Category: Well being

Personal, Well being

The Natural Beauty Around Us

Pihu

Today I wanted to write something other than professional blogs. About something, I have noticed over the past few months. 

We all sit at our work desks or lie in our beds dreaming about camping trips or imagining digging our feet in the wet beach sand. Enjoying the joy of nature. But in thinking of faraway places we overlook the natural beauty around us. 

Just for example – The plants lining the road, a small vein around the window, or even the sunlight have the same magnificence and power of lightning up the human spirit. So, just take a moment to connect and step outside the house, noticing the birds, the sunlight, and all the small things we take for granted in our life. 

  • Benefits of connecting with nature

So, why should we appreciate the environment in the first place? A recently published study shows that spending only 2 hours in a week outdoors benefits health and well-being. A few examples being:-

  1. Lifts Mood and decreases the tendency of depression and anxiety.
  1. Calms the mind and relieves stress by reducing the amount of cortisol. 
  1. Humbles oneself by making us realize there is something a lot bigger and powerful than us.
  1. Taking a small break and looking at the sky, trees, or birds while performing strenuous mental activity, helps revamp, refocus, and relax the mind. 
  1. Reduces high Bp and risk of heart diseases. 
  1. Being in nature 20 minutes per day decreases the chance of falling sick.

Now we know the benefits of nature. So, let us read a few simple tricks which will help you to connect with the flora and fauna in your hustling and bustling city. 

  • Tips to appreciate with the Environment 
  1. Go for a walk
  1. Wake up early
  1. Put some plants
  1. Feed and help stray animals
  1. Adopt a pet
  1. Spend some time in a park 
  1. Volunteer!
  1. Meditate ( Mindfulness plays an important role in appreciating and experiencing our surroundings)

Conclusion

Isn’t taking out time to embrace nature just wonderful? We might not experience the same joy as we would standing on a beach or camping in a forest. But make the best of what is available, right? What do you think?  Please drop your thoughts, suggestions, and what you believe I should write next in the comment section below. 

Well being

Why Yoga is so Much More Than Just a Workout

Pihu

Yoga’s benefits are not only limited to the body but extend to the mind and the soul as well

Yoga has its origin in the Indian subcontinent; it is one of the oldest forms of healing and exercise. Now, famous worldwide for its efficiency, it gained increased popularity in the coronavirus pandemic. Read on to find out why it is much more than just a workout.

  1. Mindfulness

The essence of Yoga is that one must be completely focused and present to do it correctly. When we do something with 100% concentration, it grounds us and raises a state of awareness and mindfulness. Mindfulness, as described by Buddhists, means our brain to be aware and active. Being mindful increases the quality of our lives and those around us by giving us clarity and a sense of right and wrong. 

2. Boosts Self Image

Yoga boosts self-acceptance and self-esteem. As one concentrates on what his/her body can do and is capable of. When doing yoga one can feel him/herself getting stronger and better than the day before. To concentrate on who we are and our bodies are instead of focusing on what we wish them to be. Yoga allows us to get in touch with our inner self. While one lies in savasana after a tiring workout he/she can feel the energy flowing through them while finding a sense of gratitude for it. This is why Yoga is used to treat anorexia and other eating disorders.

3. Improves Mental Health

It is now scientifically proven that Yoga incorporated with meditation can do wonders for mental health. Not only is it good for calming down the brain but makes it sharper too! Yes, Yoga improves memory, thickens the hippocampus (associated with language and learning) and the cerebral cortex (associated with information processing). An extensive study proved that people practicing yoga showed a slower decline in the grey matter as opposed to non-practitioners. It also helps in curing depression, anxiety, and loneliness in the old and young alike. Deep breathing exercises help in increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain. 

4. Prevention and cure of diseases

Not only does yoga tone the body but also improves its inner functioning. Practicing yoga improves the circulatory, digestive, nervous, respiratory, muscular, and skeletal systems of the body. Thus, protecting from various diseases like obesity, inflammation, constipation, heart attack, and many more.

Not only this but Yoga is also proven to cure many diseases like asthma, arthritis, diabetes, etc. Pranayama cures constipation, hypertension, and depression. Some asanas to cure various diseases are-

Back pain – Ustrasana, Paschimottanasana

Stress – Adho mukha svanasana, Bālāsana

High Bp – Vajrasana, Ardha matsyendrasana

5. Yoga for sleep

It is best to do Yoga early in the morning, but a small pre-bedtime routine can help you sleep better.  Deep stretches and mindful breathing will relax your body and concentrate the mind. Some bedtime asanas to stretch and destress your body after a long day’s work are Halasana, Supta Baddha Konasana, Supta Matsyendrasana, etc. 

In Summary,

We have now established that yoga is much more than just a workout. It is a union of the mind, body, and soul. 

Are you a Yogi too? If not then did this article motivate you to become one? Share this article with those you know get them started too on the cosmic path of Yoga. 

Well being, Well Being

Intermittent Fasting – A Way of Life

Pihu

How the medical industry is prescribing everyone a dose full of lies

It is assumed that the rise of obesity in the 21st century is due to a stagnant lifestyle, lack of exercise, and advancement in automation technology. But just like weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise, the above is 80% false and 20% true. The Nobel Prize in Medicine 2016 was awarded to Yoshinori Ohsumi for proving just this. His research explains to us how the medical industry has been feeding us lies by recommending the “eat little and often” system. It is, by the way, one of the main causes of obesity. He reminds us of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, by making us realize the importance of intermittent fasting. As explained in Ayurveda and now proven scientifically, it improves mental and physical health, reduces weight, and prevents diseases. But what is this intermittent fasting, how does it work, and what are its benefits, let us find out:-

So, what is intermittent fasting?

The basic rule of Intermittent fasting is to eat in restricted time zones, instead of focusing on what to eat it focuses on when to eat. There are mainly 3 types – 

Window eating  – In this, the person is only allowed to eat for a certain duration, this window is usually 3-6 hours. They can choose any time according to their convenience, preferably 3 pm – 6 pm, one can eat how much ever he wants in this stretch. Out of the window, you can only drink fluids and eat nuts and fruits. 

Eat stop eat – In this, a person can have only 1-2 meals a day, the meals can be taken anytime. But nothing can be eaten between the meals. Only water and light food items may be consumed in these intervals.

Full-day fast – In this, one is allowed to eat only 1 meal a day. He may have fluids and raw fruits and vegetables in between. 

How does it work?

Intermittent fasting allows autophagy to take place. Autophagy, discovered in the mid-1950s, is a system of the cell where it recycles its harmful and dysfunctional components. This is a crucial process since it prevents diseases and slows aging. In the early 1990’s Mr.Yoshinori Ohsumi discovered this process only occurs when the body cells are starved.  On the other hand, the ‘eat little often’ system, recommended by (surprisingly) doctors, does not give the body enough time to carry out this function. The modern eating routine is one of the major causes of cancer and obesity, no wonder their rates are skyrocketing these days. Excluding autophagy, Intermittent fasting has many other benefits. Let us take a look at some of them:-

What are its benefits?

Intermittent fasting has many physiological as well as psychological advantages. It is not only beneficial but also essential. These are some of the many advantages of Intermittent fasting. 

  1. Feel more active

Eating repetitively many times makes one feel heavy, lazy, and sleepy. Not eating keeps our mind alert and active, plus our body feels light. Fasting till midday enhances cognition.

  1. Exercise self-control

Our self-control is put to a test when we have to go hungry for hours. Saying no to cravings and snacks also increases our willpower. 

  1. Reduce weight

Fasting helps in weight reduction and boosts metabolism. When the body does not find immediate food, it will turn fat globules into energy. Intermittent fasting also controls food, calorie, and sugar intake.

  1. Strengthen the immune system

Yoshinori Ohsumi also found out how fasting changes our body’s response to infections. Autophagy, which occurs by fasting, degrades invading intracellular bacteria and viruses. It reduces the chance of common cold and cough by over 81%. 

  1. Cleanse the skin

Fasting cleanses the skin by recycling the waste components of the cell.  It is a hassle and toxin-free way of keeping your skin glowing, fresh, and beautiful all time around.

  1. Increase longevity

Many leading scientists have conducted experiments and studies demonstrating fasting’s effect on lifespan. They found out Intermittent fasting has many anti-aging benefits among them prevention of age-related diseases, detoxification, and autophagy. Study shows that IF increases life by a minimum of 5 years.

Conclusion

So, what do you think of intermittent fasting? Are you intrigued to find out more? Are you assured that the ‘eat little often’ system is a huge medical conspiracy?

If convinced, then please give it a try. If you get positive results, then suggest it to not only family and friends but as far and wide as possible. 

All the people who gave intermittent fasting a try said it was life-changing. Are you ready to change yours too?

Uncategorized, Well being, Well Being

2 Causes and Effects of Teen Obesity

Pihu

This article is going to discuss 2 reasons and consequences of obesity amongst teenagers which everyone must know about.

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. It isn’t just a surface problem, corpulence increases the risk of critical health problems like heart disease, cancer, etc. As confirmed by a study done by WHO, it kills more people than underweight.

2 Main Causes of Obesity in Teens

Obesity has a lot of causes ranging from eating habits to sleeping patterns. Let’s take a look at 2 of these major reasons today:

  • Lifestyle of Human Beings

 First and foremost is lifestyle. Lifestyle plays a major role in development of obesity among young teenagers. With time, we keep developing different habits that directly or indirectly affect our body.  The 3 major habits of our lifestyle which contributes to the weight gain are:- 

  1. Eating Habits- We all know we should eat healthy food but do we know what time, how often should we eat it? The answer is we should not eat many meals in a day. According to Ayurveda, one should not have more than 2 meals a day. Also, we should avoid eating early in the morning or late in the night. These 2 simple tips have surprising effects on weight management and contribute to withdrawing of obesity.

2. Physical Exercise- Getting involved in physical exercise is crucial. One hour of rigorous training per day is more than enough. Sport, yoga, and cycling are some interesting ways to keep yourself fit.

3.  Sleeping Patterns-  Sleeping late and waking late is said to have lots of effects on body weight. Following the body clock is important, one must get proper rest and sleep. Other than weight management, waking early has lots of good effects on mental health as well.

  • Social Life & Mental Health

Surprisingly one’s social circle and mental health have a major effect on obesity. According to a study, socially active people tend to live a long, happy, and healthy life. Anxiety, stress, and tension not only cause weight gain but also increase risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and joint pain.

2 Main Effects of Obesity on Teens

Obesity has a lot of side effects especially on young people, let’s take a  look at some of them.

  • Psychological Consequences

Obese teenagers are more likely to be teased and picked on, this results in low self-confidence, abolition of social life, and depression. Excess body fat puts lots of pressure on the heart thus, it becomes tiring to even do normal activities. This leads to the generation of laziness and inactivity. They also tend to feel neglected, lonely, and socially withdrawn which has a deteriorating effect on their mental health. 

  • Physical Consequences

Corpulence can cause pain and dizziness. It also decreases the body’s stamina and immunity. Obese people are at a higher risk of diagnosis such as –

  1. Heart diseases
  2. Diabetes
  3. Asthma
  4. High blood-pressure
  5. High level of cholesterol
  6. Liver related problems

Bottom Line

So, to conclude it is important to understand that taking care of your health is a simple process,  a few hours of hard work daily will prevent lots of trouble. Take care of your and your family’s and friends’ health by following a few simple steps daily. 

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you live in.”-Jim Rohn