Learning about Ayurveda

It is the science of preventive health (take care of health so that disease does not get a chance to get in) and the living habits that check over indulgence in physical senses, going against conscience and natural resistance to the call of the soul (refusal to enjoy the present moment) .

Ayurvedic Treatment

What if when someone is already ill ? It deals with internal medicine (kayachikitsa), surgery (Shalyachikitsa), Treating eye,ear,nose and throat (shalakyachikitsa),  Pediatrics, gynecology and osterics treatment ( kaumarabhritya)  and  mental health (bhutavidya).

Body Elements & Constitution (Prakriti)

There are five elements of which the human body is made up of :  akasha (ether), Vayu (air), Agni (Fire), Jala (Water) and Prithvi (earth).

Because of the above five elements,  all human beings are constituted with a combination of two or three primary ones.  Those are called body humours or Doshas:  Kapha, Vata and Pitta.  Any person is easy to treat with the identification of his/her category.

Vata category is combination of space and air elements : People are fearful, illogical and insecure. Skin is dry. They have thin hair. They have dark brown or grey eyes.  Vata activates the nervous system, hearing and speech and the persons is a great enthusiast with creativity. However, the state of his mind gets imbalanced easily because of which he gets diseases like insomnia, cramps and constipation.
Pitta category is fire element : These people are achievers, intellectual, fiery, angry, judgemental, with clear voice and precise expression. They have soft and fine hair.  Eyes are blue,  grey and hazel. They are good leaders and warm personality when healthy. Because of  emphasis on  metabolism and anger, they suffer from acidity, ulcers and rashes and also thinning of hair occurs.

Kapha category is(water and earth element :  They have thick lustrous hair. Eyes are blue or brown. People have great endurance capacity with calm and steady mind. They are capable of forgiveness and intense love.  Sometimes they are greedy and possessive.  Kapha is the lubricant that keeps the joints working, keeps the body vibrant and balanced with immunity. Too much of it leads to lethargy, congestion, allergies and weight gain.

Nature of ailments

After the Prakriti is decided, one should know the nature of the diseases(Vikriti).  It is imbalance obviously, but there are tow extremes to every imbalance, either deficiency or excess. Those are  heavy-light, slow-sharp, cold-hot, unctuous-dry, smooth-rough, solid-liquid, soft-hard, stable-mobile, subtle-gross, and non-slimmy-slimmy. When corrected, Prakriti or original constitution is restored.

These 20 characteristics that  with regards to one’s basic constitution will decide the treatment.  These may be caused by wrong foods causing improper digestion, wrong sleeping habits, improper mindset, anxiety etc.

The other type of ailment is clogging or blockage (Ama) for life energy to circulate for vitality. When this is corrected, it produces energy, perfect immunity, physical strength and hence a general sense of bliss which is summarised in Ayurveda in one word called Ojas.

Some Herbs and Minerals
Malabar nut : bronchitis, asthema, boosting immune systems
Bael : Digestive system
Garlic : lipids and cholesterol
Asparagus : Female reproductive system and lactation
Aloe Vera : Hair and skin treatment
Neem : blood purifier and anti-fungal treatment

Get Ready For Summer

For a healthier you when warmer weather rolls around, it can be wise to think S.P.R.I.N.G.!

Start Early: If you know that losing weight will make you feel more comfortable in more revealing fashions, look into a weight-loss program now.

Plan Your Results: Science has found that a healthy rate of weight loss is no more than two pounds a week. So if you're expecting to drop 40 pounds in a month, you'll be disappointed. Instead, use a realistic and specific weight-loss goal to set yourself up for success. Identifying your goal will help you achieve it and can motivate you to keep making progress along the way.

Renovate Your Recipes: Have your cake and eat it, too. Simply substitute unsweetened applesauce for a third of the oil or butter in your cookie and cake recipes; the end result will taste just as good without the extra calories and fat. You don't have to give up your favorite recipes, just find little ways to make them healthier. Many Web sites, including www.weightwatchers.com, have "renovated" versions of favorite recipes.

Identify Your Best Fit: Learn about different weight-loss programs and determine which will work best with your lifestyle. For example, Weight Watchers guest policy lets prospective members sit in on a meeting, free, to see what it's all about-and to listen to members share what works and laugh about what doesn't.

Navigate Your Neighborhood: Incorporate a walk into your daily routine. Walking is one of the few activities a person can benefit from at just about any fitness level. A pedometer can help you track your distance and improve it step by step.

Gauge Your Commitment: Many people think that they would look better in their swimsuit if they could drop a few pounds.

Carb Addict - Yes or No?

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about carbohydrates? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about carbohydrates.

Now that we've covered those aspects of carbohydrates, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered. 

It has been estimated that three out of every four overweight people are addicted to carbohydrates.  But what does this mean? In essence, it means that you have too much of the hormone insulin in your system.  This insulin prompts you to eat often and to consume the wrong types of foods.  Some of the tell-tale signs of carbohydrate addiction include fatigue, mood swings, and migraines which can be caused by low blood sugar.
     
A carb addiction can lead you to consume a whole bag of  pretzels at one sitting, or to indulge in half a cake at dinner time.  Your body is conditioned to eat as many carbs as possible.  Thus, it may seem that at times you’re never really satisfied—no matter how much or how often you eat.
       
On the official Carb Addicts plan, you eat two meals composed of vegetables and protein; the other meal consists of protein, vegetables that are not filled with starch, and carbohydrates.  During this last meal, known as the reward meal, you can even eat dessert.   The trick is to skip the carbs for two meals each day.
         
The authors of the program believe that, if you follow this regimen, you will lose your cravings for carbohydrates in time.  If your urge to consume carbs does not disappear by the second week of the program, they recommend checking your diet to see whether you are following the program closely.
         
With the Carb Addicts plan, like other diet plans, you need to closely monitor your portion sizes.  All of your hard work will be in vain if you allow yourself to over indulge in sweets—even if it is for only one meal a day.  Also, you need to make sure that the protein you consume is not high in fat.  You may want to eat fish, chicken with the skin removed, or lean meats when trying to obtain a protein source.
         
Another important aspect of the Carb Addicts plan is that you are not permitted artificial sweetener except during your reward meal.  This can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re accustomed to sweetened coffee in the morning.  However, it can be well worth the deprivation in the long run as you see those pounds melt away.
           
There is no set time for the reward meal; however the authors of the plan recommend that the meal take place in the evening.  This is because it can take 12 to 24 hours for the body to overcome carbohydrate overload.  There is also a psychological advantage to having the meal at night.  It gives you something to look forward to all day long.
           
You should begin your reward meal with a salad, such as a Caesar salad or an Oriental salad,  then divide the rest of the meal into thirds:  One third should consist of low-carb vegetables, one-third protein, and one-third carbs.  This formula has proven successful in enabling individuals to achieve long-term weight loss.
           
As with many other meal plans, the biggest challenge for those who are on the Carb Addicts Diet is the ability to stick with it.  Dieting can be hard work, no matter what kind of rewards await an individual at the end of the day.  Your commitment will enable you to stay with the program, even when it becomes particularly challenging.
           
Surf the World Wide Web, and you’ll find a number of testimonials offering glowing reviews of the Carb Addicts Diet.  But you should keep in mind that results can differ from individual to individual.  While some people might see rapid weight loss with the Carb Addicts plan, others may see only moderate weight loss.   The success of the program may depend on your own individual physiology.
           
Is the Carb Addicts Diet a fad?  It all depends on who you talk to.  While some people see it as a significant dietary breakthrough, others view it as just a passing fancy.   Medical experts disagree as to whether the Carb Addicts Diet represents sound nutrition.  In the end, you, in consultation with your personal physician, will have to decide whether the Carb Addicts Diet will work for you.      

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about carbohydrates.

A Speedy Recovery with SmartLipo

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 300,000 people in the United States underwent invasive surgery in 2006 to remove fat from within their bodies.  Liposuction is a procedure that is performed on a daily basis in the US, and one that often requires additional surgery to remove excess skin remaining when a bulk of fat is simply removed from the body.  For many people, liposuction can be a traumatic experience.

Fortunately, technology often holds the key to open doors that lead to improvement, especially in liposuction.  SmartLipo is one exemplary case.  This relatively new procedure is growing rapidly, servicing a steady flow of patients who wish to see firsthand if SmartLipo works as well as reported.  Dubbed by some as a "medical miracle," SmartLipo has made believers out of many clients.  SmartLipo does what it claims, and does so very well.

Traditional Liposuction - invasive and risky 

Liposuction has been performed on millions of people in the years following its introduction in 1982.  Although the surgery is performed often, the technique is quite invasive, and the outcome of the fat removal is in the hands of the surgeon, quite literally.

The cannula, or tube, used in traditional liposuction is between four and six millimeters in diameter and requires an incision that often requires stitches.  After the painful procedure is complete, patients can expect to wear compression bandages for at least six weeks.  Bruising and tissue damage is a common complication with traditional liposuction.

SmartLipo - advanced technology with minimal invasion

SmartLipo is far more advanced than traditional liposuction.  Rather than manually moving the cannula through the area of fat removal, plastic surgeons use a much thinner cannula (one millimeter in diameter), which has a laser affixed to the end.

Also known as laserlipolysis, SmartLipo does not suck the fat cells out of the body.  Instead, the laser is used to melt the fat cells in the area of treatment, and the heat from the laser helps seal off blood vessels to minimize bleeding.  Connective tissue is not bruised or traumatized as it commonly is in traditional liposuction procedures.

Another added effect of undergoing SmartLipo is that collagen is produced by the body as a response to the heat of the laser.  Generally, plastic surgeons inject patients with collagen to add firmness to saggy areas.  As a great side effect, SmartLipo actually helps sculpt the body by firming the skin as fat is removed. This process continues from within the body for approximately three months.

Generally speaking, most patients who undergo SmartLipo treatment are back at work within two days.  As tissue trauma and bleeding is so minimal, compression bandages are only recommended for up to two weeks, simply as a precaution.  The site of the laser's insertion is unnoticeable and requires no stitches.  Compared with traditional liposuction, which can require up to six weeks of bandaging, stitches, and even additional surgeries to remove excess skin, SmartLipo is certainly the fastest, most advanced and effective method to permanently eliminate the body of fat in problem areas.