GINGER: Historically, ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. In herbal medicine, ginger is regarded as an excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract). ginger is very effective in preventing gastrointestinal distress like motion sickness and is very useful in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Ginger contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols and these are helpful for anti-inflammatory effect and protection against colorectal cancer.
GRAPES: It has high content of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C. It also contains many health-promoting polyphenols. Three types of polyphenols that are most important for the health benefits of grapes are: (1) flavonoids, (2) phenolic acids, and (3) resveratrol. These compounds have anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, anti- inflammation and anti-viral properties.
GRAPEFRUIT: Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. I t also has Antioxidant (due to LYCOPENE), Antitumor (due to LIMONOIDS) and Antiatherosclerotic (due to PECTIN) properties.
GUAVA: Guava is a very good source of vitamin C, fibers as well as minerals like calcium and Phosphorus. Guava is associated with healing of wounds, cure dysentery and constipation. Guava, having high content of roughage, no cholesterol & less digestible carbohydrates, is good for those trying to lose weight.
KIWI: Kiwifruit is an excellent source of Vit.C and Dietary fiber. It has antioxidant and anti-asthmatic properties. Because of the presence of dietary fiber this fruit helps to control blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels.
LETTUCE: Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of vit.A,C,K and Folic acid. It is also called heart-healthy salad as its fiber helps lower cholesterol levels and potassium helps in lowering the high blood pressure.
LIME: The first fruit that comes to our minds when it comes to medicinal uses is perhaps the good old lime. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C and has antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties.
MANGO: It is One of the most delicious and most fattening fruits, mango is truly called the ‘King of Fruits’. Mangoes contain phenols, this phenolic compound have powerful antioxidant and anticancer abilities. Mango is high in iron, pregnant women and people with anemia are advised to eat this fruit regularly. Mango is a rich source of vitamin A(beta-carotene), E and Selenium which help to protect against heart disease and other ailments.
OKRA: Besides being low in calories it is rich in vitamins of the category A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and dietary fiber. Eating okra is much recommended for pregnant woman because it is rich in folic acid. The mucilage and fiber found in okra helps adjust blood sugar by regulating its absorption in the small intestine. The fiber of okra has many superior qualities in maintaining the health of the gastro-intestinal tract. It helps reabsorb water and traps excess cholesterol, metabolic toxins and surplus bile in its mucilage and slips it out through the stool. Due to greater percentage of water in the bulk it thereby prevents constipation, gas and bloating in the abdomen. Okra is an excellent laxative treats irritable bowels, heals ulcers and sooths the gastrointestinal tract. Protein and oil contained in the seeds of okra serves as the rich source of amino acids like tryptophan, cystine and other sulfur amino acids.
OLIVE: Olives are concentrated in monounsaturated fats and a good source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant. It goes after and directly neutralizes free radicals in all the fat-rich areas of the body and thus it protects from heart diseases, colon cancer, asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
ONION: Onions are very good source of Chromium, Vit.C and Dietary fiber. Allyl propyl disulfide onions is responsible for lowering blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin available. Allyl propyl disulfide does this by competing with insulin, which is also a disulphide, to occupy the sites in the liver where insulin is inactivated. This results is an increase in the amount of insulin available to usher glucose into cells causing a lowering of blood sugar. onions are a very good source of chromium, Clinical studies of diabetics have shown that chromium can decrease fasting blood glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin levels, and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while increasing good HDL-cholesterol levels. Besides having heart healthy effects, onions protect from various cancers and it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities.
ORANGE: As we all know oranges are an excellent source of Vit.C. Oranges' health benefits continue with their fiber; a single orange provides 12.5% of the daily value for fiber, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels thus helping to prevent atherosclerosis. Fiber can also help out by keeping blood sugar levels under control. The most important point about ornage is that a class of compounds found in citrus fruit peels called polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) have the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription drugs like statin, and without side effects.
PAPAYA: Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C as well as a good source of vitamin E and vitamin A, three very powerful antioxidants. These nutrients help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Papayas are also a good source of fiber, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels. The folic acid found in papayas is needed for the conversion of a substance called homocysteine into benign amino acids such as cysteine or methionine. If unconverted, homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls and, if levels get too high, is considered a significant risk factor for a heart attack or stroke.
PEACH: Peaches help make the skin healthy and also add color to the complexion. It has been seen that consumption of peaches helps in the removal of worms from the intestinal tract. Being rich in Vitamin A, peaches might help prevent cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue. Peaches comprise of more than 80 percent water and are a good source of dietary fiber, making them good for those trying to lose weight. Researches have suggested that peaches have good to excellent antioxidant activity, some antimicrobial activity and good to excellent tumor growth inhibition activity.
PINEAPPLE: Bromelain is a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from pineapple. It has Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Digestive Benefits. Pineapple is an excellent source of Vit.C and trace mineral Manganese. Vit.C is helpful for antioxidant Protection and Immune Support and the trace mineral manganese is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria requires manganese. Just one cup of fresh pineapple supplies 128.0% of the DV for this very important trace mineral. In addition to manganese, pineapple is a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that acts as a cofactor in enzymatic reactions central to energy production.
PLUM: The fresh version (plums) and the dried version (prunes) of the plant are significant source of anti-oxidants and Vit.C.
POTATO: Potatoes contain a variety of phytonutrients that have antioxidant activity. Potatoes have high levels of vitamin C, folic acid, quercetin and kukoamines. These last compounds have blood pressure lowering potential. The dietary fiber is half soluble, half insoluble, so it helps to keep you regular and helps to lower Cholesterol. In addition, one baked potato offers about 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin B6, which is good for your heart and nervous system.
RASP BERRY: Phytonutrients like Ellagic acid, Quercetin, kaempferol, and the cyanidin-based molecules help to show Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic Protection.
SPINACH: Flavonoid compounds in spinach function as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents. The vitamin K provided by spinach is important for maintaining bone health. Vitamin K1 helps prevent excessive activation of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A important antioxidants that work to reduce the amounts of free radicals in the body; vitamin C works as a water-soluble antioxidant and beta-carotene as a fat-soluble one. This water-and-fat-soluble antioxidant team helps to prevent cholesterol from becoming oxidized. Oxidized cholesterol is able to stick to and build up in blood vessel walls, where it can cause blocked arteries, heart attack or stroke. Spinach is also an excellent source of folate. Folate is needed by the body to help convert a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine that can lead to heart attack or stroke if levels get too high, into other benign molecules. In addition, spinach is an excellent source of magnesium, a mineral that can help to lower high blood pressure and protect against heart disease as well. Cooked spinach is an excellent source of iron.
STRAW BERRY: strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. They also qualified as a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine as well as a good source of potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids,vitamin B6, vitamin K, magnesium, and copper.
SWEET POTATO: This root vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), a very good source of vitamin C and manganese. Both Vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that work in the body to remove free radicals, this free radicals are chemicals that damage cells. Sweet potatoes are a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. Sweet potato is a good food for diabetics, because it helped stabilize blood sugar levels.
TOMATO: Tomatoes have high concentrations of lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid and is one of the most powerful of anti-oxidants. Lycopene within tomatoes is thought to have health benefits that extend to helping prevent cancer, reducing LDL cholesterol, and even slowing the aging process. The other nutrients in tomato include vitamins B, C, E, and K - with minerals iron, copper, phosphorous - plus protein, pantothetic acid, and niacin. Tomatoes even contain a trace of tryptophan. Tomato consumption is thought to help reduce blood-clotting and inflammation. The vitamin K helps maintain bone health by keeping up osteocalcin levels. Folate in tomatoes helps to reduce the risk of colon cancer. The chromium content of tomatoes helps diabetic patients maintain stable blood sugar levels.
WATER MELON: Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production like vitamin B6 and vitamin B1 , minerals like magnesium and potassium.
THE SECRETS OF LIFE
Deepening the mystery of creation is science. Deepening the mystery of the Self is spirituality.
The purpose of technology is to comfort human beings. When spiritual values - human values - are ignored and neglected, technology brings fear and destruction instead of comfort. Technology without human values would see nature as a dead object. Science gives insight into the life of nature, and spirituality makes nature come alive. For example, in the eyes of children, there is nothing dead in the world; animals, trees, the sun and the moon all are alive, and have emotions and feelings. But in the eyes of a stressed and ignorant person, even human beings are like robots or objects! Technology without spirituality is destructive. Spirituality is the technology of consciousness, and the whole world is the play and display of consciousness.
One whose eyes are not yet opened is not amazed by the magnificence of this creation. Tell me, what in this creation is not a mystery? Birth is a mystery.
Death is a mystery. Life itself is certainly a greater mystery.Samadhi is being completely immersed in the mystery of life and in this creation. Your knowing or believing in it doesn't really matter. This creation is an unfathomable secret! A wise person makes no effort to conceal a secret. But he does not make an effort to reveal a secret either. For example, you do not talk about menstruation or death to a five-year-old. But as children grow older, these things are not hidden from them. They become known as a matter of course.
There are five secrets that are sacred and guarded by the subtle beings and angels in this creation. They are:
Janama Rahasya or the secret of birth: Birth is a secret. How a soul takes a body, and the criteria for selecting the place and time of birth, type of body, and parents are all a secret.
Marana Rahasya or the secret of death: Death is a highly guarded secret. Death remains a mystery. The process of separation of spirit from matter and its journey from then on is a secret.
Raja Rahasya or the secret of governance: The principles of governing and the principles of maintaining orderliness in creation are a secret. Prakriti Rahasya or the secret of nature: Nature is a mystery. The more you know about nature, the more the mystery deepens. The more a scientist knows, the more he realizes there is to know. Science, though appearing to resolve the mystery in creation, has deepened it. Knowledge of particles, wave functions, black holes and the vacuum state have only deepened the mystery.
Mantra Rahasya (the secret of mantras): Mantras are the impulses or rhythms of consciousness. The mantras and their effect, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.
In the West, a secret is usually shameful and dishonest. However, in the East, a secret is honored and considered sacred. Mysteries of the creation only deepen. Getting steeped in mystery is devotion. Deepening the mystery of creation is Science. Deepening the mystery of the Self is spirituality. They are the two sides of the same coin. If neither science nor spirituality can create wonder and devotion in you, then you are in deep slumber. Whenever you consider a symbol, place, time, person or act as sacred, your attention is undivided and whole. When things are the same, you tend to slip into unawareness and inertia. Why does an act that is performed repeatedly lose its sacredness? This happens when your memory overpowers your consciousness and you lose your sensitivity.
For example, people living in Benaras, a holy city in India, do not feel that it is a sacred place. Through living in the present moment and through sadhana, spiritual practices, we can preserve that feeling of sacredness in our acts.There is a pleasure in rest and there is a pleasure in activity. The pleasure in activity is momentary and causes fatigue. The pleasure in rest is magnanimous and energizing. To the one who has tasted pleasure in rest (samadhi), the pleasure in activity is insignificant. But In order to have deep rest, one must be active. The proper balance of both is essential.
The Mind
Let us examine the five factors that influence the mind: space, time, food, past impressions, and associations and actions.
Space: The place you are in. Every place you are in has a different impact on the mind. Even in your house, you can see that you feel different in different rooms. A place where there has been singing, chanting and meditation has a different influence on the mind. Suppose you like a particular place, you may find that a little later it will not be the same.
Time: Time is also a factor. Different times of the day and year have different influences on the mind.
Food: Different types of food that you eat influence you for a few days. Past impressions or karmas: have a different impact on the mind. Awareness, alertness, knowledge and meditation all help erase past impressions.
Associations and actions: The people and events you are associated with influence your mind. With certain people your mind behaves one way and with others a different way. Although these five factors influence your life and your mind, know that the Self is more powerful. As you grow in knowledge, you influence them all.
Restlessness
Now let us examine the types of restlessness and its remedies. There are five types of restlessness:
The first is due to the place you are in. When you move away from certain places, streets or houses, you immediately feel better. Chanting, singing, or the innocence of children playing and laughing can change this atmospheric restlessness.. If you chant and sing, the vibration in the place changes.
The second type of restlessness is in the body. Eating the wrong food,Vata-aggravating food, eating at odd times, not exercising, and overworking can all cause physical restlessness. The remedy for this is exercise, moderation in work habits and a one to two day vegetable or juice diet.
The third type of restlessness is mental restlessness. It is caused by ambition, strong thoughts, likes or dislikes. Knowledge alone can cure this restlessness; this includes seeing life from a broader perspective, knowing about the Self and realizing the impermanence of everything. If you achieve everything, so what? After your achievement, you will die. Knowledge of your death or life, Confidence in the Self and in the Divine can all calm down mental restlessness.
There is also emotional restlessness. Any amount of knowledge does not help here. Sudarshan Kriya helps! All that emotional restlessness vanishes. Also the presence of the Guru, a wise person, or a saint will help calm emotional restlessness.
The fifth type of restlessness is rare. It is the restlessness of the Soul.When everything feels empty and meaningless, know you are very fortunate. Do not try to get rid of it. Embrace it! This restlessness of the Soul can bring authentic prayer in you. It brings perfection, Siddhis and miracles in life. It is so precious to get that innermost longing for the Divine. Satsang and the presence of enlightened ones, soothe the restlessness of the Soul. Do not look for the Divine somewhere in the sky. See God in every pair of eyes, in the mountains, water, trees and animals. How? Only when you see God in yourself. Only Gods can worship Gods.
Heightened awareness brings you close to the reality. And for this, you have to increase your prana. This can be done through: 1. Fasting and eating fresh food
2. Pranayamas, Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation 3. Silence 4. Cold water baths 5. The right amount of sleep 6. Emotional contentment 7. Presence of the Master 8. Singing and chanting 9. Giving without Givership and service without Doership. All of these together is Yagya. When you have reverence for the whole universe, you are in harmony with the whole universe. Then, you do not need to reject or renounce anything. When you have reverence in all your relationships, your own consciousness expands; Even small things appear to be significant and big.
Every little creature appears dignified. It is the reverence in every relationship that saves the relationship.
Cultivate the skill of having reverence for every moment in your life.
The purpose of technology is to comfort human beings. When spiritual values - human values - are ignored and neglected, technology brings fear and destruction instead of comfort. Technology without human values would see nature as a dead object. Science gives insight into the life of nature, and spirituality makes nature come alive. For example, in the eyes of children, there is nothing dead in the world; animals, trees, the sun and the moon all are alive, and have emotions and feelings. But in the eyes of a stressed and ignorant person, even human beings are like robots or objects! Technology without spirituality is destructive. Spirituality is the technology of consciousness, and the whole world is the play and display of consciousness.
One whose eyes are not yet opened is not amazed by the magnificence of this creation. Tell me, what in this creation is not a mystery? Birth is a mystery.
Death is a mystery. Life itself is certainly a greater mystery.Samadhi is being completely immersed in the mystery of life and in this creation. Your knowing or believing in it doesn't really matter. This creation is an unfathomable secret! A wise person makes no effort to conceal a secret. But he does not make an effort to reveal a secret either. For example, you do not talk about menstruation or death to a five-year-old. But as children grow older, these things are not hidden from them. They become known as a matter of course.
There are five secrets that are sacred and guarded by the subtle beings and angels in this creation. They are:
Janama Rahasya or the secret of birth: Birth is a secret. How a soul takes a body, and the criteria for selecting the place and time of birth, type of body, and parents are all a secret.
Marana Rahasya or the secret of death: Death is a highly guarded secret. Death remains a mystery. The process of separation of spirit from matter and its journey from then on is a secret.
Raja Rahasya or the secret of governance: The principles of governing and the principles of maintaining orderliness in creation are a secret. Prakriti Rahasya or the secret of nature: Nature is a mystery. The more you know about nature, the more the mystery deepens. The more a scientist knows, the more he realizes there is to know. Science, though appearing to resolve the mystery in creation, has deepened it. Knowledge of particles, wave functions, black holes and the vacuum state have only deepened the mystery.
Mantra Rahasya (the secret of mantras): Mantras are the impulses or rhythms of consciousness. The mantras and their effect, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.
In the West, a secret is usually shameful and dishonest. However, in the East, a secret is honored and considered sacred. Mysteries of the creation only deepen. Getting steeped in mystery is devotion. Deepening the mystery of creation is Science. Deepening the mystery of the Self is spirituality. They are the two sides of the same coin. If neither science nor spirituality can create wonder and devotion in you, then you are in deep slumber. Whenever you consider a symbol, place, time, person or act as sacred, your attention is undivided and whole. When things are the same, you tend to slip into unawareness and inertia. Why does an act that is performed repeatedly lose its sacredness? This happens when your memory overpowers your consciousness and you lose your sensitivity.
For example, people living in Benaras, a holy city in India, do not feel that it is a sacred place. Through living in the present moment and through sadhana, spiritual practices, we can preserve that feeling of sacredness in our acts.There is a pleasure in rest and there is a pleasure in activity. The pleasure in activity is momentary and causes fatigue. The pleasure in rest is magnanimous and energizing. To the one who has tasted pleasure in rest (samadhi), the pleasure in activity is insignificant. But In order to have deep rest, one must be active. The proper balance of both is essential.
The Mind
Let us examine the five factors that influence the mind: space, time, food, past impressions, and associations and actions.
Space: The place you are in. Every place you are in has a different impact on the mind. Even in your house, you can see that you feel different in different rooms. A place where there has been singing, chanting and meditation has a different influence on the mind. Suppose you like a particular place, you may find that a little later it will not be the same.
Time: Time is also a factor. Different times of the day and year have different influences on the mind.
Food: Different types of food that you eat influence you for a few days. Past impressions or karmas: have a different impact on the mind. Awareness, alertness, knowledge and meditation all help erase past impressions.
Associations and actions: The people and events you are associated with influence your mind. With certain people your mind behaves one way and with others a different way. Although these five factors influence your life and your mind, know that the Self is more powerful. As you grow in knowledge, you influence them all.
Restlessness
Now let us examine the types of restlessness and its remedies. There are five types of restlessness:
The first is due to the place you are in. When you move away from certain places, streets or houses, you immediately feel better. Chanting, singing, or the innocence of children playing and laughing can change this atmospheric restlessness.. If you chant and sing, the vibration in the place changes.
The second type of restlessness is in the body. Eating the wrong food,Vata-aggravating food, eating at odd times, not exercising, and overworking can all cause physical restlessness. The remedy for this is exercise, moderation in work habits and a one to two day vegetable or juice diet.
The third type of restlessness is mental restlessness. It is caused by ambition, strong thoughts, likes or dislikes. Knowledge alone can cure this restlessness; this includes seeing life from a broader perspective, knowing about the Self and realizing the impermanence of everything. If you achieve everything, so what? After your achievement, you will die. Knowledge of your death or life, Confidence in the Self and in the Divine can all calm down mental restlessness.
There is also emotional restlessness. Any amount of knowledge does not help here. Sudarshan Kriya helps! All that emotional restlessness vanishes. Also the presence of the Guru, a wise person, or a saint will help calm emotional restlessness.
The fifth type of restlessness is rare. It is the restlessness of the Soul.When everything feels empty and meaningless, know you are very fortunate. Do not try to get rid of it. Embrace it! This restlessness of the Soul can bring authentic prayer in you. It brings perfection, Siddhis and miracles in life. It is so precious to get that innermost longing for the Divine. Satsang and the presence of enlightened ones, soothe the restlessness of the Soul. Do not look for the Divine somewhere in the sky. See God in every pair of eyes, in the mountains, water, trees and animals. How? Only when you see God in yourself. Only Gods can worship Gods.
Heightened awareness brings you close to the reality. And for this, you have to increase your prana. This can be done through: 1. Fasting and eating fresh food
2. Pranayamas, Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation 3. Silence 4. Cold water baths 5. The right amount of sleep 6. Emotional contentment 7. Presence of the Master 8. Singing and chanting 9. Giving without Givership and service without Doership. All of these together is Yagya. When you have reverence for the whole universe, you are in harmony with the whole universe. Then, you do not need to reject or renounce anything. When you have reverence in all your relationships, your own consciousness expands; Even small things appear to be significant and big.
Every little creature appears dignified. It is the reverence in every relationship that saves the relationship.
Cultivate the skill of having reverence for every moment in your life.
HOW TO DEAL WITH REAL LIFE SITUATIONS
In Patanjali's Yogasutras, It is said there are four clues, ideas, or concepts on how to deal with real life situations. First, there is friendliness. If you feel Friendly for those who are happy, you will overcome jealousy. For people who are suffering, you should have only compassion, and not friendliness. Be happy for those who do good work, who are productive, and meritous. For those who are doing bad things, feel indifference , not hatred.
Fear
You cannot totally eliminate fear, nor should we. Fear is like salt in the food, it keeps one on his toes. Fear keeps one’s feet on the ground, but fear is essential to some degree only. Life salt in the food, if there is too much salt, the food is not consumable, but you cannot eat the food without any salt. A little bit of fear is essential in the process of growth.
Manthan
What we need to do is 'Manthan', introspection. Think what have you got. Think what you have not got. This helps in purification of intellect! And by frequent introspection, you will remember Who you are!! It's like you know it all, you know what it is, but cannot see that all the time. There is a mirror in your hand, but it is dusty! Lots of dusts have accumulated on it... We need to clean off the dust. And what are these dusts called? Craving, aversion... which leads to lack of enthusiasm.
Valor
If you think I have no will power, you will never have it. You have locked your own hands, put a label on your forehead that you are weak. Invoke the valour in you, take a pledge. You have all the force available for you when you need it. You have all the strength and energy!
Fear
You cannot totally eliminate fear, nor should we. Fear is like salt in the food, it keeps one on his toes. Fear keeps one’s feet on the ground, but fear is essential to some degree only. Life salt in the food, if there is too much salt, the food is not consumable, but you cannot eat the food without any salt. A little bit of fear is essential in the process of growth.
Manthan
What we need to do is 'Manthan', introspection. Think what have you got. Think what you have not got. This helps in purification of intellect! And by frequent introspection, you will remember Who you are!! It's like you know it all, you know what it is, but cannot see that all the time. There is a mirror in your hand, but it is dusty! Lots of dusts have accumulated on it... We need to clean off the dust. And what are these dusts called? Craving, aversion... which leads to lack of enthusiasm.
Valor
If you think I have no will power, you will never have it. You have locked your own hands, put a label on your forehead that you are weak. Invoke the valour in you, take a pledge. You have all the force available for you when you need it. You have all the strength and energy!
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