The prolific health benefits of fruits, vegetables, spices, and other home remedies have been known to mankind for thousands of years. Many combat diseases, restore immunity, and maintain good health. Currently, we believe in “instant relief” of pain or sickness and use chemical drugs. However, we often tend to overlook the maxim: “Every chemical has an action and an equal reaction in our bodies.” That’s why most modern miracle drugs warn about dozens of harmful side effects of each drug. Funny, they cure one ailment while inducing dozens of harmful effects.

Vegetables are natural products with little or no side effects. They nourish and protect our bodies the same way some “wonder drugs” proclaim to. There were cures and relief for illnesses before the birth of modern medicine. We tend to forget those because they may not offer instant relief, as some modern chemical drugs do.

HOME REMEDIES

A common sense approach will help you maintain good health. By choosing the right foods to eat, we can treat simple ailments. Not all home remedies are backed by scientific research, but are supported by many long-time users. Eating one apple a day is well known. Pomegranate juice is invigorating and said to improve men’s prostrate health. Mango benefits bone and general health, while yogurt improves general health and digestion. Searching the Internet to find the benefits of apple cider vinegar or yogurt will raise your awareness about home remedies. Modern medical science is beginning to accept some ancient methods such as yoga and wellness centers to help cure difficult ailments.

In general, maintaining good health stems from: good digestion, good bowel movements, and good sleep. It is said these three areas indicate general good health. Next in importance is cleaning one’s body—showering and gently massaging the skin with oil or moisturizer. Staying under warm or tolerably hot water a little longer relieves arthritis pain. Healthy skin (soft and smooth) is extremely important for survival as it removes body toxins. Drinking plenty of water prevents dehydration, helps digestion, bowel movement, sleep, and reduces stress. A morning glass of water on an empty stomach is said to regularize bowel movement.

FOOD & SPICES

Eat vegetables and fruits from the seven rainbow colors—violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red—plus black, pink, white, and purple. All tastes—bitter, sweet, brackish, tart, hot, sour, astringent, pungent, and salty—can help you have a healthy body. In addition, certain foods—apple, lime, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger—are well known for their beneficial aspects. Bitter-tasting vegetables are said to be beneficial for the kidney, pancreas, and other internal organs. Okra has lots of fiber and is an excellent aid in bowel movement.

Spices—garlic, onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves—are said to benefit one or many parts of the body. Some relieve pain or control mucus; others like turmeric acts as an antiseptic, while onion is said to be anti-cancerous. The Internet will help you learn the benefits of these basic food items.

MIND & STRESS

There is an ancient saying in Sanskrit “chinta chita dahate” meaning stress kills. Wiping the forehead, eyes, ears, and back of neck with wet hands or wet towels is said to reduce stress and tension quickly.

Cheerfulness of mind impacts good health. Bridled with problems and worries, we tend to forget that laughs, jokes, and good thoughts can all turn our negative state of mind into positive. Considering several alternative solutions of a problem may be helpful. Praying also counteracts bad or evil thoughts and stress quickly. Finally, it is believed that exercising delays decay of physical health, although aging slows physical and mental capabilities somewhat.

One may also consider meditation and yoga as a complement to working out. Yoga (Pranayama) substantially improves functional health of inner organs—heart, lungs, kidneys, circulatory, reproductive, nervous systems and other organs and contributes to weight loss. Pranayama cures “systems” while pharmaceuticals cure “symptoms.” A good web site for pranayama details is http://knowyoga.org/tiki-index.php?page=Pranayama.

Consult a yoga instructor or someone knowledgeable in the area. With some illnesses, certain Pranayama positions are forbidden. A number of pages in the above website are also devoted to medicinal use of foods and other general information on health.

WEIGHT LOSS

If one is determined to lose weight, here is an old method. Drink a glass of plain water early morning on an empty stomach after brushing your teeth. Cut down the quantity of breakfast by 20 to 25 percent depending on the degree of obesity and drink two glasses of plain water. Between breakfast and lunch avoid solid food, although some liquid is allowed. Cut down 20 to 25 percent the quantity of lunch and drink two glasses of plain water. Between lunch and dinner no solid food, but drinks are allowed. Cut down 20 to 25 percent the quantity of dinner and drink two glasses of plain water.

The hardest part of all: do not sleep after dinner for at least two hours for obese people; one hour or more for those moderately overweight. Change can be expected in a few weeks. Continue the routine to maintain the desirable weight. 

Santosh Choudhury, Ph.D. is a freelance writer from Virginia Beach.