Category: Ayurveda

How to maintain good health in old age?

Introduction

Aging is a natural part of life and it comes to all of us. Getting older involves negative and positive changes to the body but don’t let these changes affect your life. Instead look for ways to maintain good health in old age too and enjoy this phase of your life. Are you also close to the category of senior citizens? If so, do you want to keep yourself healthy in old age too? “Yes”! But, is it really possible? Again, yes! Yes, you can maintain your good health at old age too! Do you want to know- how it can be possible? Keep on reading this article and know the aging tips that can help you stay physically and emotionally healthy and keep your mind sharp.

How to maintain good health

7 easy tips to keep your health good at old age

Stay hydrated

  • You can’t ignore water! Water is a natural source to stay hydrated. If you lose more fluids than you take in, you will have dehydration.

What will happen next

  • Do you ever have noticed your grandmother or grandfather complaining of headache or fatigue? Yes, you are thinking right; it was the result of dehydration. Well, dehydration may not only cause fatigue and headaches but also confusion, loss of appetite and poor concentration. Now, you may wonder how important it is to keep yourself hydrated in old age.

Stay active

  • Exercise is a good way to stay active. You may feel like it should be the last thing you should look for. But rather than looking for this at the end, it is good to make this a topmost priority. Exercising regularly can make a huge difference to your health.
    • You don’t have to go to the gym and perform some cardio. A simple evening or morning walk in the park can do the wonders. Go to shops in your nearby area by walking instead of driving. Do some cleaning at your home. Spend some time on gardening.

Regular health checkups

  • This is the most important thing which many people ignore and suddenly one day, they feel pain somewhere in their body and get diagnosed for a serious health problem. Why wait to visit your doctor to get a long list of medications? Why not have regular health check-ups to minimize the chances of making things serious health problem! Are you alsoone among those who don’t pay a visit to their doctor until something goes wrong?
    • If so, then change your thinking now and go for regular health check-ups to ensure everything is running like it should be and catch any health issue long before it becomes serious.

Get enough sleep-

  • Do you love spending time with your children late night because they get free only at that time from their busy schedule? If so, chances are you may not even sleep for 8 hours.
  • So, you need to be a little selfish this time. Lack of sufficient sleep can lead to depression, poor concentration and memory problems. So, you need to go to bed a little early at night to have enough sleep. Waking up late in the morning can also work if you are sleeping late at night. Take short naps during day time as well when you feel sleepy.

Socialize-

  • Being socially active can keep your mental health good. Instead of thinking and feeling sad due to your fight with your children that happened last night, it is good to interact with your friends or relatives, and to distract yourself from any negative thought.
    • You can join a community and do things you find joy in and avoid loneliness in your old age. Call your old friend and have a conversation with him over the phone. Visit your relatives often and have a cup of tea with them. In short, re-energize yourself not physically only but mentally too.

Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption-

  • You already know this fact- Smoking is injurious to health! Your grandchildren have even learned this thing.
  • Regular consumption of alcohol can also harm your body.
  • If these devils are putting you in the danger zone, then why not quit or limit these habits.
  • No matter, how much healthy and well-balanced diet you are eating, you must still not ignore the dangers of smoking or alcohol consumption. If you are a regular smoker or drinker, then it’s time to quit these habits. After all, it’s a question of your health at an old age.

Take dietary supplements-

  • Deficiency of nutrients in older people is a common problem and so they find it difficult to maintain their heart, bone, and overall health. No doubt, we can get all the nutrients from our diet but sometimes it becomes challenging. In such situations, taking vitamin supplements can offer a wise solution.
  • So, why not supplement your diet with some good and effective dietary supplements such as Arjuna capsules and Total heart support to promote heart health, Coral calcium complex and Bone support capsules to maintain healthy calcium levels and bone health, Stress support to manage stress and Brahmi chyawanprash, Shilajit capsules and Amalaki rasayana to maintain overall good health at old age.
  • Do not be stressed out for silly things such as what will happen to your family when you pass away or how will be your home managed after you. You might be far away from this thing to happen. So, avoid unnecessary stress. Instead, try to stay happy always.
  • Value the experience and maturity you gained up to date. Utilize them and maintain your physical, mental and in short, overall health in your old age. Remember it’s never too late to start! So, if you have not started following these healthy lifestyle habits yet, start now.
  • It’s true that time waits for no man but it doesn’t mean that your aging will have to decline your health.
  • Spend your golden years by making it golden with above described 7 easy tips to be followed to maintain golden aging. Is anyone at your home counted among senior citizens? Do you want them to stay healthy in their old age? If so, then share these tips with them also so that they can maintain their health at this age.

What are the benefits of Cinnamon in Diabetes?

Introduction

Cinnamon is an aromatic, very delicious spice derived from the inner bark of Cinnamomum tree. The spice has been used in medicines since ages. It has also been used as a food preservative in older times. Cinnamon lends a complex, sweet flavor without the spike in blood sugar level. The compound cinnamaldehyde is responsible for its health benefits. According to Ayurveda, Cinnamon is an excellent herb to pacify Kapha and balance Vata and Pitta. It is known as twak in Sanskrit and daalchini in Hindi.

Treatment of Diabetes in Ayurveda

What are the Types of Cinnamon?

There are four types of Cinnamon being commercially used. These include Ceylon, Cassia, Saigon and Korintje but most popular are

  • Ceylon and Cassia. Ceylon Cinnamon is grown in South America, Southeast Asia and West Indies.
  • Cassia Cinnamon is grown in Central America, China and Indonesia.
  • Ceylon Cinnamon is considered true or Mexican cinnamon. They are soft and brittle and are rolled tightly.

Cinnamon contains phytochemical that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anticancer and anti-diabetic properties.

Is Cinnamon Good For Diabetes?

  • Cinnamon is a miraculous herb in preventing and fighting diabetes (Type 2 only where pancreas still produce insulin but cells become resistant to it).
  • Treatment for diabetics is a lifelong blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, regular exercise and at times insulin therapy.
  • The key hormone Insulin regulates metabolism and energy use. It also transports blood sugar from the blood stream to our cells. When an individual’s cells become resistant to the effects of Insulin, it leads to Type 2 diabetes.

How Cinnamon Works?

  • Cinnamon works wonder in reducing insulin resistance naturally and gradually and thus helps the hormone to do its job smoothly. The high levels of blood sugar in diabetic patients
  • (Type 2 diabetes) leads to the formation of harmful substances called Advanced Glycation End products (AGE). This leads to cellular damage. Cinnamon has compounds like epicatechin, catechin and procyanindin B2 that inhibits the formation of AGEs and thus prevents further damage to the cells.
  • Cinnamon stimulates the release of insulin from pancreatic cells and improves the activity of insulin receptors along with improving the glucose uptake by the cells.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

How to use

  • Type 2 diabetes people are advised to take at least 1 gram of cinnamon daily. It could be sprinkled on foods for added flavor or boil some cinnamon sticks in water for 20 minutes and then let it cool for some time as while cooling, the cinnamon releases all its magical compounds.
  • The water will turn golden red. The tea needs to be strained and enjoyed warm. One may also mix 3 spoons of cinnamon powder to one liter of water and heat it for 20 minutes. Strain and consume the mixture daily.

Manage Blood Sugar Levels

  • Cinnamon has the ability of lowering blood sugar levels naturally. It has anti diabetic properties. It decreases the amount of glucose that enters the bloodstream after a meal. It interferes with the digestive enzymes which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract.
  • It blocks certain enzymes called alanines which allow glucose to be absorbed by blood. These enzymes or biological catalysts break down the complex carbohydrates into glucose, so when they are blocked or inhibited, the after-meal glucose level (postprandial) gets reduced naturally.
  • A compound in cinnamon called Methylhydroxychalcone Polymer (MHCP) act on cells by mimicking insulin, which improves glucose uptake by cells. It has been shown that consuming Cinnamon can lower the fasting blood sugar levels 20 %.

Useful in cholesterol

  • Cinnamon also reduces the plasma glucose levels, bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides and increases good cholesterol (HDL).

Stress Management

  • The antioxidant properties of cinnamon help to reduce the oxidative stress on the diabetic patient’s body which happens due to side effects of anti-diabetic medicines being taken by the patients over long period of time.
Stress Management

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Useful in Erectile Dysfunction

  • Along with controlling diabetes, this spice supports sexual function in males and improves erectile dysfunction. It is one of the best remedies for erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients. The cinnamon oil is diluted with sesame oil and applied over the penis for 10 minutes before the bath to improve blood circulation and for longer erections.

Erectile Dysfunction

Ceylon cinnamon contains less quantities of a compound called coumarin so it is the best type of cinnamon for diabetic patients.

Useful in cardiovascular disease

  • One of the complications of diabetes is cardiovascular disease. This can be averted with regular intake of cinnamon in small quantities. The compound called Cinnamaldehyde stops the progress of hypertension or high blood pressure in Type 2 diabetic patients.

cardiovascular disease

Diabetic patients are prone to many metabolic problems due to their existing conditions or as a result of the medicines they are taking. They may get inflammation in various parts of their body. The anti-inflammatory effects of cinnamon helps to reduce pain and swelling.

Useful in Alzheimer’s disease

  • Cinnamon is also known to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease often associated with diabetes. The cinnamon extract decreases the ability of proteins like beta amyloid and tau to form plaques and tangles leading to Alzheimer (type 3 diabetes).

Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

How to Take Cinnamon

  • It is advised to take Cinnamon after consulting with the physician as they can provide the best combination according to one’s body constitution. Cinnamon might interact with other medicines, so it should be taken carefully under doctor’s supervision.
  • Cinnamon can be added in food, smoothies and tea or may be taken as cinnamon essential oil in foods. Cinnamon goes well with peanut butter and sugar free jab on toast for diabetic patients. It can be added in oatmeal for a healthy breakfast.
  • One may take cassia cinnamon in capsule forms (500 mg) twice a day.

Dosage

  • The recommended and effective dose to be taken by a diabetic patient should not exceed 2 teaspoons a day.

Avoid Cinnamon

  • People with liver problems should avoid taking Cinnamon in excess. Some people are also allergic to the compound cinnamaldehyde which can cause mouth sores and breathing problems.
  • Consuming too much cinnamon may lead to a condition called hypoglycemia (Low blood glucose) wherein the person feel tired and dizzy. Eating dry cinnamon may permanently damage lungs.

Note

  • Cinnamon should be used by all in small quantities to prevent elevated glucose levels and blood lipid levels. A healthy diet with an active lifestyle helps to keep one fit and free from illness.