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Amla Juice
The health benefits of Indian Gooseberry, also known as Amla, can be partially attributed to its high vitamin-C content. The Indian Gooseberry belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
This fruit ripens in the autumn in wet, forested, hilly areas on the Indian subcontinent. In India, it is considered a sacred tree. The fruit is very nourishing, but it tastes sour.
Amla enhances food absorption, balances stomach acid, fortifies the liver, nourishes the brain and mental functioning, supports the heart, strengthens the lungs, regulates elimination of free radicals, enhances fertility, helps the urinary system, increases skin health, promotes healthier hair, acts as a body coolant, flushes out toxins, increases vitality, strengthens eyes, improves muscle tone and, acts as an antioxidant.
Ingredients for amla juice
Amla (Nellikkai) – 4
Lemon – 1
Sugar – 1/4 cup or as required
Water – 2-3 cups
Method:
Take out seeds from amla and cut into wedges.
With the help of little water, grind it to a smooth paste using a blender.
Use a fine sieve and filter only juice from it.
Add lemon juice from one lemon.
Add sugar and water. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste and adjust the water and sugar.
Coconut oil, sesame oil, badam or almond oil and olive oil : all these oils protect hair and helps in hair growth. You can use them single or in combination. Remember never use fragrant oil on your hair. It may cause headache or added scent can cause adverse effect on hair.
Coconut oil is one of the best source for hair growth. It helps in building the proper hair structure and protects the skin. Thus it helps in controlling dandruff too. Coconut milk is used to increase the growth of hair naturally.
Tip 1: Warm coconut oil or sesame oil and apply on scalp
Blood circulation increases the production of cells in the head. By production of new cells enhance the growth of hair in the head. Blood circulation is increased by applying warm sesame oil or coconut oil. It increases the hair growth.
Tip 2: For black hair
Take half liter sesame oil or coconut oil. Mix that oil with one cup full of Indian curry leaves. Keep it closed. Then use that oil twice a day. For better results one can warm up the oil and add curry leaves to warm oil.
Tip 3: How to stop falling hair
To stop the hair fall, mix badam oil with equal amount of coconut oil, massage for 10 to 15 min before washing the hair.
Tip 4: For glowing hair
Some people like to have glowing black hair. Slightly warm up olive oil and massage on the scalp and apply on hair. Leave it for a day and wash the hair.
Tip 5: For good hair growth
Apply coconut oil and massage the scalp. Leave it overnight. Next day while washing the hair make sure you do not remove all oil from the hair. Leave little oil behind in the hair. Do this twice a week and you will see positive changes in your hair growth.
After marriage, every woman dreams of becoming mother. It is a natural feeling. For some it is easy to conceive.
With career, stress, travel and running age for many it becomes difficult to get pregnant. After trying two, three years if a person not conceived, then it is better to consult your gynecologist.
Meanwhile, try some of the traditional home remedies – herbs and foods recommendation that can also help to conceive and cure infertility.
There are many herbs that can help to conceive.
Some of the herbs can be included in your food or can be used as external application. Look for herbal supplements that can help to conceive.
Apply warm castor oil on abdomen. Castor oil helps to invigorate blood and balance hormone levels. You can apply warm castor oil packs on lower abdomen two to three times a day during premenstrual and menstrual time.
Use essential oils during warm baths – myrrh, clary sage, peppermint, rosemary, juniper, lavender and thyme oil – add few drops of one of the oil that you like and have warm bath to relax and reduce body stress.
Below are list of herbs (supplements and fresh) that can cure infertility in women and help to concieve.
Black cohosh: Root of black cohosh brings menstrual bleeding and makes it more regular. (supplement) – One can prepare black cohosh tea and consume daily. It is similar to other herbal tea where you have to infuse powder in hot water and drink.
Parsley: Tap root, seeds, leaves of parsley are good as emmenagogue and brings menstruation to normalcy. It is also rich source of vitamin C (fresh). Prepare salad or add parsley in your foods
Shatavari: Asparagus promotes regular menstrual cycles and helps in bringing estrogen level to normalcy. (supplement) Consume 1 tsp of shatavari powder with a glass of warm milk.
Asparagus is also available in market. One can prepare stir fry and consume.
Tribulus: Aerial part and fruits of this small herb helps in bringing ovulation to normalcy. It also known to increase FSH serum and estradiol levels in women (supplement). Mix Tribulus powder with honey (1/2 tsp in 1 Tbsp honey) and consume. If you are familiar with plant (it is tropical), you can use leaves and young shoots as vegetables.
Dandelion: Leaf and roots are good for stimulating cervical mucous (fresh). Use it as salad or prepare Dandelion dish – chutney or tea
Licorice: Root of licorice promotes cervical mucous secretions and helps in balancing hormones (supplement).
Ashwagandha: It supports endocrine system and reduces autoimmune fertility issues (supplement) Mix 1/2 tablespoon of ashwagandha powder in a glass of warm water. Drink it twice daily.
Pomegranate: One can eat pomegranate fruits regularly Or use powdered seeds – take ½ tsp with a glass of warm water daily
Cinnamon: Bark reduces heavy menstrual bleeding and improves blood circulation ( dry bark). Add 1 tsp of cinnamon powder to one cup of water and consume daily for a few months. Include cinnamon powder in your diet.
Dates: Grind few dates with cilantro root and make a paste. Add ¾ cup of fresh cow milk and boil. Drink this for few days till you concieve
Ginger: It increases circulation in the body and reduces inflammation and associated pain (fresh or dry). Add ginger in your food in smaller amounts.
Saffron: Saffron acts as aphrodisiac and is good for health. It increases blood flow ( available in market)
Ask your doctor before taking supplements.
Food recommendation:
Eat foods that are natural and not treated hormonally.
Avoid pesticide sprayed and non-organic food.
Avoid refined and hydrogenated oil.
Try to get unprocessed plant sources of essential fatty acids
Consume flax seeds – add flax seeds in your salad, curry and prepare flax seed chutni powder. Flax seed supplies both linoleic and alpha linolenic fatty acids that is good for uterus.
Consume pumpkin and chia seed oils – make sure oil is not old and recently compressed
Consume lemons, limes, onions
Eat walnuts, dark greens, cucumber, squash
Avoid heat producing root vegetables like taro (Colocacia) and fruits such as papaya
Consume omega – 3 fatty acid food sources
Vegetarians need Vitamin B, C, E, selenium, Zinc from external sources. Include foods that supply these nutrients in your diet. Include leafy vegetables, beans and wheat germ in your diet.
Do not eat meat as meat can increase inflammation levels and also might contain additives
Avoid foods that increase cortisol and estrogen levels that are responsible for more infertility issues
Reduce refined sugar intake – instead try brown sugar.
Consume buttermilk, yogurt, ghee – all these supplies good amount of protein and keeps gut in good condition.
Consuming homemade food is highly recommended. Include turmeric in your food – it reduces inflammation and is considered friendly for women.
Include drum stick in your diet – prepare curry, sambar and consume with rice. Drum stick leaves can also be used for preparing curry and consume with roti, chapathi. Drum stick has aphrodisiac property.
Keep up good spirit and stay positive:
For conception it is important to have positive thoughts and positive energy running in the entire body.
Rest and get good sleep – get a comfortable sleep everyday
Take warm bath with one of the essential oil mentioned above
Go for regular, moderate daily exercise to improve circulation and ease any symptoms of stress.
Do what you want to do – get into a hobby that keeps you happy.
Food enrichment to combat micronutrient deficiency
Micronutrient deficiency is a form of malnutrition that happens in the absence of essential vitamins and minerals on our food that are required in small amounts for body to grow and function.
Hidden hunger – is the name given to micronutrient deficiency as the symptom of deficiency is not always acutely visible. According to WHO more than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency. Thus, Micronutrient deficiency is an important global health issue. Deficiency of micronutrients in food has huge impact on health and leads to several types of conditions including – infections, intestinal worms, anemia, poor pregnancy, mental retardation, blindness and general losses of productivity and potential, obesity, impaired physical and cognitive development and increased risk of morbidity in children.
Indian Government has taken a huge step to combat micronutrient deficiency and to improve citizens health.
To overcome the deficiency of micronutrients in citizens Govt of India is encouraging enrichment of food items with micronutrients.
Minister of State for Health and family welfare Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha “The Government of India in order to promote fortification as a means to address micro nutrient deficiencies FSSAI has operationalized the draft Food Safety and Standards regulations regarding fortification of foods”.
The regulation includes provisions regarding fortification of food articles like wheat flour, milk, edible oil, salt and rice with vitamins and minerals. All the major oil producers in India are voluntarily fortifying at least one brand in their product portfolios.
Under FSSAI regulation in 2011 only the sale of iodized salt is permitted for direct human consumption. And, similarly adding synthetic vitamin A is must in Vanaspati oil for consumer consumption.
To improve women and children health, Women and Child development ministry have advised the use of double fortified salt with iron and iodine, wheat four with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12 and edible oil with vitamin A and D under their integrated child development scheme and mid-day meal scheme.
Mr. Choubey also added that FSSAI may continue fortification of food items from time to time under the guidance and regulation of the central or State Governments in consultation with stakeholders. To promote large scale fortification of food and to promote fortified food businesses FSSAI has established Food Fortification Resource Center in collaboration with Tata Trusts and NGOs in the field of nutrition.
