Wednesday 22 December 2021

Christmas

 Now it's soon Christmas again - a wonderful time for socialising and pleasant company. But it can also be a health challenge with unhealthy foods, irregular habits and perhaps stress, conflicts and disappointments. So to have a healthy, Ayurvedic and Merry Christmas, here are some tips:

• Try to avoid Christmas stress and performance anxiety. Your loved ones probably would rather want you to be rested, happy and pleasant than the home being well-cleaned, perfectly decorated, or all the accessories in the Christmas food are included.

• Feel free to eat good Christmas food and make sure you eat it in peace and quiet and really enjoy it. But do not overeat and above all try to avoid eating between meals but instead eat hearty meals at regular times.

• Many parts of the Christmas food can be really healthy. Gingerbread cookies made from natural, organic products with raw sugar instead of white sugar are not bad. Rice porridge made from organic, non-homogenised milk is also good. Nuts are nutritious and healthy, especially walnuts and peeled almonds. Dates, figs and raisins are also good, at least if they are soaked or fresh. And there is much else as well.

• You can also replace traditional products with healthier ones. For example, fried slices of swede with mustard are delicious as an alternative to ham.

• The traditional Christmas spices ginger, cloves, cinnamon, saffron etc., are not only good in gingerbread. They are also perfect in stews, porridge, soups etc. They help to make food more digestible and strengthen the body's functions.

• Drink warm water between meals; it facilitates digestion.

• Also, try to bring in some spirituality. Originally, Christmas is actually a religious holiday, almost forgotten in commercialism, food and Christmas presents.

• Take care of yourself and your loved ones, spread kindness, joy, peace and light.

Wishing you an absolutely wonderful Christmas

Tuesday 7 December 2021

Asthi - bones

 Asthi is the fifth tissue according to Ayurveda. It corresponds to bones, cartilage, hair and nails. Having strong legs is vital for the quality of life, not least in old age. And many, especially women, suffer from osteoporosis, which often leads to bone fractures and reduced mobility. In Ayurvedic terms, above all, excess in vata breaks down the bones. But the bone tissue is a living tissue that is constantly being replaced and built up. Therefore, ama, impurities, are also a threat to bone health, inhibiting the regeneration process. We also need nutrition, especially calcium and vitamin D are essential. Finally, exercise is absolutely crucial for bone health. The tissues that are not used are broken down, so inactivity is the single biggest threat to healthy bones. To get healthy and strong bones, nails and hair, you can think of the following:

Exercise regularly. Particularly 'bumpy' exercise such as running or aerobics with jumping is good for strengthening the skeleton.

• Make sure you get enough vitamin D. The best source is the sun, but in Sweden, the sun is not high enough to produce vitamin D during the winter. Therefore, it may be helpful to supplement with supplements.

Calcium is also important, so include calcium-rich foods in your diets such as sesame seeds, tahini, broccoli, peeled almonds, fresh asparagus and dairy products.

• Especially for women, it can also be good to include soy products as they contain phytoestrogens which can counteract age-related weakening of the bone tissue.

• Live a regular life, do not skip meals and go to bed early.

• Doing oil massage, abhyanga, is beneficial.

• Do yoga and meditate.

• Try to avoid stress.

Good luck!