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Diet and Lifestyle for rainy season

Ayurveda primarilly aims at maintaining the health of a healthy individual.To achive this Ayurveda recommends to follow diferent diet and lifestyle schedule in each season which helps to mainten the health.

Varsha ritu (Rainy season)according to Ayurveda fals in theUtarayan (northern solstice) and the general body strength of an individual is weak. One must folow a specific Diet and lifestyle schedule in rainy season as the chances of having digestive problems is great during this season.

Ayurveda describes aggravation (vitiation) of Vata and acumulation of Pita in Varsha ritu (Rainy season).This is the major cause of various diseases ocuring during the rainy season. The food and lifestyle should thus be such which helps in balancing Vata and Pita.

Diet in Varsha Ritu (rainy season) :

Water available in the reservoirs during monsoon is comparatively heavy to digest and the metabolism is sluggish during this period. An individual is likely to experience loss of appetite.Keeping this in mind one needs to make following changes in his diet:

-- Consume light and fresh foods prepared from barley, rice and wheat
-- Include cow’s ghee, lean meat, lentils, green gram, rice and wheat in daily diet.
-- consume small piece of ginger with rock salt before every meal.
-- take Sour and salted soups of vegetables.Onion, lean meat and vegetables may also be used in soups.
-- If the days are cooler due to heavy rains, take a diet that is sour, salty and oily.
--Drink boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey
--Add ginger and green gram in your daily diet
--Eat warm food and avoid eating uncooked foods and salads
--avoid drinking excess of fluids at this further slows down the metabolism.
--Avoid consuming stale fod.
--Avoid leafy vegetables during monsoon.
--Avoid curds, red meat and any foodstuff, which takes longer time to digest. One may have buttermilk instead of curds.
--Bhavaprakash states that consuming ‘haritaki (terminalia chebula) with rock salt in monsoon season is beneficial to health.

Life style Varsha Ritu (rainy season) :

Only taking healthy diet may not provide desired benefits unless supported by a healthy lifestyle.The important changes that one should make in one’s lifestyle in rainy season are:

-- avoid Sleeping in daytime as it hampers digestion and slows down the metabolism
--Avoid over exertion and over exposure to sun. Avoid moving out in afternoon sun.
--Always keep the surrounding dry and clean. Do not allow water to get accumulated around.
--Keep body warm as viruses attack immediately when body temperature goes down.
--Do not enter air-conditioned room with wet hair and damp clothes.
--avoid walking in dirty water during rainy season. keep your feet dry.
--Avoid getting wet in the rains. If you happen to get wet, change into dry clothes as soon as possible to avoid getting infections as immunity is low during this season.
--Drying clothes with fumes of loban and dry neem leaves is also recommended in Ayurvedic texts.

--Panchkarma can be done.

-- Use of Perfumes is adovocatedin this season.
Ayurveda state that when seasons are changing and an individual changes his/her lifestyle and diet to suit that particular season, the change must be gradual over a period of 15 days. Slowly try to give up the initial lifestyle and adopt new one. It the changes are brought about drastically the body may not be able to cope with them and this could lead to problems

For Personal Appointments, Contact: 9495975013.  Consulting Time: 8.30 AM to 7.30 PM. Write us to doctorpanickers@gmail.com for free ayurvedic consultation online.  visit us at www.doctorpanickers.com https://plus.google.com/+DoctorPanickersAyurvedaHospitalPunalur/about https://goo.gl/maps/41Zdzh21fRk How many people get affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis ? Rheumatoid arthritis has a worldwide prevalence rate of 0.5% to 1% in adults . This disease is two or three times more common in women than in men . People of any age can get affected with this disease, it even affects children, but it most often starts after 40 years of age .

How does Rheumatoid arthritis affect the body ? This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, which means our immune system has began to attack it’s own tissues instead of protecting them. Inflammation is a normal response by our immune system against infections, wounds and foreign objects. In rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory immune response is wrongly directed towards our joint tissues. The chemicals substances produced by our immune system attacks the soft tissues (Synovium) of the joints and cause inflammation in them. This leads to swelling, stiffness, redness and pain in the joints. This inflammatory process progresses to damage the bone cartilages and the joint surfaces.  If left unchecked, it further produces joint deformities and disability. Smaller joints are generally first affected in a symmetrical manner. Potentially any joint can get affected with the disease. Along with the joints,  other organs and systems of the body, including the lungs, heart, and kidneys can also get affected.

What are the common factors that cause Rheumatoid arthritis ? The exact cause of the disease is unknown, however many predisposing factors have been attributed. Improper dietary habits and unhealthy lifestyle are the most common causative factors as per Ayurveda. Cold weather, physical and mental stress, certain viral and bacterial infections have been attributed as precipitating factors.

How can Doctor Panickers Ayurveda help ? Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis) occurs when an individual indulges in factors that aggravte Vata dosha and Ama (Toxins) in the body. Improper digestion and metabolism leads to accumulation of Ama (Toxins) in our body. This Ama combined with the aggravated Vata dosha localises in the joints and produces pain, swelling and stiffness. In the initial stage, ayurvedic medications that metabolizes the Ama (toxins) and eliminate them out of the body are prescribed. Later, medications that pacify the aggravated Vata dosha are prescribed by assessing the changes in patients condition. The choice of the treatment modality is made based on the assessment of the condition of the patient and the severity of the disease. A Healthy planned diet is essential to support the normal functioning of our immune system, reduce the disease exacerbations and nourish the weakened joints. It thus reduces the severity or frequency of symptoms of the disease. Following a diet rich in fruit and vegetables helps control the long standing inflammation of the joints. Their nutrients have antioxidant property that helps to neutralize free radical production by the body.

Exercises for Rheumatoid arthritis :- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may avoid exercise due to fear of pain, but this will further weaken the muscles and deform the joints. It is important to practice simple exercises. Rest and exercise should be well balanced according the condition of the patient. Simplified Yoga practices maintains the muscle strength and improves the flexibility of the joints. Pranayama  helps to relax the mind and minimize the hyperactivity of the immune system.

To be followed :- Use garlic in your regular diet. Buttermilk with garlic is an excellent remedy of rheumatoid arthritis. Use whole grains that are rich in fibre such as wheat, millet, barley, horse gram, brown rice. Consume honey mixed with water. (older the honey, the greater its benefit) Milk boiled with dry ginger can be taken in the morning and evening instead of tea and coffee. Consume milk mixed with 3 gms of turmeric powder. Turmeric is  very effective to control inflammation of the joints. Consume fruits and vegetables such as drumsticks, bitter gourd, carrot, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, mustard greens, papaya. These food items help to reduce the inflammation and hyperactivity of the immune system. Pepper should be sprinkled over the fruits and vegetables that are cooling in nature.  Reduce weight if you are overweight.

To be avoided :- Unhealthy and irregular dietary habits can trigger the abnormal immune response and increase the pain in the joints. Curd, Black gram,  fermented food items, deep fried oily foods should be avoided. Avoid common foods that cause allergies such as dairy products, peanuts, beets, soy, red meat, processed foods, artificial additives and preservatives, white flour and white sugar. Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, soft drinks and ice creams should not be consumed. Avoid food items that cause indigestion and flatulence. Try to avoid keeping awake at nights and sleeping during daytime.  Consume fruits In their whole form and avoid them in the form of juices. Whole fruits with their fibre content aids in proper digestion and regulates the bowel movements.