Something more to think about…

Yes, it is true that I do love the taste and texture of these air fried French fries and personally I feel that if I am going to use it for occasional indulgence then it should be fine.

Given I typically try to cook my food with Ayurvedic principles, the fact that this technique utilizes less oil, is good news from a kapha lowering-balancing perspective.

Though the fact that hot air is blowing thru oil, creating a fine spray of hot oil, which coats our food, I am not sure if there are enough independent studies (i.e. studies that are not funded by these air fryer making companies) that have been conducted to ensure that there are no long term repercussions on our cholesterol levels or general heart health by consuming oil which has been mechanically treated in this manner!! Hopefully not- since for now, an air fryer seems like a total God-send appliance for my French-fries loving taste buds!!

Categories: 
 Healthy Eating ,   Life Management   and   Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#airfryer #frenchfries #deepfriedfoods #lowercholesterol #hearthealth #cardiovascularhealth​   #healthyeating #LiveConsciously

Similar to Ayurvedic Medicine, Tibetan Medicine is based upon knowledge of the bodily energies or juices and good health is supposed to be based on the balance between these three energies These three energies being- Wind- The energy of movement, Bile- The fire of life and Phlegm- The fluid element. ​

These bodily juices and energies are not physical in nature but also have psychological and spiritual connotations. When these three energies are in balance, good health is obtained BUT when they go out of balance various illnesses arise, depending on the energy/ bodily juice that is out of balance. 

These three energies/bodily juices are supposed to go out of balance due to various factors- namely physical, environmental & seasonal factors and also spirit poisons such as greed, hate and ignorance or suppression leading to a spiritual blindness. 
​
Hence the psychological aspects of the balance are noted from the fact that these bodily juices/energies can be out of balance due to wrong thinking and straying from the right and healthy spiritual path of devotion and prayer. 

In addition, wrong diet, bad karma, bad climatic conditions, unfavorable influence of stars and spirits and demons are also supposed to cause this energy/bodily juices imbalance, thus causing sickness & ailments.

In this way, Tibetan Medicine, does not view an illness as merely a ‘result’ of some cause, but takes a wholistic view- which considers various aspect of our human existence. It truly considers the connection as well as the interdependencies of our mind, body and spirit connection. 

Because of this Tibetan Medicine attempts to heal the complete- i.e. whole person and not just ‘cure’ some ailment!!

Similar to the ancient healing science from India, Ayurveda, The Tibetan System of classification is based on the five elements. 

Which is to say, the Tibetan Medicine systems also believes that our bodies like nature, are made up of the five elements namely- Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Space. These constituents in turn make our body and our bodily juices/energies and thus need to be balanced to achieve good health. ​

​Air represents the neutral property, Fire the hot property and the Water/Earth represents the cold property and they represent the Wind, Bile and Phlegm bodily energies respectively. 

Each of these elements also has eight active forces such as heavy, oily, cool, dull, light, harsh, hot and sharp. Each of these elements also have some of these seventeen qualities namely, heavy, stable, dull, dry, fluid, cool, hot, sharp, oily, harsh, light, supple, pale, cold, gentle, smooth and flexible. 

The various interplay of these eight active forces and these seventeen qualities; increases or decreases the Bodily energies and thus brings about imbalance, further leading to illnesses and ailments.

So, in the Tibetan Medicine system, the methods of diagnosis involve Pulse Diagnosis as a primary and very important method. The right and the left wrist show the state of health or problem for various organs and these are noted differently for men and women. 
​
The second method of diagnosis is Urine Analysis and the third method is Tongue Diagnosis. 

Treatment in Tibetan Medicine involves, dispensing various medicinal herbs, which are carefully chosen to have the energies, and qualities that are in imbalance so as to bring about the required balance and thus good health to the patient. 
​
In addition, diet and lifestyle changes are also a mandatory part of a successful treatment. 

Moxibustion, and rituals such as Cupping, Cauterization & Blood Letting are also very well-known and often used treatment methods used particularly in detoxification, circulatory problems, injuries, bruising and inflammations.  

In addition to these, there are other methods which are occasionally used such as acupuncture, particularly with gold needles as well as spiritual and religious rites such as special prayers and so on.

Tibetan Medicine does view the whole person as a deep connection of mind-body-spirit.

And because of this, such spiritual practices such as prayer, mantra chanting (a form of sound healing), other healing sounds like from the Tibetan singing bowls and other such traditional methods also form part of the entire healing session and mode of treatment.

Categories:
Ancient Therapies,   Life Management   and    Buddhism ​

Keywords and Tags:
#tibetanmedicine #alternativemedicine #naturalhealing  #orientalmedicine #tibetanherbalmedicine #healingprinciples #fiveelementtheory​ #soul #ascension #consciousliving  #energycleanse    #Buddhism #GautamBuddha    #bodhisattva #teachingsofBuddha

​Tibetan Medicine treats the entire mind-body and spirit realm of the patient, as against of only the body, which is typically the case of modern medicine and the min-body, which is the case of traditional herbal medicine. In recent years as people are looking for healing alternatives that are natural and more in tune with our bodily systems, Tibetan Medicine has gained much recognition (and rightly so) in recent years!
​
The energy as well as spiritual aspect of sound, colors, aroma and so on play an important role in enhancing the medicinal herbs that are administered to a person. This helps to effectively bring about a wholistic healing experience for the person.

It is the tantric master, Yuthog Gonpo, who added some more informative data to the original medical texts to bring the relevance in tune with the then current times to give the Four Tantras. These Four Tantras form the basis of the Tibetan Method of healing and looking at body types and their associated ailments. 

These Tantras possess a character, similar to the Huangdi Neijing of the Chinese Medicine or the Samhitas of the Ayurvedic Medicine. The four Tantras utilize the knowledge of the three-fold nature of the bodily energies along with Chinese Astrology and Pulse Diagnosis method to address the entire person and the ailment in specific to bring about the required cure. 

Each of the four Tantras examines the medical knowledge of healing from different perspectives- ultimately bringing about a wholistic healing experience!

Categories:
Ancient Therapies,   Life Management   and    Buddhism ​

Keywords and Tags:
​#tibetanmedicine #alternativemedicine #naturalhealing #orientalmedicine #tibetanherbalmedicine​ #soul #ascension #consciousliving  #energycleanse    #Buddhism #GautamBuddha #teachingsofBuddha #bodhisattva

​Do you start your day with a hot cup of Java? I know- I love my cup of fresh brewed coffee, first thing in the morning. Though that seems like an absolute no-brainer to choose coffee based on its aroma and taste, it is important to look a bit deeper into how coffee beans are grown, harvested, processed, and brought to you in that familiar looking brown coffee beans, which you can then brew to make your morning cuppa! Once you are equipped with proper information then you can make the right choice that is not only good for you as an individual but also that is good for our planet. Read on…

Coffee is a beverage that is brewed from the beans of certain flowering plants. The coffee fruit contains the seeds, which are separated to make a stable raw product. This raw product is unroasted green coffee.

​But when we think of commercial coffee farms, then we need to consider how the green beans are separated from the fruit (called coffee cherries). There are various kinds of processing that need to be conducted to finally obtain the green coffee beans which are then be roasted to give us aromatic coffee.

Roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee products. Roasting coffee produces the distinctive flavor by changing the taste of the beans. Unroasted beans have similar, if not greater, levels of acid, protein, sugars and caffeine to those that are roasted. However, they lack the flavor of roasted coffee beans because of the Maillard reaction and other chemical reactions that take place during roasting.

Coffee roasting includes several chemical transformations that contribute to the flavor, aroma, and body of the finished cup. Many of these reactions are sensitive to variations in temperature and length of exposure to heat. So, a small change in roasting technique can have a profound impact on profile.

Many conventionally grown coffee contain health-harming contaminants like Ochratoxin A, Acrylamide, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Yeast, and Pesticides. They can cause fatigue, brain fog, and other symptoms such as weakness and fatigue. Long-term health effects include cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Because of this, it is crucial to select high-quality coffee beans.

Organic coffee has the greatest appeal because it is grown and harvested naturally without any chemical additives or intervention. There are no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides used in the agricultural process. If fertilizer is needed to help the coffee plants grow, then farmers use natural alternatives like compost and coffee pulp.

In addition, most organic coffee is grown the natural way – within the shade of lush forests (coffee plants love to grow in shade), providing a home for wild plants and animals, sustaining soil fertility, and keeping unique regional ecosystems alive.

Because of this Organic Coffee is not only healthier but is also a sustainable and green alternative. And to top this, most organic coffee cultivators are also Fair Trade partners- so you can be sure that your coffee beans are not sourced with blood, but that the workers have been paid fair wages and they have been provided humane work conditions.

Understanding the lifecycle that a coffee-cherry goes through to become the flavorful coffee bean that you can grind and brew a steaming cup, will help you to make wise choices for your morning beverage!

​Categories: 
Green Living   ,   Healthy Eating  and    Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#greenliving #fairtradefoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #organiccoffee #fairtradecoffee  #earthfriendlyliving #SustainableLifestyle  #LiveConsciously

Tibetan Medicine is a complex, enormously effective medical science that is attracting much attention lately due to the fact that though it is very ancient in it’s origin, it has the ability to provide answers to modern day health problems- even those for which the modern medical science has been unable to find a cure or solution. 

Tibetan Medicine treats the entire mind-body and spirit realm of the patient, as against of only the body, which is typically the case of modern medicine and the min-body, which is the case of traditional herbal medicine.

​The spiritual aspect of healing does play a predominant aspect in enhancing the effectiveness of the medicinal herbs dispensed in Tibetan Medicine.

​According to the Buddhist view, Tibetan Medicine derives it’s root knowledge from The Buddha himself. ​

Categories:
Ancient Therapies,   Life Management   and    Buddhism ​

Keywords and Tags:
​#TibetanBuddhism #tibetanmedicine #alternativemedicine #naturalhealth #soul #ascension #consciousliving  #energycleanse    #Buddhism #GautamBuddha #teachingsofBuddha #bodhisattva

​With Snacks you can get rid of your craving habits, because snacks between meals help in maintaining the blood sugar levels. A sugary snack like chocolate can increase the sugar level by releasing the sugar in the blood.

​The insulin becomes active during the sugar intake, showing high sugar level which is then followed by a span of lower sugar level. Research shows that a person's blood sugar level can be very low before the snack, that is why we typically tend to feel low in energy and tired. 

​On the other hand, taking large meals will affect the digestive system, because the body has to struggle a lot to convert the food into energy, hence it causes bloating and low energy. Because of this, if you eat less in several meals, it will divide the calories, maintain the blood sugar sugars at optimal levels, and you will feel more energetic.

​Nutritionists recommend three to four hours of gap between meals and snacks, and if you do it on a regular basis, your blood sugar level will remain normal, making you feel energized and active.

When we eat in a consciously aware manner, we also become aware of the calories and fat level that we are intaking each day and this also helps us to make healthy, calorie-wise food choices!

Now coming back to snacking, it is important to choose your snacks carefully. Because, if they are too sugary or very high in fat content, like chips and doughnuts, then they will harm you instead of giving you any benefit.

Healthy snacking is particularly very important for people who have challenges with maintaining their blood sugar levels, such as those with type II diabetes or those folks who find it difficult to maintain their blood sugar levels during long phases like night-sleep. In such cases, having a light, healthy snack intermittently can tremendously help to maintain the blood sugar and overall body-energy levels. Those who tend to get a drop in low blood sugar while sleeping, should take light snack 1 or 2 hr before sleeping, so that their blood sugar level remains balanced and controlled.

Healthy snack-food choices would include a serving or two of fresh fruits, dried nuts and other such nutritious foods.

Either ways- i.e. you choose to eat three meals a day with no snacks or five meals a day which includes couple of snacks, it is important to not exceed the daily calorie limit for your body-type, lifestyle and daily nutrition requirements.

Categories: 
Healthy Eating and     Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
​#loseweight #weightloss #smartsnacking #eatingsmart #eatinghealthy #healthysnacks #healthandwellness #healthfood    #wholisticlifestyle   #healthyeating    #nutritiousfood 

Many a times, the various fruits and vegetables that are grown in community gardens are used by the members and any produce which is in excess, is then provided free of cost or at reduced cost to non-gardening neighboring members who have financial challenges. In this manner, community gardening not only helps in creating a green sustainable community space, but also helps to build a robust neighborhood with internal support mechanisms!

At times, the community members will create preserves from their harvested produce such as jams and pickles. In other instances the members may choose to make sauces and dips that can then be enjoyed by the entire group or be made available to the members at low cost. This further enhances community bonding by mutual sharing of various traditional recipes between their many members.

In addition, community gardening also helps people in areas that usually do not have easy access to fresh or organic produce.

It is a very known fact that gardening helps to bust stress and give a motivational feeling of 'accomplishment'. It is very satisfying to see your efforts take fruit (literally!) and grow in front of your eyes. Because of this community gardening not only provides this stress emolliating experience, but also provides added benefits from feeling a sense of comradeship and support from being part of a greater group. These gardens also offer a place to unwind and get rid of stress. It is a community effort that is open to all ages and people, it helps to bring the community closer.

Sometimes, it does happen where certain members of a community garden do have their own private gardening plots and/or are accomplished produce-growers. Such members bring in valuable gardening and produce-growing knowledge and experience that they can utilize to help lead the community gardening efforts. They can teach the other members, the various methods and techniques involved in sowing, maintaining and harvesting the various fruits and vegetables.

Community gardening can help people to learn various sustainable gardening ideas and lifestyle alternatives. At the same time, it also helps to preserve nature and beautifies our neighborhood. In addition, because organic food can be quite costly, community gardening helps its members to have access to high quality food, which positively impacts their health and wellbeing, at minimal cost. Children that grow up playing at and learning about community gardening are more aware of nutritious foods as well as healthy, sustainable eating and can take their knowledge of sustainable living with them for life.

These gardens also help families to cut back on their food costs by obtaining Green, healthy, organic foods at minimal cost.  Because there is less need for grocery shopping (depending on the size of the garden and how much produce can be distributed) this also helps the environment by cutting back on packaging and transportation. These gardens also provide an area to compost, which helps reduce rubbish and improves overall soil quality.

It is said that a community garden has up to five times increased productivity per acre than commercial farming. Given the many benefits of community gardening, it is something that each one of us should definitely look to be part of in some manner. Community gardening is an easy way for each one of us to partake and contribute towards a Green earth!

​Categories: 
Green Living     and     Life Management

Keywords and Tags:
#communitygardening #communityfarming #communitygarden #greenliving #organicfoods #organicliving #wholisticliving #wholisticlifestyle #saveourplanet #sustainableliving #earthfriendlyfarming #sustainablefarming #LiveConsciously