Saturday, January 31, 2009
How to boost children’s immunity the natural way
Boosting a child’s immune system is a science unto itself. A move towards holistic ways of keeping a child healthy overall could include a number of approaches, not the least of which is providing a loving and happy home.
Children fall sick for all sorts of reasons and often we forget to factor in childhood stress as a cause for a weakened immune system. Children get stressed out too. Among so many other reasons for a compromised immune system are air pollution, lack of adequate sleep and improper nutrition.
It follows logically therefore, that a reversal of any of these reasons could lead to better immunity. Since it is not always possible to avoid air pollution (we can’t all run away from cities), we can try and make up for that with sound nutrition and adequate rest.
Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is one way we can bolster the immune system of children. Keeping away from snacks that are loaded with additives and chemicals will go a long way as well, in keeping the immune system from getting weak, in the first place. Food supplements too have a role to play when a child is weak, or has a tendency to get sick with very little provocation.
For example, on of the most common ailments in big cities is respiratory disorder. Some children have allergic rhinitis or cough that keeps them awake all night and yet others have asthma. There are many natural remedies that can be applied in these cases to help alleviate the problem and to prop the immune system up. For instance, omega-3 oil is useful in alleviating inflammatory conditions that lead to asthmatic states. It also acts as a natural immune booster. Take elder berry for example or Manuka Honey – both of them have anti-bacterial properties which go a long way in helping children recover and stay healthy. It is known that 70% of our immune system lies in the intestines (or digestive system). Making sure that children have good digestion and taking steps to ensure that will raise immunity by 70%.
Knowing what not to give them to eat is also very important. Not only will it keep the immune system from getting weak, in many cases keeping away certain foods that tend to aggravate a certain condition can actually help a weakened immune system.
Lastly, children, after they reach a certain age (7+) can be taught simple yoga and pranayama. This affects them positively by building health and self-confidence. Yoga is a natural immune booster for children, quite unlike any other.
Children fall sick for all sorts of reasons and often we forget to factor in childhood stress as a cause for a weakened immune system. Children get stressed out too. Among so many other reasons for a compromised immune system are air pollution, lack of adequate sleep and improper nutrition.
It follows logically therefore, that a reversal of any of these reasons could lead to better immunity. Since it is not always possible to avoid air pollution (we can’t all run away from cities), we can try and make up for that with sound nutrition and adequate rest.
Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is one way we can bolster the immune system of children. Keeping away from snacks that are loaded with additives and chemicals will go a long way as well, in keeping the immune system from getting weak, in the first place. Food supplements too have a role to play when a child is weak, or has a tendency to get sick with very little provocation.
For example, on of the most common ailments in big cities is respiratory disorder. Some children have allergic rhinitis or cough that keeps them awake all night and yet others have asthma. There are many natural remedies that can be applied in these cases to help alleviate the problem and to prop the immune system up. For instance, omega-3 oil is useful in alleviating inflammatory conditions that lead to asthmatic states. It also acts as a natural immune booster. Take elder berry for example or Manuka Honey – both of them have anti-bacterial properties which go a long way in helping children recover and stay healthy. It is known that 70% of our immune system lies in the intestines (or digestive system). Making sure that children have good digestion and taking steps to ensure that will raise immunity by 70%.
Knowing what not to give them to eat is also very important. Not only will it keep the immune system from getting weak, in many cases keeping away certain foods that tend to aggravate a certain condition can actually help a weakened immune system.
Lastly, children, after they reach a certain age (7+) can be taught simple yoga and pranayama. This affects them positively by building health and self-confidence. Yoga is a natural immune booster for children, quite unlike any other.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Why is pomogranate a super food?
I grew up in India, eating pomogranate, literally off the trees on which they grew. They are so common and easily available. Yet I had no idea that pomogranate was such an amazing fruit to eat.
Today, I live in a world so different from the one I grew up in and suddenly I am confused – why are they fussing over pomogranate so much? What’s the big deal?
Well, the big deal is this: pomogranate is a super food. What are super foods?
Super foods are those that have unique and above normal health promoting qualities and supply nutrients beyond what is considered basic necessity for the body.
Pomogranate is considered a super food because it has a very high concentration of polyphenols, anthocyanins and tannins, all of which are considered powerful antioxidants. Prelimnary investigations into the power of the pomogranate suggests that pomogrante juice reduces cholesterol, blood pressure and bad cholesterol oxidation.
In India pomogranate seeds are given to children with mild to moderate diarrhea. I have tried it on my kids too when they had stomach upsets, with success. Please consult your health-care provider, however, before administering this remedy.
A few other examples of super foods are berries: blue-berries, acai berries, goji berries. I have always been intrigued by these berry juices and have tried them more out of curiosity than anything else. Acai juice is peculiar tasting, but it is a powerful antioxidant again, and its purported health benefits outweigh the taste for sure!
Aloe vera is another super food, whether by definition or not, I don’t know, but according to me, it is. It is called the lilly of the desert because it is a cactus with potent healing qualities. Aloe vera is supposed to have wonderful healing benefits for the skin. it has a cooling quality and can be given for ulcers or acidity. It is also a liver detox tonic. Aloe juice doesn’t have much of a taste, but it is fabulous tonic.
Here’s to super foods.
Today, I live in a world so different from the one I grew up in and suddenly I am confused – why are they fussing over pomogranate so much? What’s the big deal?
Well, the big deal is this: pomogranate is a super food. What are super foods?
Super foods are those that have unique and above normal health promoting qualities and supply nutrients beyond what is considered basic necessity for the body.
Pomogranate is considered a super food because it has a very high concentration of polyphenols, anthocyanins and tannins, all of which are considered powerful antioxidants. Prelimnary investigations into the power of the pomogranate suggests that pomogrante juice reduces cholesterol, blood pressure and bad cholesterol oxidation.
In India pomogranate seeds are given to children with mild to moderate diarrhea. I have tried it on my kids too when they had stomach upsets, with success. Please consult your health-care provider, however, before administering this remedy.
A few other examples of super foods are berries: blue-berries, acai berries, goji berries. I have always been intrigued by these berry juices and have tried them more out of curiosity than anything else. Acai juice is peculiar tasting, but it is a powerful antioxidant again, and its purported health benefits outweigh the taste for sure!
Aloe vera is another super food, whether by definition or not, I don’t know, but according to me, it is. It is called the lilly of the desert because it is a cactus with potent healing qualities. Aloe vera is supposed to have wonderful healing benefits for the skin. it has a cooling quality and can be given for ulcers or acidity. It is also a liver detox tonic. Aloe juice doesn’t have much of a taste, but it is fabulous tonic.
Here’s to super foods.
Labels: acai berry, antioxidant, pomogranate, super foods
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Basic principles of an Alkaline diet
Nature has bestowed upon the human body the ability to balance blood PH internally. In order to maintain an optimum internal environment that is alkaline, a PH of just above 7.0 is required. The human body’s multi-various mechanisms function (related to enzymes, the immune system and the body’s own healing mechanisms) very well in this alkaline range.
However, the body’s metabolic processes such as digestion, and tissue repair produce acidic waste. This acidic waste can accumulate within the body and create an environment suitable for sickness and disease. Therefore, it is obviously healthier to work towards maintaining the body’s alkalinity. This requires us to make the most of oxygen and water, for example, and minerals that can fight the acidity.
Some examples of metabolic activity that generate an acidic internal environment:
Exercise: generates lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid is acidic by nature and carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid and water.
Digestion: generates phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. These acids are the result of metabolizing phosphorus and sulfur contained in many foods, such as, meats, grains, and beans.
Immune response: allergies and hypersensitivities generate a substantial amount of acidic material
And last but not the least is your lifestyle. Stress can create an acidic environment in the body because our cells have to work harder when faced with stress. This results in an acidic internal environment, which becomes the substratum for all degenerative and auto-immune disorders. This also means that a highly acidic internal environment can affect cell metabolism negatively resulting in lowered energy levels, fluid accumulation and a rise in the production of free radical oxygen.
How do you regain the life enhancing alkaline state?
Alkaline minerals are known to effectively combat an acidic environment. A reliable mix of alkalinizing mineral compounds will include calcium, magnesium potassium, sodium, chromium, selenium and iron in different combinations.
Bones, as we know are critical in this whole process because they are the keepers of the body’s supply of minerals. As the body works to maintain optimum PH, minerals are used up from the bone.
This could lead to a host of bone diseases such as osteoporosis or osteo-arthritis, for example. Your bones are not fighting an isolated battle to support your body in maintaining proper PH. Your kidneys, adrenal glands and lungs even, work hard to achieve this. They need to be supplied steadily with the right combination of nutrients to constantly stay on top of what they are working for. That is precisely why a diet rich in alkaline substances can be pivotal in maintenance of good health. An alkaline diet, therefore, is one in which the foods you feed your body with are largely alkaline in nature.
What foods should you choose?
Befriend those lowly leafy greens, vegetables and fruit if you want to transform the way your body feels. Foods that are packed with animal protein such as meat and dairy are essentially acidic in nature. Of course, there are certain fruits that are acidic such as plums and berries. But surprise! Surprise! Oranges are alkaline.
Refined foods such as sugar, simple carbohydrates, and certain types of fat, also commonly known as poisons are highly acidic. A diet high in such acid forming foods can deplete the body of minerals such as calcium in order to restore the alkaline state, which is its natural state. Therefore a diet rich in alkaline foods (whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit – nearly 80% of your diet should be rich in alkaline foods in order to restore alkalinity to the body and this can be maintained thereafter by eating a 60% alkaline) the body is able to maintain acid-alkali balance.
However, the body’s metabolic processes such as digestion, and tissue repair produce acidic waste. This acidic waste can accumulate within the body and create an environment suitable for sickness and disease. Therefore, it is obviously healthier to work towards maintaining the body’s alkalinity. This requires us to make the most of oxygen and water, for example, and minerals that can fight the acidity.
Some examples of metabolic activity that generate an acidic internal environment:
Exercise: generates lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid is acidic by nature and carbon dioxide turns into carbonic acid and water.
Digestion: generates phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. These acids are the result of metabolizing phosphorus and sulfur contained in many foods, such as, meats, grains, and beans.
Immune response: allergies and hypersensitivities generate a substantial amount of acidic material
And last but not the least is your lifestyle. Stress can create an acidic environment in the body because our cells have to work harder when faced with stress. This results in an acidic internal environment, which becomes the substratum for all degenerative and auto-immune disorders. This also means that a highly acidic internal environment can affect cell metabolism negatively resulting in lowered energy levels, fluid accumulation and a rise in the production of free radical oxygen.
How do you regain the life enhancing alkaline state?
Alkaline minerals are known to effectively combat an acidic environment. A reliable mix of alkalinizing mineral compounds will include calcium, magnesium potassium, sodium, chromium, selenium and iron in different combinations.
Bones, as we know are critical in this whole process because they are the keepers of the body’s supply of minerals. As the body works to maintain optimum PH, minerals are used up from the bone.
This could lead to a host of bone diseases such as osteoporosis or osteo-arthritis, for example. Your bones are not fighting an isolated battle to support your body in maintaining proper PH. Your kidneys, adrenal glands and lungs even, work hard to achieve this. They need to be supplied steadily with the right combination of nutrients to constantly stay on top of what they are working for. That is precisely why a diet rich in alkaline substances can be pivotal in maintenance of good health. An alkaline diet, therefore, is one in which the foods you feed your body with are largely alkaline in nature.
What foods should you choose?
Befriend those lowly leafy greens, vegetables and fruit if you want to transform the way your body feels. Foods that are packed with animal protein such as meat and dairy are essentially acidic in nature. Of course, there are certain fruits that are acidic such as plums and berries. But surprise! Surprise! Oranges are alkaline.
Refined foods such as sugar, simple carbohydrates, and certain types of fat, also commonly known as poisons are highly acidic. A diet high in such acid forming foods can deplete the body of minerals such as calcium in order to restore the alkaline state, which is its natural state. Therefore a diet rich in alkaline foods (whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit – nearly 80% of your diet should be rich in alkaline foods in order to restore alkalinity to the body and this can be maintained thereafter by eating a 60% alkaline) the body is able to maintain acid-alkali balance.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Raw food enzymes
Enzymes are very essential to the process of digestion. A strong digestive system is key in preventing disease, in the same way that proper breathing is. One way to boost the digestive system is by consciously adding raw foods to our diet. And plant enzymes will play a big part in bolstering the digestive system. Juicing is a great way to do this.Enzymes are used to break down food so that energy can be released. An insufficient quantity of enzymes in the body will mean that the intestines have too much undigested food, which in turn leads to a build up of toxic waste in the body. Our bodies make their own enzymes, however, not all of the enzymes needed. Fresh fruit and veg account for the rest of the body's requirement. Sprouted seeds are a great source of enzymes as the process of sprouting increases the enzyme content of the food.
Imgae used, with thanks, from www.rawfusionfoods.com/why.html