The Anti-oxidant
and Vitamin C Values of Amlaberry tablets
History:
Amla or Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) fruit is a highly renowned
for its many health-giving properties in India, South East Asia and China.
The fruits are widely consumed raw, cooked or pickled and it is used in
many Ayurvedic food supplements. In Ayurveda the health promoting value
of the fruit is increased by preparing it in an elaborate way called ‘swaras
bhavana’ which involves the repeated treatment of the dried fruit with its
fresh juice up to 21 times.
Charak Samhita says that Amla is “the best among rejuvenative
herbs”. Because of its very balanced action it is one of the few Ayurvedic
plants that can be very safely used by itself.
In modern science Amla fruit has been renowned for its high
vitamin C content and its health properties have been ascribed to this.
At one time it was said to be the richest known source of vitamin C in the
plant world but some doubts had arisen about this and richer sources have
been found.
Vitamin C content:
Vitamin C plays a variety of important roles in the body
for tissue building and manufacture of hormones and energy transfer. One
of the most important of roles is its anti-oxidant activity in which it
mops up or scavenges free radicals.
It is clear that Amla is among the best sources of Vitamin C. The level
in the dried fruit is almost as much as in the frozen fruit. This confirms
that the vitamin C in Amla is in a very stable form. This stability is due
to the presence of tannins that bind with the vitamin C and stop it degrading.
This is not the case with most sources of vitamin C.
Anti-oxidant value:
Dried, prepared and extract of Amla were compared with pure
ascorbic acid. The anti-oxidant value of the MAP Amlaberry was highest,
the commercial extract and the dried fruit were intermediate and pure ascorbic
acid came last.
MENOPAUSE
Ayurveda regards the perimenopause, the time leading up to the end of the
periods, as a natural transition that has to be managed to minimize discomfort.
Ayurveda includes specific recommendations for diet, lifestyle
and related herbal formulas. The perimenopause system is a natural step-by-step
process that helps to support balance and health.
Ayurveda physicians cite three main reasons for perimenopausal discomfort:
1. PHASE OF LIFE
Since menopause is the transition from the Pitta phase of
life to the Vata phase, if a woman already has a significant Pitta or Vata
imbalance in the years before menopause, things are likely to get worse
during menopause, which is a period when hormonal and other natural changes
take place in the body.
2. DIGESTIVE IMPURITIES
Another factor leading to menopausal imbalances is the accumulation
of digestive impurities (ama) in the physiology. Ama blocks the channels
that transport nutrition to the cells and remove waste from the body, and
thus contributes to menopausal problems.
3. STRESS/ENVIRONMENT
A third factor is the misuse or overuse of the mind, body,
emotions, or senses. Basically, this happens when a woman strains her mind
too much, is under too much ongoing stress or pressure, or is doing work
that is too "heavy" for her body, or is under tremendous emotional
stress.
DON’T WAIT – START NOW
Start planning for menopause by establishing good health
before it’s onset
DIET FOR PITTA PROBLEMS
Diet can be a crucial tool in perimenopause management. If
you are prone to Pitta-based problems, such as hot flushes or excessive
irritability, follow a Pitta-pacifying diet:
AVOID foods that are spicy, such as chilies, cayenne and
black mustard seed, salty foods and foods that are sour, such as yogurt
(unless it is diluted and sweetened in a drink called lassi. Sour fruits
such as ketchup, mustard, and other salad dressings and condiments made
with vinegar should also be avoided.
FAVOUR foods that are bitter, astringent and sweet, as these
are cooling to Pitta dosha. Bitter and astringent foods include most vegetables.
Sweet foods include rice, milk and cream, sweet lassi and wheat products.
Sweet, juicy fruits such as pears and plums also pacify Pitta dosha.
COOK with Pitta-reducing spices, such as cinnamon, coriander,
cardamom, fennel and small amounts of cumin seed.
DIET FOR VATA PROBLEMS
If you experience Vata-related symptoms of peri-menopause
such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, you'll want to work at bringing
Vata dosha back into balance. For this, you'll need to eat foods that are
cooked, warm, and unctuous (meaning that they have a small amount of good
fats such as ghee and olive oil). Eat foods that are sweet, sour and salty,
as this balances Vata dosha.
APANA VATA
Apana Vata, which governs the genito-urinary tract, elimination,
and menstruation, is a key area to attend to when preparing for menopause.
To balance Apana Vata, drink plenty of warm water throughout the day. Eat
plenty of cooked, leafy greens, as this helps elimination and is also a
good source of calcium.
For both Pitta and Vata imbalances, a breakfast of cooked
apples and prunes and figs is a good way to start the day, as it balances
the doshas and cleanses the digestion.
IMPROPER DIGESTION PRODUCES AMA
It is important to keep your digestion strong and free of
ama (note: read more about ama in the article on toxins).
Avoid eating foods that are packaged, processed, frozen,
canned or left over. Eat organic foods that are cooked fresh each day. The
bulk of your diet should consist of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables,
and legumes and light dairy products such as milk, lassi or paneer for protein.
This type of light but nourishing diet will aid your digestion
and avoid the build-up of ama. Avoid heavy foods such as meat, cheese, yogurt
and frozen desserts like ice cream, especially at night.
LOOK AFTER YOUR LIFESTYLE
SLEEP
Sleep is important for the woman entering perimenopause or
going through menopause, because both Vata and Pitta imbalances can cause
sleep problems that will only make menopausal imbalances worse.
To keep both doshas in balance and to sleep more deeply at
night, be sure you're in bed before 10:00 p.m. and that you arise before
6:00 a.m. This is the time of night when sleep comes easier and is more
restful.
If you stay awake past 10:00, it will be harder to fall asleep,
and you'll also increase any Pitta imbalance, because 10:00 p.m. to 2:00
a.m. is the Pitta time of night, when the body needs to be at rest in order
to cleanse and purify itself.
OIL MASSAGE
The morning abhyanga or ayurvedic oil massage is extremely
important for peri-menopausal problems. Use the Rejuvenation Massage oil
for Women. This oil is designed to increase circulation, calm Vata dosha,
and provide needed moisture to the skin.
REGULAR MEALS ON TIME
For both Pitta and Vata dosha, it's important not to skip
meals, and to eat your main meal at noon, when digestion is the strongest.
Try to eat at the same time every day, and go to bed and wake up at the
same time.
REST
Be sure to get lots of rest during your menstrual cycle as
you approach menopause, because this will keep Apana Vata in balance and
avoid the more serious complications of the peri-menopause.
EXERCISE
Daily exercise (gentle for Vata and not too overheating for
Pitta) is also important for keeping all doshas in balance.
HERBAL SUPPORT
The Menopause Support Range of products are designed to prevent
and treat the imbalances related to menopause. It provides both general
support and targets specific imbalances that women experience before, during
and after menopause.
The products help keep the body free of ama and maintain the balance between
soma (lunar energy) and agni (solar energy)--a balance that is vital for
health during menopause and beyond.
Ayurveda
Approach to Stress Management in the Workplace:
Stress in the workplace creates a variety of symptoms, including anxiety,
fatigue, increased anger, problems with relationships, inability to focus
properly, stress headaches, insomnia and, over time, a variety of stress-related
diseases.
Stress results when the mind, body or emotions receives
an overload of stimulus, whether good or bad. Workplace stress occurs when
the mind is not able to handle day-to-day events and challenges. Some people
seem to handle daily challenges without any evidence of stress, while others
are stressed by the varied activities and changes that the modern workplace
presents.
According to Ayurveda, this lack of ability to handle daily stress is due
to an imbalance, or lack of coordination of the three main mental functions
of dhi (learning), dhriti (retention), and smriti (long-term memory).
Ayurveda offers many recommendations for supporting these
mental functions, and thus gives the person more resilience to stress.
When Prana Vata, the subdosha of Vata that supports mental
functions, gets disturbed, the coordination of dhi, dhriti and smriti breaks
down and mental stress results.
When Prana and Vyana Vata (the subdosha located in the heart that supports
circulation) together are disturbed, it affects not only the mind, but also
the communication between the heart and the mind, thus creating mental and
emotional stress simultaneously. Emotional stress is usually associated
with an imbalance in Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha of Pitta that supports
the emotions and is seated in the heart.
According to Ayurveda, if you are unable to perceive the reality of life,
which is blissful, that is an indication of Pragya-aparadh, or mistake of
the intellect. Charaka Samhita, a major Ayurvedic text, defines Pragya-aparadh
as the lack of coordination of dhi, dhriti and smriti.
Pragya-aparadh is the source of all disease, because disease
originates when the heart, mind or body loses its connection with nature's
intelligence. When we lose the memory of bliss, the connection with our
own true nature in pure consciousness, this is the source of stress and
ill-health in the body.
The recommendations of Ayurveda aim to restore the balanced
functioning of the doshas--of mind, body and emotions--and thus to restore
the connection of every part of life to bliss consciousness, which is our
true nature.
Stress management with Transcendental
Meditation
The Transcendental Meditation technique, when practiced morning and evening,
is the most effective way to relieve anxiety and stress. One reason that
Transcendental Meditation is so effective is that it provides such deep
rest that it can dissolve deep-rooted stresses that are lodged in the structure
or chemistry of the body.
Creativity, problem solving, interpersonal relationships
One major cause of stress in the workplace is lack of creativity or mind
power to solve problems on the job. Because Transcendental Meditation heightens
creativity, IQ, memory and clarity of thinking, it helps relieve workplace
stress in this way also.
Relationships with workplace colleagues have also been found
to improve with the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Positive, harmonious
behaviour is a direct result of clearer thinking, reduced stress and balanced
emotions, and if you are experiencing those positive results, this will
be reflected in better relationships.
Overcoming mental stress – Ayurvedic daily routine
Mental stress is caused by an imbalance in Prana Vata. Following the Ayurvedic
daily routine is probably the most important thing you can do to prevent
stress on the job. The daily routine is designed to prevent stress from
covering over the bliss of balanced living.
The morning routine includes waking up early, before the
sun rises, and starting the day with an abhyanga, or Ayurvedic oil massage.
Abhyanga not only removes toxins from the body; it stimulates the organs
and enlivens the flow of intelligence in the body. By the time you finish
your oil massage and bathe, your mind will feel fresh, energized and awake,
without the need for coffee to start the day.
The practice of yoga asanas is also balancing to mental,
physical and emotional stress, as are deep breathing exercises known as
pranayama. The Transcendental Meditation practice completes the morning
routine.
Ayurvedic herbal products
to balance mental stress
Ingredients of herbal products for mental stress are renowned ‘Medhya’ herbs
that support mental function. These are Aloeweed, Jal-Brahmi, Indian Tinospora
and Liquorice. Aloeweed, for example, directly nourishes the nerve cells
in all areas of the body, whilst Indian Tinospora has a unique effect of
cleaning out the micro-circulatory channels of the body. This improves the
flow of nutrients to the brain and nerve cells.
Peace of Mind supports natural resistance to stress and
also increases alertness and mental sharpness while reducing anxiety and
fatigue. It enhances learning, retention and long-term memory (dhi, dhriti
and smriti); increases mental energy by supporting Prana Vata; and supports
mental resistance to stress.
Other Ayurvedic tips to relieve stress
Stretch and breathe deeply, even when indoors, to energize the body and
bring more oxygen to the brain. As mentioned earlier, taking frequent breaks
is good.
Drinking warm fluids throughout the day also helps in detoxifying
and the body. Warm, non-caffeinated fluids also help reduce Vata dosha and
mental stress. Many times people experience fatigue and headache on the
job due to simple dehydration.
If you feel hungry during the workday, eat healthy snacks
and avoid junk food from vending machines.
In conclusion
Taking these small steps will have an effect in balancing
Sadhaka Pitta, Prana Vata and Vyana Vata, and enhancing the coordination
between dhi, dhriti and smriti.
It is important to follow the Ayurvedic diet, the daily routine and other
recommendations in order to gain these benefits. The results will be more
than worthwhile. The Ayurvedic solutions to stress and other problems in
life are remarkable for their simplicity and effectiveness, and quite easy
to add to your day.
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