Metabolic health

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:

  1. Half-day fasts which are to be concluded with light meals at night. E.g. Shravani somavar, Chaturthi, Nagpanchami, Janmashtami, etc.
  2. 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:

  1. Do not remain on an empty stomach for more than 6 hrs because it is responsible for an increase in Pitta and Vata.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. People with health conditions should consult the expert before following upwas.
  5. 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)

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:

Stress – Obesity – Stress – Another vicious cycle

A girl staying at a hostel studying for a professional course, Age – 22 years, came to the clinic with complaints of sudden weight gain, typically abdominal fat, outburst of pimples and insomnia. Brief history revealed that she had ATKT last semester and appeared once again for university exams last month. She said that her eating habits, sleeping patterns changed suddenly due to stress and anxiety built during exam time. Sudden hunger storms, mood swings are common during the last 6 months. She used to eat chips, salted peanuts, bread butter, Maggie, chocolates, cupcakes even at midnight due to hunger storms. Now, all the links to her present complaints were clear.

According to Ayurveda, stress is responsible for Rasa dhatu impairment and Vata vitiation. The impaired rasa dhatu and Vata dosha affects metabolic health causing sluggishness to it. This impaired metabolism causes fat accumulation and hence obesity. The typical belly fat pattern due to stress can be easily identified.

An IT guy, full of work pressure is always seen surrounded by potato chips and cold drinks items on his table, a writer- writing his script before deadline always seems to be smoking his favorite cigar and stretching his brain. A jobless young woman running her family is experiencing sleepless nights and with altered food habits. This pandemic showed many such examples of stress and associated obesity ranging from job stress, economic stress or health stress. Stress, altered food habits, altered sleeping patterns are sequential steps leading to Obesity.

Need of the hour is to help them by understanding their problem by providing emotional and social support.
Chronic stress is always seen associated with obesity. Numerous studies have shown that physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar, or both. High cortisol levels, in combination with high insulin levels are responsible factors. The downside to consuming so much sugar is that your body tends to store sugar, especially after stressful situations. This energy is stored mainly in the form of abdominal fat, which can be particularly hard to shed. So the vicious cycle starts: get stressed, release cortisol, gain weight, crave more sugar, eat more sugar, gain more weight. Even if you aren’t eating foods high in fat and sugar, cortisol also slows down your metabolism, making it difficult to lose weight.
Stress with higher BMI is one of the worst combinations leading to blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. This is the condition in which not only individuals, but family is also seen to be affected and is very common in the age group of 30 to 40 years.

Proper diagnosis of obesity type, minimizing stress like factors which are complicating obesity and emotional support, proper guidance and motivation is topmost requirement of such individuals. One can not achieve a weight loss goal by neglecting stress factors. Here, Turyaa can play an important role. Individual specific approach, balancing metabolic as well as stress quotient with maintaining core health are the keys of weight loss program by the Turyaa. The emotional need, counseling and monitoring is very well managed in such cases by Turyaa. Owing to modern lifestyle, we cannot run away from stress but with Turyaa we can keep balance of our metabolic as well as psychological health by different research based ways like Nadi parikshan, individual specific lifestyle correction etc.
Turyaa will help in following manner in stress related obesity by –
Preventing emotional eating – Stressed people always tend to eat available and accessible food, which is not always the healthiest option. Turyaa will recommend you daily diet plans and control plans during your craving time. Meal skipping, midnight hunger storms and emotional eating will be taken care of in a very scientific way. Mindful eating, food journals, water drinking charts, and healthy meal plans are some advantages that come with Turyaa which are very easy to follow.


Motivation for meditation and exercise – Many times the etiology itself resists the body to move for exercise. Sadness, lack of energy, lethargy are some emotions seen along with stress.
Exercise and meditation are critical components of stress reduction and weight management. Online yoga sessions, daily exercise tracker and motivation by coaches are helpful in such cases.
Managing stress quentient – Stress is the factor responsible for a number of health hazards including obesity. High BP, cardiovascular disorders, psychological problems come hand in hand with stress.
Individual specific stress levels can be managed very well through turyaa in various ways. Exam related, work related, postpartum stress etc are managed by Turyaa coaches in person specific manner by individual counseling. Their food habits, sleeping habits and lifestyle are managed very well for betterment and achievement of weight loss goals. Social and community support is also taken care of by various Turyaa activities.

Step ahead with Turyaa for a stress free life. Breaking the chain of stress and obesity is not only important for achieving weight loss goals but also for preventing many life-threatening diseases. More stress-free you are, the more healthy and happy you will be. So let’s connect with Turyaa for a happier and healthier version of yourself and family.

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

For regular updates, like and follow:

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