Thursday, August 21, 2014

Diet for Vata Constitution


A wholesome diet is essential not only for maintaining health but also for fighting diseases. Intake of proper quantity of food promotes longevity, does not aggravate the doshas, and maintains the digestive capacity. One needs to observe some basic rules alongwith intake of a wholesome diet:

• Consumption of warm food is essential as it helps in digestion and also with the downward passage of vata.

• Oily food is beneficial as it helps in stimulating the digestion process, gives strength to the body and sense faculties, and improves complexion.

• Food should be consumed only after the digestion of the previous meal, as then it promotes proper digestion, appetite, proper manifestation of the natural urges and promotes longevity of the person.

• Food with contradictory potencies should be avoided.

• Eating food at the right place and the right time helps to reduce emotional strains.

• Eating in a hurry or carelessly results in the food entering the wrong passage and gives rise to consequences that causes serious complications.

• Eating too slowly does not give satisfaction and impairs digestion.

• Food should be eaten with concentration and self-confidence.

• Knowledge of the benefits of food is essential for good health. Apart from this one also needs to follow a disciplined life or at least avoid habits that are bad for one's health.


Habits advised for people having vata constitution are

• Massage with til or mustard oil.

• Application of aromatic powder e.g. Sandalwood.

• Bathing with hot water.

• Sleeping during daytime.

• Singing and dancing.

• Evening stroll under moonlight.

• Listening to good things.

• Avoiding stress.

Habits not advisable and hence best avoided are

• Fasting

• Eating in little quantity than sufficient

• Too much of worries, fear and anger

• Excessive coitus

• Excessive talking, singing and traveling

• Purgation restricted.

Diet advised for people having vata constitution


Food Item


• Wheat

• Rice

• Urad (Black gram)

• Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

• Til (Sesamum)

• Kanji (Starch)

• Milk

• Curd

• Sweets

• Ghee

• Oil

• Old Jaggery

• Caster oil

• Coconut

• Sarnso (Mustard)


Vegetables

• Potato

• Brinjal

• Parwal (Pointed gourd)

• Onion

• Drumstick

• Elephant root

• Ginger

• Garlic

• Carrot

• Kachhi muli (Radish)

• Banana flower




Fruits

• Mango

• Tamarind

• Pomegranate

• Orange

• Coconut

• Amala (Emblic myrobalan)

• Banana

• Lime

• Sugarcane

• Berry

• Amrut (Aconite / Monk's hood)

• Tarbuj (Water melon)

• Shahatun (Mulberry)




Dry Fruits


• Cashew nut

• Almond

• Pista (Pistachio nut)

• Akrot (Walnut)

• Alubukhara (Plum)




Masala /Spices


• Ginger

• Tamarind

• Jeera (Cumin seed)

• Tejpatra (Himalayan silver fir )

• Tulsi (Sacred Basil / Holy Basil)

• Pudina (Spear-Mint / Garden mint)

• Black pepper

• Loung (Clove)

• Garlic

• Mirchi (chilli)

• Sounf (Fennel)

• Sauchal salt (Rock salt)

• Hing (Asafoetida)

• Elayachi (Cardamom)

• Keshar (Saffron)





Animal Products


• Milk

 • Curd

• Buttermilk

• Butter

• Buttermilk

• Ghee (Saturated fats




Diet restricted for people having vata constitution


Food Item

• Chana (Bengal gram)

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Old Barley

• Corn

• Masoor (Lentil)

• Vatana (Peas)

Vegetables

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Karela (Bitter gourd)

• Kakdi (Cucumber)

• Tindali (Coccinia cordifolia)

• Ladies finger




Fruits

• Ripe Mango

• Jamun (Black berry)

• Papaya (Papaw / Papaya)

• Jackfruit

• Bilvafal (Bael)

• Sitafal (Custard apple)




Dry Fruits

• Singhada (Caltrops / Water chestnut /Singhara nut )

• Khajur (Date)

• Supari (Betel nut)

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Ayurvedic Massage Therapy for Diabetics

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can all benefit from the relaxing effects of professional massage therapy. Everyone knows that living with diabetes involves a certain amount of stress. Because the human body is designed to respond to stress with a fight-or-flight response, stress tends to raise blood sugar levels.

Massage is useful in relieving stress, even for non-diabetics. It lowers the heart rate and blood pressure while relaxing muscles and increasing endorphins, all of which results in a sense of well-being.

Circulation and Neuropathy

Many diabetics have poor circulation, and Elakzhi or Patrapinda swedanam massage therapy are known for promoting increased circulation. Regular massage helps move blood through congested areas of the body, flushing lactic acid from your muscles and enabling more oxygen-rich blood to flow in.

Neuropathy is another possible side effect of diabetes, and massage has proven helpful in triggering an endorphin release that raises your pain threshold. Elakzhi or Patrapinda swedanam massage therapy release serotonin and oxytocin in your body, which can relieve chronic pain.

Blood Sugar Awareness

Dr. Ruchi Gulati, recommends taking precautions to avoid hypoglycemia during a massage. Of course that's a good policy during any activity, from driving to swimming, but it's especially important during massage therapy - because deeply restful relaxation might make symptoms of an insulin reaction easier to overlook.


Make sure to tell your professional SukhAyurveda Massage therapist about the possibility of hypoglycemia, and how you handle it (with glucose tablets, a soft drink, or some other preferred method), so you can relax and enjoy the calming effect of your relaxing massage session.

Happy Ayurveda!