And here are some eye popping stats from the World Health Organization that should make you sit up and take note of the world’s increasing burden of lifestyle diseases-“Of 56.9 million global deaths in 2016, 40.5 million, or 71%, were due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The four main NCDs are cardiovascular diseases(44%), cancers(22%), diabetes and chronic lung diseases.” Alcohol, tobacco, poor diet intake, stress and lack of physical activity were identified as the major risk factors. These statistics do not have to be this stark. Here’s where a holistic and one of the most ancient healing systems like Ayurveda has a lot to bring to the table.
Right from diagnosing your predisposition to a particular illness to giving you a guideline for living (what to eat, when to do it, when to exercise, when to rest among things) every day and for every season, Ayurveda offers the full range of solution to deal with this healthcare mess largely led by lifestyle diseases. The most useful aspect of a system like Ayurveda is its ability to check an individual’s predisposition to certain type of ailments, through Nadi Pariksha or pulse diagnosis.
Here we share with you the secret guide to a long, mentally as well as physically healthy, and productive life, because it is that simple, to keep these diseases from getting you down!
What an ideal daily routine looks like (Also called Dincharya)
1. Wake up 2 hours before the sun rises.
Science says, those who wake up early, perform better at school, workplace, stick to new fitness regimes better, stay hydrated, get more oxygen in their system and are generally more energetic throughout the day.
2. Have 2 glasses of warm water
Have 2 glasses of warm water after you wake up to flush toxins out of the body, make the system alkaline and improve blood circulation.
3. Have soaked nuts, almonds, walnuts and raisins first thing in the morning. Walnuts are really good for the heart.
4. To get the serotonin or the happy hormone flowing in the body, practice Yoga and meditation to make you feel relaxed, rejuvenated and ready for the day ahead.
5. Having a sun bath after a full body oil massage improves blood circulation, removes dryness in the body and joint stiffness is reduced, leaves you feeling fresh. Ayurveda recommends daily oil massage to keep the bones lubricated, increase stamina and remove muscles fatigue. An oil massage regulates Vata, increases blood circulation and supports the detoxification in the body. Shankara’s Soothing Body Oil is one such offering. It is a soothing blend of essential oils that are known for their relaxing and de-stressing qualities. Made from essential oils of almond, grapeseed, sunflower, borage, evening primerose, lavender, sandalwood and chamomile, this nutrient rich body oil also helps address worries of the mind, over critical thinking, irritability and anger! An oil for hypertension and stress release is also an oil for a perfectly calm and relaxed mind!
6. If possible, finish your lunch by 12-12.30 PM lunch and breakfast by 7 AM. Let there be at least 4-5 hours gap between meals, giving your system enough time to digest.
7. Do NOT munch, that is, eat while doing something else. What you can do is, have a snack time between meals when you can have one whole fruit and nuts, and lots of water. Having a spoon of nuts like roasted pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, in between, ground nuts, in between meals provides essential amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D3, that lubricate the joints, help prevent rheumatoid factor, improves bone health and is a good source of good cholesterol or hdl.
8. Avoid noon naps. They can cause more fatigue and lethargy. Only if you are ill or elderly, they you can do yoga nidra or yogic sleep (a meditative practice where you take your awareness through various parts of the body and relax them one by one).
9. By 5 PM you can meditate and walk. The walk will reduce brain’s hyperactivity and chemical reaction caused due to stress, while providing you with some extra oxygen.
10. By 7-7.30 PM, have dinner. Dinner should be finished at least 2 hours before bed time, for a good sleep. The 2 hours give sufficient time to the system for digestion.
11. Have turmeric infused warm almond milk before going to bed. Turmeric is an excellent immunomodulator that prevents infections.
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