Archives for Sep 7, 2021

Multigrain Chapatis (Rotis)

Sep 7, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

Whole wheat has immense essential nutrients including Fiber and B-complex vitamins. This whole wheat flour is used extensively in Ayurvedic cooking in the form of Chapatis or Rotis. Chapatis/Rotis are similar to whole wheat tortillas and often eaten with Indian curries, vegetable preparations. It is a good complex carbohydrate and provides satiety for a longer period of time. The nutritive value of Chapatis can be enhanced by adding other high fiber flours to the dough like millet flours, gram flours, and maize flour.

Good for all doshas.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 5 Minutes per chapati
Serves: 2 Person

Ingredients

2 cups of whole wheat flour
¼ cup of pearl millet flour
¼ cup of maize flour
¼ cup of green gram flour
Salt to taste (preferably Himalayan salt)
Water to knead the dough
½ T of ghee

Method

Mix all the flours, and salt in a bowl.
Add water and ghee and make a soft pliable dough. Cover with a wet cloth and let the dough sit for 15 mins. This ensures proper wetting of gluten strands.
Take a handful of dough and roll it into balls.
Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface and flatten the ball with a rolling pin.
Keep flipping to avoid it from sticking.
It should be even and as thin as a pancake.
Place it on a hot skillet over medium heat and flip after 1-2 minutes.
Add ghee over it, flip and cook.
Do it on both sides until each side is slightly brown.

Serving suggestions

Can be served with any indian curry, or with avocado mash.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Ghee

Check out the Recipes that use Multigrain chapatis

Chapati (Roti) Pizza

Homemade Coconut Milk

Sep 7, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

Coconut is widely grown in the southern coastal regions of India and hence an important ingredient in Curries. In ayurvedic cooking, coconut milk is often added to balance the spice level and provide earthiness to the preparations and increase absorption of other nutrients.

Good for all doshas. Especially good dairy alternative for kapha

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Serves: 2 Cups

Ingredients

2 cups hot water
1 cup shredded coconut

Method

Blend shredded coconut along with water on high for several minutes.
Scrape the sides of the blender and blend again until it is thick and creamy.
Strain it into a jar and store it in the refrigerator. Can be stored for up to 1 week.
The remaining coconut fiber can be added to smoothies or curries as a thickening agent.

Notes

This milk is used for cooking. For drinking: add ½ T of kokum extract, salt and blend it with garlic.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Garlic | Quinoa Chia Pudding | Breakfast Flaxseed Pudding

Homemade Almond Milk

Sep 7, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

Ayurveda prescribes milk specially cow’s milk as drinking it at night promotes ojas. But not everyone likes or is comfortable with heavy dairy intake especially in the western society. In such case, almond milk is an effective alternative and almost an equal substitute.

Good for Vata and Pitta.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 8 hours to soak
Serves: 2 Cups

Ingredients

1 cup raw almonds
2 cups water for blending
Additional water for soaking the almonds
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt (preferably Himalayan salt)

Method

Soak the almonds for 8 hours.
Rinse and blend with 2 cups of water at the highest speed.
When they are properly blended, strain it into a bowl through a nut bag and squeeze.
Pour the strained almond milk back into the blender and add salt and vanilla extract
Can be refrigerated for 4-5 days.

Serving suggestions

For summer: Add cardamom powder
For winter: Add cinnamon powder
For pitta: Add rose water and fresh mint

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Cinnamon I Cardamom I Mint

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Sep 7, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common health condition that involves the large intestine. Irritable bowel syndrome is also called the irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colon. It is a distinct disorder from inflammatory bowel disease and isn’t linked to further bowel illnesses. Irritable bowel syndrome is a band of intestinal signs that usually arise at the same time.

What are the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may include abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating that is related to passing the bowel movement. A person with this condition may notice changes in appearance and the frequency of bowel movements. Diarrhea and constipation are two of the main symptoms of IBS.

What are the Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Muscle spasms in the intestine: One of the main causes that may trigger this condition is the muscle spasms in the intestine. The sides of the intestines are covered with coats of muscle that contract as they push food through your intestinal tract. Spasms that are strong and last longer than usual can trigger gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Feeble intestinal spasms can reduce food passage and lead to hard, dry stools.
Nervous system: Defects of the nerves in your digestive structure may trigger you to suffer more than usual irritation when your abdomen extends from gas or excess stool. Inadequately synchronized signals among the brain and the intestines can affect your body to exaggerate the adjustments that typically arise in the digestive procedure, causing diarrhea, pain, or constipation.
Digestive infection: Irritable Bowel Syndrome can worsen after a serious gastroenteritis attack triggered by microbes or a virus. IBS could also be linked with an excess of bacteria in the intestines.
Childhood stress: Individuals subjected to traumatic experiences, particularly in the early years, have a tendency to get more symptoms of IBS.
Changes in gut microbes: Examples contain variations in microbes, yeasts, and viruses, which usually inhabit the intestines and have a crucial role to our physical condition.

When to see a Doctor?

See your doctor if you have a constant shift in bowel behaviors or more symptoms or signs of IBS. They may be a symptom of a more severe illness, such as colon cancer.

More severe symptoms and indications comprise:

Weight loss, Diarrhea mostly at night, Rectal bleeding, Iron deficiency anemia, Unexplained vomiting, Difficulty swallowing, Persistent pain that isn’t relieved by passing gas or a bowel movement.
In case you develop any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

Lifestyle Prevention of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Minimal adjustments in your eating habits and everyday life frequently offer relief from irritable bowel syndrome. Your body will take time to react to these adjustments. So here are some preventive measures: :

Experiment with fiber: Fiber supports in decreasing constipation but also can worsen gas and cramping. Try slowly expanding the quantity of fiber in your food over weeks with diets such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. A fiber supplement could affect less gas and bloat than fiber-rich foods.
Avoid problem foods: Remove foods that cause your symptoms.
Eat at regular times: Don’t miss meals, and attempt to eat at around a similar time every day to enhance the control of bowel function. If you have diarrhea, you might discover that having small, frequent meals makes you feel healthier. However, if you’re constipated, eating bigger quantities of high-fiber diets can help push food through your intestines.
Exercise regularly: Exercise helps reduce depression and stress, promotes regular spasms of your intestines, and can make you feel better about yourself.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are a number of Ayurvedic herbs that may help you prevent and cure the symptoms of IBS. Herbs like Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Ginger , Fennel Seeds, Turmeric are really effective for treating any symptoms related to stomach and gastrointestinal diseases.

Chamomile: This herb is really good for the central nervous system and can treat the symptoms of IBS due to stress and anxiety. Chamomile tea is really effective on IBS. Chamomile tea Made from 3 gms dried flowers in 1 cup of water. Take this 2-3 times a day.
Fennel Seeds: The high-level substance of nutritional fibre in fennel seeds helps in controlling bowel movements. Take ¼ to ½ teaspoon twice a day
Turmeric: Turmeric has lately drawn attention for its ability to lessen IBS symptoms. Try to take 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder per day. Use it in vegetables, frittatas, scramble eggs and eat it.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Chamomile | Aloe Vera | Ginger | Fennel Seeds | Turmeric

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known.

Influenza

Sep 7, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

What is Influenza?

Influenza is a virus-related condition that affects your breathing structure — your nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza is usually known as the flu, although it’s not similar to stomach “flu” infections that trigger diarrhea and vomiting. For many individuals, the flu settles on its own. However occasionally, influenza and its problems can be fatal. This condition is extremely contagious and reaches easily through coughs and sneezes of an affected individual.

What are the Symptoms of Influenza?

The symptoms of influenza are very similar to any other virus-related disease, Most of the people with this condition may experience symptoms like, mild to moderate fever. However, the fever may shoot up if the person has any other infections. Muscle aching with fever is also a very common symptom of this condition. Sometimes you may suffer from headaches and eye pain. Getting chills and sweating are also very popular symptoms of influenza. If the virus affects your lungs, you may develop a dry, and persistent cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat.

What are the Causes of Influenza?

As Influenza is highly contagious, it can be spread easily from person to person. Influenza viruses move across the air in droplets while somebody with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. You can gasp the droplets immediately, or you can pick up the viruses from an item — for example, from a mobile or door knobs or maybe from a computer keyboard — and then again transport them to your eyes, nose, or mouth. Individuals with the infection are possibly infectious from around a day before signs begin till nearly five days after they begin.

When to see a Doctor?

In most cases, influenza heals on its own with over-the-counter medication and doesn’t need any medical interventions. However, there may be some emergency symptoms that may need to be checked by a doctor.
In case you have shortness of breath, that can be fatal. So immediately rush to the doctor. Chest pain can be a cause of concern and needs to be checked by a physician. If the fever shoots up over 103 F then a person may have seizures. This is also a severe condition so call your doctor. Other than that, if you are suffering from severe muscle pain or headaches, or ongoing dizziness then do not delay booking an appointment with your physician.

Lifestyle Prevention of Influenza

Getting flu vaccines every year is the best preventative for influenza. So, everyone over the age of 6 months should be vaccinated which will reduce your risk of the flu and its severity. Other than that, few more lifestyle preventions may help you avoid the severity of the disease.
We already know that influenza can spread very quickly so in case you have influenza-like symptoms, you should not go near any other person. Additionally, you should always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, then throw it out and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
People over the age of 65 and children below the age of 5 years are at a higher risk. So in case you are one of them please take extra precautions. Also, pregnant women and people with other chronic diseases have a higher risk of developing severe symptoms of influenza. So they also need to be extra cautious.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Influenza

There are some great Ayurvedic remedies to treat the symptoms of Influenza. Herbs and spices like clove buds, Turmeric, Cayenne, Ginger, Tulsi, Mahasudarshana Churna, etc can do wonders in treating this condition.

Clove Bud: It’s known to heal coughing. Take 3 full clove buds and put them into your mouth during a coughing spasm, itchy throat, or anytime necessary. Suck on them till they start to fall away from each other and no longer have any taste. Repeat as frequently as necessary.
Turmeric, salt, and cayenne gargle for sore throat and swollen glands: Combine half a teaspoon of turmeric, a quarter teaspoon of salt, and a little bit of cayenne pepper in a cup of hot water. Stir up completely. Make use of this as a gargle by tipping your head back fully and gargle for about 20 seconds then spit it out. It is suggested to allow a small amount to drip down your throat to coat any lower infectious areas. Repeat this three times in succession and perform every 6 hours for prevention or cure of a painful throat or enlarged glands.
Ginger juice for nausea: Wash off half pound of ginger and chop it into slices to fit out of the juicer. Juice and store in a sealed glass container. One ½ pound of ginger should make about half cup of juice. Mix 1 teaspoon of this juice in half cup of hot water. Drink this every 2 to 3 hours during sickness or as much as necessary.
Mahasudarshana Churna, the Ayurvedic antibiotic: During illness, take half teaspoon of Mahasudarshana Churna in hot water every 2 to 4 hours. Once the signs have lessened, go on to take the same dose but lower to 2 to 3 times each day. Take constantly till 3 to 7 days after the last signs have stopped to avoid the illness coming again.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Tulsi I Licorice roots I Garlic I Coconut I Ginger I Amla I Guduchi I Mentha piperita I Neem I Bael I Andrographis paniculata I Terminalia chebula

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known.

Impotence

Sep 7, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Impotence?

Impotence or erectile dysfunction is a health condition that occurs when a male is unable to keep an erection strong enough to perform sex. There may be several causes that trigger this condition. There are instances when a male may become impotent due to an emotional or psychological issue. However, stress and certain physical problems may also be the cause. When there is a build-up of plaque in the blood vessels leading to the penis, it might result in a “penis attack”-in that case, the blood supply to the penis is inadequate to produce or maintain an erection, causing impotence. A person with a high cholesterol level is more prone to impotence.

What are the Symptoms of Impotence?

A person with this condition may have the following symptoms,

They find it really difficult to get an erection
Also, it is very difficult for them to keep an erection.
Oftentimes, the person with this condition has a diminished desire to have sex.

What are the Causes of Impotence?

The causes of impotence can be categorised in two parts. One can be physical, and another can be psychological.

There can be a number of physical conditions that trigger erectile dysfunction. People with heart diseases have a higher chance of becoming impotence. Also, high cholesterol levels may be one of the main causes of this condition. Sometimes high blood sugar levels may lead to this condition. Atherosclerosis, which means clogged blood vessels can be one of the causes. Many times it is observed that obsessed people are more prone to get this disease. Therefore, obesity may be one of the reasons.
There are some medications that have side effects of making you impotent.
Over consumption of alcohol and tobacco can make someone impotence as well.
If you are undergoing the treatment of breast cancer, or you have undergone any surgeries that affected your pelvic area or spinal cord, you have a higher chance of becoming impotence.

When to see a Doctor?

You have worries regarding your erections or you’re suffering from additional sexual difficulties for example untimely or delayed ejaculation, etc. you need to consult your physician. Also, if you are diabetic, or suffering from any heart disorder or may be experiencing another known physical condition that might be related to erectile dysfunction, do not delay, and book an appointment with the doctor. In case you are suffering from other symptoms in conjunction with erectile dysfunction, you should not ignore it and rush to the nearest clinic and get it checked.

Lifestyle Prevention of Impotence

Preventing erectile dysfunction is not always possible if it is caused by any underlying disease or from any treatment which you are going through. However, some other instances can be prevented to avoid getting this condition.
Quitting smoking and overconsumption of alcohol should be the first step to prevent erectile dysfunction. Also, you should never take illegal drugs if you want to avoid being impotent.
In case you are diabetic or suffering from any heart condition then you should always work with your doctor to keep yourself stable and should stick to the instructions which the physician may give you. Moreover, regular medical screening is very important to avoid any disease including erectile dysfunction.
Exercising daily is very important to prevent many health conditions. Particularly some Yoga postures such as rooster pose, elevated lotus, bow pose, chakra asana, etc can help you prevent erectile dysfunction by putting pressure on the prostate gland.
In some cases, massaging the pubic area and the root of the penis with mahanarayan oil improves circulation and is very effective to eradicate the condition.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Impotence

There are some Ayurvedic remedies that can treat erectile dysfunction. Using some of the herbs and spices will certainly help in curing and preventing impotence. Herbs and spices such as Garlic, Ginger, Ashwagandha, cinnamon oil, saffron, etc. are very effective for the herbal treatment of impotence.

Ashwagandha: Ayurveda considers Ashwagandha a valuable aphrodisiac and enormously useful in regenerating the sexual ability in the bed. Ashwagandha is an archaic pharmaceutical herb that is famous for its stress-lessening properties. But, a lot of individuals are not informed that Indian ginseng is also useful in controlling psychogenetic erectile dysfunction. Take 300 mg twice daily after food for 60 days.
Garlic: Garlic is a very effective spice and easily available. It is famous for its immune boosting properties.It is often called as sex rejunavator as it can improve sexual activities that have damages due to some injuries. Chew up two to three cloves of raw garlic every day. Frequently chomping a couple of cloves of fresh garlic helps treat sexual impotence.
Saffron: In Ayurveda, saffron is applied to cure infertility in couples as its aroma is extremely sensual. It can provoke sexual appeal and can have a calming influence on the nerves. Make use of it as massage oil or eat it with food or drink it with milk for enhancing sexual enthusiasm.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Ashwagandha, bala and Vidari mix I Saffron Milk I Jatamansi, Brahmi, and Shanka pushpi Tea

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known.