvedic physicians also use laboratory
tests to assist in diagnosis.
Treatment
Ayurvedic treatment seeks to re-establish balance and
harmony in the body's systems. Usually the first method of treatment involves
some sort of detoxification and cleansing of the body, in the belief that
accumulated toxins must be removed before any other methods of treatment will be
effective. Methods of detoxification include therapeutic vomiting, laxatives,
medicated enemas,
fasting, and cleansing of the sinuses. Many Ayurvedic clinics combine all of
these cleansing methods into intensive sessions known as panchakarma.
Panchakarma can take several days or even weeks and they are more than
elimination therapies. They also include herbalized oil massage and herbalized
heat treatments. After purification, Ayurvedic
physicians use herbal and mineral remedies to balance the body as well.
Ayurvedic medicine contains a vast knowledge of the use of herbs for specific
health problems.
Ayurvedic medicine also emphasizes how people live their
lives from day to day, believing that proper lifestyles and routines accentuate
balance, rest, diet, and prevention. Ayurveda recommends yoga as a form of exercise
to build strength and health, and also advises massage therapy and self-massage
as ways of increasing circulation and reducing stress. Yogic breathing techniques and meditation
are also part of a healthy Ayurvedic regimen, to reduce stress and improve
mental energy.
Of all treatments, though, diet is one of the most basic and
widely used therapy in the Ayurvedic system. An Ayurvedic diet can be a very
well planned and individualized regimen. According to Ayurveda, there are six
basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Certain
tastes and foods can either calm or aggravate a particular dosha. For instance,
sweet, sour, and salty decrease vata problems and increase kapha. Sour, salty,
and pungent can increase pitta. After an Ayurvedic physician determines a
person's dosha profile, they will recommend a specific diet to correct
imbalances and increase health. The Ayurvedic diet emphasizes primarily
vegetarian foods of high quality and freshness, tailored to the season and time
of day. Cooling foods are eaten in the summer and heating ones in the winter,
always within a person's dosha requirements. In daily routine, the heaviest meal
of the day should be lunch, and dinner should eaten well before bedtime, to
allow for complete digestion. Also, eating meals in a calm manner with proper
chewing and state of mind is important, as is combining foods properly and
avoiding overeating.
Cost
Costs of Ayurvedic treatments can vary, with initial
consultations running anywhere from $40 to over $100, with follow-up visits
costing less. Herbal treatments may cost from $10 to $50 per month, and are
often available from health food or bulk herb stores. Some clinics offer
panchakarma, the intensive Ayurvedic detoxification treatment, which can include
overnight stays for up to several weeks. The prices for these programs can vary
significantly, depending on the services and length of stay. Insurance
reimbursement may depend on whether the primary physician is a licensed M.D.
Preparations
Ayurveda is a mind/body system of health that contains some
ideas foreign to the Western scientific model. Those people considering Ayurveda
should approach it with an open mind and willingness to experiment. Also,
because Ayurveda is a whole-body system of healing and health, patience and
discipline are helpful, as some conditions and diseases are believed to be
brought on by years of bad health habits and require time and effort to correct.
Finally, the Ayurvedic philosophy believes that each person has the ability to
heal themselves, so those considering Ayurveda should be prepared to bring
responsibility and participation into the treatment.
Precautions
An Ayurvedic practitioner should always be consulted.
Side effects
During Ayurvedic detoxification programs, some people report
fatigue, muscle soreness, and general sickness. Also, as Ayurveda seeks to
release mental stresses and psychological problems from the patient, some people
can experience mental disturbances and depression during treatment, and
psychological counseling may be part of a sound program.
Research and general acceptance
Because Ayurveda had been outside the Western scientific
system for years, research in the United States is new. Another difficulty in
documentation arises because Ayurvedic treatment is very individualized; two
people with the same disease but different dosha patterns might be treated
differently. Much more scientific research has been conducted over the past
several decades in India. Much research in the United States is being supported
by the Maharishi Ayur-Ved organization, which studies the Ayurvedic products it
sells and its clinical practices.
Some Ayurvedic herbal mixtures have been proven to have high
antioxidant properties, much stronger than vitamins A, C, and E, and some have also been
shown in laboratory tests to reduce or eliminate tumors in mice and to inhibit cancer
growth in human lung tumor cells. In a 1987 study at MIT, an Ayurvedic herbal
remedy was shown to significantly reduce colon cancer in rats. Another study was performed
in the Netherlands with Maharishi Ayur-Ved products. A group of patients with
chronic illnesses, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, eczema,
psoriasis, constipation, rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, and non-insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus, were given Ayurvedic
treatment. Strong results were observed, with nearly 80% of the patients
improving and some chronic conditions being completely cured.
Other studies have shown that Ayurvedic therapies can
significantly lower cholesterol and blood pressure in stress-related problems.
Diabetes, acne, and allergies have also been successfully treated with Ayurvedic
remedies. Ayurvedic products have been shown to increase short-term memory and
reduce headaches. Also, Ayurvedic remedies have been used successfully to
support the healing process of patients undergoing chemotherapy, as these
remedies have been demonstrated to increase immune system activity.

If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda you can check out this fun site http://www.joyfulbelly.com

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Ojas-the sap in your life.

6/17/2013

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Ojas (pronounced oh-jus) is a Sanskrit word which literally means "vigor" or "life sap". According to the principles of Ayurveda, it is the essential energy of the
body which can be equated with the "fluid of life". Those who practice Ayurveda
say that Ojas is the sap of one's life energy which, when sufficient, is equated
with immunity and a cheerful mind and soul that is enlightened with happiness, when deficient, results in weakness, fatigue and ultimately disease.

Ojas is the ultimate refined result of digestion, metabolism, absorption and
assimilation. The substance that connects the mind to the body and
consciousness, it is a wholesome biochemical substance that nourishes all body
tissues and has a direct influence on the nature and quality of physical, mental
and emotional life. Ojas' primary location is the heart, from where it
circulates to and pervades the entire body.

Ojas is collected from the body's seven tissues - plasma, blood, muscle, adipose tissue
(fat), bone, bone marrow, and reproductive tissue (semen and ovum) - by the
influence of enzymes (Agnis), similar to how a bee collects honey from the
essence of many flowers. The purest substance in the universe and omnipresent in
the human being, ojas is responsible for higher states of consciousness, purity
of thoughts, perfect health, positivity in feelings, love, joy, better immunity,
longevity, intelligence, creativity, memory, bliss, and thought process. When an
individual's inner consciousness awakens spontaneously, ojas increases. In a
nutshell, ojas is the sap of the entire physiology and sustains the life of an
individual.

Why does Ojas deplete ?
All the factors that cause the depletion of Ojas are excessive sex, abuse of drugs and alcohol,
sedentary life style, loose talking, loud music, insufficient rest, worries,
anxiety, unsatisfied desires, jealousy, lust for worldly comforts, fear,
cheerlessness, excessive sleeping, daytime sleeping, lack of exercise, over
confidence, over eating, desire to rule over others. In short all the things,
which disturb the daily life style of a person, may lead to the depletion of Ojas.

Along with eating a balancing diet, one can increase ojas in a variety of ways. General guidelines are to love
yourself and others, live a healthy lifestyle, and always take time to appreciate the joys in life.
Other ways to increase ojas include:
Laugh and smile a lot
Take time to relax
Make the time before bedtime quiet and non-stimulating
Sensory control, TV, internet etc.
Meditate regularly
Spend time in nature
Exercise your creativity
Offer your gifts to others
Follow your hearts passion
Engage in physical activity
Worship of the Divine

Ojas building foods; milk, almonds, dates or raisins, ghee, acia berries, kale, saffron, raw ginger, berries, pomagranate, nuts.

Here is a drink to build your Ojas...
OJAS DRINK
Use whole milk. Almond or coconut milk are an option if you have sensitivity to dairy.
Boil 1 cup of whole milk with 3 dates and 10 peppercorns. Boil and cool three times and then remove the peppercorns. Place milk and dates in the blender and add: 2T oil (ghee, olive oil, sesame oil, or coconut oil), 1 pinch of cinnamon, cumin and cardamom. Add 1 teaspoon of maple syrup or honey and 10 large nuts or seeds. Blend well, drink on and empty stomach and don't eat for 2 hours after you drink. Also drink 2 hours before you eat a meal.
OM Shanti

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Kale Salad

2/6/2013

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Ingredients

5 cups Kale, torn, blanched (see note)

½ cup thinly sliced onions

½ cup chopped red pepper

1 cup grated sweet potato

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon grated ginger root

½ cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons Namu Shoyo

1 cup dehydrated mushrooms

1 handful dehydrated almonds or pumpkin seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS

The magic of this recipe is that the mushrooms rehydrate with the marvelous
taste of the marinade. If you do not have time to prepare the dehydrated
mushrooms and nuts, plain mushrooms and nuts will work too.

In a large salad serving bowl, combine kale, onions, red pepper, sweet
potato, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, oil, Namu Shoyu, and dehydrated mushrooms.
Toss. Let the salad sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours. Toss again just
before serving and top with nuts or seeds.

Note: To blanch kale, tear into bite size pieces, removing stems. Place the
leaves in a sieve, and pour 2-3 cups of water that has been brought to a boil
and cooled for 1 minute over the kale. Drain. To speed up the draining process,
roll up the kale in a clean dishtowel for a few minutes.

Serves 5-6.

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A few things about coffee

2/9/2011

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Coffee is:

· Acidic, and upsets the pH balance of the body.
· Contains caffeine, which acts as “fake energy” producing a short-lived high at the expense of taxing the adrenals and elevating levels of cortisol in the body. You can feel the effects of caffeine in your system within a few minutes of ingesting it, and it stays on your system for many hours—it has a half-life of four to six hours in your body. While in your body, caffeine affects the following hormones:

Adenosine- Can inhibit absorption of adenosine, which calms the body, which can make you feel alert in the short run, but can cause sleep problems later.
Adrenaline- Caffeine injects adrenaline into your system, giving you a temporary boost, but possibly making you fatigued and depressed later. If you take more caffeine to counteract these effects, you end up spending the day in an agitated state, and might find yourself jumpy and edgy by night.
Cortisol- Can increase the body’s levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, which can lead to other health consequences ranging from weight gain and moodiness to heart disease and diabetes.
Dopamine- Caffeine increases dopamine levels in your system, acting in a way similar to amphetamines, which can make you feel good after taking it, but after it wears off you can feel ‘low’. It can also lead to a physical dependence because of dopamine manipulation.

WEIGHT LOSS AND USE OF COFFEE DO NOT MIX
Some may be thinking that coffee is ok when only having 1 cup daily. After all, what can one cup do? You’re getting great nutrition and cleansing effects from the Isagenix products though what you don’t know is that your ability to go into detoxifying and fat burning mode is being inhibited.   One cup of coffee will cause problems!

Over the past 7 years, caffeine use has been monitored and the trend shows that caffeine does and will slow or even stop the release of weight in most people. We are all unique and a few will lose weight as the exception, but the majority will not. Even one cup daily will dump 150 milligrams in your body.

If you want to lose weight safely and keep it off, follow the recommendations, break the coffee habbit.

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Sivakami...

My spiritual name is Sivakami, which means... one who desires transformation and/or one who transforms desires. I live in Rifle, Colorado where I teach yoga, create art and love life. I would love to hear your comments.

A Remedy for Summer Anger & Irritability

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ojas-the sap in your life.

Kale Salad

A few things about coffee

Sivakami...

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