Ginger is a spice which has traditional medicinal value. In fact Indian and Chinese civilizations have been taking advantage of ginger since ages. Most of the Indian recipes have ginger in one form or the other. It has long been known as a very healthy food. It has anti-cancer properties and is recognised as healthy by both modern and ancient systems of medicine. Have a read to see why you should start eating more ginger.

What gives Ginger medicinal value?

Ginger is scientifically called Zingiber officinalis and this is a rhizome as discussed in the case of Turmeric earlier. This rhizome has volatile oils and compounds which impart medical properties as well as taste and odor to the rhizome. The aromatic constituents of ginger are zingiberene and bisabolene. The other constituents which give ginger a pungent taste are gingerols and shogaols. These stimulate the digestive system and impart characteristic taste and flavor. These active constituents are in form of phenols and complexes in form of flavanoids which impart their properties.

The other active ingredient in ginger is terpenes and an oleoresin, which is called ginger oil. These active agents are responsible for its antiseptic qualities, lymph-cleansing, circulation-stimulating and mild constipation relief. Research has shown that ginger lowers blood cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the blood and liver.

Ginger in ayurveda

Ayurveda acts by correcting the energies within the body to suit the environment outside and maintaining this balance. Energies within the body are either hot or cold. When there is excessive heat in the body, the hot energy is provocative and in cases of flu and cough, the cold or cool energies are more dominant. Ginger increases the heat within the body and thus increases the action of the hot energy giving rise to a fruitful balance of energies and correcting the illness.

Medical properties of ginger

1. It helps in improving perspiration, hence is effective in reducing or treating fever.
2. Ginger loosens phlegm and hence is used in the treatment of tough cold. Here it is used as an expectorant.
3. Ginger aids digestion by activating the digestive enzymes.
4. They neutralize stomach acids and hence are effective in digestion.
5. Ginger tones the muscles of the intestine and is thus used in relieving constipation.
6. It reduces inflammation of joints and tissues and hence is used in treatment of arthritis.
7. The circulation increases within the body by consuming ginger.
8. Motion sickness and nausea can be curbed by chewing ginger, swallowing may reduce its effect.
9. Nervousness and sore throats are easily improved by ginger.
10. Ginger has been shown to clean and thin the blood and hence is used as a blood purifier.
11. The ills of LDL or bad cholesterol are curbed by reducing the concentration of LDL.
12. Ginger is also a mood enhancer due the content of cineole , an alcohol.
13. The mouth freshening properties of ginger make it commonly used in tea and after meal refreshers.

As a spice, ground ginger can be quite a valuable substitute when fresh ginger root is not available. But fresh ginger is always preferred, both for its greater health benefits and for its superior taste. Fortunately, in most parts of the United States fresh ginger root is available year round, so finding it shouldn’t be a problem for the majority of shoppers. Ginger may not be the most familiar spice or herb, but it definitely pays to get to know this great root.

Tags: Ayurvedic Medicine, Kitchen Tips, Natural Cures, Natural Remedies, Herbal Supplements

Healthy and happy looking little ones are a lovely sight. But obesity in those tender years rings an alarm. Children are the future and we look forward to a healthy future, don’t we?

Childhood Obesity-A Global Epidemic

The world is changing. Children do not think or act like children anymore. They are introduced to the rational world quite early and they learn to think, discern and act like adults. Children are changing physically too. The International Journal of Pediatric Obesity observed that at least 46% of the child population in North and South America are going to be overweight by 2010. It is predicted that 25% of Chinese children will be overweight by 2010 while 38% of all children in the European Union are also feared to join the gang. In India, the prevalence of Childhood Obesity has been marked as 22% in 2002. Dr. Anoop Misra, (Director and Dept Head of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Fortis Hospitals, New Delhi) raises his concerns on the rising number of obese Indians. Among Indians, Obesity is often the predecessor of Diabetes, lipid disorders and Heart Diseases. Further, obese children stand the chance of growing up into obese adults.

What is Obesity?

A “complex condition, one with serious social and psychological dimensions, that affects virtually all age and socioeconomic groups and threatens to overwhelm both developed and developing countries”, is what WHO says about obesity. Obesity is not just having a few extra pounds but having a high proportion of body fat. A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20% or more than the normal weight.

The Risk Factors

1. Hypertension
2. Lipid disorders like Dyslipidemia
3. Heart diseases
4. Some Cancers
5. Stroke
6. Metabolic syndrome especially Hyperinsulinemia
7. Lower chances of recovery especially from cancers
8. Reproductive and gynecological problems in women
9. Fatty liver disease
10. Osteoarthritis
11. Gout
12. Breathing problems in some cases and
13. Sleeping disorders

Reasons for Obesity among Children

Childhood obesity is often the result of an imbalance between the calories taken and the calories burnt. It is highly altered because of the modern life style. Children do not eat, play or participate in activities as before.

1. Poor Food Habits:

Children are introduced and encouraged to have food which were not given to kids a decade ago. Many of them do not get the privilege of home-made food as tiffins. They are free to eat food available in the school or outside. These kinds of food habits deprive children of their required nutrition while earning them those extra calories.

Children by themselves are not aware of the health hazards they are exposed to while doing so. The Indian family represented in the Indian (Hindi) Movie Tara Rum Pum serves as a good example to this.

2. Overeating, Of course!

Among the affluent and the elite section of the society , not only children, but the adults also are exposed to abundance. Many of us do hold obesity as a sign of prosperity.

Jokes apart, the western diet is high in fructose and low in fibre. This diet affects the insulin in the body which in turn acts on the brain leading to overeating. Insulin also suppresses leptin, another hormone that increases physical activity and well-being and reduces appetite.

3. Lack of Physical Activities

Children do not have any compulsory physical activity in schools. People with the habit of sitting for hours on demand of school or work without any regular exercise can gain weight. They need not do any overeating. Some people have the habit of eating while watching TV or during work. The practice of eating when not hungry is another cause for Obesity.

4. Family and Genes !

Obesity can be hereditary. The lifestyle and food habits followed by a particular family can be a contributing factor. But it can be kept in check through diet and exercise.

5. Medical Conditions

Illnesses like neurological problems plays a major role in increasing body weight.

6. Medications

Steroids, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, insulin and certain psychiatric medicines like some antidepressants may cause appetite stimulation and consequent weight gain.

7. E motional Problems and Events Causing Mental Stress

Those with psychological problems like depression or low morale tend to eat more. It is an interesting fact that you tend to eat less or more in response to your emotions. In most of these cases, there are no physiological factors leading to weight loss or weight gain.

Fat people go though a phase of low self-esteem, depression, shame, rejection and isolation. And children facing this kind of social discrimination end up with psychological problems.

Put an End to those Increasing Waistlines

The awareness should be brought on the public level. Children cannot be blamed alone for this as it is the responsibility of the whole society to build up a healthy generation. Parents as well as teachers need to work together for effective remedies. Only a balanced diet with sufficient physical activity can limit obesity among children.

For this, children have to be aware of the health problems they are prone to. Depriving the littles ones from their favorite food stuffs is both insensitive and injudicious. On the other hand, children need to be taught the values of quantity and quality. Parents and teachers share the responsibility of encouraging them for physical activities. Swimming and jogging can be real fun if the whole family gets into it. Parents need to spend some quality time with their children sharing their little joys and worries. A listening parent gives the child the confidence to face the world.

-Aparna K V

Tags: Natural Remedies, Ayurvedic Medicine, Kitchen Tips, Natural Cures, Herbal Supplements

Ice creams for the diabetic, microbiologically enriched curd for the diabetic and restaurants for the diabetics are now a fashion statement. The number of diabetic patients have increased to a sizeable chunk making it viable for business propositions too. Diabetes Mellitus is rightly recognized as a condition and not a disease but care and precaution is definitely a must.

Every family today is becoming more resistant to sweet meats and fast food , not because they are calorie conscious but because sugar is now detrimental for one or more of there family members on account of diabetes mellitus. Yes, today almost every family has a diabetic!

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the sugar consumed in form of secondary sugars like sucrose and lactose as well as carbohydrates cannot be used efficiently by the body. The glucose formed after digestion of other sugars is not taken up by the different cells of the body as the transporter of the glucose inwards is malfunctional. This transporter is nothing but insulin. The increase in sugar concentration of the blood in any diabetic gives rise to a number of complications, retinopathy is one of them.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy ?

Retinopathy is an impairment of the retina a layer at the back of the eye which receives light and sends signals to the nerve responsible for us to enjoy vision. Hence if the retina is damaged we are unable to see clearly.

How does the retina get damaged in diabetes?

The high glucose concentration of blood makes it thicker and the thin blood vessels or capillaries are not strong or elastic enough to carry the higher concentration of sugar in the blood they are carrying. So, they tend to swell, lose shape and may finally burst to give spots of blood near the retina.

Read more »

Tags: Ayurvedic Medicine, Herbal Supplements, Kitchen Tips, Natural Remedies, Natural Cures

Urotherapy: A boon

Our body is a factory in itself. Once food is provided, it is broken down to absorbable nutrients, converted to energy and other simpler forms and even medicines are produced in our own body. Yes, soon there would be a time when we wont need medications in forms of tablets and syrups, our own body is a drug house producing one. We are only to realize the medicinal properties of the body’s product…the urine.

This may sound absurd but the fact is that urine has been found to contain medicinal properties to treat many diseases and disorders. Now we know why the great Indian leader lived as long as 99 years healthily and actively. The secret is that he used to drink a glass of his own urine every day. Yes, urine is no more a smelly waste but should be perceived as a product formed by the kidneys containing hormones, enzymes and urea in water. The composition of urine is around 95% of water and the rest is in form of urea and salts. Urine is infact a sterile product which is most safe for human consumption. However, it has the ability to encourage microorganisms to flourish and hence should be consumed fresh only.

The urine is known to stimulate the immune system of the body. The immune system recognize the foreign substances in the body and fight them by producing antibodies which react against specific foreign bodies called antigens. Hence the infection or disorder is treated by the body itself. The reason why urotherapy or consumption of urine accelerates antibody production is that in the diseased state, antigens are present in urine too. So, when these antigens are taken in the body, the response is further strengthened and many more antibodies are formed. This principle is used to treat many illnesses like flus, common cold, arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis, hepatitis, herpes, allergies, adrenal failure and even cancers.

In a cancer patient, the malignant cells have a characteristic to divide and multiply at a fast rate. The clusters of these malignant cells give rise to tumours and also help in diverting oxygen and nutrients to the malignant cells. The urine of the cancer patient avoids these cancerous cells to form clusters and hence interferes in their growth. Another study says that the urine rectifies the genetic material and composition of the cancerous cells and converts them to normal cells.

Though urine is a sterile liquid, it is a practice to consume one’s own liquid. There are reasons for the same. The most important is that the body has to recognize the liquid as its own and any urine of other source is foreign for the patient’s body. The intake of urine begins from a few drops daily and is slowly increased to a glass. Other forms of urotherapy could be by enemas and injections into the blood stream. Since the same is also proven to provide antiseptic and hydrating action, it is also shown to have good results on the skin. On account of the same, urine can also be a component of many face creams and lotions. Many anti ageing creams today and anti acne treatment ointments can comprise of human urine.

So next time you discard your urine, think again !

Tags: Ayurvedic Medicine, Natural Remedies, Kitchen Tips, Natural Cures, Herbal Supplements