It is again that time of the year when you bid farewell to the things past and welcome the change of annual calendar with new hope and energy. It is also the time when you evaluate the sweet as well as bitter memories you made in the 12 months and prepare yourself to move forward with more determination and optimism. This calls for the new year’s resolution which is a tradition in all parts of the world to improve one’s life, change a personal behavior or achieve some goals. If health is one of the resolutions you are going to make for 2018, you are on the right page. Ayurveda is so rich in its wisdom and science that it can help you with that in perfectly harmonious and simple manner. New Year’s resolutions are often tough and people become too lenient to follow those after a while. So, here is some food for your thought the Ayurveda way, so that you don’t have to stress over it. Ayurveda has great wellbeing tips that are in reality easy to follow and will absolutely change your life in healthier ways. Here're some Ayurveda based approach to new year's resolutions that will help you accomplish a complete transformation of health: _________________________ Correct your routine chores_________________________ Eat the right kind of breakfastWhat you eat first after waking up sets the tone for your body for the whole day. Include something nutritious such as fresh whole fruits or vegetable juices. Fix the timing of your breakfast so that your body clock becomes aware of it. Take a pinch of rock salt and ginger before starting to breakfast as this will boost the digestion as well as the release of digestive enzymes. An ideal breakfast should have a combination of six tastes -- sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent in this particular order. Eat slowly. Stop eating as soon as feel you’re almost full. Never eat to the full appetite. Drink warm water Within 10 minutes after you wake up, drink a glass or two of lukewarm water. Add few drops of lime to it. Even while having meals, take small sips of warm water to help the digestion. Never have a lot of water and drink small sips throughout the day. It will help in better absorption of water in your body. Scrape your tongue after meals Clean, pinkish tongue is a sign of good health. On the contrary, a white coat over the tongue is the proof of toxins in the digestive system. Always clean your tongue after having a meal. It prevents several diseases from attacking you. Take care of your sinusesCold and allergies occur because people forget to take care of the sinuses. It is a good practice to oil your nasal cavities regularly. Use a good herbal oil or consult any Ayurveda practitioner who can prescribe you a herbal oil that you can use as nasal drops. The mucous membrane inside the nasal passage is the first line of defense against infections, congestion, allergies, etc. The herbal oil keeps the sinus tissues supple and healthy. Give your body regular oil massage Ayurveda believes in rejuvenating both mind and body for your complete wellness. Body massage and oil therapies such as Abhyangam, Shirodhara, Nasyam, and Panchakarma highly effective in removing the toxins from the body. ____________________________________________________ Follow best practices that boost your immunity and health ___________________________________________________ Wake up early Rising early morning has its own health benefits as goes the saying, ‘Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise’. Once you practise waking up by the sunrise or dawn, you would feel more energetic, far less jittery in the morning. You would be able to concentrate better and be more productive. Meditate daily even for 10 minutesIt pays well for your health if you indulge in a session of meditation in the morning. It helps you de-stress, lower your anxiety levels, allow yourself some reflection time, and relax your mind. As a result you would be more at peace, happier, and healthier. A sound mind is an important aspect of wellbeing. Pranayam is a good choice for meditation. Exercise and walk everydayExercise is an important aspect of a healthy body. Go for anything that fits your lifestyle, whether it is aerobics, yoga, long walk, or pilates. It boosts hormones and makes your body immunity more resilient by reducing stress levels, hypertension, etc. Have a sound sleep It is always a healthy habit to sleep on time. Nurture the respect for your body by going to bed at a scheduled time. 10 o’clock in the night is the ideal nap time and once you body clocks get into the rhythm of uninterrupted sleep at the right hour, it would result in better health in many indirect ways. You would counter fatigue, anxiety, stress, restlessness, and many other problems with this one correction in your routine.These are the new year’s resolutions that you can follow easily by tweaking your lifestyle in a positive way. Within weeks, you would be able to sense the worth and power of these changes in your health as well as life. Have a great year ahead!

Meeting someone who never faced constipation is akin to a miracle in the modern world. In fact, we adults have almost grown insensitive towards our constipation. It is a parasitic companion that has been with us all through our lives and shows no signs of a goodbye.Of course, the inconvenience caused by constipation can remain quite minor but ignorance can make it just worse.People can feel highly uncomfortable due to constipation and it can lead to other health problems as well. It is often suggested that a healthy digestion in the key to a healthy body. When you are constipated, your body’s system is thrown off balance and your mind’s priority to digest the nutrition received from food and remove the waste as soon as possible gets stuck. This can make you sick in the long run.Do you think that we can be wholesome individuals in such a case? Even Ayurveda does not believe so.So, what is the ayurvedic point of view on constipation? Simply put, it is an inability to pass stool on time or passing dry stool. Any kind of difficulty in passing stools or feeling that your intestinal tract is not clean even after using the toilet are some of the common notions associated with constipation. Acidity and gastritis can also be related with this common ailment.People who feel constipated may also feel bloated at times. Sometimes, a period of constipation is followed by a period of diarrhea, also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and this cycle continues for many years. Let us take a look at what causes constipation in the first place.The primary causes of constipation could be listed as follows: Lack of fiber If you are not consuming enough fiber or roughage, then constipation is bound to follow. Ideally, our diet should contain at least some roughage that helps the bowel movement so that the stool is passed easily and without any discomfort.This roughage also helps in cleaning up the intestines and keeping them healthy. Lack of roughage on one hand and excessive use of deep fried, heavy, drying food, on the other hand, could be the culprit. Dehydration It is no wonder that many people are not drinking enough water. Lubrication is important for the intenstines as well as the colon as it helps in letting these two work properly. When you are dehydrated, the body will naturally have issues in movement.This would be causing pains and aches in your stomach as the food moves through the intestines and would cause severe discomforts and even cuts or bruises when passing stools. Medical conditions and medications In the case of a sluggish thyroid or other hormonal issues or some neurological disorders, problems with the bowels are common. Metabolic disorders are also the culprits in this case.The medications commonly prescribed for pain can also cause constipation. In fact, it is a common side effect of many medications. Avoiding the urge When you naturally want to release the bowels, you may delay the urge for several reasons. However, doing so repeatedly could be the reason why your body is now constipation. It is considered a very unhealthy practice in Ayurveda. Excessive use of laxatives People who are constipated often resort to different types of laxatives. They are good if used sparingly. However, if you use them regularly or almost daily, then you are allowing your body to totally depend on such external support. This leads to more problems in the future as constipation only increases. Irregular habits Erratic sleeping and waking schedules will make it difficult for you to make a proper bowel movement schedule. Ideally, there should always be a definite time for passing the bowels. When our toilet schedules are erratic, undefined and totally confused, constipation is bound to happen.Follow these tips and also consult an Ayurveda expert for complete medical guidance and remedy.Image Credit: Wikimedia

Although obesity can occur because of a sedentary lifestyle, excessive intake of fast food or simply because of hormones and genetics, we should be aware of the fact that it has become an epidemic. However, managing obesity is very simple. A few small changes to your diet and lifestyle can make all the difference that you need in order to lose weight and become healthier. Here are a few great natural ways in which obesity would say goodbye. Green Tea There is nothing that works quite like green tea when it comes to the treatment of obesity. In fact, green tea can provide you the fastest results in weight loss without any extra dieting or exercise. Therefore, you must consume green tea at least twice or thrice in a day. If you exercise and make a few dietary changes along with it, results would be visible in less than a month. It also boosts memory and improves immunity. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is known to be a very good drink for those who want to lose weight. You can take one teaspoon of apple cider mixed in a glass of water every day on an empty stomach. Take this for two to three months regularly for good results. The taste of this drink could be improved by including a few drops of lemon juice. Apple cider also helps lower the blood sugar levels Honey You must have heard this a hundred times before but mixing a little bit of honey with some lemon juice and a glass of lukewarm water will be very beneficial in losing weight. When you drink this first thing in the morning, you will certainly witness weight loss in two to three months. Raw honey is an antioxidants powerhouse and it also helps you sleep better. Say NO to cold water You must always avoid drinking cold water. Instead, drink either warm water or water at room temperature. When you drink warm water, the fat in your body is directly targeted which can lead to effective weight loss. Also, avoid drinking water with meals. If you have to drink water, wait for at least 30 minutes after the meal. Taking lukewarm water helps increase blood circulation and reduces the effects of ageing. Mint Nothing works like mint when it comes to weight loss. The best thing about mint is that it increases your metabolism and also helps in better digestion. As a result of this, you are able to get maximum nutrition out of your meals. Just drink a glass of lukewarm water with some mint leaf juice 30 minutes before or after the meal to get the best results. Mint also soothes the stomach and hence is beneficial in ulcers too. Now that you know these ayurvedic secrets, try these remedies for a month and see the changes yourself. Stay Nirog!

A healthy day starts with a healthy morning. However, most of us still wake up tired, grumpy and unwilling to move from the bed. This could be a result of stress, bad lifestyle choices, or simply for the lack of a good morning routine. So, let's help you design a healthy morning routine that keeps you healthier and active all day long. Here is what to do: Wake up to natural sunlightNatural sunlight helps in managing your circadian rhythms. If you wake up to natural sunlight instead of annoying alarms, your body will feel at ease and you will have more energy. Once your circadian rhythm adopt to such a morning routine (which will be quick), you will easily be able to manage early morning stress. Your body will feel lighter and your mood will also be better. Avoid coffee, drink lemon waterIf you are habitual of drinking a coffee as soon as you wake up, then it is high time you give up on this practice. Instead, drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. This will rev up your metabolism and help your digestion stay strong. For an extra boost, you can add some lemon and/or honey to the water to enhance the taste and keep you energetic all through the day. StretchAfter having your daily glass of lemon water, you must do a couple of stretching exercises. They will help your body in ‘waking up’ and getting rid of muscular tensions. A good early morning stretch could be all you need to feel fresh. Spare for some for a few yoga postures to ensure a more rejuvenated morning. Take a bath, a colder oneEven if you love to bathe in hot water, it is advisable to keep the temperature of the water as low as possible. This does not mean you should bathe in the water below 5 degree Celsius. Just choose a temperature that is the lowest that your body can endure on any given day. Cold showers are good for making you feel alive. They will help you feel more relaxed as well. MeditateOf course, long meditation sessions are simply not practical in the mornings for many people. Hence, you should be focusing on short but fruitful meditation sessions. Just focus your mind on positive thoughts for at least 10 minutes and find a new way to make your days better. If you follow this routine regularly, then you will be getting better health and mood, day in and day out.