Ayurveda Health Tips

Courtesy : Maharishi Ayurveda in Scotland
Note : These tips are for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat, diagnose or mitigate a disease. 

Drinking Hot Water:  

Drinking hot water regularly is a classical Ayurvedic recommendation,strengthening digestive power, and reducing metabolic waste, that may have accumulated. Boil a sufficient amount of tap water or (still) mineral water in an open saucepan, for at least ten minutes. Keep this water in a thermos flask and take a few sips (or more, if you are thirsty) every half-hour throughout the day. It is the frequency rather than the quantity that is important here. To increase the positive effect you can add 1-2 slices of fresh ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder) to the water when boiling it.

Exercising for Good Health: 

Exercise is an important part of Maharishi Ayurveda but as with many good things in life, there is a limit to the amount of exercise that should be taken, and if one goes beyond this, the results will be negative rather than positive.
1.      Do not strain the body in your daily exercise. Remain within 50% of your capacity When you begin to breathe heavily or perspire a lot, then you should stop or slow down.
2.      Regularity is the key to success. A quarter of an hour each day is better than five hours once a week.
3.      Do your exercise preferably in the mornings between 6 and 10 o'clock.
4.      Follow a healthy diet, and support mind and body with Ayurvedic food supplements.
5.      Observe the important relaxation and regeneration phase after exercise.
6.      Practise Yoga Asanas regularly.

         Relaxed Meals for Good Health:

1.      Eat only when genuinely hungry and when your last meal is fully digested (about 3-6 hours after a main meal).
2.      Eat in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. While eating you should not read, work or watch television. Always sit down to eat.
3.      Do not over eat. After eating, the stomach should be only up to 3/4 full.
4.      Sit quietly for 5-10 minutes at the end of each meal
5.      Lunch should be the main meal of the day. Breakfast and evening meals should be light. The evening meal should not be taken too late.
6.      In the evening avoid heavy foods such as meat, fish, yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk and fromage frais.
7.      Try to be regular in your meal times. Eat at the same times each day.
8.      Avoid eating between meals. Instead drink hot water, or if necessary eat ripe sweet fruit.
9.      Food should be freshly prepared; it should be wholesome and should taste good. Avoid reheated or stale food.
10.  Most of one's food should be cooked, as the body can more easily absorb cooked food. Raw food should be eaten only as a side dish (e. g. salad).
11.  Make use of culinary spices. They not only make the food tasty, but support the digestive processes as well.
12.  Include all 6 tastes in each meal: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. The tastes also have their own influence on the subtle inner balance of the physiology.
13.  During meals you may sip liquids such as water, juice or lassi. Do not drink a lot and avoid ice-cold drinks - they dampen down the digestive processes.
14.  Milk should not be drunk with the main meal. It can be taken alone or with a light meal of sweet tasting foods (e.g. toast, cereals etc). Minimise food of other tastes.
15.  Honey should not be heated above body temperature (40 degrees C) and therefore should not be used in cooking or baking. 


Oil Massage :

     One of the most enjoyable things you can do for your body and health is to have a full-body oil massage in the morning before your bath or shower. An oil massage has a soothing effect on the nervous system, strengthens the circulation, and helps to remove toxins from the body. The Ayurvedic texts explain that the use of oil massage brings about a soft, flexible, strong and attractive body. It is extremely beneficial for the skin and should therefore be done regularly.