HEALTH BENEFITS OF FENUGREEK SEEDS

FENUGREEK SEEDS INCREASE THE BREAST MILK SUPPLY:

Lactating mothers are always suggested to incorporate fenugreek seeds in their diet.

Apart from this, the vitamins and magnesium present in fenugreek seeds enhances the quality of the breast milk thus improving the health of the infants.

FENUGREEK SEEDS CONTROL DIABETES:

Another important advantage of having fenugreek seeds are it helps to control type II diabetes

Anti-diabetic properties are observed in one of the amino acids called 4 – hydroxy isoleucine present in fenugreek. This amino acid increases the production of insulin and improves insulin sensitivity.

FENUGREEK SEEdS REDUCE THE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS:

Consumption of fenugreek seeds reduces the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, thus controlling the occurrences of various conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks and stroke.

The fibre content present in the fenugreek helps to remove the excess cholesterol from the arteries and blood vessels in the body, reducing the chance of clot formation.

FENUGREEK SEEDS PREVENT COLON CANCER:

The anticarcinogenic properties of fenugreek seeds helps to prevent colon cancer.

Apart from this, the non-starch polysaccharides like tannin, mucilage, pectin, hemicellulose and saponin bind with the toxin, thus protecting the mucus membrane of the colon and decreasing the chances of colorectal cancer.

HEALTHY LIVER TONICS

Achieving optimum physical well-being is simply not possible without a healthy liver. Along with the kidneys, it is one of the main filters of toxins and unwanted substances in the body.

To support healthy liver function, a regular schedule of detoxification, along with avoiding excess alcohol and other irritants is necessary.

It is also good to consider adding any or all of the 5 following herbs to the diet, as they have all been shown to support and nourish proper liver function.

Indian Gooseberry (Amalaki)

 It is rich in vitamin C, which is necessary for a strong immune system.

It also an excellent source of anti-oxidants that can promote and nourish healthy liver function.

Indian Tinospora (Guduchi)

It has long been known for its ability to help reduce toxic build-up in the liver, thus promoting optimal hepatic function.

It helps to reduce stress, which can do long-term damage to the liver and immune system in general and in addition to this, it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

Caper Bush (kabra)

Caper bush is remarkable in its ability to help guard against the harm caused by free radicals when this occurs.

It, too, can boost immunity and reduce overall inflammation.

Chicory (Kasani)

Chicory is rich in compounds called polyphenols, which are plant-based, naturally-occurring chemicals that have been shown to fight the damaging action of free radicals.

At the same time, they help the liver tissues to restore and rejuvenate and prevent the build-up of adipose deposits that can lead to fatty liver disease.

Eclipta Alba (Bringaraj)

The herb contains a wealth of phytochemicals, botanical compounds which have been shown to fight the viruses which cause hepatitis and also reduce the risk of liver inflammation.

GOOD FOOD FOR CHOLESTEROL

Do you crave for parathas, butter chicken and shahi paneer with dollops of butter, ghee and oil on it?

Is the voice in your head saying “Go ahead and relish your dishes. Why resist the temptation when good life is about savouring your favourite foods to your heart’s content?”

When you take large portions of food containing saturated and trans fats and sugar, your bad cholesterol levels are bound to go up.

This accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries places you at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. What will this lead to?

Blockage of arteries, lesser blood circulation to the heart and higher chances of heart attack, shorter lifespan and increased chances of suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Nuts

Power-packed nuts such as almonds (with their skin on), walnuts, heart-healthy fats that are excellent in reducing bad cholesterol.

Almond skins have substances that help prevent LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol from getting oxidized, which can damage the lining of blood vessels and increase cardiovascular risk.

Avocados

The monounsaturated fats such as oleic acid present in avocados have lower ‘bad’ LDLs and raise ‘good’ HDLs. This is especially good for people with mildly high cholesterol.

The best way to enjoy avocados is by slicing and packing them into sandwiches and salads.

Barley

Beta-glucan which is a type of soluble fibre present in barley reduces cholesterol levels.

Beans and Lentils

Beans such as Bengal gram (chana), Kidney beans (rajma) and Chickpeas (Kabuli chana) are cholesterol-free, low fat, and rich in dietary fibre, which helps lower cholesterol levels.

Blueberries

Blueberries are packed with pterostilbene, a powerful antioxidant that helps in lowering bad LDL cholesterol.

Oats

This makes a healthy breakfast that is nutritious and filling.

Brown Rice

Being unpolished, brown rice is packed with nutrients such as vitamin B, magnesium, selenium, and phytonutrients.

This high fibre content helps in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol.

BAD FOOD COMBINATIONS

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian mind-body-spirit well-being practice based on balancing the three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Food combining is a health-conscious approach to eating, where foods that require different digestive environments are eaten separately.

It’s a simple concept of eating right which influence our health more than we could imagine….

Don't eat Fruit after a meal

Fruit doesn't combine well with other foods. The reason is that fruit contains simple sugars that require no digestion. Thus, they will not stay for a long time in the stomach.

Other foods, such as foods rich in fat, protein and starch, will stay in the stomach for a longer period of time because they require more digestion.

So if you eat fruit after a meal, the fruit sugar will stay for too long in the stomach and ferment.

Liquids and solids

As a law, no liquid should be taken with solids. Liquid tends to pass away immediately into the intestines taking away all the digestive enzymes thus inhibiting the digestion. Liquids should be taken at least 20 minutes prior to meal and not immediately after or along with meal but can be taken one hour after meal.

Cold Drinks

Avoid cold or iced drinks during or directly after a meal. The cold diminishes digestive power (called agni) and causes a host of digestive problems, allergies, and cold.

Eat freshly cooked food

Fresh food is full of prana (life force) and nutrients. These start to diminish soon after it’s cooked. By the time it’s a leftover, its properties have changed and it’s heavy for the body to digest. Cooking every single meal may not be realistic, but at least try to avoid food that’s been cooked more than 24 hours before.

Meat and Potatoes

If an animal protein is eaten with a carbohydrate, such as meat and a piece of bread or a potato, the different digestive juices will nullify each other’s effectiveness. The protein will putrefy and the carbohydrate will ferment. The result is gas and flatulence in the system.

Green tea or black tea and milk

Tea contains flavonoids called catechins, which have many beneficial effects on the heart.

When milk is added to tea, then a group of proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea to reduce the concentration of catechins

Curd should NOT be consumed in the night

Buttermilk helps in digestion whereas curds to the contrary are heavy to digest. It can be best digested at lunch time when the digestive abilities are the strongest.

Curd is acidic in nature. It aggravates pitta and kapha as it produces a lot of heat in the stomach. Curds are heavy, slow to digest and can be constipating too.

People with weak digestion should avoid its consumption.

GOUT

A disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis, especially in the

smaller bones of the feet, deposition of chalk-stones, and episodes of acute pain.

COMMON SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

• Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a joint, usually a big toe joint .This symptom is called podagra. The pain often starts during the night. It may get worse quickly, last for hours, and be so intense that even light pressure from a sheet is intolerable.

• Very red or purplish skin around the affected joint. The joint may appear to be infected.

• Limited movement in the affected joint.

• Peeling and itching of the skin around the affected joint as the gout gets better.

Good Foods and Herbs for Gout

• PINEAPPLE
• CHERRY JUICE
• LEMON
• GINGER
• WATERCRESS
• TURMERIC
• HOT PEPPERS
• KARELA JUICE

DIETARY GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian mind-body-spirit well-being practice based on balancing the three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Food combining is a health-conscious approach to eating, where foods that require different digestive environments are eaten separately.

It’s a simple concept of eating right which influence our health more than we could imagine….

Don't eat Fruit after a meal

Fruit doesn't combine well with other foods. The reason is that fruit contains simple sugars that require no digestion. Thus, they will not stay for a long time in the stomach.

Other foods, such as foods rich in fat, protein and starch, will stay in the stomach for a longer period of time because they require more digestion.

So if you eat fruit after a meal, the fruit sugar will stay for too long in the stomach and ferment.

Milk should not be combined with any other food

Milk never combines well with any other food. Milk is a complete and concentrated food in itself.

It requires full digestive process of its own kind.

Liquids and solids

As a law, no liquid should be taken with solids. Liquid tends to pass away immediately into the intestines taking away all the digestive enzymes thus inhibiting the digestion.

Liquids should be taken at least 20 minutes prior to meal and not immediately after or along with meal but can be taken one hour after meal.

Cold Drinks

Avoid cold or iced drinks during or directly after a meal.

The cold diminishes digestive power (called agni) and causes a host of digestive problems, allergies, and colds. (The same goes for ice cream and frozen yogurt.)

Eat freshly cooked food

Fresh food is full of prana (life force) and nutrients. These start to diminish soon after it’s cooked.

By the time it’s a leftover, its properties have changed and it’s heavy for the body to digest.

Green tea or black tea and milk

Tea contains flavonoids called catechins, which have many beneficial effects on the heart.

When milk is added to tea, then a group of proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea to reduce the concentration of catechins.

So avoid tea and milk together.

Find an alternative to tomato sauce

Tomatoes are highly acidic foods and are difficult to digest when paired with carbohydrates and dairy, which includes most pasta dishes.

Curd should NOT be consumed in the night

Buttermilk helps in digestion whereas curds to the contrary are heavy to digest. It can be best digested at lunch time when the digestive abilities are the strongest.

Curd is acidic in nature. It aggravates pitta and kapha as it produces a lot of heat in the stomach.

Curds are heavy, slow to digest and can be constipating too.

People with weak digestion should avoid its consumption.