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05 Feb 2013
FOOD
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What is Enlightenment?
A new year always begins with the promise of new hope, of better days ahead. And better days do come with better health. Today well be talking about some of the most poisonous foods lurking in your diet that you must resolve to avoid this year. Well also suggest a few healthier alternatives that you can include in your diet.
#1 Sugar
Historically, sugar was used in its unrefined, raw form, taken directly from sugarcane juice. Clarified juice was boiled to a crystalline solid, broken down into gravelly masses and consumed as sugar. Today, however, much of the commercially available sugar is chemically processed and refined. According to the United States National Institutes of Health, such refined sugar provides empty calories because the refining process removes almost all vitamins and minerals, drastically depleting the nutritional value of the sugar.
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Honey has different impacts on the human system depending on how it has been consumed, whether raw, mixed with cold water, or mixed with tepid water. When honey is mixed with tepid water and consumed every day, it raises the red blood cell (RBC) count in the circulatory system, enhances the bloods hemoglobin levels, which takes care of anemic conditions. Honey should not be cooked. That makes it poisonous. Mix honey with tepid or warm water, not in boiling hot water. Honey should also not be given to children under the age of one.
#2 Milk
Only children below three have the necessary enzymes to digest milk completely. Except for a few regions in the globe, milk is mostly indigestible for a majority of adults worldwide. The undigested milk is mucous-forming and causes lethargy. Y es, milk has traditionally been believed to be a good source of calcium. But there are several other good sources as well.
Alternatives
Whole Grains (see below), lentils and nuts are an excellent alternative to milk, in order to get the daily dietary requirement of calcium. For example:
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#3 Refined Grains
A grain in its natural state is structurally composed of three components endosperm, bran, and germ. The germ contains the plant embryo. The endosperm is the seeds food supply, and the bran is the protective covering that surrounds the germ and the endosperm. The primary component of the endosperm is starch, which serves as the major energy supply for the germinating seed. The endosperm however, is relatively scarce when it comes to vitamins, minerals, fibre, or phytochemicals. The bran and germ in contrast, are rich in a majority of these nutrients including B vitamins, amino acids, phytochemicals, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron.
However, before grains are commercially sold, they are often refined to improve texture and shelf life. Known as refined grains, these grains go through a process where the bran and the germ are separated and discarded, leaving only the starchy endosperm. The result is a grain from which most of the nutrients, minerals and dietary fibre have been lost. A majority of the grains sold commercially today, go through some process of refining. Common examples include white rice and white flour.
Alternatives
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Whole grain products such as brown rice and whole wheat are increasingly available these days. Whole grains are rich in many components that have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. Most of these components are found in the germ and bran, which are more or less totally removed during the processing of refining. It is important to ensure that our diet includes more than just one or two cereals. A variety of highly nutritious, yet oft-neglected cereals are available, which can be important components of our diets.
Pearl millet, also known as bajra in Hindi, and kambu in Tamil, has
high levels of vitamins B, and dietary minerals potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc copper and manganese. It is gluten free and is ideal for those with wheat allergies. Pearl millet has been found to be nutritionally superior to rice and wheat, and a study based on research in India showed that pearl millet and pulses is somewhat better at promoting human growth than a wheat diet.
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#4 Tea/Coffee
Tea and coffee are nervous stimulants. Nervous stimulants create a sense of energy for a short while, after which the bodys energy levels drop. Consuming too much of nervous stimulants destroys stamina in the long run, and affects the bodys ability to store energy.
Alternatives
Drinking a glass of
2/8/13
This Lemon-Ginger Tea recipe could also leave you feeling fresh and invigorated, without the side effects of caffeine: Boil 4.5 cups of water in a saucepan. As the water boils, crush a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger with about 25 to 30 Tulasi (Holy Basil) leaves. Add the paste to the boiling water along with 2 Tsp of dried coriander seeds (optional). Continue to boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain the tea into cups and add a Tsp of lime juice and honey/jaggery to taste. Serve hot!
As important as it is to make sure you get a good balance of nutrition in your daily meals, you need to remember not to get paranoid about the food you eat. Dont become a food freak I will not eat this, I will not eat that. I have to eat like this, I have to eat like that. No, eating joyously is more important than eating properly. Food has influences on you but it is not the deciding factor. The true joy of eating is that you are conscious of some other life willing to become a part of you, to merge and mingle with your own life and become you. This is the greatest pleasure that a human being knows, that in some way, something that is not him has become willing to become a part of him. Sadhguru So focus on the foods that leave you filled with energy and try to avoid the foods that make you lethargic. We wish you a happy and healthy year ahead!
Note: Isha Ruchi is a line of health-food products, aimed at making such items easily accessible to the 21st century city- dweller. These products are a wholesome collection of snacks, drinks, tiffin mixes and pickles that provide an enticing blend of taste, nutrition and convenience. Made from fresh, high-quality ingredients, Isha Ruchi products are nourishing as well as tasty. They can be purchased at the Isha Yoga Center or online, within India. For more information, please visit the Isha Shoppe website.
Photo courtesy @ jamarmstrong, 42dreams, austinevan, jackson3, chumsdock, buyalex, Sanjay ach, Sengai Podhuvan, T.Maari, Hades2k
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Va n d a n a
a day ago
There were many things i didn't know, now i am going to use this knowledge that i have gained after reading this article. As it is better late than never.
N i ko l e
Wow this is such an informative article. I am also surprised with what I have read as most if not all of these are found right in our very own kitchen. I am also glad because alternatives were given too.
m anigandan
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This Lemon-Ginger Tea recipe could also leave you feeling fresh and invigorated, without the side effects of caffeine: Boil 4.5 cups of water in a saucepan. As the water boils, crush a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger with about 25 to 30 Tulasi (Holy Basil) leaves. Add the paste to the boiling water along with 2 Tsp of dried coriander seeds (optional). What do you mean by Add the paste to the boiling water? What paste?
Nidhi
Thanks for the article Isha, would anyone know where to find ocean salt that can be added to food.....
s h re ya
Hi i loved lemon ginger tea during IE program and have been searching for the recipe ever since..i dont have access to tulsi leaves so can i use tulsi powder instead or just make it without tulsi..?thank u..
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23 comments
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Taste-wise it may be similar, but there's nothing like fresh tulsi leaves. You could consider growing a Tulsi plant. Tulsi plants grow easily even in apartments & are easily available for purchase.
Please ask elders in your home. We find it here in our local market at Haridwar. But you know it will far away.
s h re ya
2 days ago
Hi...i loved the ginger lemon tea during IE program and have been looking for the recipe ever since..but i dont have access to tulsi plant so can i use tulsi powder instead..?
s h re ya
Hi..i loved the ginger lemon tea during IE program and i am looking for the recipe ever since ..but i dont have access to holy basil plant..can i use tulsi powder ..? thank you..
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Ju d y Wi g g i n s
Wonderful article!! Thank you for posting this! I am also enjoying the recipes you have posted, too!
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s h re ya
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I have used Isha Ruchi honey as well as Dabur Honey in all seasons, I don't see any impurity - honey is clear with no sediments at all. whereas I have seen other impure honey looking in different colours and with sediments. However, this is only my experience.
Su j a y
This is super useful!! I wish everyone knows about this. Sugar, Tea/coffee, Milk- All so common and assumed as completely fine to consume. I have tried avoiding these but the society (including at my own home) dont allow me to avoid- making fun.... How do we overcome this?
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