Rest and wholesome relaxation will restore and build health, if done properly.  The great author of nature designed that activity should be followed by rest.  He designed that men should be blessed with rest at night after working for many hours during the day.  He also designed that men should work six days a week and cease from active labor on the seventh, the Sabbath day, as the bible calls it.  The modern man however, continues to disregard these merciful provisions with impunity.  He does not seem to understand that for every willful departure from Divine pronouncements there is a price to pay. 

Overwork is one of the direct causes of heart disease, nervous conditions, migraine, ulcers, internal tension, dementia, insomnia, high blood pressure and many other diseases. 

Sleep is the most powerful natural restorer and relaxant.  The serious health builder should always consider getting enough of it.  On the other hand, the habit of going to movies, disco clubs, and other places of excitement and confusion after office hours is probably the most wonderful ways of punishing the already tired and depleted body and mind.  This is sadly the cause of many diseases in today. 

Sleep is especially restful in the following cases 

1. Sleeping on near empty stomach – as long food is being digested in the stomach in the stomach, the brain and the organs of digestion must work, and energy must be expended.  Eating late at night and heavy suppers make the brain work longer in the night, therefore the sleep is abnormal and barely restorative.  In the morning, there is also a need to oversleep.
2. Sleeping outdoors is more restful than sleeping indoors.
3. Sleeping is easier and more restful if one exercises in the afternoon. 

Rest is particularly needed during illness.  Often times, as we have experienced, it is all that is needed to affect a cure.  It has been mentioned before, “Man is the only animal who is stupid enough to eat when sick. ” During sickness, the organs of digestion cannot function at full efficiency, if they can function at all.  They must also have a share of the rest demanded and are greatly benefited by a limited diet or complete abstinence from food.  When you are tired or indisposed, your body insists on a vacation; so does your stomach 

To relax, all that is needed is to go to the countryside, to the garden or park and be close again to the things of nature (which are becoming rare nowadays).  The modern’s methods of relaxation are no substitute for recreating and restoring powers nature alone provides.

You thrive on rules, routines and schedules.  Your kitchen cabinets are likely to be highly organized, and everything has its place in your home.  You’re committed and usually prepared for anything – you’re one with the first-aid kit outings.  But do you know your diet personality?  Here’s a helpful guide for you that will surely help you stay fit and healthy. 

Organized

You thrive on rules, routines and schedules.  Your kitchen cabinets are likely to be highly organized, and everything has its place in your home.  You’re committed and usually prepared for anything – you’re the one with the first-aid kit on outings. 

Your diet Rx

• Find a structured eating strategy with clear rules and written menus, like three meals and two snacks a day.
• Plan a week or two of menus at a time – it makes shopping and cooking easier. Since you don’t mind repetition, make big batches of your favorite recipes and serve them throughout the week.
• Get out measuring cups.  With your exacting nature, this is an ideal way to learn portion sizes.  But it’s not forever.  Soon you’ll know a cup of pasta just by looking.
• Check off what you’ve eaten.  Food logs keep you in the organized groove you love.  Consider counting calories or fat grams.
• Chart your progress.  You need feedback to stay on track, so programs that offer workbooks, graphs, and logs are great.
• No need to avoid temptations.  Just plan ahead : Instead of an appetizer wait for a slice of cheesecake for your anniversary dinner.  Once you make a commitment you follow through.
• Be flexible.  Structure and organization might feel so comfortable that you get stuck in a pattern that isn’t working.  “What works for you the first month of dieting might not to be the optimal strategy for the fifth month. 

 Analytical 

You’re an information gatherer, approaching life as if it were a scientist.  If you needed surgery, for example, you’d want to see a video of the procedure and study success and compilation rates.  You enjoy complexity and challenges of problem solving. 

Your diet Rx

• Study nutrition.  Buy factually sound books to learn about the latest breakthroughs in research.  Understanding how and why a diet works will help spur you on.
• Design a program.  “Study several programs, picking the best of each for your personalized plan.  “If you don’t like to read, take a diet class or meet with a dietician.
• Try three meals a day with snacks or several minimally- whatever fits your lifestyle.  Have fun finding new and different ways of meeting your nutritional goals.
• Challenge yourself.  You love figuring out how to enjoy your favorite foods and still lose weight for instance, if you like café mocha, try skim milk, fat-free cocoa, and artificial sweeteners.
• Take action.  Since you enjoy gathering information, you may get stuck in that stage.  “This type does well in a university-based setting, where behavioral experts with training in weight management can explain the theories, but also confront people when they’re stalling.
• Be accountable.  A little structure can be good.  Programs with weekly weigh-ins may help, but you’re likely to be bored with long meetings.  Alternatively, ask your doctor, a dietician, or even a friend or family member to monitor you. 

Spontaneous 

You live life as it comes, expanding each moment for variety and maximum flexibility. You hate schedules and may have a crisis come into your life.  That’s good, because your lack of planning frequently puts you in the middle of one.  You’re not much for rules.  But if they’re fun, interesting, and not too strict, you may follow them. 

Your diet Rx

• Skip rigid food plans.  If they don’t fit into your lifestyle, you’ll just ignore them.
• Stock up on healthy foods.  Planning ahead doesn’t work for you- what sounds good one day usually won’t interest you tomorrow.  Instead, post choices for healthy, lean meals on the refrigerator, all within certain calorie guidelines.
• Keep problem foods out of the house- you’ll eat them if the mood seizes you. Similarly, change your route to work to avoid the doughnut store.
• Pass on the weight loss groups.  They may sound like fun, but rules that apply to large groups generally don’t work for you.
• Hangout with healthy eaters.  When spontaneous get-togethers happen, you’re apt to join the fun.  You’re also likely to be the first to join someone who’s falling off the healthy-eating wagon.
• Set short term goals.  For you, there’s always tomorrow and the chance to start over.  But daily goals- such as eating a piece of fruit with every meal- don’t let you “do it later.”
• Find a counselor.  An individual weight loss counselor, who allows you flexibility yet provides some firm guidance, may be your angel in disguise. 

Inspirational 

You’re always interested in improving yourself, mentally and physically.  People often confide in you because you’re a great listener- and you have a wonderfully kind, effective way of inspiring others. 

Your diet Rx 

• Join a weight loss group.  You like people, so group settings or the buddy system works extremely well.  You thrive on positive feedback and social support and provide plenty of it to others.  “In motivating others, you provide even more motivation to yourself.
• Patrol portions.  You’re likely to enjoy an extra scoop of something you love, so dish up just a single serving.  No eating right out of the bag
• Keep tempting foods out of the house.
• Work in favorite dessert weekly- deprivation leads to overeating.
• Learn about the other benefits of weight loss-more energy, lower blood pressure, and reduced cancer risk.  This will help motivate you.
• Create a pleasant environment.  Post photos of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; play soothing music while you eat; visualize yourself slimmer . “This feeds that need to do something with all senses, with the whole body.
• Reward yourself frequently- a new outfit, a motivational book, or perhaps a bread machine to make hearty and healthy whole grain breads.
• Avoid negative influences.  Criticism destroys you more than other type and can send you down the path to failure.  Learn to draw on your inner strength.
• Stick to the basics.

Experts have always believed that vitamins and minerals are necessary for normal body metabolism and good health.  Vitamins serve as the chemical partners for enzymes involved in the body’s metabolism, cell production, tissue repair, and other vital processes. 

There are two kinds of vitamins.  One is a group of vitamins which are fat soluble such as vitamins A, D, E and K.  This vitamin type is absorbed by the body through processes that closely parallel the absorption of fat.  They are stored in the liver to be used up by the body very slowly.  The other groups of vitamins are the water soluble ones such as vitamins C and B complex which the body uses very quickly and its excess amounts are eliminated in the urine. 

Most nutritionists cites the importance of maintaining a well-balanced diet to achieve overall physical health.

 A person will basically get the necessary nutrients the body needs through eating a balanced diet every day.  But there could be problems when one eats a lot of vegetables. We should all know that it is necessary to eat a variety of foods and we must also eat a variety of vegetables so we can get the essential amino acids.  Unlike when people eat eggs, meat and poultry, the essential amino acids are already contained in these foods. But of course, when you eat meat, you should also eat fruits and vegetables to get the proper balance.

 According to the nutritionists, the two most important minerals that a woman should take are iron and calcium.  When women menstruate, a lot of iron is lost.  Women also need calcium because they are more prone to osteoporosis than men 

 “Foods rich in iron include animal liver, whole green cereals, nuts and green vegetables. Milk in general is rich in calcium and skim milk is rich in iron too, it has about 300 mg of calcium in a glass of milk.   Some Calcium-rich foods are yogurt, broccoli, spinach and oysters. 

Vitamin A could be very toxic if taken in a dosage of more than 5000 IU for a long period of time.  It can affect almost every part of the body, including the eyes, the bones, the genital and urinary tracts.  Severe toxicity, for instance, can cause blindness and may even be the threatening. 

Taking in mega doses of vitamin D long term can cause calcification of soft tissue and possibly kidney failure.  Large amounts of vitamin E may also cause bleeding problems while large doses of Vitamin K can trigger allergic-type responses including rash and itching. 

The miracle vitamin:  Vitamin E has been very popular among adults for it is believed to be the “fountain of youth”.  It is perceived to bring the youthful glow and vigor to older, more mature people. 

“Actually vitamin E’s role is to help in the release of heat and energy.  When your body’s energy has been released, you have greater endurance.  That’s why a lot of people taking vitamin E supplements feel like they have increased strength.”

 Vitamin E is also an antioxidant.  It protects the cell membranes and tissues.  It is good to take at least 30 UI daily of vitamin E.  Other foods rich in Vitamin E include vegetable oil, grains, wheat germ and lettuce. 

How much to take 

Vitamins and minerals intake varies according to a person’s physiological status. 

“When a woman is in her menopausal stage, she needs to drink more calcium.  Or if a woman is menstruating, she needs more iron in her diet.  It is also depends on your activities.  A sedentary woman needs less calcium and minerals than the active one.   When a physically active woman sweats, some of the minerals such as calcium and potassium leave her body. 

Does price matter? 

Most people are more likely to believe that an expensive brand of vitamin and mineral supplement can be absorbed by their body better than a cheaper priced one.  But watch out!  There appears to be no significant difference in quality between the supplements which are lower priced than those which are more expensive. 

Even doctors and nutritionists advise the public not to experiment on over the counter vitamin and mineral supplements.  “Always consult your doctor because he or she is the only one who will know what suits you . A low fat diet is good because it prevents fat from accumulating and clinging to the walls of your arteries.  This is the reason why many people today are have hypertension.” 

By strictly following the recommended daily allowance of iron and calcium is not enough.  A good and varied diet and good nutrition  and a good exercise program go  hand in hand with good health.

Herbs for the Heart

 As we all know, the heart is the chief organ of the cardiovascular system.  Hand in hand with all of its vessels, it is continuously working, pumping life-giving blood and supplying oxygen to the entire cells and tissues of the body.  Besides oxygen, it carries all the nutrients that supply each cell in the body— enzymes, vitamins, minerals, sugars for energy, proteins for cellular repair, and various other very important substances.

In spite of the role of the heart in our body’s system it is very concerning to know that Coronary heart disease is the number-one killer in the world today.  Eating a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, watching our weight, stop smoking and learning to cope with and eliminating stress are the usual recommendations.  These are all significantly important to each of us.  But we need to know that there are several superb herbal supplements that can further enhance our efforts in fighting many of the causes of cardiovascular disease.

Today health conscious people know herbal supplements are widely used, because of their wonderful healing properties and their immunity boosting benefits.  However, as more and more of these supplements are made available everywhere, we must note that not all of them may be appropriate for us.  Some herbs do have side effects, particularly when taken collectively with cardiovascular drugs.

 Let us look at some of the most useful herbs for our hearts:

1. Hawthorn:  Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycanthus) has long been considered the herb of preference for strengthening and protecting the cardiovascular system, most notably, the heart.  This herb reduces hypertension during pregnancy by dilating the blood vessels and strengthening the heart.  Hawthorn leaves, flowers, and fruits contain chemical compounds that increase blood flow to the heart muscle, as well as having positive affect on other aspects of cardiovascular health. This has been proven by numerous laboratory tests and other clinical trials.  Hawthorn also helps our body distribute and efficiently use vitamin C and build up our capillaries.  Our stronger capillaries and dilated blood vessels permit our hearts to have a better blood circulation throughout the body, thus transporting oxygen to each system of our body and providing our heart with the nutrients it needs.

1. Garlic:  Garlic (Allium sativum) is a medicinal plant that is used widely throughout the world.  Eating garlic regularly reduces serum cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent studies have shown.  These studies have revealed that dosage can be as little as a clove of garlic a day and this amount give great results.  Even though a fresh clove is the most effective, because of the smell many people choose to use a garlic capsule or tablet.   These will work just fine but be sure you use a higher dosage to make up for the decrease in potency, and use of them regularly for the best results.

1. Black Cohosh:  Black cohosh is a helpful anti-spasmodic for all nervous conditions, fits, convulsions, cramps and pains.  It also reduces mucous production.  Warning!  Do not use it during pregnancy or in large doses if you have hemorrhoids.  

1. Cayenne:  When added to herbal formulas, cayenne stimulates the action of other herbs.  It stops heart attacks; and is used for flus, colds, indigestion, and lack of vitality.  Be warned that very excessive use can damage the kidneys and lead to pleurisy or gastro-enteritis.  It is best to use cayenne primarily as a medicine, and only very small amounts as a food additive.

 As the primary cause of mortality, in numerous developed countries of the world, heart disease is still a major problem.  Always consider that the key to a healthy heart is living a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy diet.  These herbal supplements can not achieve their true potential unless they are a part of a complete diet and lifestyle plan that supports cardiovascular health.

If you would like to learn more about herbs, go to Himaacala Health and sign up for our newsletter.   This will give you free immediate access to our Natural & Alternative Health Library.

For the purpose of science, all substance are products of the five basic elements or principles.  Moreover, these substances are of two kinds, animate and inanimate. 

The five basic elements are: 

• Ether (Akashiya):  The minutest to the biggest pores and visible and invisible channels of the body, the receptor spaces of every cell in the body, the sense of sound and the sense organ of hearing are akashiya in nature. 
• Air (Vayaviya):  The contraction, expansion, flexion, extension, movement, excitement, inhalation, exhalation, opening and closing of the eyes (eyelids), the mouth (lips) and sphincters (gastric, urinary, anal, etc.) are the characteristics pf vayaviya (because air is always invisible) and so the sense of touch and the cognitive organ of touch which is the skin is also vayaviya in nature. 
• Fire (Agneya:  The radiance of the body, the heat of pitta and the sense of sight and cognitive organ of sight which are the eyes are also agneya in nature. 
• Water (Jaliya):  Those parts which are liquid, slow, soft, and have viscidity such as lymph, blood, fat, adipose tissue are apya in nature.  The sense of taste and the cognitive organ of taste, the taste buds on the tongue, are also apya in nature, are as the excretory products such as urine and sweat. 
• Earth (Parthiva):  Those parts which are solid, rough, heavy, bulky, firm, and motionless like bones, teeth, nails, hair, tendons, ligaments, muscles, sense of smell and the cognitive organ of smell, the nose are parthiva in nature as are the excretory products such as faeces.

 These five elemental principles form the basic foundation on which anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology of that Ayurveda stand for.  Acharya sushruta emphasizes that there is no other subject of consideration in the practice of medicine than these principles and no study of theological treatise is complete without them. 

The parts of the body including the five sensory powers of faculties are derived from these basic and elemental principles and therefore, parts of the body can be divided according to the predominance of one or the other of these elements or principles.  These can be studied as: 

All branches of Ayurveda dealing with anatomy, physiology, tridosha, drugs, therapeutics etc. are interrelated only because all substances mentioned there in are panchbhautik and they act according to their mutual composition and the predominant bhuta is the individual basic principle. 

To elaborate the importance of this panchbautik doctrine with the principles of internal medicine, the relation between the process of digestion and the five basic and elemental principles has to be clearly understood in the light of the statements of the great Ayurveda sages. All the food we take in including the air that we inhale, are panchbautik and also the bhutagni (digestive ferments) present in our alimentary canal that digests the corresponding parts of the food is panchbautik.

Herbal supplements can be your strong allies in your fight against fat in spite of all the mixed messages about it.  Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising are still necessary if you want to be successful but herbs can make the course of losing weight a bit easier.  By helping you beat common obstacles such as emotional eating, being too drained to exercise and constantly feeling hungry, these safe and efficient herbs can help you reach your goal of having the body you want.

 Here are herbs you can include to your diet as supplements, teas, and foods that will help your weight loss plan go smoothly.  Herbs can be used to help in the weight loss process, as they may not be sufficient on their own, when used in combination with dietary changes and with a mild work out you can make most weight loss attempts especially successful.

 Here are the most popular herbs used to loss weight:

1. Cayenne – If you aren’t overwhelmed by spicy food, try a pinch of cayenne on your food.  It contains an ingredient called capsaicin that speeds up your metabolism at a safe level, stimulates saliva, and helps with digestion.  It has thermogenic effects.  Cayenne also increases core body temperature, which in turn increased the metabolism and can help you to lose more weight more rapidly.
2. Green Tea – Green tea extract can also aid dieters get rid of fat. This is due to the increase in energy that you expend.  This tea is a normal stimulant that behaves much like coffee but with the added benefit of vitamin C and flavoniods (compounds that are antioxidants).  You can control the strength of the tea by steeping the tea for a long time.  You can buy in a tea bag, or loose.  It also is available in capsules, but is said to be best when assimilated as a liquid.
3. Seaweed – An excellent resource of trace minerals such as chromium and iodine, seaweed is a natural thyroid stimulant.  It is generally contained in kelp capsules or tablets.  If you believe your weight problem is due to a thyroid trouble it can be a big help.  The other way it works is by giving your body help in absorbing nutrients which feed the body on a cellular level.  This decreases your cravings. It is, also, a bulk laxative.
4. Burdock root can also aid to decrease cravings and hunger and thus help you lose extra pounds.  The best way to make use of burdock root for weight loss is to use a mixture of the root, using 1oz of burdock to 1 ½ pints of water and simmer until the you have about 1 pint of liquid.  Drink ½ cup, 3 times a day.   To induce preparation, simmer your mixture in covered pan for 10minutes; then drink 1cup of the tea just before taking a hot bath.

Good luck in discovering all of your herbal preferences.  Remember your health is very important and herbal remedies should be taken with the precaution you would take when  taking prescription medications.  If you would like to make herbs a part of your health regime, you must research and carefully explore what our world has to offer!

In Ayurveda, a basic understanding of the interrelationship between human beings and the environment preface every observation. The body includes the mind and the spirit. Ideally human beings and nature should be in perfect harmony.  Disease in the body is the result of getting things out of balance. 

Imbalances between mind and spirit can be affected by what we eat.

Anna (food) not only means a food that is eaten, but also a food that inspires us.  This is something to think about … inspiring food.

The science of nutrition has developed very rapidly over the past few years.  People in this branch of science are working diligently to give people lists of food they can consume that take into account, their age, sex, health, status, country of origin, food habits and calories.  In a diseased person, whether physical or mental, they tell us what and how much of something we should eat.

Yet Ayurveda has more to offer, right from worshipping the food to the principle of relating the ‘life force’ (prana) of living beings to the attitude towards eating. It has been emphasized that one should worship food and food should be considered as the very ambrosia of the Gods and then eaten. Food is the life force of all living beings.  It nourishes the body, mind and spirit. Food or diet is never considered in isolation. It is always linked to the person who consumes it.  Like every physical matter in the universe food is also composed of the five basic and elemental principles and there may be a predominance of one of the five basic and elemental principles in a particular food.  After assimilation, food manifests its five respective qualities in the body and becomes homologous with the basic tissues of the body.  Thus wholesome food gives us strength and vitality, and sees that the three somatic doshas are in a state of balance.  It is by virtue of this that food has a close relation to health.

Attitude towards eating

Purity of food ensures purity in mind.  Purity of mind ensures steady recollection.  When recollection is secured there will be liberation of all our problems, both physical and mental.

Food as a whole serves three main functions.

• It regulates the body functions and processes and thereby protects the body from disease.
• It provides the body fuel and energy.
• It provides the material needed for growth.  The body continues to change throughout life and constantly wearing tissues need to be recharged and repaired which is what food does.

Ayurveda is the science of life.  Ayurveda can take care of our health and give us the knowledge and instructions we need to live a healthy life.  It is like a tender caring mother caring for her baby. Prevention is better than a cure.  The understanding of Ayurveda is essential for everybody who wants to maintain good health.  Our health is our wealth!

Here are the 11 Dietetic ingredients of Ayurveda: 

Cereals

Wheat, godhuma, pulses, rice, mustard etc. are cereals/ grains. These cereals prevent ageing, increase appetite and help in faster healing of wounds. Perfect season, perfect soil and good quality of seeds are the three basic requirements for the best quality of grains. Cereals, which are quite old, can be really helpful. At the same time, freshly harvested and not so optimal ripe cereals should be avoided. 

Here are some guidelines from Ayurveda:

Meats 

Best of meats is from wild animals. In the increasing order of goodness, is the meat of aquatic, swampy, carnivorous and single hooved animals. Meats of deer, goat, and cock are wholesome; the liver is the best part to be consumed. Meats of sheep, cow, buffalo, elephant, pig, fog and dove should be avoided. 

Fruits 

All fruits should be picked ripe; the fruit of Bilwa (Aegle marmelos) is an exception. These fruits should be avoided if they are unripe or overripe. They should be discarded.  Fruits eaten by worms should also be avoided. Here are some examples viz. fruits of the coconut, grapes and banana are laxatine in action and improve the quality and pitch of your voice and check bleeding. Pomegranate (punica granatum) is good for the heart patients; Mango (Mangifera indica) improves complexion. The Fruit of tukhmi should be taken regularly taken for two months. Strawberries are a diuretic and refrigerant. 

Vegetables 

Jivanti (leptadinia reticulate) is the best to consume.  Leafy vegetables contain an abundance of positive food factors such as antioxidant and have free radical scavenging properties and hence are very good for you.  Other vegetables should be eaten at every meal. Among the leafy vegetables, the mustard variety should be avoided.  Strawberry leaves are a tonic, diuretic and refrigerant.  Tea made from Strawberry leaves can stimulate your appetite and are good for bowel troubles and also will clean out your stomach.  As an external wash, the tea, can be used in treating eczema.  Garlic (Allium Sativum) is good for the heart as it is one of the best remedies for hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.  It will improve your voice, complexion and sight.  Spices, such as Asafoetida (ferula nartlex) have a laxative and carminative in action and improve your digestion. 

Flowers 

Flowers of Sadabahar (Madagascar periwinkle) possess anti-cancerous properties;   Gainda (African Marigold) possess anti-inflammatory and stypic properties and are used in epistaxis or other hemorrhages; Roses are used for cancer and ulcerations, heart diseases and are mild laxatives; Gulkand (made from rose petals) are specifically used as a mild laxative; Calyces diarrhea; Cherry plums are good for hysteria and many psychic disorders; Tesu (butea monospermum) are used for giving local formentation. 

Tubers 

Water chestnut (singhara) increase milk and is nutritive.  Because of this quality it increases semen (shukra dhatu).  They are easily digestible also.  Surans are used for abdominal colics, worms’ infestations, hapatomegaly and hemorrhoids. 

Salt 

All five salts are good for consumption.  Among the five salts, rock salt is the best. Salts possess excellent carminative properties, are stomachic and increase your appetite for food.

 Trace Metals 

Copper, iron, tin, silver and gold are sour, salty and help prevent putting on weight.  Another benefit is they can delay ageing. Diamond is a cardiac tonic.  It promotes longevity and strength, and good complexion, intellect and eyesight. It is also anti-cancerous.  Some calcination (bhasmas) is made out of these metals.  This can be done by using a single metal or composition of metals. They need to be properly purified according to the purification principles of rasa-shastra (pharmacology).  High quality metals, thoroughly purified and processed can to be a boon for patients suffering from many chronic organic illness. 

Processed Foods 

Rice cooked with milk is good for the heart and relaxes the mind. Rice cooked with vegetables and mutton (biryani) promotes strength, rejuvenation and in helping one to be virile.  Soups made of meat and vegetables are also good to eat.  Gruel (kkhichdi) should be used during convalescence and for people who have digestion problems.

Dairy Products 

Ghrita (clarified butter) and cow’s milk are the best; Eating or drinking milk, ghrita and rice promote longevity, general healing as well as helping to heal fractures. 

Drinking after meals 

Pure and clean rainwater is the best.  Other possibilities are hot water, milk, meat, juice, vegetable juice, wine and vinegar.  Although, consuming a lot of water after eating is not advisable.  Drinking water just before or after a meal can neutralize the secretions of the stomach which are responsible for digestion.  Spring water is very good for you because of its healing powers.

The heart is the chief organ of the cardiovascular system. Hand in hand with the vessels, it is continuously working, pumping life-giving blood and supplying oxygen to the entire cells and tissues of the body. Besides oxygen, it carries all the nutrients for each cell of the body— enzymes, vitamins, minerals, sugars for energy, proteins for cellular repair, and various other very important substances.

 In spite of its role in our system it is distressing to know that Coronary heart disease is the number-one killer around the globe today. Eating a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, setting up and maintaining a healthy weight, quit smoking and learning to cope with and eliminating stress are the usual recommendation. These are all significantly important but there are several superb herbal supplements that can further enhance these efforts in fighting one or some of the forms of cardiovascular disease.

 Health conscious people these days view herbal supplements highly, because of their wonderful healing properties as well as their immunity boosting benefits. However, as more and more of these supplements are made available everywhere, we must note that not all of them might be appropriate for us. Some might have side effects, particularly when taken collectively with cardiovascular drugs.

Healing with herbs is an old tradition that most of us are aware of but not all of us use. Some are not aware that you will find some gentle herbs that can take the sting out of simple bug bites or soothe an aching stomach. Over the years, many useful herbs have traditionally been used in the home to treat a variety of ailments and injuries and one of this is Arjuna or commonly known as Dhaval, Kakubh, or Kahu.

It is highly recommended herb for cardiovascular disease. The bark of this botanical has been shown to lower blood pressure and slowing your heart rate. Studies have shown that patients suffering from congestive heart disease, taking Arjuna extract for two weeks resulted in a greater ability to walk comfortably without shortness of breath or fatigue, a reduction in enlarged hearts (a sign of heart failure), an increase in the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each pumping motion. The Arjuna herb does its job by scavenging free radicals, which are damaged molecules that can wreck havoc on tissues, including those of the heart. Arjuna may also boost the hearts muscle contractions.

In other words, Arjuna functions as a heart tonic. Arjuna is combined in one popular Ayurvedic formulation making it one of the major elements that makes it effective to anyone who’s taking it to maintain good health.  Arjuna is one of the herbs in Qolest.

Bacopa
Bacopa or monniera is herb commonly found in marshy areas in Asia and    southern states in the USA. Traditionally, it has been used to improve brain function including memory, to a lesser extent to reduce anxiety, to treat epilepsy, and as an antioxidant. Modern research has shown the presence of several active chemicals like the alkaloids monnierin, brahmine, bacosides and phytosterols. Some human and animal studies that support these uses are listed below:

COGNITIVE EFFECTS:
Significant improvement in verbal learning, memory consolidation and speed of early information processing after 12-weeks of taking Bacopa has been seen in healthy adults in a randomized controlled trial, possibly due to its action on cholinergic nerves and in another study it was shown to reduce the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information in humans. In experimental epilepsy and oxygen damage, Bacopa showed a neuroprotective role by modifying specific gene expression.  Read more about Bacopa.

Bacopa is used in our Memory & Cognitive Support.   Try a free bottle at Himaacala.com.