Health and Wellness

Metabolic Health and Upwas: Exploring the Ayurvedic Connection

Shravan or Sawan is the indication of monsoon season. With rains and greenery all around it gets serene and magical and close to nature. The monsoon comes along with many festivals and it’s a time of real celebration. Many times, these festivals are associated with Upwas (following fasts). We can observe that across different communities across India, upwas is suggested on different occasions which is inherently related to health.

Ayurveda explains the benefits of Langhan to which upwas is a subset. Upwas is one of the main key factors associated with metabolic health. In 2016, Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research on autophagy (a result achieved by fasting), a process where body cells regenerate themselves by removing dysfunctional components. Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz about the health benefits of upwas and calorie restriction. Intermittent fasting was the top Google diet search trend in 2019.

Upwas is nothing but a holiday to our digestive system to give it some rest. But understanding why and adopting scientifically is the need of the hour. Langhan practices are ‘energetic withdrawals’ and offer lightness to the body.

Need of Upwas:

Seasonal changes, lifestyle changes, and wrong food habits are crucial factors affecting the balance of Agni (Digestive Fire). In Monsoon, it is already at a minimal level. Weakened Agni is responsible for the assimilation of metabolic toxins and metabolic disorders including fat storage, weight gain, prediabetes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and even cognitive decline. Hence upwas with minimal intake is recommended in monsoon. Ayurveda states that following fasts enhances Agni by reducing accumulated toxins. This is nothing but autophagy.

Festivals, upwas and health importance:

In India, Monsoon falls from June to September (Hindu months starting from Ashadh to Ashwin). Chaturmas is the period of these four months, during which many communities strictly follow some diet restrictions for balancing health. Broadly we can say that there are two methods of upwas:

Half-day fasts which are to be concluded with light meals at night. E.g. Shravani somavar, Chaturthi, Nagpanchami, Janmashtami, etc.
Full-day fasts which are strict for the whole day with upwas specific meals and are to be concluded with a light sweet breakfast on the next morning. E.g. Ekadashi, a few days of Navratri.

If one observes this, it can be understood that fasts are periodic and illustrated in such a way as to maintain health. This is a unique diet design associated with rituals and traditions with the application of Ayurveda principles.

What should be your ideal Menu Plan during upwas in monsoon:

Note:

Do not remain on an empty stomach for more than 6 hrs because it is responsible for an increase in Pitta and Vata.
People complaining of acidity, heaviness, and headache should avoid or consume less heavy food like sabudana/sago, fried food, milkshakes, fruit salads, excess tea, coffee, curd, excess use of groundnut, tamarind, etc.
If you have controlled and mild diabetes, then upwas can be done with proper precautions. Intake after every four hours is recommended for such people. Do not use food items like sabudana, potato, sweet potato, and fried food items. Milk is recommended because it reduces the chances of sudden sugar drop. Restrict sugar intake properly.
People with health conditions should consult the expert before following upwas.
If you are already on a diet for weight control, then upwas is very useful. Here you can modify your upwas day with the principles of intermittent fasting. You can eat a more liquid diet, fruits and milk for the whole day followed by a light meal at night.

So, for this Shravan month with functions fasting keep your health in check. For more such interesting Ayurveda updates stay tuned with us at Nadi Tarangini.

Authors:
Dr. Gayatri Kulkarni – Mulye, (MD Ayurved)
Shruti Kulkarni (Nutritionist)
Vaidya Tejaswini Bhale-Borse (Ayurveda Physician)

Revolutionizing Our Product: A Look at the Latest Changes from Our CTO

By Parag Kulkarni

Revolutionizing Our Product: A Look at the Latest Changes from Our CTO

Nadi Tarangini, Atreya Innovations’ flagship product, has received a great reception from practitioners from Ayurveda across India. It is the de-facto diagnostic instrument for many Ayurveda practitioners to reshape and enhance their practices. Atreya Innovations has been a pioneer and leader in the instrumentalization or digitalization of Ayurveda.

Nadi Tarangini has become a true success story in the world of Ayurveda. There are many reasons behind its success, but some of the most important include the ergonomic design of the product, its accuracy and repeatability in diagnostic analysis, and transformation of complex subjective domain knowledge into objective parameters. This is why it was honored with the esteemed “Product Design” accolade presented by Lexus Design.
Additionally, the detailed report card that comes with the product gives Ayurvedic practitioners great insight into their patients’ conditions, allowing for more targeted treatment plans. The instrument is also conveniently accessible and easy to use, further adding to its appeal.
All of these factors have helped reshape the way Ayurvedic practitioners approach their practice. With a more objective, trustworthy, and patient satisfaction-oriented approach, practitioners can now deliver even better results to their patients. We take great pride in hearing countless success stories from our customers who have used the Nadi Tarangini.

But we are not stopping here. With the same commitment to improving our offerings, we are thrilled to announce the launch of new products aimed at expanding our reach and introducing the benefits of digitalized Ayurveda to the world. Here is a sneak peak of our upcoming product launches.

1. Ayurveda on Mobile

Available on iOS

To support our large set of customers, we're proud to announce that we're launching the Nadi Tarangini app for iPhone users. We've heard the increasing demand from our domestic and international customers to be able to use the app on Apple devices, and we took their feedback very seriously.

Thanks to our team of developers and testers, we were able to create the Nadi Tarangini app for iOS in record time. Now, iPhone users can also unleash the benefits of Nadi Tarangini based modern Ayurvedic diagnostics.

Available on Android

While the Nadi Tarangini mobile app was available for Android devices, it was being circulated privately. We're happy to announce that we're launching the official mobile app for Android on the Play Store. Both versions of the mobile app are going to have many exciting features, such as auto-save that automatically saves all reports to the cloud database, upgraded APIs that make the app faster and more reliable, and an enhanced look and feel to make it more intuitive and user-friendly.

2. Aarogya Darshika Report Card

We’ve recently launched a simplified version of the report card called the “Aarogya Darshika.” This concise report card is in language that can be understood by anyone, making it insightful for amateurs. The report card has already created a lot of sensation amongst our customers, and the powers of such simple and insightful report cards are many.

Providing this report card to your patients/customers for a charge is proving to be a successful model in terms of both ROI and customer satisfaction. The report can be generated in English/ Hindi/Marathi on the fly, with support for more languages underway. It has an easy-to-read summary about Prakruti and Nadi-based Vikruti and recommends diet and lifestyle-related suggestions. It even recommends a detailed meal plan for an entire week!

3. Enhanced Battery Backup

We’ve upgraded the Nadi Tarangini hardware from Bluetooth Classic to Bluetooth Low Energy, which has improved the product’s battery life. This change doesn’t affect the accuracy or reliability of the product, but it significantly lowers the power consumption requirement of the device, making its battery last longer.

In conclusion, we want you to know that our journey to provide the very best products and services is far from over. We are continuously working on exciting modifications and upgrades to our offerings, and we always prioritize listening to the needs and desires of our customers. Our commitment to delivering world-class solutions that enhance your life and the lives of your customers remains unwavering. Thank you for choosing us, and we look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations.

Stay tuned for even more innovative solutions from Nadi Tarangini!

Parag Kulkarni,
M. Tech, IIT Bombay
Co-Founder and CTO,
Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd.

For regular updates, like and follow:

By Dr. Gayatri Mulye

World Health Day – Jivha Pariksha

“On the occasion of World Health Day, we must learn the importance of our health and work towards making it better. Happy World Health Day.” World Health Day is celebrated Every Year on 7 April.

This is an Initiative by WHO to spread awareness about the importance of Good Health, whether it be Physical or Mental. This Day is celebrated Every Year since 1950. Let us use this opportunity to make a promise to ourselves that we will put our health first in all circumstances. This can be started from Tongue or Jivha Pariksha as it’s a roadmap to your gut health.

Tongue - A Mirror of your gut health

Do you feel a bitter, metallic taste on your tongue?
Or
Have you experienced a white sticky coating on your tongue frequently?
These all observations related to the tongue are reflections of your metabolic health.
In Ayurveda, the appearance of the tongue is very important in the diagnosis of metabolic or gut health. The tongue is considered a reflection of gut health.

Ayurveda mentioned 8-fold diagnostic tools while taking a brief history for assessment of diseases. Jivha Pariksha is amongst them. Thorough observations of the tongue including its size, shape, color, and appearance are very important for knowing gut health.
According to Ayurveda, many diseases originate due to disturbances in gut health or metabolic health. The tongue always reflects these changes on its surface and its unique diagnostic tool.
A healthy tongue that is uniformly pink in color, neither too thick nor thin, and moist, without any coating reflects good gut health. It also shows differentiation according to individual-specific Prakruti. But slight variation in its appearance always shows underlying changes in metabolic health or gut health.

The following entities can be assessed by Tongue examination.

Agni / digestive fire – Coated white tongue always reflects poor gut health with low digestive fire. Poor appetite, constipation, and gases are associated complaints with this white coating. Coated tongue and recurrent mouth ulcers together explain poor digestion and constipation.

Samata / niramata – accumulated aam or dietary toxins produced by poor digestion get reflected on the tongue with a whitish/ yellowish coating. A foul smell is always associated with it. Poor appetite and lethargy are associated symptoms.
Vitiated dosha – discoloration or patches on the tongue are reflections of vitiated doshas. Black spots or patches are due to vitiated Vata, the reddish-brown color associated with mouth ulcers shows pitta vitiation.

Hence tongue examination is very important which gives a proper idea of gut health. By mere observation of the tongue, many times simple dietary changes can give the best results in today’s health complaints. Also, it is a way of assessment of risks or probable underlying health problems.
So, it is the easiest way to assess your gut health daily. So, keep your eyes on your tongue too for better health.

Happy World Health Day

Author:
Dr. Gayatri Kulkarni – Mulye (MD Ayurved),
Vaidya Tejaswini Bhale – Borse (Ayurveda Physician),
Shruti Kulkarni (Clinical Nutritionist)

For regular updates, like and follow:

Vasant rutu – Season of Detox and self-care

By Vaidya Tejaswini Bhale

Vasant rutu – Season of Detox and self-care

Nature is blessed with blooming of flowers, cold breeze in the nighttime and colorful trees around is the perfect picture of Vasant rutu or spring.
Sunny hot days and colder nights create fluctuations in the inner health causing health issues. It also brings many festivals and events in their months of Chaitra and Vaishakh.
Nature is the best healer and destructor too. On the same principle Ayurveda has described the food, exercise and sleep pattern which is called Rutucharya.
It emphasizes the importance of self-care, mindfulness, and a connection with nature. By following the Vasant Ritucharya, one can promote physical, mental, and emotional health, and also can prevent diseases. In the Vasant rutu, sweetness, Unctuousness in the body provokes which was accumulated in the previous rutu of Shishir. These are the properties of kapha dosha or water element. It shows heaviness, sluggishness and excess mucus secretions in the body.

As blooming of flowers is going on it causes allergies showing cold, cough, running nose or skin issues.
Everyone should follow a regime to detox and balance this kapha. This is the best time of the year to detox, rejuvenate and gain health.
Vamana is the detox process that comes under Panchakarma therapies and is the most suggested treatment in Vasant. Also, Nasya, karnapurana therapies help to detox the body.

Avoid afternoon sleep in Vasant as it provokes kapha but proper rest and nighttime sleep is needed to gain strength and vitality.
Digestive fire becomes weak and so food should be warm, easy to digest and with spices. Soups, green gram recipes, rice flour, cooked or tossed salads, leafy, fruit vegetables and rice recipes are recommended.
Strength of a person is fair in Vasant which suggests doing Yoga and exercises in the morning time.

In conclusion, Vasant Rutucharya offers a holistic approach staying healthy. By incorporating diet, exercise, rest, self-care practices and herbal therapies, one can detoxify, maintain balance and improve vitality during this time of rejuvenation. All should maintain balance and harmony in both the mind and body and promote overall health and well-being.

Author- Vaidya Tejaswini Sameer Bhale
Ayurveda Physician
Nadi Pariksha and Product domain expertise, Nadi Tarangini, Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd

For regular updates, like and follow:

By Archana Patil

Women’s Hormone: A Seeding Story

The “Divine” has created this universe and many ecosystems, which includes many living and nonliving things. To sustain this ecosystem, he thought to create an organism that could reproduce, and thus he created “feminine beings” in every creature. This feminine being could create and nurture.

In human beings, females reproduce and nourish as they have some peculiar physical and physiological characteristics. Hormones play a key role in maintaining these characteristics. Menarche is one of the first stages in a female’s life during the adolescent period and continues as a regular monthly menstrual cycle for fertility. This cycle ends with menopause after a particular duration. This cycle of menarche to menopause in a female act as a shield to protect her from various diseases and disorders.

Let us dig deeper into the of a female as follows:.

1. Menarche

Starting phase of the reproductive period: Estrogen and Progesterone are the key players of the whole cycle. Sound nourishment and a healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence are the necessities of a healthy menstrual cycle.

Menarche also brings in newly bodily changes, skin issues, digestion changes causing sensitivity. Adding seeds like carrom (ajwain) or cumin (jeera) & coriander (dhaniya) seeds in small quantities to their diets provides relief from period pains or cramps.

2. Fertile stage up to 30 years:

Women’s peak reproductive years are from the late teens to 40 years of their age. The menstrual cycle has three phases in a month:

i) Follicular phase:

The Follicular phase is the first phase of 1 to 14 days. Growth and development of the follicles occur in this phase due to the rise in Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) secreted by the Pituitary gland. Basal body temperature stays normal in this phase while Estrogen levels rise gradually. During the ovulation phase, they are at a peak.

During this phase, female physiology needs micronutrients such as Vitamin B12, D, C-rich foods, Calcium, Zinc, Iron-rich foods, essential fatty acids with phytoestrogens. All these nutrients are available in superfoods like flax and pumpkin seeds, Avocado, milk, red meat, walnuts, and dandelions. Such foods are good in the follicular phase for ease of menstruation.

According to Ayurveda principles, Kapha dosha dominates in the follicular phase and is called Rutu kala. Kapha dosha – acts as the binding substance. It is a synonym for ojas, which nourishes, supports, and gives strength. Owing to this property of Kapha, it usually involves the follicular phase until ovulation.
Seeds like ‘flax seeds & pumpkin seeds’ taken in small quantities over small periods will help reduce the aggravated Vata, balance Kapha, and serve as binding & strengthening agents in this phase. Always add the seeds to your diet under guidance of an Expert.

ii) Ovulation phase:

The Corpus luteum, the outer covering of the remaining follicle secretes Progesterone and Estrogen. The timeline of the ovulation phase is from the 13th day to the 14th day. One of the follicles matures into the egg and gets released from an ovary which moves along a fallopian tube toward the uterus. It can last for 16 – 32 hours.

Estrogen levels are at the peak, thickening the endometrial linings and breast tenderness. It could be a preparatory phase for pregnancy. If the egg gets fertilized with sperm, only then the pregnancy occurs else that egg starts disintegrating. It is the beginning of the next phase.

Adding seeds like sesame seeds (roasted) with dill seeds (balantshepa or suva seeds toasted) added with black salt or with a small pellet of jaggery can help in balancing the hormones.

iii) Luteinizing Phase:

The luteinizing phase starts from day 15 – day 28. Progesterone hormone starts gradually increasing and is at its peak between the 22nd-24th day. Along with this, Estrogen levels rise gradually which dropped just after ovulation.

One needs to consume foods that will improve the secretion of progesterone. There are no particular foods containing progesterone, but the following foods will certainly help elevate progesterone secretion and ease this part of the cycle.

# Fiber-rich food: Oats, Flax seeds and Quinoa
# Zinc-rich food: Lean beef, seafood, Pumpkin and squash seeds and nuts

# Vitamin B6-rich food: Sunflower seeds, fish, Turkey and dried fruits (dates, apricots, raisins)
# Magnesium-rich food: Spinach, fish, dark chocolate, whole grains (Barley, Bulgur, also called cracked wheat, Farro, Quinoa Black rice, Brown rice)
# Vitamin C-rich food: Oranges, broccoli, Kiwi
# L-Arginine-rich food: Lentils, Salmon, pumpkin seeds, pork, chicken, lean beef.

3. Post 30 physiological changes:

After 30, metabolism starts declining which impacts the quality of the ovum and hormonal secretions. Women should take care of their diet and Lifestyle to overcome these physiological changes.

To increase metabolic rate, one should perform physical activities like Yoga, exercise, Brisk walking, Pranayama, meditation, etc, and consume superfoods like nuts and oil seeds which may boost the secretion of feminine hormones. Adding seeds like flax seeds (roasted) with dill seeds (balantshepa or suva seeds toasted) along with salt and made into a powder can be consumed with a glass of warm water or buttermilk post meals can help in balancing the metabolism.

4. Post 40 physiological changes:

By every decade, metabolism declines 7-10% of every individual body. Also, the water content of the body reduces due to advancing age. Female body composition has a high-fat percentage as they tend to have lower metabolism by birth than males.

Pre and perimenopausal changes begin between 40- 50 years of female age that may depend on their genetic makeup and lifestyle.

Adding seeds like toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds along with carrom or dill seeds in small amounts and consuming post lunch & dinner have shown effect in taking care of the pre-menopausal symptoms.

5. Post 50 physiological changes:

Usually, in most females, menopause occurs between 50 -60 years of age or early menopause may occur. The ovulation process ceases and ultimately there will be no ovum production, leading to no secretions of female hormones like Estrogen and Progesterone.

From menarche to menopause, female health is under the protection of these feminine hormones. Metabolism is effective and boosts psychological strength to overcome conditions like stress, anxiety, nervousness, etc. During menopause, females must take care of their health, as such valued protection is ripe off. Calcium metabolism disturbs that leads to less calcium deposition in bones and muscles, reducing bone density, and muscular strength. Due to these physiological changes, females are more vulnerable to disorders like osteoporosis, arthritis, and sarcopenia. Also, they become more emotionally sensitive.

According to Ayurveda principles, the menopausal stage is a period of Vata domination. The lower abdomen and pelvic region are the site of “Apana Vayu” which has expulsion as the main function. As dryness is one of the characteristics of Vata, it causes dryness to the inner lining of the uterus, vagina, skin, hair, etc. Aggravated Vata leads to several psychological issues like mood swings, depression, and anxiety.

Sometimes in some females, Pitta aggravation in the menopausal stage may lead to symptoms like anger, irritability, hot flushes and sweating.

The Kapha dosha gets reduced due to Vata predominance, which decreases the binding capability and lubrication of the Strotasas.
Adapting to lifestyle changes and consuming superfoods like nuts and seeds can overcome physiological and psychological stress. These superfoods are packed with essential nutrients with phytochemicals that boost feminine hormones required for ease of journey from menarche to menopause.

Adding seeds like roasted sesame seeds and flax seeds with turmeric and pink salt and consumed early morning on empty stomach helps in managing the changes in the hormones and also help with the symptoms.

Thank you for reading the story of seed formation in a female, which gives rise to creation, and the cycle will continue until eternity!!

Happy International Women’s Day 2023.

Author. Archana Amol Patil.
Nutrition wellness coach,
Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd.

Vaidya Shillpa Venkatesh Jamdarkhana
Certified Ayurveda Wellness Coach
Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd.

For regular updates, like and follow:

Metabolic Health and Upwas: Exploring the Ayurvedic Connection

Need of Upwas:

Festivals, upwas and health importance:

What should be your ideal Menu Plan during upwas in monsoon:

Note:

Revolutionizing Our Product: A Look at the Latest Changes from Our CTO

1. Ayurveda on Mobile

Available on iOS

Available on Android

2. Aarogya Darshika Report Card

3. Enhanced Battery Backup

World Health Day – Jivha Pariksha

Tongue - A Mirror of your gut health

The following entities can be assessed by Tongue examination.

Happy World Health Day

Vasant rutu – Season of Detox and self-care

Women’s Hormone: A Seeding Story

1. Menarche

2. Fertile stage up to 30 years:

i) Follicular phase:

ii) Ovulation phase:

iii) Luteinizing Phase:

3. Post 30 physiological changes:

4. Post 40 physiological changes:

5. Post 50 physiological changes:

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