Is forgetting everything also important phenamenon?

Today, I have forgotten my important office almirah key at home. I have left my car key at home. My mobile is missing because it was not there were actually I have kept it. I have put my headphone somewhere else. Yesterday, that important files, I kept here only to proceed further the next day but, I don’t know where I kept them. These are the common issues, faced by the majority of people every day. 

Several studies prove that forgetting is the process of learning, by this, the brain reaches important information, and removes useless memories. Often we forget to keep the key or any paper or pay the bill for mobile etc. Scientists say that do not consider forgetting in youth as a disease or problem, it is also a process of learning. It helps the brain to access important information. 

According to the study led by Trinity College in Dublin and the University of Toronto, this does not mean that the things that a person forgets will not be remembered again. Just the mind cannot reach them. 

Researchers claim that the brain decides which things we have to remember and which we can forget. Some memories are permanently stored in bundles of neurons; they remain in the subconscious mind. That's why a person never forgets these things. The brain decides which thing or memory is more important for us and accordingly it keeps working to store and remove memories. 

We create countless memories throughout our lives, but only a few of them can be remembered. The common belief is that memories fade with time. But experts believe that the reason for this is the process of storing the brain. Neuroscientists Tomas Ryan at Trinity College and Paul Frankland of the University of Toronto told that the case of Alzheimer's patients is different. Forgetting can prove beneficial for ordinary people. This can help make the behavior more flexible and make better decisions. 

The results of the study make it possible to restore memories lost due to illness. In the case of a disease like Alzheimer's, the process of forgetting is hijacked. Many experts say that the presence and return of memories depend on Engram Sales.  “Memories are stored in the form of bundles of neurons. These are called engram cells. 

The persistence or arrival of memories is due to the reactivation of these pieces. A person starts forgetting when the engram sales are not activated. It can be understood that memories are stored in a safe, but you do not remember the code to unlock them. The return of memories is also due to this reason.

Okara drink- a proven best natural remedy to manage blood sugar, cholesterol and obesity…..

Okara or Bhindi is scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, the family Malvaceae. It is called ladies' fingers in English. This is a well-known plant and its raw fruits are being used as tasty vegetables all over the world. The plant is easily growing in about all the parts of India also. The tender pods are preferred to prepare vegetables. They are eaten boiled or in the form of sliced and fried pieces. In many kitchens, it is utilized for thickening soups and gravies because of their high mucilage content. Many people sliced the raw fruits and sun-dried them to keep for off-season use. Tender fruit slices are used in preparing Okra pickles. The tender and soft leaves are boiled and used like spinach. Many countries use to eat flowers in the soup. The mature and ripe seeds are roasted and used as substitute coffee. They are also used in curries and chutneys because of their high protein value (18-26%). The seed flour of Okra is reported to use in addition to maize flour. 

[Okara (Bhindi) - A fruiting branch]

Bhindi or Okara is a fair source of calcium, iron, and vitamins. It is scientifically proven that the raw and tender pods of okara has 84% of edible protein; moisture 89.6; protein 1.9 %, fat 0.2%; fibre 1.2%, carbohydrate 6.4%; minerals 0.7% ; calcium, 66.0;  phosphorus 56.0 and iron 1.5 mg/100 of edible portion. In Okra, the trace elements present are: magnesium, 43.0 %; potassium 103%; sodium 6.9%copper 0.19%sulphur, 30.0 %and chlorine, 41.0/100 g of edible matter, etc. apart from the stated elements, Bhidi contains carotene, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin C and oxalic acids, etc. 

In industry, mucilaginous extract of the green stem of Bhindi is commonly employed in India for clarifying sugarcane juice in Gur or jaggery manufacture. 

As we know bhindi has many useful treasures in its green and tender pods for our health. Apart from the above uses stated above, Bhindi or Okra is also very good in diabetic management and lowering blood cholesterol, also in body weight management.  Now, elevated blood sugar is common even among the young generations due to mismanagement of the lifestyle, food style, etc. Stress and sitting work on the system also boosting to enhance blood sugar. 

So, don’t worry, I have a highly experienced and healthy drink for you. You may say it “Okara drink” for lowering blood sugar, and cholesterol, and reducing body weight. It is working perfectly without side effects. The preparation of Okara drink is very simple, easy, and takes short time rather you can say it will take time equally to prepare a tea on a gas stove. 

Let's tell what you do if have uncontrolled blood sugar, elevated cholesterol, and heavy body weight. Involve this drink in your lifestyle and get benefited. This will work definitely but have to take it with the correct methods.

How to prepare Okara drink: (Recipe for one person from age 15 to adult group): 

To prepare an Okara drink for a person as stated above, please take 5 numbers of Raw and tender Bhindi or Okara pods (fruits), make them into two halves each, also cut them at both ends so that mucilage can come out easily (neither crush nor fine slice). Take 300 ml of drinking water in a clean utensil and add the okra pieces to it. Now add one pinch of edible salt, turmeric powder, and peppers, and add a little asafoetida (hing) powder. If you wish to enhance the taste then you may add two-three mint and coriander leaves. Allow to boil it in sim flame and stir it well at regular intervals for about 10 minutes. You may see the tender pieces of Okara will get soft or sometimes easily mashed with fingers. Now, close the utensil with the lid and allow for 5 minutes. Your drink is ready. Now filter it in a tumbler (Optional - add one to two drops of lemon juice) and drink it in hot condition as tea in the morning. This may be taken after food also as a healthy soup. But if you want to manage the diabetics, and cholesterol and reduce your body weight, then, it is advised to take it with an empty stomach in the morning. 

For, a better effect, you may take a few sips of normal hot water before this drink. Please do not eat anything for 45 minutes after this drink is taken. This may continue up to your body requirement. You yourself feel because it will give you full energy and make your body active, reduce the body weight, bad cholesterol, and lowers the blood sugar. 

Caution: This drink should not be taken by a person who already has low blood pressure and low blood sugar.

Disclaimer: This article is written based on practical experiences and awareness of health, however, it would be better to get an opinion from an AYUSH consultant before starting this). 

Stay healthy, stay safe...     

Raw Mango and health benefits…..

Ripe mangoes have their own place in the summer seasons and it is known as the king of the fruits due to their superior taste and health benefits at the same time the raw mangoes (unripened mangoes) have more demand in the summer season. The combination of the summer season and raw mangoes is the best. 

Though mangoes are available in the market throughout the year but the mangoes naturally ripen in the summer seasons has their own values. The majority of the people wait for the summer season only because of mangoes. To introduce more and more about the mangoes is not necessary due to their popularity, so we should come to the point directly. 

Here, I would like to inform some important benefits of the raw mango that are quite helpful to cope with the summer. Apart from getting rid of the heat, the consumption of raw mango in the summer season is very beneficial for health. Mangoes have many properties like anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant which can help in cooling down your body. Some of the main benefits are stated below-

1. Protection from heat (Loo)- Raw mango reduces the effect of heatwave caused by high heat. Raw mangoes are consumed to supply water to the body. This is the best summer refreshment drink after a workout. Everyone is well known for “Kaccha Pana” or Pana readily available with small vendors as well as fruit juice shops, especially in the summer season. Drinking mango Pana is the best option to reduce heat in the summer. It also corrects digestion. Method of preparation of Pana, I have already stated in my blog entitled “Covid XE and immunity booster” 

[Raw mangoes]

2. Immunity builder properties- Mango, the king of fruits, is rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and K. All these nutrients work to keep infections away and reduce oxidative stress. Raw mango chutney by adding green chilies, mint leaves, and coriander leaves with a pinch of table or rock salt also give a cool effect to ur body in summer. An adequate amount of vitamin C is found in raw mango. Which can help you in making your immunity strong. By consuming it, you can avoid many problems in summer.

3. Mango keeps the heart healthy- Mango contains a unique antioxidant called mangiferin. Mangiferin helps to balance cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acid levels, which reduces the risk of heart diseases. Raw mango is rich in magnesium and potassium, which help in keeping the heart-healthy.

4. Reduces risk of cancer- Raw mangoes are rich in antioxidants like polyphenols, which reduce the risk of cancer. Raw mango reduces inflammation of the body.

5. Works as skin protector -  Raw mango takes special care of your health as well as your skin. Many problems like pimples, blemishes, and dryness can be overcome by the consumption of raw mango.

6. Maintaining hydration in the body- Lack of water in the body is common in the summer season, but by consuming raw mangoes, you can get rid of this problem. Consumption of raw mangoes keeps our body hydrated. 

Stay healthy, stay safe...

Covid XE and immunity booster…

The summer season is now full-on in many parts of our country.  In the summer season, dehydration of the body is the main causal factor to makes a body sick. Dehydration not only affects our internal body parts but also reduces the immunity that is very much required to fight against viral as well as any microbial diseases. The risk to health has increased amidst the scorching heat and rising Covid cases due to Coronavirus XE. Considering this, now the Government of India has approved booster doses for people of all ages. 

[Ready to cope with Summer ] 

Experts say that the omicron's new strain XE has the ability to infect people rapidly, however, its symptoms are observed mildly, but not much known till now.  At this time, it is very important to make changes in our lifestyle including a balanced diet sleeping time so the body gets proper rest that helps in strengthen our immunity and protects us from diseases, seasonal infections, or heatwaves. 

Our immune system is our body's defense mechanism and tries to kill any foreign antigens. Due to excessive heat, problems like fatigue, weakness, dehydration, and indigestion start, which can also cause weakening of our immunity. 

The following suggested foods and fruits can surely help to keep the body cool, protect against heat exhaustion, and can also boost immunity in the summer. 

1. Hydration: The role of water is most important to remove toxins from the body. At least 3 - 4 liters of water must be drunk every day so that all the organs can do their work properly. Along with this, the body will also stay away from infection and stay hydrated. 

2. Probiotics: Things like curd, buttermilk, lemonade, lassi, etc. work to keep the body's intestine healthy to strengthen the immune system.

3. Mango: Mango, the king of fruits, is rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and K. All these nutrients work to keep infections away and reduce oxidative stress. Raw mango chutney by adding green chilies, mint leaves, and coriander leaves with a pinch of table or rock salt also give a cool effect to ur body in summer. "Mango Pana" is also the best remedy to cope with summer and to make our body dehydrated. for this, one big size or two medium-sized raw mangoes should be boiled and then most outer rind should be removed. These boiled mangoes then macerate to make a liquid adding black salt, freshly ground coriander, and mint leaves, and maybe drunk instead of plain water especially at noon.

4. Sabja seeds or Basil seeds: According to research, by consuming sabja seeds, we get essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron, which are necessary to strengthen our immunity. These minerals are involved in bone health, muscle function, and red blood cell production. 

5. Watermelons and other melon fruits: Melons are one of the favorite fruits in summer. Fruits like watermelon, melon,  etc all come from the melon family and they work to give a lot of hydration to the body. It not only proves to be light for the stomach but also provides fiber for gut health. Melon, rich in fiber, vitamin C, and B-6, works to fight the virus. Apart from these foods, it is also important to take care of these things to avoid Covid and other infections 

6. Balanced diet: The proper nutrients not only work to strengthen your immunity but also affect the microbiome in your gut. 

7. Physical activity: Yoga, meditation and exercise can help reduce restlessness and stress. It releases the happiness hormone serotonin, which makes you feel better, increases your immune regulation, and also reduces the inflammatory response by flushing out pathogens.

Stay healthy, stay safe...

 

Acidity is a disease - Please do not ignore it…..

It has often been seen that due to sitting at work and eating mostly processed food, the problem of gas and acidity persists in people nowadays. Many people do not let this problem sleep at night. This disease related to the stomach is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in common medical terminology.

[Acidity never allows to sleep calmly]

GERD makes a person upset. This happens when acid moves out of the stomach into the food pipe. Symptoms of GERD are usually sour belching and heartburn. Apart from these, symptoms like flatulence, restlessness, and feeling of vomiting and chest pain also point toward GERD.

While sleeping, the acid comes out of the stomach and reaches the throat, and causes severe trouble to the people. Most people have acid reflux while sleeping. This is because, in the lying position, the acid from the stomach easily comes out. Usually, this happens in the first 2-3 hours of sleep. In such a situation, by changing your sleeping pattern, you can get relief from GERD to a great extent. 

Here, some very important measures have been given to avoid acidity while sleeping. The following proper way should be used to sleep if suffering from gas-acidity-

1. Keep your Head High: You can elevate your head with an extra pillow. This will reduce the chances of acid leaking out of the stomach into the food pipe while you sleep. In this way, you can get temporary relief from GERD.

2. Sleep on your left side: To avoid acidity, sleep on your left side. This will keep the stomach at the bottom of your food pipe and prevent acid reflux. By sleeping on the right side, the acid reaches the throat.

3. Avoid sleeping on your back: Sleeping on your back increases acidity. In this position, the acid reaches from the stomach to the throat. Only then you will feel sour belching and burning or pain in the chest. If you are overweight, then this sleeping position can put more pressure on your stomach. 

Other health tips to avoid GERD: 

• If you want to avoid acidity while sleeping, then never lie down immediately after eating.

• Apart from this, avoid consuming too much fried, spicy food, alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.

• Exercising daily and taking a walk after eating can reduce the problem of gas and acidity.

• Stress can also cause acid reflux. If you want to remove it then do yoga meditation.

• If the discomfort persists, contact the doctor as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Before adopting preventive measures, please consult a relevant doctor.

Stay healthy, stay safe...

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is very useful for weight loss…..

Losing weight is not an easy task for anyone. Whether we want to reduce two kilos or 10 kilos. What we do not do to maintain or achieve the right weight according to the height, but for many people, it does not take the name of going stubborn fat. If we too have been struggling with reducing weight for a long time, then, we may try using basil this time. 

[A twig- Basil: Ocimum sanctum plant]

Most of us have seen the holy plant of Tulsi in our countryard since childhood. This is because basil is a medicine used in traditional medicine. This plant is scientifically known as Ocimum sanctum; family-Lamiaceae. Tulsi is also considered very beneficial for health. From enhancing the taste of tea, basil is used for many health problems. Tulsi is also considered very good for the body, hence it is also considered the golden cure of Ayurveda. If it is drunk daily mixed with water, then it can have many benefits. Some of the important health benefits are as follows- 

1. Beneficial in weight loss- This easy drink helps you slim your waist while boosting your metabolism. Tulsi contains natural chemicals, which make digestion easier and also reduce obesity. 

2. Tulsi detoxifying the body- People do not know how many measures are taken to make the beginning of the morning special. Waking up in the morning, drinking Tulsi water flushes out all the toxins from your body. Tulsi leaves have medicinal properties, which naturally cleanse your stomach.

3. Helpful in relieving stress- Research has shown that regular consumption of tulsi water can serve as an antidote for stress-related disorders and improve brain function.

4. For respiratory problems- Tulsi has powerful expectorant and antitussive properties, which suppresses cough along with eliminating the root cause of phlegm, irritation. Tulsi water also has many anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties that keep colds and related infections at bay. 

How to make tulsi water? Put three or four basil leaves in a glass of water at night. Filter this water in the morning and drink it. People who are suffering from cold and flu, they can get a lot of benefits by drinking this water after boiling it. 

Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions mentioned in the article are based on our own experiences. It should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor if you have any persisting health issues. 

Stay healthy, stay safe...

Perimenopause and its management…..

Premenopause is the stage in every adult woman before the menstrual cycle stops permanently. Symptoms can start as early as 40 but for some women, it may start late after 45 years of age. Experts say it also depends upon the genetic condition of her mother but the majority of the women will start facing irregularities of the periods from the age of 40 only. 

[Ladies are boon of God in the Universe - Respect them] 

Between the ages of 45 and 50, every woman stops having periods. This stage is called menopause. This is a naive process. However, this does not happen immediately. Shortly before menopause, a woman goes through the stage of perimenopause. Let us know what it is, its symptoms, and ways to manage it. 

What is Perimenopause? Perimenopause means the time around menopause. This stage comes when your body is moving towards the end of menstruation. Therefore, perimenopause can also be called the menopausal transition. It can be a different experience for every woman. Its symptoms also depend on the woman's body. Symptoms of Perimenopause: Symptoms of this stage start in most women after the age of 40. 

In some cases, these symptoms can be seen even after the age of 30 like -

•   Irregular periods

• Levels of the sex hormone estrogen  fluctuate   unevenly

• Eggs are not released from the ovaries even  when the period cycle starts

• Sudden feeling of heat in the body (hot flashes)·         

• Sleep disturbances

• Vaginal dryness· 

• Mood swings·

• Decreased fertility·

• Accidentally missed urine·   

• Decreased sex drive·        

• Weak bones·         

• Increase in the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. 

Serious Complications of Perimenopause: Some women may experience symptoms other than those listed above, which are considered unusual. These can be serious complications of perimenopause-

• Changing pads every 1-2 hours during periods

• Bleeding lasts more than 7 days

• Menstruation started every 21 days

• Bleeding between periods. 

These symptoms indicate that your reproductive health is not good. If you experience these symptoms, go to the doctor immediately. 

How to Manage Perimenopause? This stage can become a hindrance in your daily life, so it is important to manage it properly. Include all the nutrients in your diet. Eat a diet rich in seasonal fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 

• Exercise daily. It will help to keep you physically and mentally healthy.

• Create a bedtime routine. 

• Get up and sleep at the same time every day. Stay away from digital gadgets before sleeping. 

• Keep stress away to avoid mood swings and irritability. You can do meditation to avoid this.

• Keep your weight under control.

• Quit alcohol and smoking. 

Stay healthy, stay safe...

Benefits of vegetarian diet….

British scientists strongly claimed about 14% less risk of cancer in vegetarians than non-vegetarian eaters… 

Now the world is returning towards vegetarian foods after observing the benefits...

Many doctors and health experts of the world support a vegetarian diet. According to them, the blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body remains normal on eating vegetarian foods. This diet keeps away many serious diseases like hypertension, obesity, and type-2 diabetes. Recently, in a study by the World Cancer Research Fund, Cancer Research UK, and Oxford Population Health, vegetarians have a lower risk of cancer than non-vegetarians. This study has been published in the journal BMC Medicine. 

Research has been done on more than 4.5 lakh people the people who eat meat and fish were divided into different categories. The diet pattern of these people was followed for 11.4 years. In the first group, there were people who ate non-veg for 5 or more days a week. These people used to eat all kinds of non-veg, from red meat to chicken. The second group consisted of people who ate meat five or fewer days a week. The third group was placed in those who were pescatarians, that is, only fish eaters. In the fourth and last group, such vegetarians were kept, who never ate meat and fish i.e. non-veg.

Harm from non-veg: Scientists found that the risk of any cancer decreases by 2% in those who eat less non-veg compared to people who eat regular non-veg. The risk is 10% lower in pescatarians and 14% lower in vegetarians. The risk of colon cancer was also found to be 9% lower in those who ate less meat. Vegetarian women were found to have an 18% lower risk of breast cancer after menopause. The reason for this can be considered normal weight. The risk of prostate cancer was found to be 20% lower in pescatarians and 31% less in vegetarians than non-vegetarians. 

What do experts say?  Experts say that the vegetarian diet reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 22%. Also, it reduces the overall risk of getting any cancer by 10 to 12%. Therefore, a vegetarian diet is considered good for health.

FSSAI also supports a plant-based diet: The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also supports eating vegetarian foods.

Stay healthy, stay safe...

 

 

Psoriasis and diet restrictions….

If a person has a skin rash and itching, then stop consuming these types of foods immediately as it might be Psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which any part of the skin becomes red with raised rashes and itching. It mostly occurs on the knees, elbows, and back. more than 2.0 crores of people in the country are found severely affected with Psoriasis. According to experts, one-third of the patients with psoriasis have mental diseases like depression and stress. 

Usually, people ignore it as a common skin problem, but it can spread throughout the body. Therefore, by making some changes in the diet along with treatment, psoriasis may not be eliminated, but it can definitely be prevented from progressing. 

1. Whole Milk: Like cancer and heart disease, psoriasis is also an inflammatory disease. Fat is inflammatory tissue and reducing it can help with psoriasis. Whole milk i.e. fatty milk contains 3.25% fat. If you have to consume milk, then milk or skimmed milk (fatless milk) with 1-2% fat can be used.

2. Cheese: Cheese is also a dairy product containing fat. This can also increase inflammation in the body and increase the symptoms of psoriasis. If you have a habit of eating more burgers and sandwiches, try to put cheese in small quantities or even escape adding cheese into it.  

3. Processed Food: The inflammatory properties of processed foods and fast food can bother you. They are high in fat and sugar. Psoriasis patients should stay away from these things. They should consume fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

4. Red Meat: Red meat has a high amount of fat. This can worsen the condition of psoriasis patients. Lean meats, such as chicken and fish without skin, can be eaten instead of red meat, and that is also not in a frequent manner.  Some people find that omega 3 fats found in fish help to control psoriasis.

5. Gluten: Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, can bother some patients with psoriasis. Many people are allergic to it. If you are also allergic to it then follow the gluten-free diet. 

6. Wine: Alcohol damages many parts of our body. This leads to liver and heart diseases. Some people believe that it can also aggravate the symptoms of psoriasis. Therefore, the longer you can keep away from alcohol, the better.

7. Coffee: Things like coffee and tea contain chemicals called caffeine, which can increase inflammation in the body. Caffeine can also be found in soft drinks, energy drinks, and hot chocolate.so, avoid all these things.

8. Chocolate: Chocolate is also a source of caffeine. Therefore, it is better to stay away from protein bars, chocolate-flavored ice cream, toffee, and sweets made from chocolate. 

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Before making dietary changes, a consultation with a dietician should be taken.

Stay healthy, stay safe...

Easy identification of “Shalaparni” an important crude drug for many Ayurvedic formulations….

As we know that the demand for Ayush medicines is increasing day by day. Which, Ayurvedic medicines have their own major popularities due to their immediate and safe action over the patients. The therapeutic quality of medicine is totally depending upon the authentic crude drugs used in the preparation of the medicines. Though many authentic books, research publications, and Pharmacopoeial monograms are made available for ready references but still the collection is mostly made by the local people of the particular area, zone, or state based on the vernacular name. It is often seen that the language may vary from one state to another but most of the time the vernacular name is observed commonly in the neighboring state at the same time the scientific name and family of the crude drugs are entirely different. 

This type of confusion becomes more serious when both plants have similar morphological appearances. A small precaution can resolve the problems if considered in time by employing a Pharmacognosist or Taxonomist along with the plant collector’s team. This is true that the local or vernacular name gives good help to local people to collect plants but sometimes it may allow the practice of substitutions due to similar appearance but therapeutically different and thus, while enlisting the indent or demand of the crude drugs, the scientific name must be mentioned along with the species and the plant family. A binomial system of plant nomenclature should be adopted for a more authentic collection. The taxonomist may help the plant collector by identifying the similar-looking plant to avoid adulteration in the bulk collection. 

We should remember that the adulteration or substitution may alter the quality, efficacy, and therapeutic properties of the medicines. This may be minimized by adopting good collection practices. Due to inadequate knowledge of the villagers or plant collectors, if the genuine and other plant material mixed together and if it is in similar appearances, it may create more difficulties in segregation especially when it becomes dry.

There are many crude drugs found mixed with each other and treated as sub-standard quality, also getting fails in the estimation of quality with the parameters mentioned in relevant Pharmacopoeias. For instance, “Shalaparni” (Sanskrit), Sarivan (Hindi), Pulladi, Orila, moovilai (Tamil), and Pullati (Malayalam) vernacular name given for the Desmodium gangeticum; family Leguminosae- Papilionasae is found severely mixed with almost similar looking plant Pseudarthria viscida; family – Leguminosae –Papilionaceae. This plant is locally known as Sanaparni (Sanskrit), Neermalli (Tamil), and Muvila (Malayalam). Botanically, the aforesaid plants belong to the same family but both have different generic and species names and are separate plants but more or less similar looking appearances but therapeutic properties are entirely different. While collected in bulk by local people or villagers. P. viscida is unknowingly being mixed with D. gangeticum. Apart from that, the Kerala state is very close with Tamil Nadu state of the south part of India. The local names muvila (Malayalam) for P.viscida and moovilai (Tamil) for D. gangeticum have almost the same pronunciation i.e. moovilai. So, while asking for material using the local name, it creates a lot of confusion. If plant D. gangeticum requires and demand of the plant raised with local name moovilai, there is no assurance as to what material we will get whether D. gangeticum or P. viscida. The leaves of both the plant are partly deciduous in nature and easily detached from the plant on its dryness and then it is too difficult to identify the plant material in the form of dried crude drugs, especially to the new person of Pharmacognosy or Botany interest. 

In pharmaceutical industries where the Ayurvedic medicines are being prepared at the commercial level, there will always be urgent demand for crude drugs for the production of the medicines to cope with the market demand. Generally, to identify the plant material anatomically, it will take a minimum couple of days and pressure to the quality personnel to get material identified within the stipulated time and if passed in Physico-chemical parameters, then, no issue but if these consignments get failed due to adulteration or sub-standard quality, or substitutions, it may take another week of time to arrive the new material and ultimately delay in productions. 

Now, the question is what can be done to an immediate solution to identify the plant materials on spot to assure their authenticity first?  In this situation, a Botanist or Pharmacognosist should try to find out some dried and entire leaves of the plant from the bags where he or she going to collect samples and then identify the plant material based on their leaves. Here, I am going to give a leaf description of both plants only because leaves possibly be present in the material, collected in any season. If identification was done based on other parts of the aforesaid crude drugs, it will not be fruitful.

Let us give you a brief description of the D. gangeticum and P. viscida plant for easy identification-

1. D. gangeticum leaves- Leaves are unifoliate, petiolate, stipulate, linear, oblong, acute or slightly acuminate, striate at the base about 6-13 cm long and 3.5-7.0 cm broad, margin somewhat wavy, upper surface glabrous and greenish-brown on the dried sample and lower surface slight whitish and clothed with dense, soft appressed hairs.

[Desmodium gangeticum - leaf twig]

2. P.viscida leaves- Leaves are pinnately 3- foliate; leaflets rhomboid- ovate variable in sizes; the color of leaflets at the upper surface is grayish-brown to brown while on lower surface creamish or pale white. Surface glabrous and margin entire. 

[Pseudarthria viscida - a twig]

I hope, the above said description may help to easy identification of the plant material in order to avoid sub-standard quality, substituted or adulterated materials. 

I will come back soon with some more new research or technologies very soon, till then, Take care…

Stay healthy, stay safe… 

Regards, 

Dr. Prem Dutt Dwivedi, Ph.D., Pharmacognosy,

(Researcher, Innovator, Healer, and Humanist)

Be aware - stress and boredom also provoke to keep eating something, which is very harmful for our health…

Food is necessary, but when there is a desire, it is not always necessary to eat. The reason is that sometimes hunger is in the brain rather than in the stomach. You must have noticed one thing when we are under the pressure of emotions, we want to eat something or the other even though we are not hungry. This type of eating is called 'emotional eating. Stress, depression, loneliness, irritability, anxiety, and anger are the feelings that make a person want to eat something. Similarly, if you are alone and bored, there is a desire to keep eating something. In this way, we eat more and can gradually become a victim of obesity. 

[Overeating may harm health]

Actually, mood and desire to eat are linked in the brain. Certain chemicals control both our appetite and mood. For example, stress increases the number of chemicals such as galanin and neuropeptide Y in the brain, leading to a craving for a diet rich in fats and carbohydrates. Some people want to eat chocolate under stress because the amount of carbohydrates and fat in it is high. Serotonin and endorphins are released from the carbohydrates present in chocolate, which improves the mood and makes you feel better. On the other hand, the fat present in it increases the level of galanin in the body. In this way, you feel like eating chocolate again and again. 

The hormones produced in the body during stress prompt us to eat a diet high in fat and high in sugar, which can be called 'stress eating'. Because of this, people often eat more than they need. During times of stress, the adrenal gland produces more cortisol hormone, which also increases appetite. 

Apart from stress, there are many other reasons due to which people eat more-

Boredom - Often when we are bored sitting idle, we start eating something.

Habits- The behavior of eating and drinking also depends on the habits of the person, such habits are developed from childhood.

Fatigue - If you're tired, you often eat without thinking, especially when you're tired of doing something you didn't want to do. So it can be said that overeating can also be the result of unwanted activities. 

Social influence -  There are some friends who insist on having pizza, dinner, or drinks after a night out. That's why we often overeat. This situation also happens in the family's pleas. 

When you want to eat something by mind, not by hungry- It is common to eat easily available things during times of stress. That is, packaged, fried foods. This starts a vicious cycle. Constant overeating has a bad effect on your stomach and health, and it increases your stress and anxiety even more.  

Some tips to avoid frequent overeating-

1. Don't be too strict in the diet - If you feel like eating something, don't avoid it by force. An important rule of nutrition is not to deprive yourself of things that you feel like eating. Sometimes we do not consume the right amount of calories due to being too strict in food. It is not right to completely deprive yourself of something.

2. Suffering from major diseases- If you are doing this due to any disease, then consult your doctor or dietician. Studies have shown that completely giving up one thing is not effective in losing weight, on the contrary, it harms mental and physical health and increases stress.

3. Keep better options in the house- like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts. Choose foods with a balanced amount of protein, fiber, and fat. They will get nourishment and will also fill the stomach. Instead of stuffing cookies or candy in jars, keep these healthy foods in the kitchen.  So keep sweet baked foods, candy, chips, and cookies out of your sight. Although sometimes delicious things should also be enjoyed, consuming them regularly can be harmful to your physical and mental health.

4. Make a good eating timetable- If you are not in the habit of eating three times a day, then make such a habit. Often in the rush of work, we do not keep the food schedule right. So make a regular eating pattern according to your need. If you feel like eating snacks frequently, then eat good food twice a day, so that you do not feel like eating unhealthy snacks in between.

5. Control the quantity- People tend to eat snacks in the same packing as they bring. By doing this we often end up overeating. For example, if you eat chips straight from the packet, you will eat more quantity, so eat comfortably by taking the right amount on the plate. By eating on a small plate instead of a large container, you will be able to control the quantity.

6. How to get rid of stress -  Do not allow overeating, so it is better not to let the stress increase. Learn to manage emotions. Feelings like sadness worry, disappointment will come, but how much you are affected by them is up to you. Here are some tips that you can follow to avoid negative emotions.

7. Exercise- Exercising keeps the amount of cortisol in the body under control, so that you can stay safe from the negative effects of stress. Activities like yoga involve a combination of both exercise and meditation.

8. Meditation- Studies have proved that meditation provides relief in stress. Along with this, it has also been found effective in blood pressure and heart diseases. With a calm mind, you eat consciously. You consider how you should eat a diet free of fat or sugar.

9. Social support- Support from family, friends, and other people in the society can also be effective in relieving stress. If being alone makes you bored or stressed, hang out with loved ones, play a team game.

Stay healthy, stay safe...