Author: Dr. Vikram Chauhan

January 28, 2019

How to Treat Cardiac Diseases in Ayurveda?

What is a cardiac disease?

As per Modern Aspect:

Cardiac disease refers to a number of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.  There is a blockage in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart which leads to the decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle. It includes myocardial infarction and angina, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, venous thrombosis.

Cardiac Diseases in Ayurveda

It is also referred to as Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD).

As per Ayurveda aspect:

  • In Ayurveda, cardiac diseases are correlated with Hrida roga.
  • It is of five types: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, tridosha, and krimija hrida roga.
  • Causes of Hrida Roga are Tikshna Ahara (pungent diet), vyayama (excessive exercise) that leads to Dhamani Praticaya (thickening of arteries), Dhamani Kathinaya (hardening of arteries).

What are the Causes of Cardiac Diseases?

Several causes are:

  • High blood pressure
  • Poor nutrition
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Smoking
  • Overweight
  • High Cholesterol
  • Depression

What are the Symptoms of Cardiac Diseases?

Symptoms include:

  • Symptoms may differ in men and women.
  • Men are likely to have chest pain and women are likely to have other symptoms include Chest discomfort, pain, and pressure.

Other symptoms are:

  • Numbness especially in upper limbs
  • Pain in neck, throat and upper abdomen
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Feeble pulse
  • Fainting
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

How to Treat Cardiac Diseases in Ayurveda?

Here are some herbal remedies for cardiac diseases:

Cinnamon:

  • It is the best herb used in Ayurveda. It has powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols that has an antioxidant property which protects the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It reduces the LDL cholesterol as well as triglycerides and helps in inhibiting the release of inflammatory fatty acids from the platelet membranes that keep the blood flow properly.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Step to follow:

  • Consume 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder once daily.
  • Add this in a cup of warm herbal tea.

Turmeric:

Turmeric is the best natural herb that contains a compound called as curcumin that has an anti-inflammatory property. It controls the inflammation that leads to cardiac diseases. It increases the circulation of blood and also prevents from blood clotting. It lowers the level of cholesterol and is the effective Ayurvedic treatment of cardiac diseases.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Steps to follow:

  • Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of boiling milk.
  • Drink it daily.

Ginger:

It is an Ayurvedic herb that contains a compound called as gingerol with natural blood thinning property. It also lowers the LDL cholesterol level and reduces the plasma cholesterol. It also helps in relaxing blood vessels and stimulates the blood flow.

Health Benefits of Ginger

Steps to follow:

  • Add ginger in a cup of tea. Drink it twice or thrice in a day.
  • Add fresh ginger to vegetables, fruits, and salad.

Green Tea:

Green tea contains antioxidants and flavonoids that keeps the heart healthy and improves the function of blood vessels. It also helps in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides level.

health benefits of green tea

Steps to follow:

  • Drink 2 cups daily for better health.

Coriander:

Coriander has a hypolipidemic action that reduces the levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It has an antioxidant property that is good for heart health.

Health Benefits of Coriander Seeds

Steps to follow:

  • Add a teaspoon of coriander powder in a cup of boiling water and strain it.
  • Drink it daily.

Garlic:

  • Garlic is a very useful and effective herb in enhancing mental as well as physical health. It is useful in treating several human diseases such as cardiac diseases in which it inhibits the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.
  • It has antithrombotic and anti-platelet property. It helps in reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering the levels of total cholesterol. It is an effective Ayurvedic treatment for cardiac diseases.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Steps to follow:

  • Chew 1-2 fresh crushed garlic daily.

Hibiscus:

  • Extract of hibiscus flower helps in lowering the blood pressure and levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It improves heart health

Steps to follow:

  • Drink this tea 2-3 times daily.

Fenugreek:

  • Fenugreek is an effective ayurvedic herb that promotes the health of the heart. It prevents from the symptoms associated with heart diseases such as numbness in upper limbs, pain, and difficulty in breathing and also prevents from the heart attack.

Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Steps to follow:

  • Soak 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds for about 7-8 hours and then drain to drink it.

Arjuna:

  • Arjuna is an effective natural herb that works as a cardio-tonic and further strengthens the cardiac muscles to lower the blood pressure. It is very effective in lowering the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fats. It provides nourishment to the heart muscle and alleviates heart problems.

Health Benefits of Arjuna

Step to follow:

  • Add one teaspoon of Arjuna powder in a glass of warm water.
  • Add a little honey to it.
  • Drink it daily.

Exercise:

  • Regular exercise keeps the heart healthy and lowers the risk of heart diseases. A person who is physically active has a less chance of a heart attack and in case of if they get a heart attack, they will have a better chance of recovery.
  • It also helps in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels and reduces the body weight and keep the person totally fit. Include some other outdoor games such as swimming, walking, biking etc.

Healthy Body Weight:

  • Maintaining a healthy body weight will keep the heart healthy. It helps in lowering the cholesterol and triglycerides levels and reduces the chances of heart attack or stroke.
  • It helps in maintaining the lipid profile of the body and reduces the other symptoms that include numbness in the upper limbs, fatigue, fainting etc
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January 23, 2019

Health Benefits of Pistachio Nuts You Should Know

Overview

Pistachios (roasted without salt) are one of the most nutritious nuts, low calorie, oldest edible nuts, healthy for heart and the entire body as they improve blood, brain and skin health. Pistachio nuts belong to the Anacardiaceae family. A tree (Pisracia vera tree) takes almost 10 years to produce its first crop. Pistachios are seeds of the tree.

Health Benefits of Pistachio

Is Pistachios Are Good For You?

Pistachios are loaded with nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, antioxidants, amino acids, fats and dietary fiber. They are rich in minerals like phosphorous, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and sodium. Pistachio provides essential vitamins like Vitamin A, C, E and K along with folate, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin and pantothenic acid.

What are the Health Benefits of Pistachios?

Healthy Heart

Improve Heart Health

  • Pistachios are one of the most Vitamin B6 rich foods, which is important for formation of hemoglobin and blood sugar regulation. Getting Vitamin B6 in diet helps to improve cardiovascular health. Pistachios can lower bad cholesterol and cut the risk of coronary heart disease.
  • They lower the levels of lipids and lipoproteins which are the risk factors for heart disease. The omega 3 fatty acids present in serving of pistachios can help lower blood pressure and protect against abnormal heart beat.
  • The high amount of Vitamin B6 also helps in building amino acids essential in transmitting nerve impulses and thus helps in maintaining a healthy nervous system.
  • Pistachios are a great source of amino acid L arginine which is converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide plays an important role in vasodilation (widening or dilating of blood vessels). Thus, these nuts enhance the blood flow and manage the blood pressure naturally.

Boost Fertility

  • Proper blood flow is needed for body functions like erectile function. Along with this, Pistachios act as an aphrodisiac and is found to improve sex drive in men and boost fertility.

Sources of Vitamin E

Source of Vitamin E

  • Pistachios are amazing source of Vitamin E which is needed to prevent age related cognitive decline.
  • Pistachios are able to stimulate brain frequencies better than other nuts.
  • Thus, they help to enhance learning and information retention.
  • The oil from the pistachio nut is useful in fighting brain

Premature Aging

  • Inflammation and preserving the essential fatty acids in the brain. The vitamin E in pistachios protects the skin from the damage caused by Ultra violet rays and delays the signs of premature aging.

Weight loss Management

Weight loss Management

  • Pistachios are very helpful with weight management as they are low in calories, high in proteins.
  • They have low saturated fats and high unsaturated fats which is needed for weight management. The fiber in them helps to keep one full for longer periods.
  • Consuming pistachios can keep inches off the waist over time.
  • Pistachios have beneficial effects on triglycerides too.
  • The fat content in them is not fully absorbed by the body.
  • They are the healthiest nuts to be used as a snack in order to lose weight.
  • Eating in shell pistachios also leads to mindful eating as one needs to slowly remove the shell and eat the nuts.

Enhance Gut Health

  • Pistachios promotes healthy gut bacteria as they are high in fiber.
  • They help in smooth digestion of the food and prevents constipation.
  • Consuming pistachios increases the number of butyrate producing bacteria in the gut.
  • Feeding the good bacteria helps them multiply and crowd out the harmful bacteria.
  • The fiber in pistachios is digested by the food bacteria in the stomach which then ferments this fiber and produce short chain fatty acids. This helps in reducing risk of developing digestive disorders, colon cancers and heart diseases.

Helpful in Diabetes

  • Pistachios are known to increase the levels of peptide 1 hormone that regulates glucose levels in diabetes. The nuts have positive effects on glycemic control, blood pressure, inflammation and obesity in diabetic patients. Intake of pistachios lowers the glucose and insulin levels. They have low glycemic index which means they do not cause a large spike in the blood sugar.

Improve Vision Health

  • Pistachios are a rich source of antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which are essential for healthy eyes. These antioxidants are found in human retina and taking care of eyes and prevents vision issues.
  • Consuming Pistachios regularly reduces the chances of age-related Macular Degeneration and cataracts. They also protect the eyes against damage caused by blue light. Pistachios also contain zinc which is a vital nutrient for healthy eyes.

Boost Immunity

  • The zinc and Vitamin B6 in Pistachios also boost the immunity and protects the body against various infections.

Pistachios Combat Inflammation

Pistachios Combat Inflammation

  • Pistachios combat inflammation as they are rich in monounsaturated fats and proteins which helps in fighting inflammation for Arthritis patients and also builds strength.
  • The presence of Vitamin A, E and anti-inflammatory properties in pistachios helps in reducing inflammation in any part of the body.

Increase Estrogen Levels

  • Pistachios are very helpful for females as they contain the highest number of phytoestrogens. They can increase the estrogen levels leading to regulated menstrual cycles.
  • They are also good source of nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Fight Premature Aging

  • These nuts are very useful for skin and hair. The copper in Pistachios aids the production of elastin which treats sagging skin and prevents the formation of wrinkles.
  • The nuts also help in eliminating dryness from the skin. The saturated fats in these nuts acts as a good carrier or base oil for massage therapies and aromatherapies.

Prevent Anemia

  • The high copper content in Pistachios helps in the higher iron absorption in the body from various food sources. Thus, the intake of these nuts helps prevent conditions like anemia.
  • Pistachios have high ratio of essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein making it exceptionally beneficial for vegetarians.

How to Eat

  • Pistachios are very popular in ice creams and desserts. They are prized high for their unique, slightly sweet flavor. They can be eaten as a snack or on top of a salad and mixed in baked goods for additional flavor.
  • These are delicious, versatile and fun to eat nuts. Pistachios in diet are a great way to improve overall health. It is important to stick to plain, unsalted pistachio nuts in their shells and avoid eating more than one ounce a day. Pistachios must be stored in airtight containers in cool and dry places to last longer.
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