Germs and pathogens are everywhere! Did you know that our body is exposed to millions of disease-causing pathogens daily? Shaking hands with people, touching the door knob, food that you eat, or even the air that you breathe can make you sick anytime. So, why is it that you don’t fall sick every time? It’s because our body is capable of fighting the infection causing pathogens with the help of its defense mechanism called the IMMUNITY. But, under some circumstances the body shows compromised immune power and that makes you sick immediately as you come in contact with the pathogen. This is especially true during the monsoon season that brings with it a host of illnesses such as viral fever, cold, cough, dengue fever and some other infections. So, let’s understand the immunity and the ways to boost it naturally. This seems very important at this stage as there is a severe outbreak of dengue fever.
Beat Cold & Cough With 5 Recipes Using Common Kitchen IngredientsFFDSJuly 28, 2016April 11, 2017
Sneezing, and running nose can irritate anyone to heights. Cold can cause fever, headache and body pain, and all you wish to do is stay in bed curled up in a blanket. But, that’s only possible when you can afford to miss office just for a common cold! Being in air conditioned office, and concentrating at work with a throbbing head is not a great idea. So, what should you do when you need to be at work place while suffering from cold? It’s much simpler than you think. Follow some simple home remedies such as keeping yourself fully hydrated. Taking warm fluids is one of the best ways to sooth throat irritation and beat cold. We have listed down some simple drink that you can do yourself.
1. Ginger and Lemon Tea With Honey
Ginger, the aromatic and pungent herb obtained from root of plant Zingiber officinale shows antimicrobial properties and is active against variety of infections.
DIY Ginger tea Recipe
1. Boil water
2. Add a pinch of tea powder and a slice of crushed ginger.
3. Add a spoonful of honey and a slice of freshly cut lemon.
4. Sip the warm drink slowly.
2. Herbal Teafusion With Ashwagandha, Ginseng and Green Tea
Four Fountains Labs has introduced special Herbal Teafusion that contains herbs with immune boosting properties. The best part is, this tea does not contain caffeine and so you can have it multiple times in a day. Herbal Teafusion contains a high level of polyphenol compound extracted from green tea.
DIY Herbal Teafusion recipe
1. Pour the content of pack in a glass
2. Add warm water
3. Vegetable Soup
The preparation of this soup may need some prior arrangement. Follow the recipe as given below.
DIY Vegetable Soup Recipe
1. Boil vegetables of your choice preferable potato, carrots, green peas, corn, etc.
2. Grind them in a mixer to make a smooth paste
3. In pan add a tablespoon vegetable oil, cumin seeds, spring onion, 1 tablespoon of finely cut garlic and ginger. Add the vegetable mixture. Add lemon grass if available.
4. Add salt to taste and bring it to boil.
5. Add crushed black pepper and consume while it is warm.
4. Turmeric Milk
Turmeric latte as accepted by the western countries, turmeric milk fondly known as the Golden Milk has been an age-old traditional Indian remedy for cough and cold.
DIY Golden Milk
1. Take a stick on turmeric rhizome that is available in vegetable market. (The turmeric powder may not be as effective as the turmeric stick)
2. Crush the rhizome coarsely and boil it with milk
3. Strain the milk, add a spoonful of honey and sprinkle some freshly powdered cinnamon or cardamom
5. A Mixed Herb and Spice Tea
This tea combines the goodness of herbs and spice that are known to sooth the sore throat and also boost immunity.
DIY Mixed Herb and Spice Tea
1. Bring water to boil in a kettle or pot.
2. Add a cinnamon stick, 2-3 cloves of cinnamon, a stick of turmeric, crushed slice of finger and juice of half lemon.
3. When boiled turn off the flame and add 1-2 tablespoon of honey.
6 Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage You Were Unaware ofFFDSJune 18, 2015April 11, 2017
In the modern world full of new technologies, many of us like to try out the novel ways of de-stressing and improving our health. However, in the struggle to find new effective means to improve health and immunity, are we forgetting our own Indian medicinal system?
Ayurveda is the oldest surviving medical system in the world and has been proven to be very effective in improving health. Ayurveda understands the origin of disease and therefore targets the roots cause. The age-old Ayurvedic Massage therapy known as Ayurvedic Massage can effectively boost the immune system and remove unwanted toxins from the body. Ayurvedic Massage also reduces the oxidative damage caused to the body by nullifying the free radicals. Apart from its effective antioxidant and immunity boosting properties, Ayurvedic Massage shows many other health benefits that often get overlooked.
1. Improves Vision
According to Ayurveda, massage therapy can improve eye health. As per the Ayurvedic theory massaging the navel area in clockwise direction can improve eyesight. People who have weaker eye sight or vision problem can benefit from foot massage.
2. Softens the Skin
The oil used during Ayurvedic Massage gets absorbed through the layers of skin and nourishes the skin. It also facilitates some of the physiological functions of skin such as expelling the toxins through sweat. When the Ayurvedic Massage is performed using certain medicated oils, it shows specific benefits. For instance, Sesame oil contains antioxidant properties, and is helpful in protecting the skin from free radical damage. Did you know that oils massage can benefit people with oily skin? Read how
3. Increases Stamina
Ayurvedic Massage can help you regain the vitality and stamina that is affected due to stress and tensions of modern lifestyle.
4. Stimulates Internal Organs
Although the massage is performed externally, it is known to stimulate the internal organs in the body. This causes improvement in circulation of blood and lymph leading to removal of toxins and waste material from the body.
5. Prevents Early Ageing
Ayurvedic Massage can effectively improve physical appearance of the body and make it appear more youthful. It can also prevent early ageing by reducing the amount of free radicals in the body.
6. Induces Sleep
Massage relaxes muscles and nerves in the body. This creates mental calmness and reduces stress leading to satisfactory sleep.
Try Ayurvedic Massage to improve your immunity and get all the benefits as listed above.
Slideshow: 7 Lifestyles Changes to Boost Your ImmunityFFDSMay 4, 2015April 12, 2017
The immune system is body’s defensive mechanism that fights against infections. However, compromised immunity reduces the body’s capability of protecting us from infections and makes us fall sick often. While some factors such as age and genetics are non-modifiable risk factors for having low immunity, other lifestyle factors can be modified in order to boost immunity.
Choose Your Diet Wisely
Vegetables and fruits are rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, fibers, vitamins and other essential nutrients that show immune- modulating properties. You may include poultry and fish in your daily diet, but cut down on red meat, butter and margarines.
De-Stress Yourself
Being under too much stress releases certain chemicals in the body that affect the white blood cells and weakens our immunity. Try to de-stress by doing things you enjoy. Try a de-stressing massage at a spa
Stay Active
Exercise increases the movement of antibodies and white blood cells throughout the body, which acts to reduce your susceptibility to infections.
Limit Alcohol Intake
Excessive alcohol consumption may suppress immunity and increase susceptibility to certain infections. Alcohol consumption is an extremely unhealthy way to mange stress.Try these healthy ways to de-stress.
Avoid Smoking
Research suggests that the tar and nicotine present in cigarette can lower the immunity of body. The temporary stress relief that you get after a smoke is merely due to psychological reasons or distractions. Avoid this unhealthy way of de-stressing.
Consume Green Tea Everyday
Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants, known to protect against oxidative stress that can damage cells. The antioxidants in green tea are also beneficial in strengthening the immune system.
Take Ayurvedic Massage Regularly
Ayurvedic Massage increases the blood circulation causing increase in white blood cells. This boosts the immune system and improves resistance power of the body to fight against various bacterial and viral infections.
Are You Trying to Puff Out Stress With a Smoke?FFDSMarch 23, 2015April 12, 2017
“Yes, I know it’s injurious to health. I also know if my children inhale the smoke they might have asthma. But, I just cannot give up. Every time I have a challenging task at work I have to light a cigarette and smoke to relieve stress” narrates Niranjan, 38 year old finance analyst who has a very stressful job.
According to a 2014 study conducted by Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Smoking is the third top risk for health loss in India, leading to nearly one million deaths each year. The World Health Organization predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020. The study also raises another disturbing fact that India has a high number of female smokers.
Smoking can kill through heart disease, oral cancer, tuberculosis, lung cancer, or other lung diseases. The education campaigns and the anti-tobacco laws have been spreading this loud and clear message. So why do millions of people continue to smoke?
There have been many studies and surveys conducted to understand why people continue to smoke despite having the knowledge about its injurious effects on health. The experts have summarized the reasons given by smokers as follows:
To overcome tensions
Due to loneliness
Lack of socializing
Coping strategy
It relaxes me
It’s a habit
An excuse to take a break
Helps me concentrate
If observed carefully it appears that many people smoke to relieve stress. People have this misbelief that smoking has a calming effect that helps relieve tension and improve the mood. This belief is so extensive that it is common to see many working professionals to take a break when they are in a state of agitation and smoke to relieve stress. But, scientific studies totally disprove of stress management capability of smoking. In fact, nicotine present in the cigarette actually increases level of stress. Far from acting as an aid for mood control and stress relief, smoking causes several harmful effects on body. Smoking has been implicated as a contributing factor for many diseases including variety of infections, cancers, heart diseases, and chronic lung diseases which put together are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in today’s society. Research also suggests that the tar and nicotine present in cigarette can lower the immunity of body. The temporary stress relief that you get after a smoke is merely due to psychological reasons or distractions.
If you think you face too many stressful situations in everyday life, stress management is must. But, don’t smoke to relieve stress. Smoking is an extremely unhealthy way to manage your stress. If you are on a lookout for a healthy way of de-stressing with some long-term benefits, you must consider healthy and proven therapies such as physical activity, meditation, yoga or massage therapies.
At Four Fountains De-Stress Spa in Bangalore and other metros we offer massages for de-stressing that make use of natural herbs and other effective techniques. So, before you decide to smoke to relieve stress, think of trying other means of de-stressing that give you only the health benefits and cause no ill effects.
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