FOODS TO BUILD IMMUNE SYSTEM IN MONSOONS

by with No Comment Yoga

What Happens In Varsha Ritu

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Flus, fevers, aches and pains set the vibe for monsoons aka Varsha Ritu. We all know it’s because of sudden drop in temperature soon after summer and us getting wet in the rain water. That’s an absolute fact and in ayurvedic lens rainy season is perceived as vata dosha vriddhi  kaala (The season of abnormal raise in vata dosha) due to which our digestive fire at different levels becomes sluggish. During this phase, we don’t feel that sharp hunger and the food that we eat will not get digested at an optimal rate at which it has to be. This leads to reduced immunity followed by flu, fever, aches and pains.

For a healthier and happier you in the rainy season, it’s very important to understand what are the mandatory to-do’s in dietary and lifestyle choices.

Must Eat foods in Rainy Season

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  1. Broken rice
  2. Wheat
  3. Finger millet / Raagi
  4. Chickpeas
  5. Blackgram
  6. Greengram
  7. Brinjal
  8. Ivygourd
  9. Lady’s finger / Okra
  10. Moringa
  11. Onion
  12. Ginger
  13. Garlic
  14. Grapes
  15. Raisins
  16. Ghee
  17. Buttermilk
  18. Honey

Must Avoid These Foods in Rainy season

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  1. Brown rice
  2. Jowar
  3. Corn
  4. Barley
  5. Green peas
  6. Yellow peas
  7. Spinach
  8. Bitter gourd
  9. Cucumber

healthy recipes for Boosting Immunity in this rainy season

MADHOODAKAM

Boil half glass of water (100ml) and let it cool. Add a teaspoon of pure honey into that boiled and cooled water. Stir well and consume it. This helps in removing the dampness and accumulated phlem in the channels and boosts immunity

AGNI TEA

Boil half glass of water (100ml) and add 2 pinches of ginger powder and a teaspoon of cruelty-free ghee into it. Stir well with a spoon or small whisk. Use coffee frother for the best in mouth feel of this tea. This tea is one of a kind in activating your digestive fire and nourishing your gut at the same time.

VATA CALM CHEWABLE

Into a mortar and pestle, add 5 black raisins and a pinch of rock salt. Crush them well and roll it into a ball and chew it. This helps in calming down the vata dosha.

INSTANT AMLAPRASH

Take one fresh amla and remove its seeds from the pulp. Now take this pulp into a mortar and pestle, add a pinch of turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and a teaspoon of honey. Pound all of these well and lick this paste like candy.

SHIGRU SOOPA aka Moringa Soup

Ingredients:

Moringa leaves           : 1 cup

Chopped tomatoes   : ½ cup

Cruelty-free ghee     : 1 teaspoon

Pepper powder          : a Pinch

Cumin powder           : a pinch

Onion                          : 1 (small sized)

Garlic cloves              : 2

Ginger                        : 1 inch

Turmeric powder     : a pinch

Salt                             : as per taste

Ghee                          : 1 tsp

Water                        : 3 cups

Method of making

  1. Into a mortar and pestle, add onion, ginger, garlic and pound them coarsely
  2. Place a sauce pan on stove and to it add ghee. After the ghee is heated, add onion, ginger garlic mixture and let it fry.
  3. Once it’s fragrant, add tomatoes and cook it until they are soften.
  4. Finally add moringa leaves, cumin powder, turmeric powder, pepper powder, salt to taste and 3 cups of water. Close the lid and simmer until the moringa leaves are fully cooked.
  5. I love enjoying it as it is. But you can strain it too.

RAGI PORRIDGE

Ingredients

Ragi flour                                      : 2 tbsp

Seeds of choice (toasted)         : 2 tbsp

Salt                                               : as per taste

Water                                          : 200 ml

Method of making

  1. Into a small cup take some water, add ragi flour to it and prepare a slurry
  2. Now in a sauce pot, add water, salt and bring it to boil.
  3. Once the water is bubbling, add the ragi flour slurry and stir continuously until the mixture thickens to porridge consistency.
  4. Take this hot porridge into the serving bowl and top it up with the toasted seeds and enjoy

Habits to avoid in Rainy season

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  1. Excessive exercise
  2. Excess movement in sun
  3. Indulgence in sexual intercourse
  4. Day sleep
  5. Awakening at night time

One lifestyle practice for rainy season

ABHYANGAM

Abhyangam is smearing oil over the skin and it’s a jackpot kind of practice in rainy season. It cleanses, protects and nourishes skin all at a time. Pacifies vata dosha, reduces fatigue and brings that element of enthusiasm to life in gloomy rainy season. I have explained about how to do abhyangam in another blogpost (click here). Check it out and make most out of it.

SIGNATURE CARE FOR RAINY SEASON

If you are the one looking to add that one step of luxury into your monsoon health and immunity wishlist, I would highly recommend one of the best ayurvedic classical panchakarma therapy known as VASTI. This you cannot do it in your home. You must visit an Ayurvedic clinic which offer this special service. Currently at SAKHI AYURVEDA, we are offering these VASTI SESSIONS with a free prakruti analysis and Nadi Pareeksha.

Click here for further details

CLINIC LOCATION

Menstrual cramp relief

Ease Your Period Cramps Naturally: A Holistic Guide to Pain-Free Cycles

by with 2 Comments Yoga
yoga for period cramps

Namaste 🙏

My Experience with Period Cramps

I had my first periods when I’m 11 and I had no issues for 2 years. I had no pain, no discomfort nothing. It’s just a happy phase of not going to school for 3 days, sitting in one corner of my room, nobody would come and disturb me, those are my self-care days. All I have to do is eat what my mom gave and sleep. No study nothing. Then arrived this heating phase of 9th and 10th class and I am not supposed to take leave for 3 days every month. For few months my body handled it great but later I started experiencing severe pain in my lower abdomen and back region for 2 days straight. Only I, my parents and my gynaec know how many pain killers I used to swallow those 2 days. Very intense period cramps.

Pain killers for menstrual cramps
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I’m not the one to stay quiet. That little me started to research what’s happening within me those 2 days. I tried every single home remedy available all over the internet. Some of them worked some didn’t but in a short span of time I realised that all of these are temporary. There used to be some sanitary napkin brands which claim to reduce period cramps and I used them too (this is making me laugh right now😂). Up till 23, I keep on searching for something that would reduce my period cramps other than a pain killer. In my 23rd year I realised that I have became over weight and I decided to shed that excess fat.

Obesity and period cramps
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I tried many things by my own and fortunately they didn’t work out. So, I took the help of a qualified nutritionist and I started eating balanced and healthy. I experienced that same pain free, comfortable periods which I used to have in my 11th and 12th years that month and I’m amazed. I’m 27 now and till today, I never experienced period cramps and I am not going back even in future also because I’ve got the key.

period cramp relief
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HEALTHY EATING HABITS = PAIN-FREE PERIODS

In the process of becoming an ayurvedic doctor and specializing in ayurvedic gynaecology, I will share the different root causes of period cramps and what are some simple corrections you can make today to experience a pain free period.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice.

Causes of Menstrual Pain

causes of menstrual cramps

Ahara (Dietary causes for period cramps)

Excessive consumption of

  1. Deep fried foods
  2. Spicy foods
  3. Meat
  4. Curd
  5. Salty snacks and pickles
  6. Tamarind (in any form)

Vihara (Activity related causes for period cramps)

Too much of

  1. Travelling
  2. Exercise
  3. Staying sedentary
  4. Talking
  5. Screen time
  6. Listening to music
  7. Strong perfumes
  8. Watching horror films
  9. Day time sleep
  10. Night outs
  11. Suppressing the urge to pee & poop

Manasika (Mind-level causes for period cramps)

  1. Anger
  2. Grudgeful thoughts

These might seem so simple but try fixing them, you’ll feel the difference.

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Best medicine for menstrual cramps

  1. Avoid all the causes that are mentioned above during periods (As much as you can).
  2. Follow a healthy, balanced, plant-based diet.
  3. Always eat minimal portions. Don’t overload tummy during periods.
  4. Practice yoga asanas regularly.

Remedies for period pain relief

Best medicine for period cramps

Cardamom milk

Add 1 pod of crushed cardamom into 1 half cup (125ml) of coconut milk. Bring it to boil and enjoy it lukewarm in the evening around 5-6 pm every day.

Strengthening Elixir

Soak 5-10 black raising in a glass of hot water for overnight and drink it the next morning on an empty stomach every day and eat those raisins as well. Make sure to wash the raisins thoroughly before soaking them in hot water.

Instant pain relief juice

Roughly chop 1/4th beetroot, add it to a blender along with ½ tablespoon cumin seeds and 1 cup of water (250ml). Blend, filter and have it during periods.

Golden rice

To a rice cooker add 1 cup rice, 1 cup split-green gram, 1 inch cinnamon stick, a cardamom pod, a pinch of turmeric, 3 cups of water and let it cook. Serve hot with a drizzle of coconut oil on top and a sprinkle of 5-10 black raisins. I highly recommend avoiding salt but if it’s difficult for you, add very little amount of salt after serving not while cooking. Replace this with at least 1 meal during periods

Nourishing Laddu

Toast 1 cup of white sesame seeds, add them to a blender along with ¼ cup jaggery powder and bled them to a dough like texture. Roll them into small laddus and have 1 laddu each day without skipping.

Stir-fried sprouts

Boil a cup of green gram sprouts, drain the water and take it into a bowl. Into a small kadai, add 1 tablespoon white sesame oil, freshly grated ginger, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, a pinch of asafoetida and fry them until the aroma is appreciated. Now turn off the stove and add sprouts along with a pinch of salt, a pinch of turmeric powder and a pinch of pepper powder. Mix and eat every day. Avoid eating this while you are in your period.

Period Cramp Relief Yoga Therapy

Do your best in following the below mentioned yoga flow for 45 days for the best results. Avoid practicing this during your period time (when you are bleeding)

Consult for personalized care

All of these works excellent if you are not having any underlying medical condition. If you are diagnosed with any medical condition prior, these might not work as effectively. I highly suggest you to book an appointment for personalised care.

yoga for digestion

Yoga for Digestion: A Complete Digestive Health Yoga Flow for Better Gut Health

by with No Comment Yoga

What is Digestive System

yoga for digestion

It’s hard to deny the fact that Digestive system is a place where food gets converted into our body parts. What if there are issues in our digestive system? Yes, you guessed it right. The quality and efficiency of our body parts will keep on declining making us sick. Digestive health is not just limited to acidity and constipation; it’s a lot more than that. I’m not going to bring all of that here but I designed an amazing flow of asanas known as Yoga for Digestion, A simple 20-minute practice.

Healthy Digestive System = Happy 100

Digestive system = A tube originating from mouth to poop hole includes stomach, small intestine and large intestine + God level organs like liver, pancreas and spleen

Reasons for Poor Digestion

yoga for digestion

Consumption of

  1. Very dry food (all crunchy and crispy foods like crackers, chips, biscuits etc.)
  2. Excess oily food (pizza, burger, fried chicken, pastries etc.)
  3. Heavy meals
  4. Half cooked food
  5. Cold food and cold drinks
  6. Excessive drinking of water
  7. Caffeine & sweets

Habituated to

  1. Unguided fastings
  2. Suppression of natural urges
  3. Improper sleeping schedule
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Ayurvedic Monthly Newsletter

A monthly dose of Ayurveda for modern living.

Seasonal wellness tips, herbs, and simple rituals.

Small steps towards natural balance.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Who is often

  1. Worried
  2. Anxious
  3. Anger etc. during meal

Poor Digestion Symptoms

In our body poor digestion or disturbed digestive health manifests in the form of us experiencing the following symptoms

yoga for digestion
  1. Heaviness of abdomen
  2. Frequent burps after meals
  3. Loss of hunger
  4. Flatulence
  5. Vomiting
  6. Diarrhea
  7. Constipation
  8. Weakness
  9. Low Hb

Yoga Flow for Digestive Health

Asanas like Shalabasana (locust pose), Dhanurasana (bow pose), Bhujangasana (cobra-pose) and Ushtrasana (camel pose) helps a lot. Pranayama practice like Nadi shodana keeps your gut happy. I have prepared a 20-minute digestive health yoga flow which includes all these asanas along with pranayama practice for you in the video below. It’s best to practice the flow early morning on an empty stomach

Disclaimer

This practice is designed for general wellness. If you have any medical conditions, are pregnant, or experiencing severe digestive issues, it’s best to consult a qualified practitioner before starting.

Consult with me

If you are confused about the status of your gut health, I invite you to book a DISCOVERY CONSULTATION with me where I will help you in decoding this confusion and safely drive you to the zone of clarity.

yoga for digestion