Yoga to cure acidity

Yoga to cure acidity

Role of Stomach acid

1. Kills harmful bacteria and parasites which enters into your stomach with food.
2. Activates the pepsin enzymes to digest protein.
3. Gives signals to the pancreas to produce digestive juice and enzymes which digest food.
4. Helps intestines to absorb nutrients from digested food.
5. Plays an important role in absorbing Vitamin B12, which is very important for proper brain function, nervous system and in the blood forming.

Acidity is the common in all people which is due to unhealthy eating habits. When the acidity level increases to its extreme level it is called hyper acidity. Sometimes acid coming up from stomach to esophagus known as acid reflux. Acid reflux also can be treated naturally by yoga and pranayama.

Yoga is the best exercise for acidity to cure and reduce it naturally. Yoga should be done under expert guidance or consult a doctor before practicing yoga to find the cause of the disease. Nowadays doctors also suggest yoga for acidity and other stomach related problems.

Effective yoga exercises for acidity to cure naturally

Kapalbhati Pranayama

Kapalbhati pranayama steps are usually very straightforward. However, it is important to ensure that you perform it properly or you may end up hurting yourself. You will also need to exercise some precautions when you perform it. You can find detailed step by step instructions on the technique here:

1.       Sit straight with your spine erect and cross your legs in front of you.

2.       Take in a deep breath and exhale quickly and suddenly, making a puffing sound while you do it. Focus on exhaling forcefully and not on the inhalation.

3.       When you exhale, draw your abdominal muscles inward simultaneously. Your abdomen should rise when you inhale and fold when you exhale.

4.       Continue for 10 breaths and then take a break. Perform two more similar sets.

Precaution

1. Those are heart patient should do this slowly while exhaling. You can do kapalbhati pranayama in morning or evening both the time, but keep in mind that you should do this on empty stomach.
2. Pregnant women should not do this.
3. High blood pressure patient should practice kapalbhati at a slow rate. Means 3 exhalations per 5 seconds and force of exhalation should be reduced.
4. Practice pranayama in the supervision of an expert yoga teacher after informing about your whole health.
5. Those women’s feel comfortable practicing pranayama during periods can go ahead otherwise avoid it.

Halasana

Steps

1. Lie on your back. Join the legs together. Relax the whole body (Shavasana position).
2. Keep the palm flat on the ground. Keep breathing normally.
3. While exhaling press the palm on ground and raise both the legs upwards straight then try to touch the ground just behind.
4. Breathe slowly and hold the posture for several minutes (1-2 minutes).
5. Now slowly release the pose to return to Shavasana.
6. Repeat this for 3-5 times.

Note: For maximum benefits Practice Bhujangasana immediately after Halasana (Plow Pose)

Benefits of Halasana (Plow Pose)

1. Improves digestion and appetite.
2. Effective in Weight Loss.
3. Strengthens the abdominal muscles.
4. Beneficial for diabetic people. Those people should do this regularly.
5. It helps to make spinal cord strong and flexible.
6. Cures the symptoms of menopause.
7. It helps to reduce stress.
8. It normalizes blood-glucose level and stimulates the internal organs.
9. It stimulates the reproductive organs.

Precaution:

1. Those suffering from hernia, slipped disc, sciatica, arthritis of the neck,  high blood pressure or any serious back problem, should not do practice halasana.
2. Should practice under expert supervision. In days of periods women should not practice this asana.
3. Pregnant women should not practice halasana.

Camel Pose, Ushtrasana

Kneel on the yoga mat and place your hands on the hips.

1.    Your knees should be in line with the shoulders and the sole of your feet should be facing the ceiling.

2.    As you inhale, draw in your tail-bone towards the pubis as if being pulled from the navel.

3.    Simultaneously, arch your back and slide your palms over your feet till the arms are straight.

4.    Do not strain or flex your neck but keep it in a neutral position.

5.    Stay in this posture for a couple of breaths.

6.    Breathe out and slowly come back to the initial pose. Withdraw your hands and bring them back to your hips as you straighten up.

Benefits of the Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

·         Improves digestion

·         Stretches and opens the front of the body. It also strengthens the back and shoulders

·         Relieves the body of lower back ache

·         Improves flexibility of the spine and also improves posture

·         Helps overcome menstrual discomfort

Precautions for Ushtrasana (camel) yoga pose

1. Those having problems related to neck, knee and back injury should not perform this asana.
2. Lower back pain patients should avoid this asana.
3. Person suffering from high or low blood pressure and migraine should avoid this asana.
4. Insomnia (Sleeping disorder) patient should avoid.
5. Practice under expert guidance. Because this pose may cause back pain or neck injuries.
6. Consult a doctor before practicing yogasana to find the root cause of your problem.

Pavanamuktasana – Wind Removing Pose 

Steps of Pawanmuktasana

1. Lie flat on your back and keep the legs straight and relax breath deeply and rhythmically.
2. Inhale slowly and lift the legs and bend in the knee. Bring upwards to the chest till your thigh touches to stomach
3. Hug your knees in place and lock your fingers.
4. Try to touch the knee with your nose tip. This is not easy in first time. But regular practice you can do this. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds. You can extend it till 1 minute as per your capability.
5. Now exhale slowly and come back to the original position that is Shavasana (Lie straight)
6. This is very beneficial for stomach abs. The results are very impressive.
7. Practice 3 to 5 cycles each day.

Benefits Pavanamuktasana

1. Pavanamuktasana cures acidity Indigestion and Constipation.
2. pavanamuktasana is very good for all abdominal organs.
3. Regular practice pavanamuktasana cures gastrointestinal problems.
4. Helpful for those suffering from gas problems, acidity, arthritis pain, heart problems and waist pain.
5. Strengthens back muscle and cures back pain.
6. It gives flat stomach. Everyone should practice this asana for flat stomach.
7. Pavanamuktasana is very beneficial for reproductive organ and for menstruation disorder.

Pracaution:

Those suffering for high blood pressure, Slip disc, Ulcer should not do this asana. In pregnancy and menstruation women should not practice this.

Anulom Vilom Pranayama – Breathing Exercise

Sit in a steady asana. Padmasana is most suited for the practice.Siddhasana and Vajrasana may also be used.

1.      Close the right nostril with your thumb and draw in air from the left nostril. Do this as slowly as you can, till your lungs are full.

2.      Now release the thumb and close the left nostril with your ring finger. Then breathe out slowly through the right nostril.

3.      Next take the air in from the right nostril and then release it through the left nostril (after closing the right nostril with the thumb).

4.      This is one round of Anulom Vilom Pranayama.

5.      Start with 5 rounds and increase it up to 20 rounds in one sitting.

6.      Also, the duration of inhalation can start from 2 seconds and go up to 20 seconds or even beyond.

7.      One can have one sitting in the morning and one in the evening. For advanced practitioners, the yogic texts recommends four sittings – one in the morning, one at noon, one in the evening and one at midnight. But for all practical purposes, two sittings (one in morning and one in evening) are enough.

8.      After one has reached a certain level of proficiency, one can addKumbhaka or retention of breath to the practice.

Breathing Exercise – Bhastrika Pranayama

Steps for Bhastrika Pranayama

1. Sit comfortably on flat ground. Those who can’t sit on ground can sit on chair because this pranayama is related to the breath.
2. Take a deep breath through both nostrils and fill the lungs with air and then exhale with hissing sound.
3. Inhale deeply and exhale completely.
4. Do this for 2 min to 5 minutes max and see the result in a few days.

home remedies to beat hypertension or high blood pressure

home remedies to beat hypertension or high blood pressure

Hypertension is a serious condition that can have a large number of ill effects on your body. Not only can it lead to heart disease, angina andstrokes, but in severe cases can even lead to death. If your doctor has been asking you to keep a tab on your blood pressure levels, then along with your medications you can try some of these home remedies to help keep hypertension in check.

Garlic

Garlic has been found useful in patients whose blood pressure is mildly elevated. It is believed that allicin in garlic increases the production of nitric oxide, that helps relax the muscles of the arteries, reducing both the diastolic as well as the systolic blood pressure.

How to use garlic

Peel and lightly crush a few cloves of fresh garlic and consume it raw. However, garlic also has the property of thinning blood and this means the clotting ability of blood is reduced; so it is best to use garlic supplements only after you consult your doctor.

Karpuravalli

Coleus forskohlii is the Karpuravalli plant that is grown in many home gardens in South India. In research studies, it has been found to relax the smooth muscles of the arteries, helping lower blood pressure. It is also said to make the heartbeat stronger and slow down the pulse. Certain studies have evaluated the action of Karpuravalli tablets and chewable pills and found it helps reduce blood pressure in the elderly.

Drumsticks

Obtained from the Moringa oleifera plant, drumsticks, called Sahjan in Hindi, are known for their high content of protein and valuable vitamins and minerals. Studies have found that extracts from the leaves of this plant help to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

How to use drumsticks

The best way to harness this benefit is to cook drumsticks with lentils or dal.

Amla

Traditionally, the amla plant has been used to lower blood pressure. Recent studies have found that aqueous extracts of the leaves of the amla plant help reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Apart from that amla extracts also have the ability to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood and the liver, which could contribute to its antihypertensive action. It is believed that the vitamin C content of amla may also play a role in widening the blood vessels and this may help to reduce blood pressure. Amla is an important component of the Triphala mixture that is commercially available and known to help lower blood pressure.

Radish

Also called mooli in Hindi, it is a common vegetable that is used in Indian kitchens and has been shown to have antihypertensive action. This action may be a result of the high content of the mineral potassium which helps to counter the BP-increasing effects of a high-sodium diet.

How to use radish

Radish can be cooked as a stir fry dish or even better, be eaten raw in a salad or grated and mixed with yogurt to give a tasty raita.

Sesame

In experiments, sesame or til seed has shown an ability to reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Sesame oil contains sesamin and sesaminol and these are believed to play a major role in reducing the oxidative stress in the body; this has an anti-inflammatory effect on the arterial walls, contributing towards a lowering of the blood pressure. Recent studies have found that combining sesame oil with rice bran oil helps to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients more

effectively than taking antihypertensive medication alone.

Rauwolfia or Sarpagandha

Traditional medicine practitioners have used Rauwolfia in treating insomnia, snakebite, insanity and high blood pressure. The alkaloid reserpine extracted from this plant was one of the first potent treatments for hypertension. This helps to widen the blood vessels and lowers the heart rate; both these effects ensure the blood pressure stays low. Although both the root powder and tablets are available, it is vital Rauwolfia is taken under the supervision of a doctor because of its potent action.

Flaxseed or Alsi

Flaxseed or linseed is rich in a compound called alpha linolenic acid that is one of the important omega-3 fatty acids. Several studies have found that people with hypertension who include flaxseed in their diet have lower levels of cholesterol and also exhibit a lowering of blood pressure.

While these herbal remedies have shown promising results against hypertension, it is vital to remember that several factors can affect how well these remedies act. Therefore, if you suffer from high blood pressure and are on antihypertensive therapy, you ought to consult your doctor about using these remedies. Most importantly, never forget the other measures that can help keep your blood pressure within control – a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, cutting down on high fat dairy and meat products, eating less salt, having regular exercise and using techniques to keep the mind free of stress.

Image source: Getty Images

Following the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) can lower your blood pressure by as much as 14 mmHg. The DASH diet consists of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and fish. Eliminate foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol, such as processed foods, whole milk dairy products, fatty meats, and fried food.

Slow Down On the Salt

If you have high blood pressure, keeping your sodium intake to a minimum is vital. The AHArecommends limiting your sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day. That’s a little over half a teaspoon. One teaspoon of table salt has 2,400 mg of sodium! Table salt isn’t the only culprit when it comes to high sodium; processed food and many restaurant dishes tend to be loaded with sodium. Consuming too much sodium can cause the body to retain fluid, resulting in a sharp rise in blood pressure.

Self-help

·         Your GP or nurse will talk you through the lifestyle changes you can make to lower your blood pressure. These may include:

·         losing any excess weight 

·         doing more exercise 

·         making changes to your diet, such as reducing fat and including more fruit and vegetables

·         reducing the amount of salt in your diet

·         cutting down on alcohol

·         drinking less coffee and other high-caffeine drinks, such as cola.

You may also consider trying relaxation therapies, such as meditation and stress management, to help reduce your blood pressure.

13 Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

1.     Go for power walks
Hypertensive patients who went for fitness walks at a brisk pace lowered pressure by almost 8 mmhg over 6 mmhg. Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn't work as hard to pump blood. Get a vigorous cardio workout of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Try increasing speed or distance so you keep challenging your ticker.

2   Breathe deeply

Slow breathing and meditative practices such as qigong, yoga, and tai chi decrease stress hormones, which elevate renin, a kidney enzyme that raises blood pressure. Try 5 minutes in the morning and at night. Inhale deeply and expand your belly. Exhale and release all of your tension.

      3 . Pick potatoes

Loading up on potassium-rich fruits and vegetables is an important part of any blood pressure-lowering program, says Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medical. Aim for potassium levels of 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day, she says. Top sources of potassium-rich produce include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and dried fruits such as prunes and raisins.

4. Be salt smart

Certain groups of people—the elderly, African Americans, and those with a family history of high blood pressure—are more likely than others to have blood pressure that's particularly salt (or sodium) sensitive. But because there's no way to tell whether any one individual is sodium sensitive, everyone should lower his sodium intake, says Eva Obarzanek, PhD, a research nutritionist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How far? To 1,500 mg daily, about half the average American intake, she says. (Half a teaspoon of salt contains about 1,200 mg of sodium.) Cutting sodium means more than going easy on the saltshaker, which contributes just 15% of the sodium in the typical American diet. Watch for sodium in processed foods, Obarzanek warns. That’s where most of the sodium in your diet comes from, she says. Season foods with spices, herbs, lemon, and salt-free seasoning blends. (For more ways to reduce your sodium.

5. Indulge in dark chocolate

Dark chocolate varieties contain flavanols that make blood vessels more elastic. In one study, 18% of patients who ate it every day saw blood pressure decrease. Have ½ ounce daily (make sure it contains at least 70% cocoa).

6. Take a supplement

In a review of 12 studies, researchers found that coenzyme Q10 reduced blood pressure by up to 17 mmhg over 10 mmhg. The antioxidant, required for energy production, dilates blood vessels. Ask your doctor about taking a 60 to 100 mg supplement up to 3 times a day.

7. Drink (a little) alcohol

According to a review of 15 studies, the less you drink, the lower your blood pressure will drop—to a point. A study of women at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, for example, found that light drinking (defined as one-quarter to one-half a drink per day for a woman) may actually reduce blood pressure more than no drinks per day. One "drink" is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits. Other studies have also found that moderate drinking—up to one drink a day for a woman, two for a man—can lower risks of heart disease. "High levels of alcohol are clearly detrimental," says Obarzanek. "But moderate alcohol is protective of the heart. If you are going to drink, drink moderately."

8. Switch to decaf coffee

Scientists have long debated the effects of caffeine on blood pressure. Some studies have shown no effect, but one from Duke University Medical Center found that caffeine consumption of 500 mg—roughly three 8-ounce cups of coffee—increased blood pressure by 4 mmhg, and that effect lasted until bedtime. For reference, 8 ounces of drip coffee contain 100 to 125 mg; the same amount of tea, 50 mg; an equal quantity of cola, about 40 mg. Caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress, says Jim Lane, PhD, associate research professor at Duke and the lead author of the study. "When you're under stress, your heart starts pumping a lot more blood, boosting blood pressure," he says. "And caffeine exaggerates that effect." If you drink a lot of joe, pour more decaf to protect your ticker.

9. Take up tea

Lowering high blood pressure is as easy as one, two, tea: Study participants who sipped 3 cups of a hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure by 7 points in 6 weeks on average, say researchers from Tufts University—results on par with many prescription medications. Those who received a placebo drink improved their reading by only 1 point. The phytochemicals in hibiscus are probably responsible for the large reduction in high blood pressure, say the study authors. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus; look for blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients—this often indicates a higher concentration per serving

10. Work (a bit) less

Putting in more than 41 hours per week at the office raises your risk of hypertension by 15%, according to a University of California, Irvine, study of 24,205 California residents. Overtime makes it hard to exercise and eat healthy, says Haiou Yang, PhD, the lead researcher. It may be difficult to clock out super early in today’s tough economic times, but try to leave at a decent hour—so you can go to the gym or cook a healthy meal—as often as possible. Set an end-of-day message on your computer as a reminder to turn it off and go home.

11. Relax with music

Need to bring down your blood pressure a bit more than medication or lifestyle changes can do alone? The right tunes can help, according to researchers at the University of Florence in Italy. They asked 28 adults who were already taking hypertension pills to listen to soothing classical, Celtic, or Indian music for 30 minutes daily while breathing slowly. After a week, the listeners had lowered their average systolic reading by 3.2 points; a month later, readings were down 4.4 points.

12. Seek help for snoring

It's time to heed your partner's complaints and get that snoring checked out. Loud, incessant snores are one of the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). University of Alabama researchers found that many sleep apnea sufferers also had high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. In fact, it's estimated that half of all people with sleep apnea have high blood pressure. If you have sleep apnea, you may experience many brief yet potentially life-threatening interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. In addition to loud snoring, excessive daytime tiredness and early morning headaches are also good clues. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if OSA could be behind it; treating sleep apnea may lower aldosterone levels and improve BP.

13. Jump for soy

A study from Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Associationfound for the first time that replacing some of the refined carbohydrates in your diet with foods high in soy or milk protein, such as low-fat dairy, can bring down systolic blood pressure if you have hypertension or prehypertension.

24 life resolutions every woman should make!

24 life resolutions every woman should make!

1.                 Embrace positivity – Positive thoughts.

2.                 Give back more – Charity, Socialism.

3.                 Start reading again – Fiction and Non-Fiction.

4.                 Re-discover your city – New places, Restaurants etc.

5.                 Stay grounded – Mediation (morning) and Reflection/Gratitude (evening).

6.                 Spread the love – Act of Kindness every day.

7.                 Find inner peace – Practice “Accepting” then “Expecting.”

8.                 Continue to follow your dreams – No matter how to hard it gets.

9.                 Don’t depend on anyone else to make your work and happiness happen – You’re the master of your fate.

10.            Earn young and enjoy it before you get too old.

11.            Spend more time outdoors with family and friends rather than surfing net-sites.

12.            Don’t bring work at home.

13.            Love yourself first - Before expecting it from others.

14.            Learn to understand yourself and know what you want out of your life’s journey – Spend time alone to connect with yourself.

15.            Surround yourself with positive and “Can-do” people – Avoid unhappy and Negative ones.

16.            Make decisions more efficiently and move forward – Stop wasting precious time in Limbo.

17.             Spend more time with your friends/family/lover now.

18.            Respect your mind, body and soul – Take actions to nourish yourself. You deserve it.

19.            Figure out what really makes you happy – Sometimes you’ve got to put “ME” before “YOU.”

20.            Don’t forget to dream – Be innovative. Keep dreaming.

21.            Take a cooking class – Be a master to keep healthy and happy feed.

22.            The biggest luxury today is time – Make some for yourself. Plan some “ME” time. Enjoy myself. Go for manicure. Take dance classes. Read a book.

23.            Cut back on drinking – Limit it to weekends only.

24.            Only sent out positive energy – Learn to forgive and Forget.