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February 21, 2018 By Trupti Hingad 3 Comments

Best Home Remedies for Ailments

natural-home-made-remedies

In my career as a nutritionist, I have come across three main issues that most people suffer from and these are Diabetes, Hypothyroid, and Acidity.

The reason for these issues to develop is only one—Unhealthy Lifestyle. But, unfortunately, while most are aware of this close to 90% are unable to make lifestyle changes and thus end up getting medicines as recommended by their doctors.

Popping pills seem easier than to bring about a lifestyle change and arrest the issue at the initial stages. Things get difficult when the results are not as expected and are slow. This is precisely when one starts searching for some natural remedies from natural foods.

I am listing down certain good home remedies which actually use natural food and cure your issues, help you get fit with proper healthy lifestyle.

Best home remedies for treating diabetes

Mix 1/2tsp Turmeric + 1tsp Aamla (Gooseberry) powder+1/2tbsp Methi (Fenugreek) seeds powder in a half glass of water and take daily morning on empty stomach. (good for retinopathy)
1tbsp Methi (Fenugreek) seeds soaked overnight in ½ cup water and chew it next day in the morning empty stomach.
Dry seed powder of Jamun (Balck Berry) fruits have to be used -1tsp twice or thrice daily with lukewarm water
Take 40-80ml of decoction of banyan tree bark. Boil 20gm of bark in 4 cups of water, reduce till 1 cup and then drink daily.
Using Tejpatta (Bay Leaf) in food helps to bring sugar levels under control.
Juice of Karela (Bitter gourd) -20ml daily should be taken in morning. Bittergourd help diabetics with insulin secretion, glucose oxidation and other processes.
Soak Ladyfingers (Okra) in water overnight and then drink that water on an empty stomach to control diabetes.
Paneer Ka Phool” is also known as Rennet, is a kind of Indian flower very effective to control diabetes. You have to put 8-10 pieces of flower in a glass of water and soak it the whole night. In the morning squeeze the flower & filter it & and then have it. Its taste is not so good but effective. Regular use will give you the best results. First, try only 5 flowers, then gradually increase to 8-12.

Home remedies for thyroid

Use cold pressed coconut oil as it contains medium chain TG, which improves thyroid function.
Take 2 tbsp of Apple Cider vinegar, mix little honey and drink this solution daily.
Omega 3 rich compounds like fish oil, fish oil supplements, flaxseeds, chia seeds reduce thyroid.
Licorice Herb: The use of Licorice herb helps to promote balance within the thyroid gland and also promote more energy levels in the body –keeping fatigue at bay. It contains triterpenoid glycyrrhetinic acid which may aid in stopping the growth of more invasive thyroid cancer cells.
Evening Primrose oil: This herb is full of Amino acids and these acids are critical for optimal thyroid health. They aid in improving thyroid function and alleviate the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, such as heavy menstrual periods and hair loss. Just a tablespoon a day is the general recommendation to decrease inflammation and promote thyroid health.
Ginseng: This herb helps to improve underactive thyroid and it can also address the fatigue that is associated with it. It is best to take one dose prior to lunch and another prior to breakfast–about 100-200mg each time.
Black walnut: This contains a high dose of iodine which is helpful for an underactive thyroid. You can have one –two of this nut.

Home remedies for acidity

Mix one tsp of baking soda in a glass of fresh water and drink.
After a meal pops up a piece of chewing gum for 30 min to relieve heartburn.

Natural antacid—full ripen banana acts as a buffer against acid reflux

Sipping a cup of ginger water lukewarm, soothes your tummy and acts as an acid buffer.
Being alkaline in nature, chewing 1 tsp of good quality yellow mustard helps to relieve acidity.
Chamomile tea flavoured with honey or lemon is a very good remedy.

1tbsp of Apple cider vinegar with a glass of water acts as a great antacid.

NOTE: These all remedies can be used with your current medications.

Let’s bring our natural food remedy into practice and keep levels under control along with practising a healthy lifestyle.

February 11, 2018 By Mohammed Tufail Qureshi 1 Comment

Hidden dangers of sugary drinks

Sugar… as sweet as this word sounds one needs that much more careful. Behind all that shine there is a deep dark secret.

Sugar is an empty calorie. Empty calories are foods that provide high amounts of energy with very little or zero nutritional value. Sugar that does not get broken down by the body will be converted to fat. Sugar makes you very hungry and gives rise to what is known as ‘hunger craving’. In this case, you may not be physically hungry, but your body demands more food or more sugar to bring your blood sugar levels back into balance.

Sodium benzoate, which is derived from benzoic acid, has been used for years by the carbonated drinks industry to prevent moulds from developing in soft drinks. The ingredient has been a subject of concern for cancer because when mixed with Vitamin C, it turns into a carcinogenic substance called benzene. An international news report once said that the Cola drinks lead to the formation of stones in the kidney which can gradually damage the kidneys. The acid and radical mineral imbalances in dark-coloured sodas affect the kidneys. The phosphoric acid in the drinks’ absorbs calcium from bones and is eliminated through the passage of urine. This slowly forms stones in the kidney.

The phosphorus acid content takes away calcium from the bones thus leading to bone loss. Well, this is not enough!! There is more to learn about SUGAR.

It makes your body acidic which is a house for the pathogens to breed in.

Phosphoric acid present in drinks damages the enamel of the tooth and drains calcium from bones.

It has aspartate, an artificial sweetener which makes us feel hungry and craves for food, which leads to weight gain.

It gives empty calories and no nutrients.

Contains lead acetate damages kidney and nerves.

Soft drinks contain sugar which means less oxygen to your cells.

Increases risks of heart diseases

Risk of diabetes as it can cause insulin resistance.

Sugary drinks do not make you feel full and are strongly linked to weight gain. Large amounts of sugar are turned into fat in the liver. Sugar also increases belly fat as it contains no essential nutrients… Sugary drinks are highly addictive because of its delicious yet devilish taste.

It leads to high risk of cancer, damage dental health and increased risk of gout.

The next time you take a can in your hand to consume it, try and think what its taste and bubbles can do to your body.

February 10, 2018 By Hardika Vira Leave a Comment

Healthy Dips and Sauces

We always want our main course that we eat to be healthy. Would you like some side dishes to make your meals more interesting? Have you ever thought of side dishes that you could have along with your main course which are equally healthy as your main dish and can be had as fillers in the mid meals?

There are many such alternatives available in the market which is not only full of preservatives but also loaded with sugar, fats and are way too costly.

This thought led me to write this blog on healthy dips and sauces which are not only easy to make but are pocket friendly. To add to the benefits – ‘No added preservatives’. All your family members especially children would love indulging into these dips and sauces with various food items. Don’t be shocked if you see your child’s plate clean after this.

Let us have a look at some of the yummy healthy dips and sauces which serve to be an excellent side dish

Avocado Yoghurt Dip

Ingredients	Amount
Low fat Greek Yoghurt/ hung curd	½ cup
Avocados (ripe)	2 no
Garlic Ginger (minced)	1 tsp
Fresh Coriander leaves	3-4 TBSP
Mint leaves	Few sprigs
Bell pepper	1 no
Lime Juice	of 1 no
Red chilli powder	¼ tsp
Salt	To taste
Pepper powder	To taste

METHOD:

Mix all the above ingredients in a blender. Mix until smooth paste.
Serve with vegetable sticks or whole grain chips.
You can use it as a base for your sandwiches and rolls

BENEFITS

Rich in healthy fats,proteins, loaded with vitamins, minerals, good for digestive and gut health

Mix fruit Salsa

Ingredients	Amount
Pineapple (diced)	½ cup
Mango (ripe) (diced)	½ cup
Strawberries(diced)	½ cup
Fresh mint leaves	2-3 TBSP
Ginger	½ inch
Bell pepper	1 no
Lime (big)	1 no
Red chilli powder	¼ tsp
Salt	To taste

METHOD:

In a saucepan, mix pineapple, mango and strawberries, bellpepper, ginger, chopped fresh mint leaves, red chilli powder, lime juice and salt. Mix well until well blended.
Enjoy this sweet, tangy, spicy salsa with pita chips/ wheat bread

BENEFITS

Super antioxidant rich. A blend of various vitamins, minerals and helps improve immunity

Beans Basil Hummus

Ingredients	Amount
Fresh kidney beans (cooked)	2 cup
Chick peas (soaked and drained)	2/3 cup
Garlic cloves	4-5 no
Ginger	½ inch piece
Fresh basil leaves/ tulsi leaves	½ cup
Mint leaves	Few sprigs
Onion	1 no
Lime (big)	2-3 no
Green chilly	1-2 no
Salt	To taste
Pepper powder	To taste
Low fat yoghurt	As required

METHOD

In a blender, add 2 cups of cooked fresh kidney beans(not the dried one), overnight soaked and drained 2/3 cup of chick peas, ginger, garlic, basil leaves, mint leaves, onion, lime juice, green chillies, salt, pepper powder. Grind it well until it becomes a smooth paste. If required you can add low fat yoghurt to get the required consistency
Serve with veggie sticks, chips or crackers
You can even use it as a base for any rolls/ frankies

BENEFITS:

Rich in proteins and probiotic. Excellent for gut health and immunity boosting

Tahini Recipe

Ingredients	Amount
Roasted sesame seeds	2 TBSP
Olive oil	2 TBSP
Lemon juice	1 ½ TBSP
Garlic clove	1-2 no
Hung curd	1 cup
Salt	to taste

METHOD:

1 Take roasted sesame seeds, olive oil, garlic cloves and lemon juice in a blender

Blend until smooth paste
Mix the above tahini paste with hung curd. Mix well and serve chilled with flat breads/ khakhras/ veggie sticks

BENEFITS:

Great source of Calcium, probiotics and healthy fats

Healthy mayo

Ingredients	Amount
Grated cucumber	½ cup
Grated carrot	½ cup
Hung curd	1 cup
Oregano,	½ tsp
Parsley, Basil leaves, Chilli flakes	½ tsp
Salt	to taste
Freshly ground Pepper powder	¼ tsp

METHOD:

In a bowl, mix all the above ingredients
Serve chilled with flat breads/ khakhras/ homemade tortilla/ nachos/filling in wheat breads

BENEFITS:

Alkaline in nature, coolant, good source of fiber too

Peanut/ Almond butter

Ingredients	Amount
Roasted peanuts/ almonds (salted/ unsalted)	200 gms
Olive oil/ Ricebran oil	As required
Organic honey	Optional
Salt	to taste

METHOD:

In a blender jar, take roasted salted/ unsalted peanuts or almonds and grind till finely coarse
Add a few drops of olive oil
Blenderize until smooth paste.
Add salt and organic honey if required
Peanut butter/ almond butter is ready to serve with khakhras/ whole grain bread/ sandwiches/ fruits/ vegetable sticks

BENEFITS:

Healthy fats. Serves as a great pre and post workout meal option

Guacamole

Ingredients	Amount
Avocados (ripe) peeled, pitted	2 no
Tomatoes, ripe	1 no
Fresh Coriander leaves	3 TBSP
Onion, finely chopped	¼ cup
Garlic, minced	½ tsp
Lime (big)	1 no
cumin powder	½ tsp
Salt	To taste
cayenne pepper (optional)	1 pinch

METHOD:

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt.
Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic.
Stir in cayenne pepper, cumin seed powder
Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavour, or serve immediately.

BENEFITS:

Rich in healthy unsaturated fats. Antioxidants, vitamins and minerals

If you have been making some interesting dips and sauces then do share the recipes with us. Share your feedback on these dips and sauces when you make.

Enjoy!!!

January 30, 2018 By Dr. Viral Thakkar Leave a Comment

You can indulge when you are expecting!

Sex-During-Pregnancy

Isn’t it is exciting to create something wonderful which is a part of you and your partner! Yes, I am talking about a baby here!. However, the 9 months are full of challenges for the mother and the father, physical intimacy being a major concern. In this article, I am trying to address the common concerns of sex during pregnancy, its benefits and when to abstain!

The roller coaster hormonal ride, change in the taste buds, fatigue, weakness and mood swings are just a few reasons which put women off their sex drive especially in the first trimester. Many women might also experience an increase in libido during pregnancy! Check, which side of the coin does your loved one fall on and indulge!

If you are an expectant mother, you will notice an increased blood flow to the pelvic area and engorgement of the genitals. It might be accompanied by sore and tender breasts which results in a heightened sensation. You might enjoy it or be put off. Communicate with your loved one and let him know.

Boys and girls, pregnancy is also the time for you to bond. So if you are up for it, go for it! As far as your baby is concerned, be rest assured he/she is safe in amniotic sac and the strong muscles of the uterus. The mucus plug at the cervix prevents infections from entering the womb. Your baby, on the other hand, does not care what you do and neither does it know. In fact, you might experience some happy kicks once you are done!

Hitting the big ‘O’ during pregnancy is safe if you have a normal & low-risk pregnancy and cannot start labour or cause a miscarriage. Mild uterine contractions post an orgasm (or during nipple stimulation and the prostaglandins in semen) are harmless. Even if your climax is particularly intense these contractions aren’t harmful — they’re not a sign of labour. So let loose, enjoy the pleasure you deserve!

However, ensure your partner is tested for infections before indulging! Because you’re better off safe than sorry (with or without a baby on the way).

When is it off limits!

As a woman, when your body says “no”, please listen to it!. Respect yourself and your decision.
Your practitioner might declare your pregnancy as high risk depending on your tests and restrict sex

If you’re experiencing signs of preterm labour or, if you have such a history
If you’ve been diagnosed with incompetent cervix or placenta previa
If you’re experiencing vaginal bleeding or if you have a history of miscarriages

If you are restricted from being intimate, communicate with your partner to find ways to address the intimacy you’re both cravings. Focus on hand holding, cuddling, the old-fashioned making out… Your woman will love you for the support you give her during this time!

Ayurveda insists on listening to one’s body. Apart from this, sexual activity should be limited during the first trimester and post the 7th month since it is a delicate time. Also, at all times one should avoid compression of the abdomen.

While making love is beneficial, it is also beneficial during pregnancy if your practitioner has not advised otherwise.

1. Making love restores the functioning of the body with the release of certain hormones and ensures proper circulation. This means the fetus receives an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients when in the womb that aids growth and development.

2. If you are making love regularly during pregnancy, it can help keep your pelvic floor muscles toned and strong to help you deal with the arduous phase of labour. Don’t give your exercise a miss though!

3. Making love increases the level of IgA antibodies in the body that boost immunity during pregnancy.

4. It leads to release of endorphins in the body that makes both the mother and the baby happier by reducing levels of stress. Sex also increases production of oxytocin, a hormone responsible for attachment and love.

5. Better sex, better bonding and a surge in endorphins help an expectant mother to sleep better, fight fatigue and other nagging symptoms of pregnancy.

6. It helps keep pre-eclampsia at bay because man’s sperm has a special protein called HLA-G that helps regulate body s immune system and lowers blood pressure levels in a woman during pregnancy.

While you can try any position during your pregnancy, here are a few positions you might find comfortable instead of the common missionary.

position 1