ACID Foods and ACID Producing Foods!!

Common Health Issues These Days

Every one is having health issues these days- fatigue and lethargic feeling is common.

Ever wondered as to why we feel tired even though we are cautious about eating healthy food through the week and take liberty of eating junk food during weekends.

-The whole problem lies in the kind of food that we eat!

-A diet that includes too many acid producing foods can cause bone and muscle deterioration and so the aches and pains in the body.

-We need to understand the difference between ACID FOODS and ACID PRODUCING FOODS.

**LEMON IS ACIDIC BUT HAS AN ALKALISING EFFECT ON OUR BODY ONCE DIGESTED.

**SIMILARLY MILK IS ALKALISING OUTSIDE THE BODY BUT ACIDIC UPON DIGESTION.

So often people find it difficult to digest milk..

Suggestion:

To maintain good health our diet should consist of 70%ALKALINE FORMING FOODS AND 30%ACID FORMING FOODS.

ALKALINE FORMING FOODS

ALKALINE FORMING FOODS CONSIST OF RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LIKE BEETS, CARROTS, BEANS, GREEN PEAS, LETTUCE, CAULIFLOWER, SPINACH, TOMATOES, PUMPKIN, PEPPERS, CUCUMBERS, SPROUTS, ONIONS, BRINJAL, BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, SEA VEGGIES,MUSHROOMS

FRUITS LIKE APPLES,  WATERMELON, STRAWBERRIES,ALL BERRIES, LEMON, ORANGES, PEAR, PEACH, GRAPES, FIGS, DATES, APRICOTS, BANANAS, TROPICAL SEASONAL FRUITS, etc.

FRESH FRUIT JUICE, VEGGIE JUICES, PROBIOTICS, HONEY, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, CURD, HERBS, MINERAL WATER , GINGER, GARLIC, COFFEE GINGER TEA, GREEN TEA, GINSENG TEA ,ALMONDS, COCONUT, WATER CHESTNUT, HOME-MADE PICKLES, WHEY,  ORGANIC MILK ,CINNAMON, MUSTARD ,SEA SALT,CAN ALSO BE SAFELY TAKEN.

**CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN THAT THE FRUITS SHOULD BE  FRESHLY CUT AND SHOULD NOT BE CANNED.

ACIDIC FOOD INCLUDES

ACIDIC FOODS INCLUDE CORNS, LENTILS, OLIVES, WHEAT, RICE, NOODLES, MACARONI, SOY MILK, BEANS, CHICK PEAS, ALL PROCESSED FOODS-CHEESES OF ALL TYPES, ICE CREAM, PEANUTS, CASHEWS, MEAT, FISH, BEEF, SUGAR , WINE, BEER, SOFT DRINKS, COCOA ,SWEETENED YOGHURT, PICKLES, JAMS,JELLIES, WHITE VINEGAR, PACKAGED GINGER GARLIC PASTE , BLACK TEA ,CRANBERRIES, TABLE SWEETENERS, Milk, ASPARTAME, PEANUT BUTTER.

Health Tip

I've given you a general list of foods that are alkaline forming and acid forming. So when setting the meal for the day ensure that 70%is taken from the alkaline forming foods and 30% from acid forming foods.

Diet Plan for Diabetics and Weight Management

Diet Plan 

Always have whole foods- unprocessed foods: A healthy meal for diabetics is whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein.

Have small servings of fruits:  Like apples, peaches, apricots, oranges, berries (strawberries, raspberries, Jamun, blue berries), pears, Melons (water melon, musk melon).

**It is beneficial to have whole fruits but a big NO to fruit juices, fizzy drinks, canned fruits , biscuits, chocolates etc.

Fruits should be best eaten raw . They have a good mix of soluble and insoluble fibre which is good for the bowel movement..

Fruit Intake Measurement

The best measurement for the ideal portion of fruit, to have: it should be palm size. Keep the fruit in your palm and clutch it from the sides. If the fruit is big have half, in case of berries you can have as many berries as can fit in your palm. In case of melons the bowl size should fit the palm. Thrice a day - breakfast, mid afternoon and evening three times 3 different types of fruits can be taken. All the above listed fruits are rich in antioxidants

Value Of Vegetables

• Vegetables are must - have 3-5 servings of vegetables everyday. 
• Make sure you eat lots of raw vegetables like cucumbers, tomato, carrots,peppers,radishes, lettuce, spinach etc everyday.
• Starchy vegetables like potato, corn, peas should be avoided.
• Non- starchy vegetables include beans, cauliflower, baby corn, cabbage, broccoli, beets, cucumbers, Bringal (eggplant), celery, spinach, mushrooms, sprouts ,tomatoes, turnips, okra, onions, mustard,bamboo shoots, radishes etc.
• Also avoid canned fruits and vegetables as they are loaded with sugar and salt respectively
• Have 1 cup of cooked vegetables  in every meal.
• In case of Daals - lentils, chicken, paneer, prefer having 1/2 to 1 cup during lunch and skip them during dinner.
• Have dinner by 7.30 pm and at bed time have a glass of milk to prevent any low sugar at night.

**Please keep monitoring your sugar levels regularly

For Non-Vegetarians

For non-vegetarians fish rich diet helps to manage diabetes better. Fish should be baked, steamed or broiled but NOT FRIED.

Home Remedy

• Take 1 /4th tea spoon of cinnamon in water and boil for a minute. Take this cinnamon tea everyday in the morning. It helps in controlling sugar as well as the cholesterol levels.

• Walnuts( soaked overnight) in summers also help in managing sugar levels

Exercises

• Have smaller portions of meals every 2 hours and walk around as much as possible. 
• Use stairs as much as possible. This helps in maintaining weight.

Green Plant - Air Filters

Green plants are good for our health.

They clean, filter,and purify the air of various toxins and pollutants. In a recent research it was proved, Atmosphere of Shimla is as laced with pollution as is Delhi. All this is because of vehicular pollution, excessive construction and use of chemicals ( plastics, detergents, liquid soaps, synthetic fibres, furniture etc.) .

Formaldehyde is really bad for our health which is released by all the things around us.

Plants absorb formaldehyde and convert into good air around us .

• Plants that can be easily grown are herbs like- basil (tulsi),mint,coriander, spinach.
• Aloevera- the gel is good for skin application as well as internal consumption for constipation.
• Rubber Plant-good air cleaner.
• Palm Trees-decorative as well as absorbs the pollutants.
• Flowering plants can be used as good decoration pieces thereby improving the air that we breathe.

Presently there are many air purifiers available in the markets. But having plants around us is the best way to have clean air. Research shows that people suffering from respiratory tract infection like bronchitis, asthma are much better with plants around them.

Gratitude - Second Key

Gratitude is the second key to reaching your dream.

ADVANCE GRATITUDE : Gratitude for what one already has, and also for what will come- is called advance GRATITUDE.

All is well in our world feeling helps us to get positive vibes and blessings from the universe.

• The more grateful you are the more positive multiplication happens in your life. 
• This gratitude needs to be of all the small things that happens for us. 
• It needs to start with our birth on this planet, thanking for each and every body part, our sense organs, every system of our body etc.

By doing so we change the focus from 'me' to 'HIM' the Supreme force- the Giver-God. Our ego starts melting and our wish becomes his command. 

Feeling Stressed with Age - Here's the solution

First of all a very happy new year to all. New year brings in lots of positive vibes,thoughts and a desire to bring a change in our lives. Every new year also adds another year to our body and we realize that the jobs that we used to enjoy doing 4-5 years back feel a little cumbersome some - jogging, playing with our children, cooking a favourite meal etc. 

Some might experience chronic fatigue, legs feel like lead or for some concentrating on certain issues becomes difficult. All these things start making people irritable with themselves and also with people around them. 

 The question is why does this happen? 

 As we cross 40 (usually ) there is a decline in our hormone levels which causes forgetfulness, mental fatigue, loss of vigour, muscle weakness and decrease in muscle mass etc. We need to have a solution to tackle this problem.

Eat high fibre diet -wholegrain like bran chapattis, bajra/jowar porridge etc. 

Have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables especially in raw form like carrots,tomatoes, radishes,cucumbers, apples,strawberries, oranges etc. 

Reduce salt in your diet -pickles,papads, chips etc before the menstrual cycle

Exercise halfnhour 5 times a week. If you cannot take time out to exercise then make sure that you take stairs to office and keep getting up from your seat every half n hour probably to go and sit somewhere else.

Finally if symptoms keep getting worse contact homoeopathic doctors. You will find good relief from homoeopathic remedies 

Arthritic joints.

As the winter season sets in people suffering from arthritis dread every cold wave. The joints become more painful,  inflexible and creaky. Movement becomes troublesome and overall uneasiness increases.

Tips To Ease Out The Pain

Exercise is a Must: Exercising helps increase blood circulation and enables warm blood reach all peripheral areas of the body including the joints. Regular exercise also helps keep the muscles strong and healthy which help in supporting the joint.

Eat a well balanced diet: Eat a well balanced diet with sufficient vitamin C,D, K to keep the bones and cartilage well nourished. For this oranges, cabbage, carrots,spinach  and tomatoes are a must.

*Also spend half n hour under the sun to allow production of vitamin D.

Water Intake: Keep on drinking sufficient water through out the  day. At least 2-3 litres should be had during the day and minimal at night to keep the joints hydrated.

Knee Support: Wear knee supports while walking long distances.


Homoeopathic Remedies
Homoeopathic remedies like Lycopodium,  Rhus tox,  Bryonia,  calcarea Phos , Phosphorus help when the symptoms match. These should be taken only under the guidance of a good Homoeopathic physician.

Frozen Shoulder

What is frozen shoulder?

It is a disorder in which the shoulder and the connective tissues surrounding the shoulder joint become inflamed and stiff thus limiting the shoulder movement in all directions and causing pain. The pain usually increases at night and in cold weather.

How to  tackle the pain?

• Avoid  drinks containing caffeine as it increases the stiffness. e.g. cold drinks and coffee.
• Avoid milk products as they increase inflammation.
• Increase intake of raw fruits like Cherries, Berries, Papaya and Pineapple.These reduce inflammation.

Tips

2 tablespoons of flax seeds every day will help in improving stiffness and inflammation.

Use turmeric and ginger extensively in your diet as they have anti inflammatory properties.  They stimulate circulation and relieve pain.

Advise

All types of stress further aggravate the pain. So daily relaxation exercises are essential. Visit a good Homoeopathic doctor for relief in pain.

Start with deep breathing exercises -Pranayam and then do 10-20 minutes of meditation. It relaxes the muscles and releases all tension from the  area.

Medicines

Plumbum metallicum, Arsenic album, Veratrum album are some of the medicines that help alleviate the pain but should be used only after consulting a doctor.