Category: Wellness - Maitreyi Paradigm

Five reasons to include tomatoes in your daily diet! (Benefits of eating Tomatoes)

1/23/2022

Here are five reasons why you should include tomatoes in your daily diet:

Tomatoes have high amounts of many vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B3, B6 and Biotin, Vitamin K, Folate, Phosphorus, Vitamin E, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Molybdenum, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Choline along with Fiber and some protein.
Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. So tomatoes are great for maintaining heart-health.
Tomatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, including their rich concentration of lycopene, which makes tomatoes great for maintaining good bone health.
Tomatoes can help lower risk of prostate cancer in men and other forms of cancer in both men and women.
Diets that include tomatoes have been linked with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease as well as reduced risk of obesity.

Categories:
Healthy Eating , Nutritious Foods and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#tomatoes #benefitsofeatingtomatoes #lowercholesterol #hearthealth #cardiovascularhealth #eatingsmart #eatinghealthy #healthandwellness #healthfood #nutritiousfood #healthyeating #LiveConsciously

Air Fryer- great way to occasionally indulge in deep fried foods!!

1/23/2022

As those of you who know me personally know my weakness for French Fries. But we also know the fact that it is a deep-fried food, it can be quite unhealthy to even occasionally indulge in it. Plus, when we eat it in restaurants and other such places, the fact that they have fried it in re-heated oil, makes it even worse for our body- due to trans-fat.

I needed find a simple and easy alternative by which I could enjoy my favorite food without health worry or guilt. That is why, I invested in an air fryer. As I understand, given their popularity, their prices have come down quite a bit, but when I had purchased it, it was quite an expensive investment for a kitchen appliance that I intended to use only occasionally!!

Oh, all that we do to enjoy our favorite foods…

Now, you may wonder, what is an air fryer??

To be clear and precise, an air fryer does not really “deep fry” our food. Since, for food to be deep fried, it is essential that it is immersed in hot oil and cooked in that manner. This is not the case with an air fryer, and this is also the reason why it utilizes so less oil in cooking- making it a healthy way to “fry” our favorite foods!!

For e.g. let’s say, you want to make a pound of French fries. Then with an air fryer you put your cut potatoes (or whatever it is that you are trying to fry) in the food tray and then pour a tablespoon or so of regular cooking oil over the cut potatoes. Most of these machines come with an oil measuring spoon and they also provide some recipe ideas to get you started.

How they accomplish the same texture and taste of “deep frying” is by utilizing innovative technology that actually works on the same principle as your countertop convection oven.

Air fryer is a small kitchen top electric appliance with typically a heating filament and a fan that blows the hot air around the cooking chamber. This hot air is swirled in a circular manner, ensuring that all the surface of your food is coated with hot oil and as this happens in a slow manner, it ensures a truly crisp texture and an awesome taste!!

I was a skeptic, until I started using it to make French fries!! The best part is that we can easily add various innovative flavoring spice-mixes and try out unique tastes.

Check out my article on Masala French Fries for some ideas…

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!!

Continue reading...

Categories:
Healthy Eating , Life Management and Wellness

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

Benefits of Eating a Healthy Breakfast

11/22/2021

A nutritious and delicious breakfast is essential for our daily function. Many nutrition experts and doctors agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We wake up with a low fuel tank and do not feel energized. A healthy and satisfying breakfast can provide us with energy for the day ahead.

Here are some ways to make your breakfast tasty and filling:
(1) Eat something high in fiber to stay full longer
(2) Add protein and carbohydrates to give yourself energy sooner than later, and
(3) Enjoy your breakfast!

A proper breakfast helps you fight off overeating and improves mental performance. It also helps to keep blood sugar levels stable. A balanced diet consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Research shows that people who eat a balanced breakfast are more alert and focus better throughout the day. Eating a healthy breakfast has several health benefits.

A healthy breakfast can boost your energy levels. It can help you concentrate better and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, it can boost your mood and help you feel more connected to the rest of your day. It has been found that children who eat a good breakfast tend to perform better academically than those who skip this important meal.

Besides preventing midday slumps, a healthy breakfast boosts your body's metabolism and keeps you better focused throughout the day. A balanced breakfast also helps your body stay on track with its physical-fitness goals. If you're not eating breakfast, your metabolism will slow down as the day progresses!

Breakfast being the first meal of the day, is often meant to include protein, carbohydrates, and/or dairy products. Depending on where you live, breakfast foods can vary. A healthy breakfast should include whole grains, lean protein, fruits, nuts and more. It can also include a variety of other foods and meats, such as sausages, eggs, and toast.

Some of the most popular American breakfast foods are eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, and hashbrowns. Given the high fat and low fiber content, the typical American breakfast surely needs desperate revision. Though as more Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the effect of their food choices on their overall health and wellbeing, more Americans are choosing healthier breakfast alternatives such as fruits, nuts, rolled oats, yogurt and so on.

Eating breakfast is vital for our bodies. It provides us with energy, balances our mood, and helps us stay alert and healthy throughout the day. It also promotes a positive attitude, which will help us do our best at work.

When it comes to eating healthy, research shows that breakfast is truly and unequivocally the most important meal of the day.

Read further:

Categories:
Healthy Eating and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#breakfast #healthybreakfast #eatingsmart #eatinghealthy #healthfood #nutritiousfood #wholisticlifestyle #LiveConsciously

What is Bio-energetics bodywork therapy? How can Bio-energetics help with health & healing?

10/17/2021

Bio-energetics is a type of bodywork therapy that was founded in the 1950’s by Alexander Lowen, who was inspired by William Reich.

The idea behind bio-energetics is that it incorporates both body and mind. It is about living a life where one is able to articulate one’s own thoughts and feelings and watch its affects on the physical self.

It incorporates emotional, physical and intellectual realities for each person. Therapists of bio-energetics analyze the body and psychological aspects of a person since both are heavily related and both need to be understood in order for change to happen.
We live in a world that focuses a lot of energy on the mind and much less on the body. However, the body is the way that we experience and feel so many of life’s pleasures.

The world we live in focuses on power and thinking instead of feeling. What bio-energetics strives to do is to restore pleasure in the body, which can be done by pinpointing where there are areas of physical blockage.

After this stage, the emotional blocks are more easily found and help us better understand the consequences of physical blocks. The main goal is to regain good breathing and alignment as well as give the power back to the client to deal with everyday stresses. The therapist performs a body evaluation that allows them to come up with a course of action as to how to restore quality of life as well as optimal mind and body health.

The idea behind bio-energetics is to feel and understand your body through movement. If the body is alive then you can have feeling. Without activity you will not have the right sense of your body. Regaining spirit helps to activate the body and uplift the spirit.

Grounding, breathing and vibration are the three main focus points of bio-energetics therapy. Breathing has to be deeper and more focused, which helps with vibration. Grounding is such an important part of bio-energetics because it allows us to be in tune with our spirit. It is not possible to feel yourself if you are not in tune and grounded within your body. Grounding puts our energy in direct contact with the earth.

A healthy person shows their health through their features and their mannerisms. A shining smile, bright eyes, courage and humility are all examples of a healthy individual. With bio-energetics, one can gain optimal energy primarily through diet and breathing. When you feel the connection that bio-energetics can help develop, you will have a high value of life and be able to confront all kinds of stresses and problems.

Read further:

Categories:
Bio Based Healing and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#bioenergetics #bodyworktherapy #energytherapy #energywork #naturalhealing #alternativemedicine

Bach Flower remedies can help to bring about a sense of deep emotional wellbeing!

9/26/2021

A person’s negative emotions such as depression, insomnia, anxiety, and stress can lead to their suffering physical ailments. Floral essences from various flowers can potentially relieve our mental, spiritual, and emotional stress. The chemical components of flower essences have been seen to correct emotional imbalances and replace all our negative emotions with positive, uplifting, and beneficial emotions.

A prominent British physician and homeopath, Dr. Edward Bach in 1930, found that the drops of dew present on flower petals retain the curing properties of that plant. He then categorized negative human sentiments and emotions into thirty-eight individual negative sensations.

After years of hard work Dr. Bach identified one by one…. all the thirty-eight flowers that can cure each of the negative emotions.

Bach Flower Remedies for Emotional Healing

These thirty-eight flower-essences identified by Dr. Bach are known as Bach flower remedies, which are now used for emotional healing around the world. Take wild rose, for example; this flower is known to cheer up the individuals who have lost interest in life. Similarly, the floral essence of other flowers can stimulate our mind and cheer, console, uplift, quieten it to feel tension and stress-free… and such and tension-free feelings. And when we feel calm and stress free then it inevitably leads us to feel more exuberance and joy in our life.

Some of the most important floral remedies include Agrimony (mental torment behind a smiling face), Chestnut Bud (people who fail to learn from mistakes), Holly (envy, jealousy and hatred) and Rock Rose (terror and fright).

Dr. Bach also prepared the ‘rescue remedy’ by combining five different flowers – Rock Rose, Clematis, Cherry Plum, Star of Bethlehem, and Impatiens. It is highly recommended during emergencies, panic, or shock situations.

How do these Flower Remedies Work?

Bach flower remedies (as well as other Flower Remedies, which we will address in another article) are used to cure the emotional illnesses, that are considered to be the root cause of one’s physical problems.

Bach flowers work through energetic or vibrational characteristics of flowers which is transmitted to the patient. The key is the high dilution of these essences. This is very counter-intuitive for most people, because typically we expect that the ‘more’ of something will also increase its effectiveness. But these Bach Flower remedies work on a concept that is very similar to Homeopathy where we have seen thru several scientific and general case studies that ‘like cures like’ when administered in proper diluted amounts.

So, with these Bach Flower remedies, we match the vibrational energy of a flower with the unique negative emotional state experienced by a person. This then starts helping that person, by ‘healing’ their negative emotion and transforming those to more positive and wholesome emotions. Bach Flower remedies address all those negative emotions that are at the core and true cause of our ill-health.

In summary, we can say that Bach Flower remedies bring about emotional healing, balance and equilibrium by addressing our negative emotions and matching them with appropriate flower-vibrational essences. It utilizes the homeopathic medicine concept of ‘like cures like’ along with the fine vibrational energies of various flower essences to bring about deep, profound emotional healing.

These flower remedies do not have any apparent side effect and there is no concept of overdose with these floral remedies. In case one chooses a ‘wrong’ remedy, it will not be applicable for the situation and will simply not work.

Read further:

Categories:
Bio Based Healing, Emotional Wellbeing and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#bachflowerremedy #DrEdwardBach #FlowerRemedy #RescueRemedy #BiologyBasedHealing #bachfloweressences #bachflowerremedies #floweressences #floralessences #FlowerEssence #naturalliving #healthandwellness

Here are some rejuvenating herbs that can help you to attain an 'ageless' body... (Health & Wellness series)

9/25/2021

There are plenty of herbs we can incorporate into our diet to help aid the body in maintaining its youth. These powerful herbs or spices help keep the body healthy and youthful, while minimizing and fighting various diseases that cause signs of aging.

Most of these herbs are beneficial to our bodies if around one teaspoon of each is taken on a daily basis, however some can be used on their own in order to combat specific problems. A general rule is that the herbs with stronger aroma are the herbs with stronger benefits. Herbs can be eaten in their normal form or dried, just make sure they are sealed in a container that is airtight.

Italian spice is not just a tasty addition to a variety of dishes but also beneficial to our cells. One of the most commonly used Italian spices, Basil, is full of powerful antioxidants that combat free radicals. Thyme is used to accelerate the speed of recovery with infections. It is a common ingredient used for throat infections since it relaxes sore throats, reduces the symptoms of pneumonia and cures inflammations. Another anti-inflammatory herb is sage. Sage helps combat inflammation, which is large reason for premature aging. It can help against asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Oregano’s antioxidants help to improve one’s immune system by aiding the body in getting rid of free radicals. It works as an antifungal and antibiotic as well. It gets rid of various infections such as yeast infection as well as fungal growths.

One of the symptoms of aging can be pain in the joints and muscles. The anti-inflammatories in cinnamon help relieve the pain that often comes with arthritis. It is also rich in antibiotics that help against decaying teeth, disease of the gums and infections of the urinary tract. It also eliminates E.coli. Cloves have similar effects to cinnamon and are beneficial for the same reasons, however cloves have the highest antioxidant content out of all the spices. They can also be used as a gentle anesthetic and are often given to those suffering from pains in the mouth and throat.

Turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory that is commonly used in holistic medicine. It is full of antioxidants and is really powerful when it comes to healing the body. The reason turmeric is so beneficial is due to its curcumin content. This compound is effective as fighting cancer and warding off diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It has been found to eliminate cancer cells in the colon and lower risks of various age-related illnesses. Ginger is another strong anti-inflammatory spice

Read further:

Categories:
Natural Living and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#agelessbody #healingherbs #naturalliving #healthandwellness #oregano #thyme #healingspices #herbsandspices #herbalhealing #medicinalherbs #culinaryherbs

A Quick Look at Bach Flower Remedies (Introduction to Alternative Therapies- Natural Healing series)

9/21/2021

Bach Flower Essences is a natural healing system developed by Dr. Edward Bach.

Dr. Bach believed that the source of all illness is conflict between one's higher self and one's ego or day to day personality. The Higher Self wishes to realize its full potential, and the ego or one's personality, which may obstruct this realization through limiting beliefs and actions, creates a conflict within us.

This obstruction expresses itself through blockages which prevent the wishes of the higher self from being heard- and thus preventing one from realizing their complete true potential and also being in a state of unison and content.

Because each essence has the same energy as that of the desire the higher self-wishes to fulfill it is able to make direct contact with this energy, strengthening the higher self to dissolve the energy blockages. Bach Flower Essences is a simple and natural method of establishing complete equilibrium and harmony through one's personality by means of wild flowers discovered by Dr. Bach. These essences are effective natural remedies for the entire family- including children, animals and plants.

The Bach Flower Essences are 100% safe and natural and work in conjunction with herbs, homeopathy and other natural and many allopathic medications.

Read further:

Categories:
Bio Based Healing, Emotional Wellbeing and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#bachflowerremedy #DrEdwardBach #FlowerRemedy #RescueRemedy #BiologyBasedHealing #bachfloweressences #bachflowerremedies #floweressences #floralessences #FlowerEssence #naturalliving #healthandwellness

Hypnotherapy- How can you benefit from this natural method of wellbeing... (Introduction to Alternative Therapies- Natural Healing series)

7/25/2021

Hypnosis is a safe method that actually takes place in our daily lives without realization, such as just before sleeping when that tired feeling kicks in. This is known as the alpha-state, which is the first state of hypnosis. Those who do not remember getting home during drive, or have been engaged in an activity with steps that have been forgotten, are involved in a hypnotic state during these occurrences.

At the beginning of a hypnosis session, the hypnotherapist asks what the patient wants to work on and what the possible causes are. They will then find out what the patients goals are in the session and what they would like the outcome to be. They will talk about current life circumstances and then the hypnosis can begin.

The only difference between natural occurring hypnosis and guided hypnosis is that guided hypnosis puts the patient into a much deeper state. The patient is fully aware of what is happening and can hear what is being said, even if the mind tends to drift during the session.

During hypnosis, the physical body is completely relaxed. The more frequently that hypnosis is practiced results in the deeper levels of relaxation. Those who practice meditation regularly will recognize the feelings of hypnosis and often find it easier to tap into the subconscious.

Hypnotherapy accesses the subconscious and uses “suggestions”, or words, to alter habits and beliefs. This is often used for negative habits such as smoking, overeating and much more.

Let’s say that you have a problem with portion control and eat entirely too much. A hypnotherapist will first ask you to explain your childhood. The subconscious is generally formed during the childhood years and are often related to family influences, such as harboring guilt on wasted food and so on.

When you can relate to an issue and feel that that could be the potential cause, the hypnotherapist will put you under hypnosis and access the subconscious mind to change the habit. If the reason is wasted food, the hypnotherapist will alter the thought to something more positive, such as “getting rid of food is perfectly acceptable” and “I eat as much as I require.”

Hypnosis puts thoughts and images into the subconscious, which the subconscious cannot detect as influenced or fake. The subconscious will take the idea in as a real feeling and start to adapt based on the change. Patients that come out of hypnosis feel as though the change they made is of their own influence and doing because the response is so natural.

Categories:
Comfortable Living , Emotional Wellbeing , Mind Body Healing and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#Hypnotherapy #energychannel #vibrationalhealing #energyhealing #emotionalwellbeing #awakenenergy #naturalhealing #alternativemedicine

Realize your inner capability for health and vitality… (A Special Message for You series)

4/28/2021

At the present time, many people are feeling stressed, strained, and overwhelmed!!

There are many reasons for it- right from the shock and isolation of these past several months, to seeing challenging-situations overturning each day, the concept of ‘life as we have known it’…

A message for you: If you have come to this message, then it probably holds a deeper meaning for you. There are no 'accidents' in this universe and it typically speaks to us thru synchronicity. So, read thru this message carefully and then contemplate on the words to see if there is a deeper meaning- specifically for you.

People are feeling fearful for themselves and their loved ones. If one is caught in the middle of such a scenario, then it surely is a time of attentive action for them. But for the rest of us, who get bombarded by such news, this is a time for some reflection, introspection, and preparedness.

We need to remember that ultimately all life-experiences happen from within and in accordance with that- even rejuvenation and healing happens from within.

So, if you are struggling with some aspect in your life, then take a few minutes out each day to reflect on how you can tap into your own inner resources, within the depths of your heart and inner core to find solutions and address your situation and create your overall wellbeing.

Each one of us, is a vibrant part of life and because of it, we have been given the ability to maintain our vitality and vibrance- we just need to pay proper attention and take appropriate steps to tap into that inner resource. Something to think about as we traverse thru these challenging times…

Categories:
A Message For You, Emotional Wellbeing, Self Development, Think On This and Wellness

Keywords and Tags:
#healing #health #vitality #wellbeing #innerwellbeing #specialmessage #naturalhealth #wellness #naturalremedies #healthandwellbeing #walkingthepath #consciousliving #workingwithenergy #empowerment #energymodulation

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Our Journey to "Oneness"

It is a journey and like all journeys, it is set with many moments of challenges and accomplishments.

But when one's heart is true and the decision is made to "be the best that one can be", then each challenge merely seems like a stepping stone, to be overcome to reach and experience new heights of existential living.

Hope you find these notes inspiring enough to initiate your own journey...

What else will you find here??

Here you will find thoughts, ideas, musings and insights which make us reflect on the nature of our life and reality. I hope that these will connect with you.

These articles address the various insights, lessons and at times modern-interpretations of techniques and methods of ancient wisdom (particularly Vedic Culture) and also Shamanism, Buddhism, Druid- Paganism, Sufi Islam and Taoism.

It tries to bring the wisdom of ancient, insightful ways to benefit a modern, evolving and conscious lifestyle.

Frankly it brings many of the spiritual concepts to a "real life" level!!

Think of this guidance as "Spirituality for the Rest of Us"... folks who have families, careers, material goals & ambitions and so on... the ones who cannot simply extrapolate what typical spiritual gurus and guides say, when they live special monastic lives.

Each one of us may have different life situations but ultimately we are all ONE life and we all go thru these myriads of situations, experiences, thoughts and feelings at some point or other in time.

Read along and see how these lessons, insights and guidance can help you to chalk out your own path to 'One-ness'- where you are successful, healthy and Happy.

Do let me know of your experiences.

I would love to read about them and promise to respond as much as possible.

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