Ayurveda Weighs In On Childhood Obesity
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 20, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Hugs (and Ayurveda) Not Drugs: Treat childhood weight and obesity disorders the SAFE and NON-TOXIC way… |
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Choose the RIGHT Labels: Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - NOT “Fat” or “Lazy”… |
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May The Force (of Ayurveda) Be With You: Harness the power of this healing science with the help of Dr. Helen’s “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar… |
Well, friends, we’re coming to the close on my Ayurvedic series on childhood obesity - and there’s still so much to cover! I’ve started to given you the building blocks for using Ayurveda to manage and cure any weight or obesity disorders and issues plaguing the children in your life, but this is only the beginning.
In addition to this installment of my eZine, I want to continuing giving you the gifts of knowledge and guidance so you can be in the driver’s seat of your child’s well-being and balance now and for the future! That’s what my fantastic tele-seminar “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy!” is all about.
But before I go into the details of that, let’s do a quick recap of the insights on Ayurveda and weight management you’ve learned so far…
JUST SAY “NO” TO (STATIN) DRUGS!
In the simplest terms, using chemicals and drugs to treat childhood obesity is a big no-no. Despite what the American Academy of Pediatrics is proposing, feeding our children cholesterol-lowering drugs (Statins) means putting them at risk for tissue damage and a whole host of other side effects. And it’s setting them up for a life of dependence on unsafe, unnatural, “silver bullet” answers to whatever ails them.
Wouldn’t you rather teach them safe, natural ways to combat their health issues…knowledge that they can use now and as they grow into adulthood?
That’s where Ayurveda comes in! By diagnosing which of the three main types of digestive imbalances and tendencies your child may be suffering from - “Visnagni” or “nervous stomach”; “Tiksnagni” or “acid stomach”; or “Mandagni” or “too much stomach mucus clogging fat channels” - you can use Ayurvedic techniques to relieve them of their pain and keep their weight at healthy levels. Refresh your memory about these imbalances with my post “The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! - NOT Statin Drugs.”
DO YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY?
You do if you read my post “Childhood Obesity: Not Just a ‘Fat’ or ‘Lazy’ Problem“! I cringe when I hear people refer to an overweight child as “fat” or “lazy.” It’s unfair and inaccurate - and we should know better than to force such a stigma upon the innocent. As the adults in our relationships with kids, it’s our responsibility to get them to the root of their weight issues and provide them with the love and the methods to keep them on a path twoard happiness, health and well-being.
Determining your child’s “dosha” or “governing principle” is the first step on that journey. Does your child have a “vata” dosha? A “pitta” dosha? Or a “kapha” dosha? Each dosha carries with it its own set of physical, spiritual and nutritional characteristics. By simply observing their behaviors and key elements of their physiques, you can figure out which dosha your child possesses. And once you do, you and your Ayurvedic doctor can create safe and natural lifestyle changes that will help your child thrive and grow into healthy individuals.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? OF COURSE YOU DO!
AND I’M HERE TO ANSWER THEM…
As I said, this is only scratching the surface of what Ayurveda can do to help you help your children win the battle of weight and digestive issues. And if your child is lucky enough to have avoided obesity? Well, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), studies have proven that the “*prevalence of overweight [children] is increasing: for children aged 2-5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6-11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.” *Taken from data from two NHANES surveys (1976-1980 and 2003-2004).
If those percentages are correct, then I’m sure there’s a child in your life - your daughter or son, your niece or nephew, or even your neighbor or a friend’s child - that is suffering from issues concerning their weight. Be a beacon of hope and help for them by sharing my eZines with them and their parents. Help them - and yourself - learn a more efficient system to examine and manage childhood weight and obesity problems.
Ayurvedic management begins with knowlege of the child you want to help; that’s not info you can get from any public source. You need to observe them and map out their unique systems to understand how to apply Ayurvedic techniques. And those techniques ARE available to you through my “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar.
In this tele-seminar, I’ll share my Ayurvedic expertise with you: you’ll learn the Ayurvedic way of health - and that doesn’t include processed bars and shakes, shame and deprivation, or toxic chemicals and their side effects. Ayurvedic management is about daily oil massage, diet knowledge, support for the mental-emotional balance, all natural herbal regiments, and activity and recreational choices. Ayurveda is the MOST TRUSTED and MOST ENJOYABLE approach to life.
My “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar will feature detailed information on all of these topics and more. Plus, you’ll be able to ask questions! Who doesn’t have questions that they wish they could ask an expert, right? I’ll be there, and so will my husband, Dr. Craig, and we’re ready and excited to listen to you and guide you directly toward greater health and balance that you and your child have ever known. Join us on this tele-seminar so together, we can discuss the Ayurvedic diet and daily schedule for your child’s unique body type.
The cure for obesity and the help you need for a healthier, happier child are just a phone call away!
The Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! tele-seminar will be held on August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The information being presented and the live-and-direct insights and Q&A with Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig could cost you $$$$ in books, seminars and products, but we’re offering you a special rate, loyal Friends of Ayurveda, and a minimal cost of only $22.95.
Your health and the health of your child are WORTH it!
Ordering is safe and easy!
(Brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.)
To sign up, simply click here to start the purchase process.
Hope to “hear” you there!
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Weight Loss | No Comments »
Childhood Obesity: Not Just a “FAT” or “LAZY” Problem
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 15, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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The Surprising TRUTH About Childhood Obesity: (Hint: check out the title of this post!) |
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Dosha, Dosha, Dosha: The Ayurvedic secret weapon against the battle of the bulge… |
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“My Child’s Dosha is _________”: A handy list of dosha characteristics to pinpoint your child’s predominant dosha… |
Last week, I wrote to you about the dangers of using Statin drugs to lower cholesterol in high-risk children (”The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs“), and because I’m devoted to helping our children achieve balance and health in their lives, this week, I’m continuing my three-part series on the topic of childhood obesity.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOT JUST A “FAT” OR “LAZY” PROBLEM!
I’ve encountered so many people who look at an overweight child and immediately begin pointing fingers at them, labeling them as “fat” or “lazy.” Then they turn to the parents and accuse them of letting their children eat too much junk food or of not encouraging their children to be more active. What better example of this stereotype is there than the infamous glutton “Augustus Gloop” and his mother, a woman who proudly supports his overeating, in the popular Willy Wonka movies?
AUGUSTUS GLOOP AND OTHER OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE THEIR DOSHAS CHECKED!
Even the most active children with proactive parents can struggle in the fight to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Rather than shame children or stuff them with “diet” foods (or worse, drugs and chemicals), we should employ safe, natural Ayurvedic methods to gently guide them toward a healthier lifestyle.
The first step on this path is determining your child’s dosha.
“DOSHA” WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S GOVERNING LIFE FORCE?
A “dosha” - as many of you already know - is a Sanskrit word translated as “governing principle.” Everything in nature is composed of the five glorious elements of air (known as “Ant” in Ayurveda), space, fire, water, and earth. Combinations of these elements with three forces (doshas) to keep them in the right relationship with each other, dictate all functions of the body, mind and universal consciousness. There are three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha, and knowing which dosha is predominant in your child will give you a more effective way of responding to his or her physical, nutritional, spiritual and emotional needs.
Here’s a quick and handy list you can use to determine which dosha your beautiful and unique child possesses:
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THE VATA CHILD:
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THE PITTA CHILD:
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THE KAPHA CHILD:
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NOW YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD’S DOSHA. THE NEXT STEP?
DIAGNOSE THEIR WEIGHT PROBLEM!
Through simple observations and a little note-taking, you can start to diagnose the type of weight problem your child has. Just take a look at their beautiful faces, paying close attention to their ears and throat (if you’re not sure, ASK ME! I’ll be taking all of your questions at my upcoming tele-seminar on Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! The details are at the bottom of this post!)
When observing your child, answer the following questions:
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Their skin: What color is it? Any discolorations or growths?
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Their throats: Feel any lumps?
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Their eyes: The whites not-so-white? Growths on the eyelids or bags under the eyes? Do they blink a lot?
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Their chest, arms, hands and fingers: Notice any distinct changes?
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Their body frame: Small, medium, or large? What’s their form and constitution? How do they stand and walk?
These are just a few of the things you should be looking for. And as far as finding solutions to weight problems, start observing their lips, tongue, palpate abdomen, urine, feces, and speech patterns as well. And don’t forget that I’ll go into much more detail during my Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy tele-seminar!
Ayurveda teaches that by monitoring all of these aspects, parents and their Ayurvedic doctors can determine exactly what steps need to be taken to ensure the health, balance and well-being of our children.
Remember: this is more than just a question of being “fat” or “lazy” - I hate those labels and the consequences of placing them on a child. Too often, we turn to the “easy” answers of deprivation, shaming and pharmaceuticals that not only don’t seem to be working, they set our children up for a lifetime of struggle.
The easiest answer to childhood obesity is also the healthiest and safest: Ayurveda! Take your child’s health into your own daily Ayurvedic practices and see how they bloom and grow into balanced and happy individuals!
P.S. Please feel free to send this onto all of your friends with children. Weight management for ALL children is a prevention wellness life path!
P.P.S. THE DOCTORS ARE IN!
Announcing Dr. Helen’s brand new tele-seminar Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, but there is an answer - and it’s NOT pharmaceuticals, fad diets, or shame and deprivation. AYURVEDA is the key to managing the weight of your child! It’s gentle, loving, safe and natural - all the things you want for your child…and it’s as close as Mama’s spice rack!
The Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! tele-seminar will be held on August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This phenomenal event is more than just valuable advice and tips: it’s an opportunity for YOU to ask YOUR QUESTIONS! Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig will be there, ready and willing to share their vast knowledge on the ancient science of Ayurveda.
The information being presented and the live-and-direct insights and Q&A with Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig could cost you $$$$ in books, seminars and products, but we’re offering you a special rate, loyal Friends of Ayurveda, and a minimal cost of only $22.95.
Your health and the health of your child are WORTH it!
Ordering is safe and easy!
(Brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.)
To sign up, simply click here to start the purchase process.
Hope to ”hear” you there!
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Weight Loss | 1 Comment »
The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 6, 2008
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read in the New York Times that the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines to “aggressively screen and medicate for high cholesterol in children” and that they plan on administering cholesterol-lowering drugs - called statins - to kids as young as age 8! Age 8!
WHAT’S NEXT - PUTTING YOUR NEWBORN ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS BECAUSE IT DOESN’T SMILE ENOUGH??
But before we go into that, let me remind you of the simple facts about cholesterol…
DON’T ACCUSE CHOLESTEROL OF A CRIME IT DIDN’T COMMIT!
Back in April, I posted an article that dispelled the myths surrounding cholesterol, so allow me to reiterate a few things: in Ayurveda, there is no “bad” and “good” cholesterol - it’s all good. High cholesterol is the informant, a warning sign, that something else is not right in your body - it’s not the criminal. Don’t blame the cholesterol!
Use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins, also known as Lipitor - Pfizer; Pravachol - Bristol Myers Squibb; and Lescol - Novartis) rose by 156% (from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people) between 2000 and 2005. Spending on these drugs catapulted from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion, and prescriptions rose from about 90 million to nearly 174 million during that same time period.
In 2004, the U.S. government’s National Cholesterol Education Program advised those at risk for heart disease to reduce their LDL (”bad”) cholesterol to the ridiculously low levels of less than 100 (or even 70). If you want to meet these dangerously low targets, you would generally have to take multiple statins in combination.
Big business shouldn’t dictate how we treat ourselves or especially our children, and statins are not the solution to the “problem” with cholesterol. Don’t just take my word for it. Dr. Joseph Mercola, D.O., (www.mercola.com) has spoken out against the use of statins for children.
“I do not find it particularly heartening that these drugs are as safe for children as they are for adults, considering that they are highly dangerous for adults to begin with,” Dr. Mercola notes in his article “Now They Want to Treat Kids with Statins.”
Dr. Mercola also lists some of the known dangers of statins (”Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?“) including: “potential increase in liver enzymes…muscle aches, weakness, immune system suppression, an increase in cancer risk, and a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition called rhabdomyolysis.”
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER!
So where do we go from here? There’s no arguing with the fact that there is an obesity crisis among the kids in this country, and it’s time for it to end - the natural way. Rather than putting their lives in more danger with harmful drugs, let’s look to the ancient sciences of Ayurveda to get them healthier and happier in the short- and long-term.
Ayurveda teaches that obesity is a predisposition based on body type, but just because it might be in the genes, that doesn’t mean we can’t fix sluggish metabolisms and even fat tissue disorders! The first step on a path to weight loss is identifying your child’s digestive body type and then steering them toward wellness by supporting their unique digestive tendencies.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN BE MANAGED AND CURED THROUGH AYURVEDA
There are three main types of digestive imbalances and tendencies according to the child’s body type:
1. “Visnagni” - characterized by irregular appetite, overstimulated stomach and intestines. A child with a “nervous stomach” will have problems with indigestion, nausea, stomach pains and may want to eat at odd times. Johnny or Susie’s tummy aches and refusal to eat for hours at a time can be an indicator of a Visnagni digestive body type. So can their emotional stress, fear, anxiety and sleeplessness. In severe cases, they may even have dark rings around their eyes. Not the recipe for a happy, balanced child!
2. “Tiksnagni” - or an “acid stomach.” If Johnny or Susie gets cranky when they’re not fed on time, or if they exhibit hot, red skin, there’s nothing irregular about this child’s digestive fire. Rather, they could be agitated because the acidic stomach overcooks the food, causing a lack of nutrients being absorbed. The key to this type is regular feedings: same time every day.
3. “Mandagni” - indicated by a heavy, slow and clogged up digestive system. Too much stomach mucus causes undigested foods to clog the fat channels and all other tissues. Johnny or Susie is lethargic, always hungry, and susceptible to colds and mucus problems. With their un-metabolized food toxins clogging their body channels, they gain weight easily and lose it slowly.
Each one of these digestive disorders can lead the way to childhood obesity, and by identifying which category your child is part of, you are taking the first step towards creating a wellness weight loss program for your unique little one.
And as far as their cholesterol is concerned, there are studies out there (including one from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that you can read about in Mike Adams’ article “Healing Foods Beat Statin Drugs for Lowering High Cholesterol“ on NaturalNews.com) that prove eating certain foods can lower your cholesterol levels just as well as taking statins - only without all of the dangerous side effects. Eating these foods, including “soy products, plus almonds and cereal fiber” can not only regulate “biochemical markers such as cholesterol” but they can also be effective “in treating conditions such as chronic depression” (”Healing Foods Beat Statin Drugs for Lowering High Cholesterol” by Mike Adams, June 7, 2005).
Wouldn’t you rather feed your child - and yourself - a hearty serving of healthy foods instead of processed chemicals?
Next week, we’ll talk about the “Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Weight and Obesity Disorders” so stayed tuned!
P.S. Please feel free to send this onto all of your friends with children. Weight management for ALL children is a prevention wellness life path!
P.P.S. Save August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time because the Doctors are in! Don’t miss your opportunity to ask Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig questions as they give us the Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy!
Childhood obesity is a national epidemic…but there is an answer - and it’s NOT Statin drugs! It is gentle and loving in its approach…and it’s as close as Mama’s spice rack!
Watch in the next Effortless Ayurvedic Living EZine for the details on signing up for this important tele-seminar!
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine, Ayurveda and Weight Loss, India & Ayurveda | 2 Comments »
Worst Food Combination According to Ayurveda
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | July 17, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Results From My Little Quiz: Readers’ guesses on what I think is the worst food combination Westerners consume… |
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Clog Up Your Gut First Thing in the Morning: I reveal the congesting food combo many health magazines promote, yet Ayurveda warns to avoid… |
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Last week, in my article on food allergies, I gave everybody a quiz: What is the worst food combination that Westerners consume these days?
We received a number of great guesses…
Mary Peyer said: “Peanut butter and celery.” Actually, that’s a good combination if we we’re talking real peanut butter (not the sugar-coated stuff that lines the supermarket).
Diana guessed: “Fruit and vegetables; bad ph combination and all the fancy restaurants are doing it!” True, that’s a nasty one. But, I don’t think it’s as popular as the one I had in mind.
Wanda said: “Cornflakes, milk and a banana!” That’s getting warm, but I’m not sure if I can count Cornflakes™ as a FOOD combination.
Shveta said, “Dairy and citrus (e.g. cold cereal & orange juice).” Yeah, that’s not a good one. Any type of fruit with dairy isn’t a great idea.
Likewise, Allyson said, “Dairy and other foods?” Yes, but a specific type of dairy and specific type of food…
How to Create a Sticky Substance That’ll
Clog Up Your Gut First Thing in the Morning
All good observations. I’m glad to see my readers are so smart.
Yet, the food combo I had in mind was one you’ll often see promoted in yoga and health magazines. In fact, they often give recipes out, not realizing how unhealthy and un-yogic a combination it is.
They are two opposites that do not mix well. First, because fruit is sweet and yogurt is sour. That’s why yogurt is worse than say, milk or cheese.
But more so, yogurt produces a lot of mucous and when you combine that with the sugar in fruit, you end with a sticky substance. The gooey mess ends up clogging the microscopic channels along your gut, blocking enzymes from being released and stopping the proper absorption of nutrients.
Now, isn’t it interesting that the enzyme to digest milk is released in the small intestine (not in the stomach). But if you’ve turned your meal into a big glob of sweet mucous you may be preventing the lactose enzyme from being released.
Further, any undigested food ends up being consumed by the bacteria in your gut. That results in gas and toxic waste being excreted by the bacteria.
This is NOT a Healthy Breakfast
Yogurt and fruit is often thought of as the “healthy breakfast.”
We even sell yogurt with fruit AND sugar already mixed in.
Now your body is smart, but it’s not that smart. It figures out that milk isn’t doing it any good, but it doesn’t understand that it’s because of the combination with fruit. So, in order to protect you, it puts an antibiotic tag on milk (and possibly fruit also), attacking it when ever it sets foot in your gastrointestinal tract.
Now, again, fruit is good for you, yogurt is good for you, milk is good for you. But NOT when you chop up the fruit and stir it into your yogurt and puree into a smoothie.
If you really like this dishes, once in a while is okay. Often, though, once you get away from these nasty food combinations, you have a natural dislike for them. Often allergenic foods are addictive, as strange as that may sound. Many food combinations my patients thought they couldn’t live without are long forgotten habits, now.
If have you have these food combinations every day, however, that will cause problems. First, there’s digestive allergies, like we’ve been talking about. After that, the toxins produced by the undigested food, which can’t get out through your impaired colon, will be purged through your skin. You might start getting dull looking skin, dry skin, rashes… you name it. So much of your skin’s health is a result of how clean your body is on the inside.
This IS a Healthy Breakfast
Now, an alternative to yogurt and fruit for breakfast is…. fruit and yogurt.
Well, have some fruit in the morning. Maybe a little more than you have been so you fill yourself up. Then, pack yourself a lassi. A lassi is a traditional Indian drink where you combine yogurt, with a little water (or rose water) and spices (like cardamom, or for a more savory taste, cumin). You can bring that with you to work and have it mid-morning.
Or, do the reverse, have the yogurt for breakfast and the fruit for a snack.
When you avoid the combinations, the food will digest a lot faster. Your body can digest one, and then digest the other. You’ll get far more nutrients and energy from them, without the allergenic affects.
PS: Oh yeah, itchy skin… If your skin is itchy it could very well be caused by the combination of fruit and dairy. Another surefire way to start some serious skin disorders is to eat fish with dairy, according to Ayurveda.
PPS: For a full list of allergenic food combinations, check out page 46 of my Effortless Ayurvedic Living Guide . If you are eating any of them, trying breaking them up and see how you feel.
PPPS: Please tell your friends and family about the guide — especially if they suffer from food allergies. Just send them to www.effortlessAyurvedicLiving.com to get a free copy. I could easily be selling that volume for $37 online, but I’m giving it away for free, so that anybody can start living a healthier life.
Topics: Ayurveda & Allergies, Ayurveda & Skin Care, Ayurveda and Digestive Health | 1 Comment »
Ayurvedic Relief for Milk Introlerance
And the Three Main Causes of Food Allergies
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | July 5, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Maybe ALL Food is Truly Allergenic? Let’s looks at where the food allergy craze is really leading… |
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Looks Like Milk, But That’s About It: Find out why rice milk is a poor substitute for cow’s milk and what Ayurveda recommends instead… |
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Your Immune System’s Most Wanted List: How your immune system will place antibiotic tags on foods even if they weren’t the real cause of your allergy.. |
Last week, I talked about how food allergies have skyrocketed . Hundreds of thousands of people can’t eat dairy, can’t eat wheat, can’t eat nuts, can’t eat eggs, can’t eat citrus, can’t eat honey… without suffering.
Before you know it they’ll be telling us ALL food is allergenic.
In fact, some people already propose we should be living off algae (e.g. pond scum).
So, while avoiding an allergenic food is a good SHORT-TERM coping method, it’s not a solution you should buy into.
Today I’m going to talk about what’s really going on, from my Ayurvedic perspective. But first, I wanted to reply to a comment left by one of our valued subscribers
Real Cures Versus Short-Term Fixes
Stephanie wrote…
"My husband, who is beginning an internship to become a registered dietitian, suggested I try a gluten free diet. (I’ve already been lactose free for several years and drink rice milk). My symptoms have completely turned around, after only 6 weeks. I am finally having solid stool, and no stomach pains."
Well, obviously this is a better situation than suffering. Of course it hasn’t cured you. It’s just eliminated the food that made you aware that something inside your body isn’t working correctly.
Keep in mind that rice milk is a very poor substitute for cow’s milk. Just look at the label. There’s hardly any protein. It’s mainly just a sweet drink of rice syrup. Tastes nice, but you won’t get the same nutritional benefit at all. If it does claim to contain calcium it has been added artificially and might not absorb well.
Almond milk is what I recommend in my Guide to Effortless Ayurvedic Living . Almonds are rich in both protein and calcium, naturally. But beware of watered down almond milk that’s been sweetened with rice syrup.
One Common Spice Makes Milk More Digestible
(Even for Severe Cases of Introlerance)
The best avenue is to drink real, organic milk (preferably raw). Taking an enzyme supplement should allow you to digest milk. Or you may find goat milk goes down better.
I have seen in India where a child is having milk allergies and the Ayurvedic physician recommended ginger powder to be taken in the milk. Next thing you know all the allergy symptoms are alleviated. Also, milk isn’t considered good unless it is warmed to initiate enzyme activity (don’t drink it cold!).
Why Cheese Can Be So Constipating
Stephanie continues…
"When I do introduce a dairy product like cheese, I get gassed up and have stomach pains."
Keep in mind that in Ayurveda we discourage eating raw cheese, unless it’s of the very soft kind (e.g. cottage cheese). Hard cheese should be grated and melted into your food. Otherwise, it’ll tend to cause constipation and bloating.
There are many foods people think they’re allergic to when in fact it’s the preparation they are "allergic" to. E.g. apples, for those with a vata imbalance, should never be eaten raw. This will dry up your colon. But you can bake or stew them and they should go down fine. Apples are drying, and if your body has a tendency to dryness, an obvious conflict arises.
Do You Suffer Allergies or Antibiotics Tags?
Stephanie also wrote…
"My symptoms have completely turned around, after only 6 weeks. I am finally having solid stool, and no stomach pains. I’m almost afraid to try to introduce a bit of gluten, even if it’s organic."
Yes, you should be cautious. Your body has been conditioned to think wheat is bad. It has probably put an "antibiotic tag" on gluten. In other words, your immune system has put wheat on its "Most Wanted List" even if it wasn’t the culprit.
You’ve been through some horrible stomach problems. Probably best to take it easy, let your system recover and try one of the cleansing recommendations from my Guide to Effortless Ayurvedic Living . Eventually, possibly with some help from a qualified physician, you can go back to enjoying a regular menu. NAET has excellent results with desensitizing to milk and numerous other allergies.
With rare exceptions, allergies are usually caused by one of the following….
Pesticides! Herbicides! Chemical Fertilizer!
As much as you can, you need to buy organic produce, organic grains, dairy, eggs, meat, spices, condiments. If you think you can’t afford it, try checking out your farmers’ market, a health food store that buys local produce or seeing if a local farm network offers organic food boxes. Right now the big box grocery stores are charging a lot for organic, because they are shipping out-of-season food from as far as Chile. You’re better off both health-wise and wallet-wise getting your foods from local farmers who don’t spray their crops.
Chemicals Aren’t the Only Problem
With Non-Organic Food…
Not only is your standard crop covered with poison, it’s DNA has been tinkered with. Today, almost all tomatoes, potatoes, corn and soy products are genetically modified. As well, many other foods (including rice!) are being altered to include things like liver genes from humans.
The process of creating GMO foods involves the use of the e-coli virus to penetrate the gene. Interesting that we are experiencing so many e-coli outbreaks in recent years…
So if you are allergic to a particular kind of food, you may be allergic to its genetically altered counterpart. In my opinion, that’s a good thing to be allergic to. GMO foods have never been properly tested for human consumption and are produced using very questionable practices. The Japanese are waiting patiently to see how it affects our children before they decide whether or not to introduce it into their culture.
Well, it’s easy to avoid GMO foods. It’s illegal in the United States and Canada for organic food to be genetically modified. While in most of Europe, GMO food requires labeling, and, as a result is not widely available.
Are You Mixing Foods That
Were Not Meant to Be Mixed?
As Westerners, we have access to more varieties of food than ever before. You are probably unconsciously experimenting with very poor food combinations . This is augmented by the fact that most people don’t even prepare their own meals at home, but trust their health to frozen dinners and fast food joints.
Now, in regard to food combinations, I could write a book. In fact, I wrote an entire section starting on page 46 of my guide to Effortless Ayurvedic Living . Often, people become allergic to a food like dairy because they eat it in combination with other foods that have adverse effects. Now the body is afraid of dairy, because of the other non-compatible foods mixed with it.
One of the Worst Food Combinations
Eaten Every Day In North America
Next issue, I’m going to talk about one of the worst food combinations I see people eating. Most people think it’s really healthy. The ingredients are healthy, but not when you put them together. They create a sticky substance in your gut that blocks enzymes from breaking down and absorbing food.
What follows? You guessed it! Bloating, gas and stomach cramps. Sound familiar? If you persist with this food combination you’ll probably end up with skin problems.
And this food combination involves two HEALTHY foods. Don’t get me started about Fruit Loops!
P.S . Can you guess what the number one food combination to be avoided is? Leave your answer in the comment box below. Next week, I’ll let you know the answer. Of course, it’s one of the bloating food combinations listed on page 46 of the Effortless Ayurvedic Living Guide . Check it out.
P.P.S. And remember, tell your friends and family about the guide — especially if they suffer from food allergies. Just send them to www.effortlessAyurvedicLiving.com to get a free copy. I could easily be selling that volume for $37 online, but I’m giving it away for free, so that anybody can start living a healthier life.
Topics: Ayurveda & Allergies, Ayurveda and Digestive Health | No Comments »
Milk, Wheat & Peanuts: Friend or Foe?
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | June 28, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Cater or Cure? Instead of avoiding healthy foods like nuts, wheat and dairy… wouldn’t you rather eliminate the cause of your food intolerance? |
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After Thousands of Years…. why millions of people are suddenly becoming allergic to basic staples like wheat, dairy and nuts… |
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Milk-Free Girl Scout Cookies? Are companies helping food allergy sufferers or just cashing in on their predicament? |
Corporations see dollar signs when it comes to the subject of food intolerances. I just read an article in the Washington Post about the rise of big business providing breakfast cereals sans the nuts and breads free of gluten.
As I’m sure you’re aware, food allergies are on the rise. Companies realize they have a “hungry” market who can’t eat dairy, can’t eat gluten and can’t eat nuts. Seizing this opportunity, there are even Girl Scouts selling milk-free cookies. Anheuser-Busch has a Gluten-free beer. Kelloggs offers Pop Tarts from nut free factories.
Should We Cater to Allergies
or Should We Get Rid of Them?
Now, there’s nothing wrong with meeting a need, trying to service your consumers better and capitalizing on it. Yet even better would be to eliminate the need. I think it’s become too commonplace to be allergic to common foods.
Worse, so many people are talking like wheat is bad, dairy is bad, peanuts are bad. If they are making some people sick, sometimes to the point of death, they must be bad… right?
Not so fast.
$3.9 Billion Dollars in “Free From” Foods!
Making you think wheat, dairy and nuts are bad is a great marketing angle for selling foods that omit these ingredients. By the end of this year the food intolerance market is expected to hit $3.9 billion.
Ayurvedically, Indians have been eating nuts, dairy, and wheat for over SIX THOUSAND YEARS. There’s nothing wrong with these foods in their natural form.
Ayurveda On Why We Get Allergies
According to Ayurveda, allergies can be described as heat (e.g. inflammation) your body produces when it can’t deal with a substance that has entered into it.
So when you eat something that your body can’t absorb it will begin to ferment inside your gut. This fermentation process (or overgrowth of bacteria) produces toxins. As you know, when you have a fever, your body likes to use heat to kill off bacteria.
Now if your body is reacting to something as innocent as gluten, dairy, or nuts, there is either…
…something wrong with the way the food was grown (e.g. pesticides, wrong climate or genetic modifications)
…the way it was prepared (e.g. additives, food combinations)
…or with your body (e.g. poor digestion, metabolism)
Now there are legitimate genetic allergies — but they are few. In fact, most people aren’t really “allergic” to bread, milk and cashews — these innocent bystanders were simply at the scene of the crime. The sufferer is actually allergic to something else. Lacking witnesses, gluten or cashews get the blame.
But I’m getting ahead of myself…
The Three Levels of Food Intolerances
Level one food intolerances refers to mild reactions: . You know, when something just doesn’t sit well in your stomach after eating it. Or you may feel a little tired and feel ready for a nap. You know your body doesn’t like it, but it’s not the end of the world.
Then there are level two intolerances: This is when people start taking action. Things get more serious… like every time you have an orange a terrible rash forms, your nose runs or parts of your body start to swell up. You may have trouble standing.
Level three begins when the symptoms in level two combine with vomiting or diarrhea — as those with lactose intolerance experience.
Now, off the chart is when a child goes into anaphylactic shock because of a peanut butter sandwich. That’s an entirely different, life-or-death issue. We aren’t talking about that here.
Why the Sudden Explosion in Food Allergies?
I started my practice in 1981, seeing 90 people a day. Once or twice a month a patient would have a food allergy. Fast forward to 1993… I started hearing about allergies every single day.
As Annys Shin , the author of the Washington Post article I read, says, “Medical experts don’t know why the number of people with food allergies is increasing. Theories include reduced contact with germs, exposure to certain environmental pollutants and, in the case of peanut allergies, the way peanuts are processed and when they are introduced into people’s diets. None of the theories are backed by much research.”
So what’s going on? Next issue I’ll fill you in on why I believe so many people are experiencing food allergies from an Ayurvedic perspective. These three causes are easy to correct by making some simple changes to your diet. If you’re only experiencing mild symptoms now, next week’s tips could save you from ever having to join the “free from” club.
P.S . What do you think of the whole fad of labelling wheat, dairy, and nuts as evil? Are you allergic to any foods? Share your story and your thoughts below in the comment box.
Topics: Ayurveda & Allergies | 1 Comment »
Ayurveda on Enjoying Nature and Summer Fun
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | June 20, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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A Vacation for the Soul: What I discovered about our own innate majesty from motionless rock formations at Zion National Park, Utah… |
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Why Neem is Just NOT Good Enough! Even though neem oil is a thousand times healthier than sunscreen lotion, there is something far more effective (and costs you nothing to put on every day)… |
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Exhausting Summer Outings? How to avoid getting sick and tired when you take time off in the summer heat… |
Last weekend we headed down to Zion National Park. We came back with a profound sense of change in our lives.
That’s not what we had expected. We simply wanted to take a trip to get away from clinic life.
Yet, we were driving through the canyons, I’d say to Craig, “Do you feel that?” And he’d go, “Yeah, I do.”
Talk about energy. Natural reserves help you get in touch with your own majesty as a human being. It’s awe inspiring and humbling to be surrounded by ancient landscapes.
Above you can see a picture of one of our spiritual guides on the journey. Looks sort of like a squirrel, doesn’t it? These rock formations were everywhere. Others looked like human beings. When the light falls on their mustard color surfaces, they feel so pristine and beautiful.
On an aside, my colleague Dr. Pendse just got back from Kashmir, which is on the border of Pakistan and India. It’s equally as beautiful, but he says the ravages of insurgency and terrorism are everywhere. Blessed are we to be free of such turmoil.
Yet, 150 years ago, this site was the place of the genocide of it’s native population. And for what? There’s hardly anybody living here. A jewelry shop every hundred miles. There was plenty of room for the aboriginals to remain.
You need to do your body work, your mental work and your soul work. Well, taking a trip to a national park like Zion this will do wonders for your soul. Life’s a constant integrative process.. Joy, fun, beauty, majesty are as important as diligence, hard work and constant self-improvement. Two DAYS at a natural phenomena can relieve two MONTHS of sweating it out at the workplace.
As John Muir wrote, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.”
Now, I was glad to see so many families on our trip, taking a vacation amongst nature, but…
70% of Americans Haven’t Got a Clue
How the Sun Affects Their Body
Driving back and forth I noticed something that ties into what we were speaking about last week: Only about 30% of the people we saw were properly protecting themselves from the sun. The other 70% haven’t got a clue.
30% were wearing broad hats, long sleeves and pants. But there were still lots and lots of women, men and children out there with short sleeve shirts and shorts in the sun way, way too long. They were showing no respect or understanding for the effect sun has on the body. Two out of three men, women and children are not dressed correctly for the sun, these days.
A 20-30 minutes sunbath before 12pm or after 3pm, is good for you. The rest of the time you need to cover up. If you look at India, everybody wears pants and long sleeve shirts. They know what they are doing. Yet the urban Westerner goes on vacation, slaps on a ton of toxic sunscreen and thinks she is protected. This is part of the reason people are often sick and exhausted after taking a summer vacation.
Neem is NOT Good Enough!
Now, using neem is great. It helps protect you from the heat of the sun, while boosting the metabolism of vitamin D. Compare that to sunscreens which can actually block vitamin D absorption. More and more research is coming forth linking vitamin D defienency to the astronomical cancer rates we face in North America. So it’s no wonder people who use sunscreen diligently for years still end up with skin cancer.
But even more important than neem is being out of direct sunlight between 12-3pm, and covering your arms and legs the rest of the time. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a noon-day picnic, but you do it under an umbrella or the shade of a tree.
It’s no secret that premature aging of the skin is caused by sun exposure. If you want proof, just compare the skin on your body which gets regular doses of sunlight to areas that rarely see the light of day (e.g. your buttocks).
This is especially true for children. At least when you get older your skin toughens up a little. But I’m seeing nine year old boys and girls unprotected. Instead of long sleeve shirts they are given a bottle of sunscreen lotion. Trust me, it’s cheaper to wear a shirt, and far, far healthier. Check out my post about the health issues with commercial sunscreen to find out more.
But once you’ve “cooked” the skin once or twice in your early years, you are far more susceptible to skin cancer in your later life. So please keep your kids protected. They’ll feel better not having sunscreen seep into their bloodstream, while avoiding the overheating effects of prolonged sun exposure.
There you go. Just some Ayurvedic tips about how to have a soul-enriching vacation out in nature this summer.
P.S. Let me know if you have any questions or comments by leaving them in the box below. Also, please let us know what is the most beautiful natural phenomena you’ve ever visited.
P.P.S. For more tips avoiding premature aging, benefiting from sunbaths (and moon baths!) and finding your natural state of beauty, download a copy of Effortless Ayurvedic Beauty.
Topics: Ayurveda & Skin Care, Ayurveda & Sunlight, Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Spirituality | 1 Comment »
Video: Ayurvedic Weight Loss & Improved Digestion
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | June 13, 2008
At this very moment, Dr. Helen and I are in the convertible, top down, covered in neem oil, on a road trip to Zion National Park, Utah. Since it’s dangerous to type and drive, I’ll be brief…
Dr. Helen wanted me to let you know that she forgot to mention something very important about sun exposure: According to the Charaka Samhita you should avoid the sun between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. The sun is full of pitta, and 11-3pm is pitta hour. As with all issues of doshas, you want to seek the opposite. If you haven’t read her recent posts about sunlight and sunscreen lotion, you can check it out here.
Video: “Gentle But Firm” Ayurvedic Counsel
Has Changed Her Life…
I also wanted to share with you a video Dr. Helen’s coach, patient and friend, Michelle Yozzo Drake recorded recently. She talks about how Ayurveda has helped her lose weight, beat chronic digestive issues and bring newfound balance to her life. Some inspiration to keep on “the path”….
You can also listen to a full-length interview between Dr. Helen and Michelle. To get a copy of Michelle’s book, From the Kitchen to the Corner Office: Mom’s Wisdom on Leadership, head over to Amazon or visit her website. From the backcover, “…author Michelle Yozzo Drake finds business acumen in some unexpected places. When we listen carefully, we find that mom’s wisdom can provide all we need to reach any goal or succeed in whatever career we choose. Her words can provide strength, courage and laughter to carry us through the obstacle course of our careers.”
Have a great weekend. We’ll be back Monday!
P.S. Please let us know (comment box below) what you think of the above video and whether or not you’d like to see more. Also, please use the ShareThis button to let others know about this post and spread the word about Ayurveda.
Topics: Ayurveda & Skin Care, Ayurveda & Sunlight, Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Weight Loss, Ayurvedic Videos, Case Stuties | 3 Comments »
Safe Ayurvedic Sunscreen Oil
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | June 12, 2008
With yesterday’s post about the hazards of most sunscreen formulas, we had many readers guessing which all-natural oil Ayurveda recommends for safe protection…
Chris Cade of Spiritual Stories & Parables wrote, “My guess is olive oil… but that’s my guess for everything! I guess I’ll just have to wait to find out.”
Actually, olive oil, being a highly polyunsaturated fat, offers little resistance to the sun…
Why Polyunsaturated Oils Offer Little Sun Resistance
Plant sources (e.g. sesame or sunflower) for polyunsaturated oils come from the north (where there is less sunlight) and offer little resistance to the sun. While saturated oils from the tropics, do. As Cynkay Morningsong commented…
“My guess would be Coconut Oil. It is the only moisturizer I’ve used for years. I have a fairly light complexion but usually look like I have a nice healthy tan because it works so well.”
That’s a good guess. And yes, summer being the pitta time of the year, coconut oil is an ideal choice for both your skin and for cooking. It actually makes your skin more vitamin D resistant, since there’s an abundance of sunlight in the summer (or in the tropics)
It was Actually Travis and Sangeet Kaur
Who Got It Right…
The sunscreen oil recommended in Ayurveda is from the fruit and seeds of the evergreen neem tree, indigenous to India. Of course, neem oil is recommended for a host of issues. Indians call the Neem tree the “Village Pharmacy” (rough translation) because of its varied uses.
Application: You just need a thin layer on exposed skin. As a general recommendation, apply every 60-90 minutes or three times in a four hour period. It really depends on humidity (e.g. the desert versus the ocean), how dark and dry your skin is and how often you keep up with your daily oil massage.
Neem oil alkalizes the skin, reducing its acid content while keeping it moist. This means it won’t react to heat as easily.
Think of food in a frying pan. How do you stop it from burning and drying out? Oil. Right.
You can mix the neem oil with a little ghee or coconut oil if the neem smell is not to your liking.
In a future issue I’ll talk to you more about neem and all the other things it can do for you. But for now, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of a safe alternative to sunscreen lotion.
Why Isn’t Neem Heavily Promoted as
The Ultimate Sunscreen Lotion?
As reader Hope Rose explained, “…a chemical company cannot make it for next to nothing and sell it for a bundle.” She’s right. Also, like drugs versus herbs, you can’t patent neem oil . If you can’t patent it, you can’t monopolize it. There’s just not as much profit in selling natural ingredients.
So give neem a try and let me know how it works for you and whether you have any questions about its usage. I’m here to help! You can get a bottle for under eight dollars at Amazon.com .
P.S. Sue asked, “Is it also effective against mosquitoes that carry dengue fever or malaria, as I’m not really keen on smearing DEET on my skin for the entire time I’m away on holiday this summer.” Definitely, neem can both protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes. Just apply it over exposed skin as explained above. If you are suffering from bites, neem will also help with the itching and swelling.
P.P.S. For more information about skin care, check out this article I wrote, What in the World Are You Feeding Your Skin? , which explains the truth about most commercially prepared moisturizers.
P.P.P.S. We are considering (amongst other ideas) putting together a volume you could use that lists Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies for various woes. We might call it the “Ayurvedic Herbalist Handbook.” Let us know below if this is something you’d like to have in your personal library. Just leave a comment below.
Topics: Ayurveda & Skin Care, Ayurveda & Sunlight | 12 Comments »
Ayurveda on Sunshine and Sunscreen
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | June 11, 2008
I’ve never used sunscreen. Not once in my entire life! From when I was a kid, long before studying Ayurveda, I intuitively knew it was bad for me.
In fact, most kids don’t like sunscreen. It smells bad, it feels icky. It’s not something they want to cover their bodies with.
But their parents tell them they can’t go out and play, without the sunscreen.
North Americans Are So Afraid of the Sun
In fact, one of my patients was telling me how he was at a family gathering. One of the mothers attending noticed he didn’t put sunscreen on their 16-month old child. Instead, he kept him covered most of the time, but let him have a good thirty or so minutes a day of direct sunshine. Well, this other mother started accusing him of putting his son at risk of skin cancer. "It’ll be your responsibility!" she started ranting.
Yes, someone dies from skin cancer every hour in North America. But there are a lot of factors involved (which I’ll cover in another issue) and the sun is only ONE of them. In fact, sunshine produces vitamin D, which has been shown to produce amazing affects in preventing and reversing cancer.
Now, I’m not saying it’s good to get burnt by the sun. That’s obviously destructive. But stop and take a look at the ingredients on most tubes of sunscreen. They are filled with unpronounceable chemicals. And because sunscreen is usually formulated with (processed) oil, all those chemicals are going to seep directly through your skin into your bloodstream.
Do You Want Sunscreen Lotion Circulating
Through Your Vital Organs?
I bet if you look on any bottle of sunscreen, it says, "avoid contact with mouth or eyes." Probably followed by warnings about swallowing.
But, as those who’ve been to my Ayurvedic Skin Care site know, your skin eats . Sunscreen gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, where it is distributed throughout your body.
On the other hand, if you were to eat your sunscreen, it would have to make it through the "gatekeeper" (your stomach and small intestine). Your gut is setup to filter out poisons. Sure, it may induce vomiting, but at least that gets it out of your system.
That’s why it would probably be healthier to have kids eat their sunscreen rather than to wear it. Not that I’m recommending you do either.
Yet, as a recent CBC Newsworld article was preaching, "…one of the biggest mistakes people make about sunscreen is they don’t use enough of it."
Yes, I agree you need protection from the sun, but…
Your Typical Sunscreen Product is Not the Solution
First thing you should realize is that exposing yourself to large doses of the sun’s rays all at once is not healthy. You’re much better off having short daily sunbaths (or moon baths!) like I explain in the Effortless Ayurvedic Beauty Guide .
This is especially true if you have white skin. Darker skinned people, on the other hand, not only can take more sunshine, they need it (because they are more resistant to vitamin D). In the end, you should listen to your body… if you feel like you’ve had enough sun, get in the shade, wear a hat, cover up… don’t start slathering on more goop.
That said, sometimes we want to tan. Or our kids are running around uncontrollably outside, having fun. Even though you put a hat and shirt on them when they head out the door, they’ll come back with just their boxer shorts.
So next issue, I’ll tell you about a very, very inexpensive oil you can apply to your skin that has been used safely in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It also doubles as a mosquito repellent! Not only is it harmless, but it also nourishes your skin, increasing it’s alkaline content, all the while preventing a host of other skin problems. If your skin overheats in the summer (attention all pittas!) then this all-natural oil will help with that, too.
So stay tuned!
P.S. Can anybody guess which oil I’m talking about? Also, does anybody know why sunscreen companies just don’t promote this oil instead of their toxic formulas? Please leave your comments below.
P.P.S. For other great skin care tips from the science of Ayurveda, sign up for the FREE course at EffortlessAyurvedicBeauty.com .
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Modern Times, Ayurveda and Purification, India & Ayurveda | 14 Comments »