All posts by HealthyLife

HealthyLife is a part of www.WeRIndia.com, an all India – centric website (https://healthylife.werindia.com) and is solely owned and operated by WeRIndia.com. It is a Indian nutritional portal providing educational articles.This nutritional port was launched on February 5th, 2015.
Significance of Havan (Homa)

Significance of Havan (Homa)

It is important for everybody to be happy and healthy, it is very important to lead a life with peaceful mind. In addition, it is very important to have clean environment in terms of clean water and clean air. Population increase, technology, traffic, and pollution and many more things are adding to global warming. There is a tension, havoc around the world. Is there a way we can purify our environment where we live and be happy?

Havan or Yajna, which is one of the ancient ways of purifying the air while worshipping God, has been scientifically proven to be the best method to absorb negative particles from the environment. What is Havan or Yajana? It is a sacred way of worshipping God in which a sacred fire is lit and Sanskrit mantras are recited.  Some people think that it is just worshiping fire and it is not.  It is more than worshipping the fire. It is an ancient ritual performed for the purification and peace of the earth and environment.  It is a selfless act of scholars by means of prayers, who pray for the purification of environment by means of worshipping nature (and God).

The Havan or Yajna is not considered as worship of visible fire. It is only a symbolic act, Havan symbolizes the three D’s—Discipline, Devotion and Dedication.

Science has proven that the havan fumes can kill unwanted bacteria present around and brings pure air in the environment. An artical published in Acrobiolagia and Earth Environment talks about the reduction in fungal spores in presence of havan by killing Aspergillus, Penicillium, Curvuleria and cladosporium etc.

What materials are used in havan?

Havan is performed in Hindu religions in a systematic way that has its own meaning and significance. There are many steps involved in Havan. Offerings and prayers will happen through Agni (fire God). Materials like – Cow ghee, Mango wood or Jackfruit wood, Sandalwood pieces, Camphor, Grass – either darbe or Cymbopogon, Coconut and copra, Red sandalwood, Agar sticks, Essences, Dhoop sticks, Myrr or guggal, Navadhanya and other auspicious materials. Use of certain depends on the type of rituals and offerings people perform. Havan mainly contains cow ghee and plant products or herbs.

What effect havan has on environment? 

An article published in Science Direct, Ethnopharmacology states that Burning wood and medicinal herb which used during ‘havan’, effectively reduce pathogens in the air” A study carried out by a team of scientists at National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in India, has claimed that smoke emitted during havans reduces airborne bacteria to a large extent, minimizing possibility of infectious diseases.

Various gasses produced during Havana decompose the poisonous gasses liberating free oxygen and other useful products acting like disinfectants. Performance of daily Yajna or Havan has many benefits. This is an activity with multiple benefits. We not only purify the air but also remove the impurities of our mind and body.

• When the havan is performed the air touches the fire, gets purified and becomes lighter in nature. This light air goes up and replaces the cold/ the impure air and this process continues and the air keep getting purified till the ritual is being performed.

• Studies and research conducted shows that the main ingredient in havan is mango wood which when burnt releases formic aldehyde, a gas which kills harmful bacterias thus purifies the atmosphere.

• Interestingly, the jaggery burnt in the havan also releases the formic aldehyde gas. According to studies conducted, typhoid causing germs gets killed in presence of havan fumes.

• Cow ghee plays a significance role in havan. Ghee has been referred as an antidote to the poison in Vedas. Its fragrance purifies the physical atmosphere. Ghee when burnt in fire goes up in the atmosphere and attaches itself to the particles in the atmosphere. It comes back to the earth during rain and thus nourishes the vegetation. According to Russian Scientist Dr. Shirowic cow’s ghee added to the fire will decreases the effect of radiation in the atmosphere to a great extent!

• Havan ritual is like giving back to the atmosphere what we have taken from the atmosphere. The aromatic herbs when burnt remove the foul odor in the atmosphere by their fragrance.

• As mentioned in Samaveda, sweets like honey and jaggery, ghee and dry fruits, aromatic herbs like cardamom cinnamon, clove, rose petals, guggal (myrrh) and camphor when burnt releases fragrances that removes the unwanted odor from the earth and purifies the air.

• The aromatic oils and herbs that are medicinal are offered to the sacred fire burn to create chemical substances such as ketones and aldehydes, which produce disinfectants like Formaldehyde. It is a kind of fumigation process, which cleanses the air of harmful germs.

• Inhaling the fumes of havan which contains herbal materials, from distance induces secretions from certain glands related to wind pipe that fills our mind and heart with relaxation. It is similar to use of essential oils or herbal oils effect. As described in Rigvedas , saints used to perform agnihotra-yagnas to purify the environment by sublimating the havan samgri in fire. The man has not realized the significance of the other living world the plant kingdom around him that how important it is for his survival. It is time to wake up and stop ruining the forests and nature.

As per Vedic scholars, the combination of the powerful energy of the fire and the Sanskrit mantras creates extremely auspicious and purifying vibrations that are beneficial to all who attend the havan or homa. The smoke/ fumes arises brings peace in the mind, acts positively on body and helps in purification of the environment. There is no yoga or yajna greater than spontaneous, pure, sattvic giving. According to universal law no one can gain anything without giving: “give and it shall be given unto you.” Give something good (in the form of havan) to the environment and enjoy the benefit of purified water, air and nature.

References:

• http://www.aryasamaj.com/
• http://news.mynahcare.com/
• http://www.vedmandir.com/
• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: June 22, 2016
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Spiritual health includes all of the following except

  • the belief in a higher form of being.
  • a specified way of living as prescribed by a particular religion.
  • to experience love, joy, pain, sorrow, peace, contentment.
  • to have satisfying interpersonal relationships.

The answer is: to have satisfying interpersonal relationships.

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: June 21, 2016
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Ask Doctor

What questions to ask your doctor during health check up?

Whenever you have an appointment with your doctor or primary care physician or a specialist do not hesitate to ask question or discuss about your health issues. It is important because you should get educated not only for yourself, also for your family sake. It is important to understand health issues and what the checkup and tests reveals. It is your chance to strengthen a vital partnership with your healthcare provider and assess your medical outlook till your next visit or beyond that.  Always think of your physical test as two-part process. One is the exam or tests itself. Second part is to understand the health.  Ask your doctor questions during whenever you visit him/her for health reasons. In addition, do not forget to list the questions and to get the answer.

What to ask your doctor during your visit?

  1. What is causing my pain or sickness?
  2. What do I need to do to feel better?
  3. Why it is important for me to do this?
  4. Is the medication that I take is still relevant?
  5. If it is an annual visit ask your doctor -considering my family history, am I at risk for certain diseases?
  6. Annual visit: considering my age and gender, do you recommend any annual screenings?
  7. Should I be seeing a specialist for any reason?
  8. What new therapies or changes in treatment since my last checkup should I know about?
  9. Should I get a flu shot?
  10. Am I at healthy weight? What do my BP readings indicate?

What to tell your doctor

  1. If there is any pain – where it hurts and what are the symptoms.
  2. If you are suffering from something – what are the symptoms and how many days it is going on
  3. Your health and personal history – as clear as possible – Mention everything, even if it seems trivial.
  4. If you are taking any medication, supplements, herbal supplements or doing home remedies – tell doctor about it.
  5. Dietary intake to be sure you’re avoiding high-fat, high-calorie meals and aren’t overdoing alcohol
  6. All those symptoms that you are having.
  7. About your sleep issues
  8. your family medical history, which shows if grandparents, parents or siblings had heart attacks, strokes, breast or prostate cancers and other illnesses

Any concerns that you might have – like

  1. whether the drug causes side effect that I need to be aware of?
  2. Can I go to work ?
  3. can I do house work – lifting, cleaning, washing, cooking etc.
  4. can I exercise?
  5. Is my health better, the same or worse since my last checkup?
  6. What is the test for?
  7. How many times have you done this procedure?
  8. When will I get the results?
  9. Why do I need this treatment?
  10. Are there any alternatives?
  11. What are the possible complications?
  12. Which hospital is best for my needs?
  13. How do you spell the name of that drug?
  14. Will this medicine interact with medicines that I’m already taking?

Doctors are trained to handle all your medical concerns—and you won’t be the first patient with a sensitive issue. So, be sure to mention any  symptoms or unusual feelings—physical or emotional—that you might have. Never let embarrassment, fear or shame keep you from telling your doctor about a problem

What you can do to help

  1. Take someone with you to understand what doctor is asking you to do
  2. Ask questions when you don’t understand something
  3. Obtain educational and support resources from health care professional
  4. Follow the instructions regarding your medicines, therapy as directed by your doctor.
  5. Carry a note book with you and note down the instructions and check with your doctor or nurse before you leave.
  6. When do I actually need to see you again?
  7. When should I return to work?
  8. Do I need prescription renewed?
  9. Ask a note from doctor =If you need a note to return to work or school.

Communicating with your doctor is very important: Keep your doctor office phone number handy. Contact your doctor’s office any time you have a question about your health or are having trouble adhering to his or her instructions.  Understanding the medicine and following doctor’s instructions for your recovery is very important.

References:

  1. oprah.com
  2. huffingtonpost.com
  3. http://www.ahrq.gov/
  4. Image credit: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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Quench your thirst with these healthy drinks !

Quench your thirst with these healthy drinks !

Try these four different drink recipes this summer. These are loaded with nutrients and good for health!

These recipes contains super foods like- carrot, banana, almond, jackfruit, sprouted green gram, avocado, grated coconut, honey etc. Everyone of these ingredients have unique health benefits for human consumption. Why wait? 

Try these four yummy drink recipes at home to quench your thirst!

Ingredients:

1. Sprouted green gram 1 cup

2. Powdered jaggery 1 cup

3. Water 1 glass

4. Cardamom powder ¼ tsp

Method:

1. Grind the sprouted green gram with jaggery, cardamom powder and water into smooth.

2. Healthy Green gram juice is ready. Pour into glasses and serve.

2. Avocado Banana Almond Milk Smoothie

Ingredients:

1. Banana 1 (large)

2. Ripe Avocado 1

3. Almond milk 1-2 cups

4. Honey 2-3 tsp

Method:

1. Combine chopped Banana, Avocado pulp, Almond milk and Honey in a blender/mixer and blend till smooth.

2. Pour into glasses and serve chilled.

3. Carrot Milk shake

Ingredients:
1. Milk 1 ltr
2. Carrot 2
3. Grated Coconut ¼ cup
4. Sugar 1 cup
5. Cashew ½ cup
6. Saffron little

Method:

1. Wash, scrape and cut the carrots. Cook in pressure cooker with coconut and little milk.

2. Grind cooked carrots with cashew and some milk into fine paste.

3. Take milk in a vessel and allow it to boil. Add ground paste and sugar into it. Mix well and let it boil.

4. Add saffron mix well and switch off the stove.

5. After cooling refrigerate for half an hour and enjoy the carrot milkshake.

4. Jackfruit Milk shake

Ingredients:

1. Ripe Jackfruit flesh 1 cup

2. Cold milk 1-2 cups

3. Honey 1 tsp (optional)

4. Cardamom powder ¼ tsp

Method:

1. Combine Chopped Jackfruit flesh, milk, honey and cardamom powder in a blender and blend till smooth.

2. Pour into glasses and serve chilled.

Recipe by: Mamatha Anil @bhakshyabhojana.blogspot.com

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: June 20, 2016
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Brazil Refuses All Imports of U.S.- Grown Genetically-Modified Crops

Brazil Refuses All Imports of U.S.- Grown Genetically-Modified Crops

While genetically modified (GMO) foods seem to proliferate across the U.S., many other nations do not allow such products to enter or grow within their borders.

Christina Sarich /(UR) Brazil — The list of countries refusing Monsanto’s genetically-modified crops continues Cropsto grow. Highlighting the world divide on the issue, Brazil recently refused all U.S.-grown GM crops. While we are continually force-fed genetically modified foods — since they are in approximately 80 percent of all packaged, conventional foods in grocery stores in America — other countries are refusing to import them, grow them, or sell them within their borders.

As more nations pass laws that impose trade regulations on genetically modified goods, despite World Trade Organization back room deals, Monsanto and their cut-outs opt for ever-more devious strategies to insinuate their wares onto the world.

Despite this, as a Bloomberg article points out,

“In recent years, some of the largest commodity trading companies have refused to take certain GMO crops from farmers because the seeds used hadn’t received a full array of global approvals, something that can lead to holdups at ports or even the rejection of entire cargoes.”

For example, Brazil.

In this instance, it is Brazil’s chicken farmers who won’t feed their birds GM corn; but there are other countries opting out of GM crops, too.

Ironically, Brazil is the second largest producer of GM crops in the world after the U.S., and grows 29 varieties of GM corn, so they are likely pulling rank for trade rather than hoping to save their population’s health — but at least the chicken farmers see the detriment from using GM corn.

This doesn’t mean that a resistance in Brazil isn’t growing as well. Female Members of the Landless Worker’s Movement (MST) broke into a São Paulo State lab and destroyed millions of samples of GM prototypes not long ago that contained a carcinogenic pesticide.

There is a good reason for banning GM crops, even if they are only meant for livestock to consume. A new Seralini study says that the very first GM crop, introduced way back in 1996, was highly toxic to farm animals over the long-term.

Seralini highlights problems such as “partial paralysis (paresis) accompanied by great fatigue, and problems in the kidneys and mucosal membranes in the animals, followed by death in 10% of cases,” all from feeding the animals GM crops like corn, soy, and alfalfa. Not surprisingly, he finds that GM maize (like Monsanto’s highly touted Bt variety) are the most toxic of all.

You can imagine what we’ve done to these animals’ health since the 1990s — and to ourselves in the years that have followed.

Fortunately, Brazil’s farmers join a growing, international resistance against cultivating GM seed. Russia recently banned all U.S. corn and soy imports due to possible GM contamination. Nineteen additional countries in the E.U. also banned all GM crops, and dozens more have banned GM crops for import or growth in their country.

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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Research shows that by grade 12 _____ percent of students have tried cigarette smoking.

  • 25
  • 35
  • 54
  • 64
  • None of the above

The answer is: 54%

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: June 18, 2016
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Sweet Potato -Tofu Vegan Muffins

Sweet Potato -Tofu Vegan Muffins

If you are looking for some recipe that does not require real eggs, but should be a savory, then here is a vegan/vegetarian muffin recipe you might like. Try this healthy recipe that supplies fiber, antioxidants, protein and is gluten free and free of nuts. Kids may like this taste as it gives that savory taste and is a baked item. This is a vegan and vegetarian muffin.

Sweet Potato -Tofu Vegan Muffins

1. 1 large sweet potato, baked and peeled

2. 1 12 0z. block of firm tofu

3. 1 tomato, chopped (optional)

4. 1 cup fresh spinach

5. 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 yellow bell pepper – slice into thin pieces

6. 1/4 tsp. paprika

7. salt and pepper

8. One sheet of puff pastry

Method :

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray cooking spray in 5 or 6 muffin tins.

3. Cut sweet potato in fifths.

4. Cut 3-4 inch pieces from the puff pastry sheet and line each muffin cup, pressing down and line the sides.

5. Press each piece of sweet potato into one muffin cup each. Similar to pastry sheet press down the potato piece to bottom and sides.

6. In a food processor, combine tofu, spinach, paprika ,salt and pepper.

7. Blend for about 20 seconds until the mixture is smooth.

8. Now stir in bell peppers and if you are using stir in chopped tomatoes too.

9. Add mixture to sweet potato cups and bake for about 30 minutes till the pastry sheet turns brown

10. Serve this as a snack item or appetizer item.

Original recipe by:

• http://athleticavocado.com/
• http://www.kindcookingwithkids.com/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: June 17, 2016
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