It was expected that “wellness” would become a $1 trillion industry by 2010 with the fastest growing and most lucrative market sector in this market being anti-aging products and services. i am not sure if this figure was reached but we are definitely seeing more interested in organic products and supplements to support young looking skin. Is this trend being driven by baby boomers refusing to get old like their parents? Partly so, but it seems everyone from young teens to the thirty some things are also looking for the miracle cream or pill that will slow the hands of time. And, if you think it is just a girl thing, think again. A report published by the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) in 2007 showed that the fastest growing segment of today’s wellness industry is the men’s cosmeceuticals.
Cosmeceuticals are topical cosmetics that are pharmaceutical hybrids intended to enhance health and beauty through ingredients that influence the skin’s biological function.
But it is not just we put on our skin that is fascinating us there is a growing interest in what is being called “nutria-cosmetics”. These are nutritional cosmetics, products you eat or drink, that promise to improve the results of a skincare routine by working from the inside.
You may think this is a new trend but for those of us interested Ayurveda we acknowledge that humans have been looking for what keeps us healthy, happy and deeply inspired from beginning less time. Indeed, one of the translations of the word Ayurveda is, the study of longevity or more simply out how to age well or look and feel good for as long as possible.
I was fascinated to discover just recently that hundreds of years old texts talk about the same the very same issues our modern cosmetics are designed to address. You may not recognize the Sanskrit terms but their translations come up in advertizing slogans all the time.
• Vayasthapana: age defying
• Varnya: brighten skin-glow
• Sandhaniya: cell regeneration
• Vranaropana: healing
• Tvachya: nurturing
• Shothahara: anti-inflammatory
• Tvachagnivardhani: strengthening skin metabolism, and
• Tvagrasayana: retarding aging.
Ayurvedic texts mentions over 200 herbs, minerals and oils to maintain and enhance the health and beauty of the skin and these same ancient texts describe in detail how they should be applied or ingested. Packs, oils, herbal waters, powders of every kind were offered to promote ageless skin by tonifying, smoothing imperfections, and increasing hydration level, thus restoring a radiant and healthy look. You can find a number of these recipes in either of my books, Ayurvedic Beauty Care or Ayurvedic Spa. But, I would like to take this opportunity to offer a little more information about a few common Ayurvedic herbs and how they fit into the anti-aging puzzle by placing them in their ancient categories.
Vayasthapana means “maintaining youthfulness” or “arresting age”. These herbs nourish the skin and ensures its optimum physiological functions. Gotu-Kola is the foremost anti-aging herbs. One of its many properties is to enhance collagen synthesis thus supporting good skin tone.
Varnya means “youthful radiance”. This radiance or glow is one of the major signs of youthful skin according to Ayurveda. Herbs that are said to promote this glow include sandalwood powder, vetiver or khus, Indian madder or manjistha and Indian sarsaparilla or anantmul.
Sandhaniya means “protection from normal wear and tear”. These herbs are healing and regenerative for the skin. A commonly used herb in this category is Sensitive Plant or lajjalu which is said to enhance healing and regeneration of the nerves by 30 to 40%. Shea nut oil and meadowfoam seed oil in our pitta face blend are also protective.
Vranaropana means deep healing. These herbs enhance deeper healing abilities in the skin. Both gotu kola and sensitive plant, and are known for their ability to heal wounds. In the west plantain would hold this position.
Tvachya means “enhancing and nurturing”. These herbs support moisture balance and provide overall nourishment to the skin. Gotu Kola, Silk Cotton Tree, Costus and Rose
Petal are among those most widely used for this purpose.
Feeding the skin properly is very important to prevent premature aging which is why we call our face oils skin food and encourage our clients to feed their face and body.
Shothahara means “anti-inflammatory”. Inflammation is considered to be the primary cause of aging; an inflamed site forms a micro-scar that over time develops into a wrinkle or blemish. By protecting the skin against allergens, inflammatory substances, chemicals and even stress, this group of herbs provide the anti-inflammatory effect, essential to all anti-aging formulations. Rose petal, Silk Cotton Tree and Aloe Vera are examples of common Shothahara herbs.
Tvachagnivardhani means to “enhance the luster of the skin” by enhancing the skin’s own metabolism. With age or poor health the body’s metabolism generally slows down; similarly the skin’s own metabolism also weakens. Enzymes that help digestion are disrupted and through indigestion primarily metabolic toxins are created. Ayurveda calls these toxins ama. Ama in the skin clogs the subtle channels, leading to wrinkles, dryness and color anomalies and other signs of aging. Clogged channels is also said to create dullness and lack of youthful glow. Application of gota kola improves circulation promoting inner cleansing of deep impurities, it helps prevent varicose veins, cellulitis, premature aging skin, and weakened immunity to allergens and many skin diseases.
Tvagrasayana means skin rasayan or “skin rejuvenator”. These include powerful herbal formulae designed to prevent sickness and retard aging of the skin. In these category amalaki, is supreme, being a potent antioxidant, rich in Vitamin C, tannins and gallic acid.
It seems like the latest trends in beauty, health and wellness sectors are giving rise to a new realm of possibilities for Ayurvedic practitioners. These are indeed interesting times and it will be fascinating to watch the rise in popularity of Ayurvedic herbs in cosmetics and supplements.
Indeed, Ayurveda offers vast amounts of information on principles of anti-aging, skin care and anti-aging herbs and we may it see this knowledge come forward first in the spa and beauty industry.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Are We Bothered about CO2 emissions?
Being further north, nearer the icecap, an island nation,having a government that acknowledge global warming as something other than junk science and a freer media means that Brits get to hear some interesting stuff on the "Beeb", BBC radio four. If you are interested in informative, well research material about what our European neighbors are doing to be green, tune into the BBC through your computer.
Here are the action items I gleaned from a recent show. A longer piece will soon be in LNE magazine. Check out www.lneonline.com if you don't already get the magazine. Their most recent editor is waving the green flag and publishing about all sorts of holistic treatments. It is really worth a read. Great pictures too.
HOW HELP YOUR STAFF AND CLIENTS BE BOTHERED AND TAKE ACTION -Advise from British psychologists.
Paint a heavenly future when you talk about your green goals rather than describing the hell we all want to avoid. Pictures of gloom and doom turn us off, sap our energy and paralyze us rather than energizing us into action.
Talk about ordinary tangible things that the average client or staff member can choose to do. Don’t talk about tipping points, deadlines beyond which there is no hope. They are great to motivate serious funders that are used to planning on predicted numbers but totally freak out, bore or plain turn off the average person.
Introduce changes as being positive for everyone that are just plain common sense and demonstrate common ethical values. Don’t use saving money as the single motivator for change. This entrains people to make decisions that help our environment only if they are cost effective.
Be inclusive. Green initiatives, especially here in the US, are either thought of as hippie/environmentalist, liberal democrat especially as we had an ex-democratic vice President Al Gore presenting the movie, “An Inconvenient Truth” or even elitist. These habit changes must be something everyone can get on board with irrespective of social group, political persuasion or any other socio economic reason. Every spa can be green in some way.
Green must not be associated with austerity, not having, but having something better and more rewarding. We see this trend in magazines like Real Simple whose by line is cleverly, “life made easier, everyday”. Most of us thing easier is better . Let’s make green easy and better too.
Green must become the new glamorous. How about hosting what in Europe they are calling a “swishing party” which tries to replicate the buzz women get from clothes shopping, but in a carbon neutral way. Buying clothes from foreign countries accounts for about 10% of our carbon foot print. Green action must become fun and status-rich, rather than signing clients or staff up for a life of grim austerity, SWISH.
Talk to people, every client and staff member as if green actions are normal and the smartest thing to do for everyone, which they are of course. Marketing geniuses tell us clients don’t respond well to words like global warming, climate change, or even pollution. But interestingly everyone seemed to respond positively to working to take care of our deteriorating atmosphere. Even though CO2 is not poisonous breathe, maybe the intimacy of the very air we breathe is present and understandable so start there.
Use local examples. In Britain they had a campaign to highlight the melting northern ice cap with a jingle, whose punch line was, “Don’t make the polar bears cry”. It failed on two fronts. Firstly, people thought they had to be environmentalists to be concerned and secondly they believed the world of polar bears was a long way off and didn’t have much relevance to normal life of the average Brit.
Make every green suggestion sound and feel important. If the solutions offered in a message are too simple or painless such as turning off the lights or unplugging your phone charger, unintentionally we might be encouraging the idea the problem can't be that serious if the answers are so trivial and so not worth doing?
Do your part to connect clients with nature. People will value the natural world if they experience the bliss that this connection offers. Many destination spas are in beautiful places but even the small city bound day spa can have local flowers, fruits and skin care products. This approach is now being tested by WWF the World Wildlife Fund with projects like Natural Change in Scotland.
Give it a try.
Here are the action items I gleaned from a recent show. A longer piece will soon be in LNE magazine. Check out www.lneonline.com if you don't already get the magazine. Their most recent editor is waving the green flag and publishing about all sorts of holistic treatments. It is really worth a read. Great pictures too.
HOW HELP YOUR STAFF AND CLIENTS BE BOTHERED AND TAKE ACTION -Advise from British psychologists.
Paint a heavenly future when you talk about your green goals rather than describing the hell we all want to avoid. Pictures of gloom and doom turn us off, sap our energy and paralyze us rather than energizing us into action.
Talk about ordinary tangible things that the average client or staff member can choose to do. Don’t talk about tipping points, deadlines beyond which there is no hope. They are great to motivate serious funders that are used to planning on predicted numbers but totally freak out, bore or plain turn off the average person.
Introduce changes as being positive for everyone that are just plain common sense and demonstrate common ethical values. Don’t use saving money as the single motivator for change. This entrains people to make decisions that help our environment only if they are cost effective.
Be inclusive. Green initiatives, especially here in the US, are either thought of as hippie/environmentalist, liberal democrat especially as we had an ex-democratic vice President Al Gore presenting the movie, “An Inconvenient Truth” or even elitist. These habit changes must be something everyone can get on board with irrespective of social group, political persuasion or any other socio economic reason. Every spa can be green in some way.
Green must not be associated with austerity, not having, but having something better and more rewarding. We see this trend in magazines like Real Simple whose by line is cleverly, “life made easier, everyday”. Most of us thing easier is better . Let’s make green easy and better too.
Green must become the new glamorous. How about hosting what in Europe they are calling a “swishing party” which tries to replicate the buzz women get from clothes shopping, but in a carbon neutral way. Buying clothes from foreign countries accounts for about 10% of our carbon foot print. Green action must become fun and status-rich, rather than signing clients or staff up for a life of grim austerity, SWISH.
Talk to people, every client and staff member as if green actions are normal and the smartest thing to do for everyone, which they are of course. Marketing geniuses tell us clients don’t respond well to words like global warming, climate change, or even pollution. But interestingly everyone seemed to respond positively to working to take care of our deteriorating atmosphere. Even though CO2 is not poisonous breathe, maybe the intimacy of the very air we breathe is present and understandable so start there.
Use local examples. In Britain they had a campaign to highlight the melting northern ice cap with a jingle, whose punch line was, “Don’t make the polar bears cry”. It failed on two fronts. Firstly, people thought they had to be environmentalists to be concerned and secondly they believed the world of polar bears was a long way off and didn’t have much relevance to normal life of the average Brit.
Make every green suggestion sound and feel important. If the solutions offered in a message are too simple or painless such as turning off the lights or unplugging your phone charger, unintentionally we might be encouraging the idea the problem can't be that serious if the answers are so trivial and so not worth doing?
Do your part to connect clients with nature. People will value the natural world if they experience the bliss that this connection offers. Many destination spas are in beautiful places but even the small city bound day spa can have local flowers, fruits and skin care products. This approach is now being tested by WWF the World Wildlife Fund with projects like Natural Change in Scotland.
Give it a try.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
SPICE AS MEDICINE
As a new member of AAPNA (Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America) I decided to tune into their monthly free conference call. Unfortunately the advertised speaker had a bad sore throat that did not resolve in time for her to host the call so instead we had a "phone panel discussion".
I was so impressed by the level of expertise of the other callers but even more impressed by their willingness to ask the difficult questions that we so often overlook. I shared my enthusiasm for the Healing Spice book by Bharat Aggarwal Ph.D. which prompted a very interesting discussion.
Dr. Aggarwal was raised in India in a tradtional household that made use of Ayurveda but his higher degrees are from american universities and he is now involved in western research. I have found the book fascinating and I had no idea so many foods and spices were being studied for there possible medicinal benefits. Dr. Aggarwal is articularly famous for his ground breakiing research on turmeric. On the call the question came up, "Do you like the idea of clients taking turmeric in capsules?" The answer was interesting.
The thought is that if a capsule burst in an empty stomach it could irritate the stomach lining. Turmeric is better delivered in food, mixed as a tea or taken in milk if dairy foods are well tolerated by the client. The Ayurvedic idea is that you cannot just jump on one spice and start taking loads of it and see results. There is more to it than that. Also, interesting to hear the doctors on the call say if the researchers think they will get the same healing results by islolating the ingredients they think are the active ones in a spice, they will not. They may record great results initially but eventually taking just part of a spice, they will eventually see side effects like those that happen with other modern drugs. It reminds me of the slogan Dr. Lad taught me years ago, "Anything can be a medicine , but if it had side effects Ayurveda would not call it a medicine."
So Ayurvedic teachings ask us to understand that nature made spices whole and that is the way they should be used. Ofcourse, prevention is better than cure so please use spice in your food. Spice not only makes food taste great so your body is primed to digest but it brings prana into food and provides phytonutrients just not available in grains, fruits and vegetable, dairy and meat products alone.
I very much hope we will see a greater emphasis on cooking in Ayurvedic studies and that student will be encouraged to discover how people the world over use spice.
I was so impressed by the level of expertise of the other callers but even more impressed by their willingness to ask the difficult questions that we so often overlook. I shared my enthusiasm for the Healing Spice book by Bharat Aggarwal Ph.D. which prompted a very interesting discussion.
Dr. Aggarwal was raised in India in a tradtional household that made use of Ayurveda but his higher degrees are from american universities and he is now involved in western research. I have found the book fascinating and I had no idea so many foods and spices were being studied for there possible medicinal benefits. Dr. Aggarwal is articularly famous for his ground breakiing research on turmeric. On the call the question came up, "Do you like the idea of clients taking turmeric in capsules?" The answer was interesting.
The thought is that if a capsule burst in an empty stomach it could irritate the stomach lining. Turmeric is better delivered in food, mixed as a tea or taken in milk if dairy foods are well tolerated by the client. The Ayurvedic idea is that you cannot just jump on one spice and start taking loads of it and see results. There is more to it than that. Also, interesting to hear the doctors on the call say if the researchers think they will get the same healing results by islolating the ingredients they think are the active ones in a spice, they will not. They may record great results initially but eventually taking just part of a spice, they will eventually see side effects like those that happen with other modern drugs. It reminds me of the slogan Dr. Lad taught me years ago, "Anything can be a medicine , but if it had side effects Ayurveda would not call it a medicine."
So Ayurvedic teachings ask us to understand that nature made spices whole and that is the way they should be used. Ofcourse, prevention is better than cure so please use spice in your food. Spice not only makes food taste great so your body is primed to digest but it brings prana into food and provides phytonutrients just not available in grains, fruits and vegetable, dairy and meat products alone.
I very much hope we will see a greater emphasis on cooking in Ayurvedic studies and that student will be encouraged to discover how people the world over use spice.
Monday, February 7, 2011
SPICE
In his wonderful book Healing Spices, Dr. Bharat Aggarwal describes spices as, " the jewels of the plant kingdom". Meaning, they are the most precious foods that bestow health and promote healing in a variety of ways. He goes onto say, that most spices are powerful antioxidants that act in the body to control and disarm "free radicals" the very chemicals thought to damage cells and cause illness and aging. Many contain phytonutrients that calm inflammation another root cause of several deadly health problems such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. He discribes this process as fighting inner rust in the body, an image I love. Interestingly, recent research has found that cultures whose native diet makes regular use of spice have lower rates of colon cancer, heart disease and mental problems. We have all been led to believe that your five servings of fruit and veg is enough but apparently spices contain unique compounds that have been shown to
- protect tissues against cancer
- boost our immune systems
- protect brain cells
- ease arthritis pain
- relax menstrual cramps
- tame nausea
- control appetite, helping weight loss
- benefit and protect the skin
So get ready to spice up your life. Still not convinced?
I have to tell you this book is a fascinating read, the recipes are fantastic and original and the whole text inspired me to use even more spice on, in and around my body. Just a taste of the gems of wisdom Dr. Bharat has to share...
Acne- 500mg of turmeric twice a day
Age spots - blend of oil using essential oil of oregano
Depression- 15mg of saffron twice daily bet out Prozac in a good number of cases
Unwanted hair growth in women - 2 cups of spearmint tea during and five days after your menstrual cycle.
Interested now ? I've been glued to this book and it has prompted a search for more spicy ayurvedic skin care formulas. I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
COFFEE - A HEALTH DRINK?
If you are health conscious but still are attached to your morning cup of Jo you might be cheered to hear what Dr. Frank Hu of Harvard School of Public Health has to say about coffee.
“There is certainly much more good news than bad news,
“There is certainly much more good news than bad news,
in terms of coffee and health.”
The present studies are not completely conclusive because it is possible that coffee drinkers in general have better diets, exercise more or have protective genes. But, the findings are interesting and truly support the Ayurvedic idea that every substance can be healing. This is good news since the average American downs 416 eight ounce cups of the delicious java annually (2009 statistic) and it is thought to be the main source of antioxidants in much of the population. Here are 10 disorders that coffee may help or at least have a preventive function in terms of deducing risk factors.
1. Type II Diabetes: More than 15 studies point to the fact that the type of diabetes that is not inherited may benefit from coffee. Interestingly, decaf and full caffeine coffee have similar effects. Possibly because it is chlorgoenic acid found in coffee that is thought to be the active ingredient responsible. Though Dr. Hu thinks more ayurvedically, when he says,“It’s the whole package.” Coffee is rich in antioxidants -- nutrients that help prevent tissue damage caused by molecules called oxygen-free radicals. Coffee also contains minerals such as magnesium and chromium, which help the body use the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar (glucose) the main difficulty in diabetes.
2. Cancer: According to the Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School, studies have shown that those who drink coffee are 50 percent less likely to suffer from cancer. Most specifically studied were breast, rectal and colon cancers.
3. Parkinson’s Disease: Coffee has also been linked to lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A 2009 study from Finland and Sweden showed that, out of 1,400 people followed for about 20 years, those who reported drinking 3-5 cups of coffee daily were 65% less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, compared with nondrinkers or occasional coffee drinkers. The reasons for this are still unclear and are not conclusive as other environmental factors have not been isolated.
4. Heart Problems: Possibly because coffee is actually a natural antioxidant source coffee is thought to help decrease risk factors for heart attack, stroke and heart rhythm disturbances. Antioxidants help to keep the blood clean, thus possibly helping to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. But remember, these benefits were found in tests where men or women were drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day, no more.
5. Cirrhosis of the Liver: Cirrhosis of the liver is a common ailment among alcoholics, though others can suffer from it too. Fortunately, several studies have shown that those who drink coffee regularly are 80 percent less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver. Again we are not sure why but those coffee enemas deep clean the liver.
6. Losing Weight: Coffee really can get you doing in the morning. In fact, it boosts your metabolism which can also help to burn off calories. But only if you do get up and go! That combined with the fact coffee is naturally low in calories, makes coffee a prime drink for losing weight. It also helps with regular bowel movements, literally moving out dead weight. Just keep in mind it’s all the sugars and creams added to coffee that can make it fattening. A 6-ounce cup of black coffee contains just 7 calories. Add some half & half and you'll get 46 calories. If you favor a liquid nondairy creamer, that will set you back 48 calories. A teaspoon of sugar will add about 23 calories.
7. Asthma: Medicines for asthma almost always contain high does of caffeine because caffeine helps with the symptoms of asthma. So what’s more natural than coffee for a dose some caffeine?
8. Natural Diuretic: Need to shed a little water weight? If so, then you should try drinking coffee. Not only is coffee a natural diuretic, but it also naturally cleanses the stomach as it passes through. Beware, however, because this is not true for everyone; some people have shown to have upset stomachs after drinking coffee. So just try a little and see how your body reacts to it.
9. Gall Stones: Coffee apparently lowers the levels of cholesterol in stomach bile, thus helping to prevent the body from building up gall stones. Studies have shown this works best for those who drink lots of coffee.
10. Exercise: Coffee is even good for exercise. No, it won’t give you supper muscles, but the caffeine in coffee gives your body some extra energy, which can allow you to run or workout all that much longer, and possibly harder. As always, beware ingesting too much caffeine.
BE WARNED!
The effects on pregnant women drinking more than 12 ounces of coffee a day might increase the risk for miscarriage, low birth weight and premature delivery.
Drink a lot of coffee and you may head to the bathroom more often. Caffeine is a mild diuretic – that is, it makes you urinate more than you would without it. Some sources say you need to drink thee glasses of water to compensate for one cup of coffee. In Europe coffee is often served with a cup of hot water. Decaf on the other hand has about the same effect on urine production as water.
Decaf drinkers are more likely to be suicidal.
Both regular and decaffeinated coffee contain acids that can make heartburn worse.
CHECK OUT SHAKTI SHOTS
A new product coming soon from Diamond Way Ayurveda
It's a blend of liquid spice essences that make coffee taste great while buffering the strong effects of the coffee acids for a gentling of ht eimpact on the stomach and kidneys.
The present studies are not completely conclusive because it is possible that coffee drinkers in general have better diets, exercise more or have protective genes. But, the findings are interesting and truly support the Ayurvedic idea that every substance can be healing. This is good news since the average American downs 416 eight ounce cups of the delicious java annually (2009 statistic) and it is thought to be the main source of antioxidants in much of the population. Here are 10 disorders that coffee may help or at least have a preventive function in terms of deducing risk factors.
1. Type II Diabetes: More than 15 studies point to the fact that the type of diabetes that is not inherited may benefit from coffee. Interestingly, decaf and full caffeine coffee have similar effects. Possibly because it is chlorgoenic acid found in coffee that is thought to be the active ingredient responsible. Though Dr. Hu thinks more ayurvedically, when he says,“It’s the whole package.” Coffee is rich in antioxidants -- nutrients that help prevent tissue damage caused by molecules called oxygen-free radicals. Coffee also contains minerals such as magnesium and chromium, which help the body use the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar (glucose) the main difficulty in diabetes.
2. Cancer: According to the Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School, studies have shown that those who drink coffee are 50 percent less likely to suffer from cancer. Most specifically studied were breast, rectal and colon cancers.
3. Parkinson’s Disease: Coffee has also been linked to lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A 2009 study from Finland and Sweden showed that, out of 1,400 people followed for about 20 years, those who reported drinking 3-5 cups of coffee daily were 65% less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, compared with nondrinkers or occasional coffee drinkers. The reasons for this are still unclear and are not conclusive as other environmental factors have not been isolated.
4. Heart Problems: Possibly because coffee is actually a natural antioxidant source coffee is thought to help decrease risk factors for heart attack, stroke and heart rhythm disturbances. Antioxidants help to keep the blood clean, thus possibly helping to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. But remember, these benefits were found in tests where men or women were drinking 1-3 cups of coffee a day, no more.
5. Cirrhosis of the Liver: Cirrhosis of the liver is a common ailment among alcoholics, though others can suffer from it too. Fortunately, several studies have shown that those who drink coffee regularly are 80 percent less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver. Again we are not sure why but those coffee enemas deep clean the liver.
6. Losing Weight: Coffee really can get you doing in the morning. In fact, it boosts your metabolism which can also help to burn off calories. But only if you do get up and go! That combined with the fact coffee is naturally low in calories, makes coffee a prime drink for losing weight. It also helps with regular bowel movements, literally moving out dead weight. Just keep in mind it’s all the sugars and creams added to coffee that can make it fattening. A 6-ounce cup of black coffee contains just 7 calories. Add some half & half and you'll get 46 calories. If you favor a liquid nondairy creamer, that will set you back 48 calories. A teaspoon of sugar will add about 23 calories.
7. Asthma: Medicines for asthma almost always contain high does of caffeine because caffeine helps with the symptoms of asthma. So what’s more natural than coffee for a dose some caffeine?
8. Natural Diuretic: Need to shed a little water weight? If so, then you should try drinking coffee. Not only is coffee a natural diuretic, but it also naturally cleanses the stomach as it passes through. Beware, however, because this is not true for everyone; some people have shown to have upset stomachs after drinking coffee. So just try a little and see how your body reacts to it.
9. Gall Stones: Coffee apparently lowers the levels of cholesterol in stomach bile, thus helping to prevent the body from building up gall stones. Studies have shown this works best for those who drink lots of coffee.
10. Exercise: Coffee is even good for exercise. No, it won’t give you supper muscles, but the caffeine in coffee gives your body some extra energy, which can allow you to run or workout all that much longer, and possibly harder. As always, beware ingesting too much caffeine.
BE WARNED!
The effects on pregnant women drinking more than 12 ounces of coffee a day might increase the risk for miscarriage, low birth weight and premature delivery.
Drink a lot of coffee and you may head to the bathroom more often. Caffeine is a mild diuretic – that is, it makes you urinate more than you would without it. Some sources say you need to drink thee glasses of water to compensate for one cup of coffee. In Europe coffee is often served with a cup of hot water. Decaf on the other hand has about the same effect on urine production as water.
Decaf drinkers are more likely to be suicidal.
Both regular and decaffeinated coffee contain acids that can make heartburn worse.
CHECK OUT SHAKTI SHOTS
A new product coming soon from Diamond Way Ayurveda
It's a blend of liquid spice essences that make coffee taste great while buffering the strong effects of the coffee acids for a gentling of ht eimpact on the stomach and kidneys.
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