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3 Reasons for Fasting during Navratri

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Are you honoring the tradition of fasting in these days of navratri? It is said that the process of fasting is more scientific than a religious belief, may be a good post in itself. But, today, it is about why you should be fasting during navratri? For me, fasting is always a time when you detox your body. Though, in case of navratri, you could always say we end up eating more oily food comparatively. But, are you aware that there is a reason why we are supposed to eat more oily food in these days? Yes! But, more about that later. Let me start by giving you three really good and healthy reasons why you should fast during navratri.

3 Reasons for Fasting during Navratri

You avoid eating Junk

The idea for this post came to me when I came across this acronym called CRAP (carbonated soda, refined carbohydrates, added sugar and processed foods). In fact, this is trending so much these days.

So, the whole idea of fasting is to avoid eating anything of the above in these nine days. In fact, we also eschew garlic and onion making our diets more sattvik which should be the case according to ayurveda. More sattvik our diet becomes, more is our intake of fresh and seasonal foods which means more ‘life force’ or energy in our body. To summarize, we end up preparing food at home or eating freshly prepared food as opposed to ordering it right away on a food delivery app.

Eating in Moderation

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5 Healthy Takeaways from “Perfect Digestion” by Deepak Chopra {Five Series}

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Finally, I have also started reading some of the books which would be useful for the blog and me 🙂 And, this one has scored high on my list. For a beginner health enthusiast, it can serve as one of the foundation books. It explains ayurveda in a simpler way than I could ever understand it till date. So, check out 5 new things I learned from the book.

One holistic system

Ayurveda treats our entire body as a single unit with each part having its own portion of intelligence as opposed to a machine controlled by a central engine. The nutrients from our food enhance the said intelligence. Ayurveda also believes that perfect digestion is the key to keep the body free of any disease.

Our thoughts, our imaginations, our feelings, desires and energies are as much “us” as are our fingernails, our blemishes and our digestive tracts.

Ayurvedic Doshas

Pitta characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!
Ayurveda understands a body as a part of three doshas – Vata, Kapha and Pitta. 
Vata – controls movement like breathing, blood circulation, food passing through the digestive tracts, nerve impulses sent to and received from the brain. 
Pitta – represents metabolism or digestion like processing food, air and water and facilitate proper intellectual functioning. 
Kapha – governs body structure, holds cells together and forms muscles, fat, bones and sinew, also governs digestive fluids int he body. 
Everyone has all 3 doshas in equal measures but some imbalances in the body may lead to one or other dosha dominating over the others in which case the said dosha must be pacified and balanced . Our body is in a harmonious state when all these three doshas are in perfect balance. 
Digestion is considered a heating process in Ayurveda which is why it is denoted by the agni or digestive fire. 
  • Too high digestive fire means pitta dosha which leads to excessive appetite.
  • Too low digestive fire means kapha dosha which leads to low energy and weight gain. 
  • Too variable digestive fire means vata dosha which leads to extreme hunger or loss of appetite. 
  • Perfect digestive fire in which all doshas are balanced. 

Kapha characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!

Small Intestine and Its Role

Small intestine is one the major organs where the maximum digestion and extraction of the intelligence from the foods happens. To keep it healthy,

  • eat variety of foods everyday
  • foods should not be over-cooked or raw
  • foods must not be too hot or too cold  

That is why ice cold water is not a preferable option, as much you might crave it!!

Spice to eat to keep the digestive system in healthy order – black pepper, ginger and nutmeg.

Vata characteristics so do check out if they concur with your nature!

Ama and Ojas

When the body is in perfect harmonious state, it produces a biochemical called Ojas which represents the positive flow of energy in the body. It means the body is in complete harmony with the mind.

A complete opposite to this harmonious state is when the body feels sluggish. A sticky biochemical called Ama is produced in such a state. It can be due to improper lifestyle, improper diet or improper digestion.

Signs of ama production in the body – lethargy, feeling of  heaviness, weakness, weak immunity, fatigue, emotional instability, low energy levels.

Visible sign – white coating on the tongue which is also present throughout the digestive canals of the body. That is why tongue scraping should be done right after brushing your teeth.

How to eliminate Ama from the body?

  • Eat in a settled and quiet atmosphere where there is no television or talking. 
  • Rest quietly for a few minutes after a meal to begin the digestive process in a effortless way. 
  • Always eat while sitting. it helps the body relax. 
  • Do not eat while upset. Wait for a few minutes to stabilize your emotions and then start eating. 
  • Do not overeat. Always eat only 3/4th of your total capacity. leave eating when you feel almost full and still feel light. 
  • Always avoid cold drinks or foods. Cold freezes the digestive fires and may lead to creation of ama. 
  • Always eat slowly. After a bite, chew and wait till you swallow it before taking another bite. 
  • Do not eat till your preceding meal is digested. It takes 3-6 hours for the previous meal to digest so if you feel heavy but crave something to eat, snack on a fruit or any warm beverage. 
  • Always eat fresh food. 
  • Drink hot water throughout the day, as often as possible, to dissolve the ama in your body. 

sort of diet you should maintain according to your specific dosha

6 Ayurvedic Tastes

Ayurveda identifies 6 tastes in order of digestion – sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. It is important to incorporate all these tastes in all our meals throughout the day. And, one should eat them in their order of digestion as specified.

For example, sweet should be eaten before anything sour which should be eaten before a salty dish which should precede a pungent one which should precede bitter and lastly, follow with an astringent. That is why dessert should be taken first and salad should be the last meal.

Have you read the book? Do you think digestion is the key element to our well-being? 

From the Archives : Use ginger to get rid of acne {DIY}

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PS: Everyone has been asking me about how to get rid of acne so this is an old and a very useful post on the same topic. Hope this helps 🙂

Ginger is a very useful spice. And, it has great anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties along with its astringent properties which comes handy when you are dealing with a stubborn problem like acne. Acne can come in form of pimples, outbreaks or even worse. So, let us discuss what all you can do from ginger.

Ginger is great as a drink every day. Yes, it is pretty bitter in taste but it improves your skin from inside. It helps your body fight the free radicals and keeps your digestive system in order. It cleans out the toxins from your system. Ginger improves the blood circulation throughout the body and also cleans out the blood. Not only this, it also improves the skin tone and helps in getting rid of blemishes and spots.

Squeeze out a little of ginger juice and apply it on your face or just the acne-affected areas and see your skin improve in a matter of days. It works very well for unexpected outbreaks and pimples. You can also use the juice as a face mask for blemished and sun-burnt skin. And, you can also help your body by including this spice in your daily diet.

A little every day goes a long way. You can also use a little ginger in your spinach-lettuce juice in the morning. Pass a small slice of ginger along with spinach and lettuce while making the juice. It would give a spicy taste to your drink. And, not to mention, ginger is really good for throat infections, dry coughs and colds.

So, have you used ginger on your acne ever? Does it help?

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Ayurvedic tips I have incorporated in my daily routine! {Health}

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Have you ever tried Ayurveda in your daily routine? I did it. It had started with one day my mom telling me to wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. She had seen it on some program which imparts the ayurvedic tips for healthy living. And, then, some other tip came and then something else! And, on and on.
But then how many things can you incorporate in the routine so I just left it at that. But, these tips were something which were not so intrusive and could be followed easily. And, their benefits were too good to pass up. I have been doing these things on and off for the past one month or more. And, I can talk about the benefits I have seen in my skin or hair or body!
Triphala Eye Wash
Every morning right after I get up, I wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. And, the results?

Brighter eyes, clearer eyes, whites are more prominent, eyes do not get dry, they do not get tired of staring at the laptop, and the best is yet to come – lesser finer lines under the eyes 😀 The infusion hydrates the skin there and makes it moisturized so that helps with lesser wrinkles and fine lines. Of course, moisturizer and sunscreen do their part as well 🙂

How to make infusion?
Take a 1/2 tbsp of triphala powder in a glass and dissolve it in glassful of water. Leave it overnight. Strain the morning and use it as eyewash.
I have to warn you here that this infusion stains the washbasin and where it falls so when you are washing your eyes, get either eye wash cups or do something to prevent spilling.
Almond Oil Nose Drops
This has to be done just before dozing off!! Just a drop of almond oil in both of your nostrils and you are good to doze off into deeper realms. Results?
Amazingly this helps with headaches, helps you sleep better, greases your air pipe and the nostrils, cleans them of any dirty things and the list is actually quite long. But, the main thing is deep and calm sleep for me and lesser headaches.

How to use?
Get a bottle of Badam Rogan and a dropper from the pharmacy. And, that is it. Keep them by your bedside and do not forget to use them.
Oil Pulling
This has to be the most heavy tip I have incorporated in my routine. And, I think it is difficult given that you have to take a tablespoon of oil in your mouth right after you get up and swish it for 20 minutes before throwing it off. And, yeah, the first time you do it, you WILL surely gag! Results?
I am not sure if I really saw any benefits till now but I think its a routine which does not show the benefits immediately or even in the long run. The benefits are more internal and not visible. It sure does make my teeth more white and cleanse out the cough and phlegm from the body. Swishing for 20 minutes surely makes me feel wide awake but I doubt if it was supposed to be one of its benefits 😀

How to do it?
Traditionally, sesame oil is used for this method. I use coconut oil, though. Take a table spoon and swish it all around the mouth gently without making your jaw hurt and then it will turn watery and foamy by the end of 20 minutes when you can spit it out. Rinse your mouth with salt water, preferably mineral or rock salts not the table salt. And, brush. Yes, it has to be done before brushing your teeth and on empty stomach right after you get up.
The benefits are multi-varied. First, it is a detoxification ritual for the body. The oil pulls all the toxins and turns watery and foamy because of them. That is also the reason why you should not ingest even a bit of that oil and throw it all off and cleanse your mouth properly. Second, I think it is extremely helpful for people with respiratory issues as it helps clean the mucus canal and improves sinusitis issues and if you are suffering from cold, you can do this to get rid of the phlegm. It is also great to maintain the healthy teeth and gums and oral care. It helps prevent bad breath.
That’s it for me now. If I include any more tips in my daily routine, I shall surely let you know 🙂
And, what about you? Do you practice ayurveda in your daily routines? Do you find them beneficial?
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Clay Body Mask {DIY}

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Multani Mitti is easily available and very cheap and is a type of a clay. And, as I have said, clays are very important for detoxification of the skin and body masks are of growing demand at the spas. So, why not make a body mask of your own. Ok, may be the treatment is not as pampering but is of equal value. And, you can add a little treat for yourself by adding essential oils and various things available at home. I did try out this DIY twice and I would say it does take time but results are fab!!!

Ingredients
  • Multani Mitti (or any other clay)

  • Water (I like Amla Juice)
  • Essential Oils (optional)
Method
Mix the ingredients and spread the mask on your skin starting from the feet and proceeding upwards.Cover the entire body. You may also include the neck and face and let it stay on the skin for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water. The mask wouldn’t dry in the bathroom coz its humid but that’s fine. Instead, you can make the bathroom steamy and enjoy a mini-sauna like experience.
Results
The entire body has a superb glow. Its just awesome.