Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Ayurveda Diet


Ayurveda Diet

The Ayurveda diet is based on the Ayurveda medicine, the science of life which balances your mind, body and spirit.

Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India and the oldest surviving healing system in the world (about 5,000 years old). “Ayu” means life and “veda” means knowledge, so ayurveda is the science of life. It is based on 3 fundamental concepts:


1. Food is medicine.

2. Disease can be prevented and eradicated through your daily habits.

3. Lifestyle recommendations are based on an individual’s physical, mental and emotional makeup.

Ayurveda is based on natural remedies that promote longevity, beauty and vitality.

Ayurveda is the most effective holistic approach to heal your mind and body.
The following are 4 common ayurvedic components and practices.
Curry Powder

There is no reason that eating healthy cannot be delicious, and that is the magic of curry powder. It is packed with spices that fight disease and serve as antioxidants. Ayurveda recognizes 6 tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. The American diet often has plenty of the first 3 – sweet, sour and salty – but is often missing the last three. Because curry satisfies all 6 tastes, it helps you eat less at each meal.

Cumin and coriander in particular help with digestion. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, gas and abdominal cramps can be remedied with regular use of these two spices.

The real “superstar” of curry powder is turmeric. It is a potent antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that has been studied in relation to several conditions including cancer, wound healing, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. You can use turmeric in curry powder or get it in tablet form to increase your consumption.

Holy Basil

Holy basil, or tulsi, is considered one of the most important herbs in ayurveda. It is used for many different conditions, but its ability to fight stress has led modern herbalists to label it as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a class of herbs that help the body fight stress by reducing the production of stress hormones that result in the fight-or-flight response.

Sandalwood

 A sandalwood face mask will give your face an instant lift, the natural way. Sandalwood detoxifies the skin by removing impurities directly as it dries on the skin. It also removes toxins by increasing circulation in the skin, leaving it glowing and feeling tighter. Sandalwood also has an alluring fragrance.

To make your own sandalwood face mask, use about 5 teaspoons of sandalwood powder and slowly mix in water until you have a thick paste. If you have a tendency toward acne or rashes, add 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder. If you tend to have very dry skin, you can add some castor or almond oil to the paste. You can apply the mask for 1 hour on a weekly basis for regular skin care or leave it on overnight every few months for a deep skin cleansing.

Daily Oil Massage (Abhyanga)

We tend to think of only getting massages from a therapist on special occasions. But you can treat yourself as often as you want to a warm oil massage in your own bathroom. This daily oil massage has several benefits including reducing stress, keeping skin youthful, and improving immunity. You and your partner can also do this massage on each other on the weekends to create an easy, affordable, and health-promoting romantic experience.

For the majority of people, the best oil to use is organic, cured sesame oil. But if you produce a lot of body heat, tend to get rashes easily, or are susceptible to inflammatory conditions, then organic coconut oil may be a better choice.







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