script your own life . . .

Traditional indian systems of medicine especially ayurveda , rely on plants for healing. Some plants are literally like amruth i.e. life givers. Out of their leaves, stem, roots seed, flower and bark are prepared decoctions and pastes which have healing property. Out of the many common plant remedies some are very popular and find use in everyday life. Turmeric, neem, thulasi, and many varieties of greens are locally available, many of which end up in our dining table. Different varieties of greens offer different cures. They help cure cough, boost memory, have a cooling effect on the body and are good for de-worming. As beauty treatment, they serve as shampoos and facials. My mother used to swear by the leaves of the hibiscus plant, whose leaves and flowers are crushed and a gooey paste thus obtained is an excellent shampoo. Likewise ladies-finger mixed with water and applied on hair acts as a shampoo. neem and turmeric pastes are used as face-pack. They have excellent anti-biotic properties and a de-worming effect. The flowers of hibiscus are boiled with milk and this drink acts as an excellent tonic. The leaves of guava and neem are used for tooth-ache. I came across a very interesting tooth-brush when I went to my grandpa’s house in Kerala. He broke off a twig from a neem tree in his backyard and chewed it and then brushed his teeth with it. In India many villagers still use this home grown tooth brush. The World Health org estimates that about 80%of the global population relies on plant based preparations for their illness. India is a virtual storehouse of thousands of such herbs. Plants endowed with rich and diverse local healing traditions can be studied and drugs made within the reach of even the poor. Formulations can be made so that people can adopt them easily.

Vegetarianism is in vogue. And green is the preferred colour. Although the idea/movement is catching on / is a trend, only a thorough objective analysis will tell if it will stay/ last. The genesis of vegetarianism is rather vague, however the common perception is that it is the brainchild of animal rights activists. Food is for nutritional nourishment. It is a well known fact that a vegetarian diet struggles to provide a balanced diet containing the entire family of nutrients in the most digestible form. The nutrients – to – quantity of vegetables ratio is abysmally low. The very idea of vegetarianism is in itself not practical for the world; is based on loose fundamentals and a misplaced sense of activism for animals. Firstly, nature/ecosystem cannot accommodate an entirely vegetarian population. because it would result in mass encroachment of forest lands for agricultural use, deforestation, excessive use of fertilizers n pesticides and thereby soil degradation, greenhouse gases etc. fertilizer industry has a huge carbon footprint. Animal slaughter may be wrong, but by bringing them into our food cycle we are only ensuring their survival. While cattle n livestock have a carbon footprint, their contribution to global warming as a whole is insignificant. For the survival of all species, it is important for man to protect the delicate ecological balance that is inherent in nature.

Undertaking a physical or sports training is otherwise known as gyming. Gymming is either done for weight reduction or weight gaining. Fat loss training is otherwise referred to as Cardiovascular training. Cardiovascular training conditions the heart and the lungs, relieves stress, burns calories and boosts stamina. Strength training on the other hand boosts metabolism, strengthens muscles and improves posture. Prior to any physical training stretching exercises such as pilates, tai chi, yoga, etc are a must. They prevent injury, increase agility, relieve stress and improve range of motion and avoid creating a burn out for the body. Fat loss activities involve aerobics, cycling, running, rowing, swimming and walking. Cycling, running and walking are the most popular form of exercises, which do come under gymming. Strength training includes circuit training, body sculpting, free weights and resistance training with bands and tubes and weight machines. Gymming can be done either in a privately owned gym or at home depending upon the cost criteria, time allocation for gymming, availability of equipments and space restraints. Gymming, if done properly, is the best weapon to fight diseases and ageing.

Biking entails the sport of riding bicycles on and off the road and over rough terrains, whether riding a simple bike or specially equipped bikes or hybrid road bikes. This individual sport requires endurance, bike handling skills and self-reliance, and can be performed almost anywhere from a back yard to a gravel road. Bicycles, the most common form of cycle, were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide. They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. Learning to ride efficiently and safely in traffic is important. In the United Kingdom, many primary school children took the Cycling Proficiency Test, to help them travel more safely. However, the Cycling Proficiency Test has now been superseded, for children, by ‘Bike ability’ and the National Standards for Cycle Training. Bicycles are used for recreation at all ages. Bicycle touring, also known as cyclotourism, involves touring and exploration or sightseeing by bicycle for leisure. Mountain biking grew in the late 20th century, including recreation and racing. Most mountain biking takes place on dirt roads, trails and in purpose-built parks. The physical exercise gained from cycling is generally linked with increased health and well-being. Bicycles are often used by people seeking to improve their fitness and cardiovascular health. In this regard, cycling is especially helpful for those with arthritis of the lower limbs who are unable to pursue sports that cause impact to the knees and other joints. Since cycling can be used for the practical purpose of transportation, there can be less need for self-discipline to exercise. Bicycles reduce pollution to a great extent apart from ensuring increased health and well being.

A good quality nutritional supplemental program will benefit highly in an individual’s health. If these supplements are taken in proper dosage, and along with regular exercise, it might turn out that these supplements help in achieving perfect health. But the most important thing here is the balance of the nutritional supplements taken per day. It should always be under the restricted level so that it will not cause any kind of intoxication to the human body. Another important factor here is that nutritional supplements are not solely responsible for good health. A proper diet should also be followed. People should eat properly, avoid intoxicating substances and have a balanced nutritional supplement program. In addition to this, due to processed foods, poor eating habits, and the depletion of nutrients in some of our foods, people are getting less than the minimal recommended doses of vitamins and minerals. Our lifestyle choices, including inadequate nutrient intake has led to the rise of chronic degenerative diseases.

Green food which are usually green leafy vegetables, are the closest to the food which matches the nutritional needs of the human body. Green food contains amino acids which are vital to the human body. Milk, eggs, dairy products, meat, etc all have proteins which have to be broken down by the body to be utilized. This process is done by amino acids. Greens also have high fiber content which aids the digestion process. This helps clear of the colon. Any toxins present in the intestine will be thrown out by the fiber as they totally aid in the elimination process. They also supply vitamins and minerals needed for the daily metabolic activities. This will result in optimal functioning of the human body and maintaining the pH balance of it. Also, some essential vitamins and minerals can be found in greens which keep different organs of the body functioning properly.