Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Six Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp JoAnn Guest Nov 07, 2004 16:06 PST =============================================================================== Six Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp This information is designed to educate you about the time-tested health approach used by traditional Ayurvedic physicians. We hope this will be helpful in understanding the true meaning of health, and the natural means of achieving it, thereby helping to improve world health -- one person at a time. IN THIS ISSUE -------------------------- ¥ Vital Health Topic: Six Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp ¥ Vital Health Topic: Ayurvedic Foot Care ------------------------------ o Vital Health Topic: Six Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp ------------------------------ 1. Eat Fruits and Vegetables for Brain Food It has long been known that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for you. In recent years, research has focused on phytochemicals, the biologically active compounds naturally found in plants that have a positive impact on your health. Foods that boost memory are raw walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, almonds, turmeric, and blueberries, to name a few. Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that are good for the brain and have been shown to aid brain development in infants. Researchers at UCLA found that curcumin in turmeric protects the brain against plaques in the synapses of rats, indicating that the plaques found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients also respond to turmeric. Interestingly enough, India, a country where turmeric is widely used, has very little Alzheimer's disease. Black pepper has also been shown to enhance the power of memory. An easy way to include these spices in your diet is to sautŽ Worry Free Spice Mixture or Vata, Pitta or Kapha Churna in butter and add it to your cooked vegetables. A 1999 Tufts University study of 40 fruits and vegetables found that raw blueberries contained the highest level of antioxidants. Animals fed a blueberry extract diet outperformed other animals in memory tests, and showed less degeneration of motor skills due to aging. To gain the most memory power from food, eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, along with healthy proteins such as raw walnuts, almonds and split dried beans and pulses. 2. Enliven Memory with Herbs Phytochemicals are even more concentrated in herbs. Ayurvedic herbs that are traditionally known to improve memory are Brahmi and Gotu Kola. Brahmi and Gotu Kola are medhya herbs, which means that they improve the coordination between dhi (learning), dhriti (retention) and smriti (long-term memory). Shankapushpi is another medhya herb that is revered in the ayurvedic tradition. While modern researchers and pharmaceutical companies usually extract the active ingredients from plants and put them in pill form, recent studies show that the whole plants are more beneficial because they contain a synergistic combination of phytochemicals. For instance, a study reported in Nature journal found that eating 100 grams of fresh organic apple with skins provided the total antioxidant activity equal to 1,500 milligrams of isolated vitamin C. A single carrot contains more than 100 " phytochemicals " , which would not be available in a pill that only contained isolated beta-carotene. This finding verifies what Maharishi Ayurveda has known for thousands of years-- the benefit comes from using the whole plant, not just an " isolated " ingredient. Because they contain the whole herb or fruit, Maharishi Ayurveda herbal formulas are safer and much more effective. 3. Say Yes to " Good Fats " In the past 20 years we have been told over and over that fat is bad for you. Not only is a fat-free diet impossible to sustain for more than a week, it is actually damaging to the brain and body essential fat is necessary for memory to function. It is important is to eat high-quality fats. The brain can only use the most " intelligent " of foods. Maharishi Ayurveda recommends extra virgin Olive oil which contains brain-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and other good fats. It is not only medhya, nourishing to the mind and memory, but is called smritida, which means memory-giving. Olive oil is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is nourishing to the brain. Olive oil should never be heated to high temperatures, as that destroys its beneficial qualities. Fats to avoid: hydrogenated fats, which raise bad cholesterol, are found in most packaged foods today and are not digestible by the body; polyunsaturated fats such as corn oil or safflower oil as these are " unstable " and create excessive free radicals; and canola oil, which is often genetically engineered and should only be eaten if organic. 4. Be Sure to Get Your Zzzzzs Exciting new research shows that sleep improves memory. In fact, it is while the brain is sleeping that it works the hardest--rehearing newly learned information, storing memory files, converting information to long-term memory. In one Canada study, students who slept the night before the exam significantly out-performed students who stayed awake and crammed. So important is sleep that researchers at Harvard Medical School now suggest that after learning a new skill, it's best to sleep on it. Sleeping for six to eight hours after learning apparently helps the brain transfer new skills and information to its permanent memory banks. 5. Exercise and Breathe Deeply While a good night's sleep helps us retain what we learn, it's equally important to get physical exercise during the day. Exercise oxygenates the brain and sharpens memory. If you've ever sat around for a day or two with very little activity, you've probably noticed that your brain turns into a wet noodle. Exercise also helps us to breathe deeply, which is another way to oxygenate brain cells and flush out toxins. You can stop and take deep breaths throughout the day, or practice Vedic breathing exercises called Pranayama to re-charge your memory. Like all recommendations from Maharishi Ayurveda, how much exercise you do depends on your constitution and imbalances. Kapha types, especially, need more intense exercise than others to keep their mind and body at peak performance. For most people, a brisk walk once a day is a good place to start. Breathe through your nose to direct the oxygen to your brain. Always stay in your comfort zone, stopping or slowing down when you feel the need to breathe through your mouth, or start to sweat on your forehead or tip of your nose. Yoga asanas are an excellent way to tone the memory. These gentle stretches direct the blood to the the brain and cleanse the organs and channels of toxins, helping to increase communication between the mind and body. 6. Exercise Your Mind, Too We all know that when it comes to muscles, you have to use it or lose it. This is equally true of the brain. According to Maharishi Ayurveda, there are three causes of memory problems: overuse (such as working too long hours), misuse (such as doing mental work that is too difficult, or that we feel is morally wrong), and underuse. Underuse means never stimulating your mind with meaningful activities. If your job doesn't involve much mental work, or is boring to you, it's especially important that you spend some of your free time each day exercising your memory and brain. Take a course at your local college, read a good book, write in your journal, practice memorizing poetry or your favorite sayings, listen to soothing music or learn some new songs. By stimulating new areas of the brain, you'll enliven new brain connections and spark your memory skills. And you just might prolong your life, as well. It turns out that people who are mentally active live longer and enjoy life more, too. ------------------------------ o Vital Health Topic: Ayurvedic Foot Care ------------------------------ More than 70% of all people in the United States will have painful foot problems at some time during their lifetime. Do you take care of your feet as much as you use them? An ayurvedic foot care routine can reduce your chances of belonging to the unfortunate 70%. BASIC FOOT CARE The best measure you can take is to wear comfortable shoes that fit properly, with extra room in the toe area. Equally important is to wash your feet daily with soap. Rinse off the soap with lukewarm water and dry your feet thoroughly, including between the toes. Always keep your nails short but don't cut into skin on the sides of your nails. Don't apply harsh techniques to remove corns and calluses such as trimming or shaving because they can damage your feet. Change your socks every day and when you exercise. Whenever possible, air your feet by walking barefoot outside, or in the house. These simple rules not only increase your comfort level but can prevent infections, calluses and many other ailments of the foot. AYURVEDIC FOOT CARE " Caring for your feet in Maharishi Ayurveda goes beyond the cosmetic purposes: it benefits the whole body and nervous system, " says Vaidya Nitin Agrawal of Maharishi Ayurveda Products International. An ayurvedic foot bath and foot massage relaxes the whole physiology and provides a feeling of revitalization, increased energy, and improved circulation. Herbal Foot Bath For tired feet and hard skin, a foot soak can do wonders. Warm water stimulates your feet and your whole body, and softens your skin. The aromas of herbs and baths salts provide relaxation through the sense of smell. ¥ Boil 1 quart of water. Make a small pouch of any of the following herbs: lavender, sage, rosemary. Place the pouch in a large wash bowl or bucket and pour the boiling water over it. Let it sit for 20 minutes. ¥ Add cold water, if necessary, to reach a comfortable temperature between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. ¥ Soak your feet in the water for about 20 minutes. Gently rub the herbs on your feet but do not scrub. ¥ Dry feet thoroughly with a clean towel. Bathing salts also soften your skin. Try one of Maharishi Ayurveda Aromatherapy Bath Salts for an even more pleasant experience. Foot Massage By rubbing your feet, you " massage " your whole body. " Massaging your feet helps detoxification, balances emotions, and improves blood and lymph circulation, " says Vaidya Agrawal. 1. First wash your feet thoroughly with soap and warm water. Neem soap is especially beneficial due to its antibacterial properties. Wipe your feet dry and sit in a comfortable position so you can easily reach your feet. 2. Apply oil to one of your feet for lubrication. 3. Start by gently rubbing the base of your little (5th) toe. 4. Continue at the base of the next (4th) toe. 5. Next, apply slight pressure between the 5th and 4th toes. 6. Then, rub between the 3rd and 4th toes. 7. Next, massage, stretch and pull the big toe gently and rub each side of the nails. 8. Then massage the ball of your foot in a circular motion. Apply gentle pressure on both sides of your heels below the ankle joints, followed by circling around your ankle joint with both hands in a clockwise motion. This improves circulation and the energy level of the body. 9. Finally massage your calf muscle to release tension. Repeat the same steps on your other foot. Treatment for Corns Corns, like calluses, develop from an accumulation of dead skin cells, forming thick and hard areas on the tops, sides and tips of the toes. Constant pressure and friction from footwear can press these areas and cause pain. Instead of chemical corn-removing solutions, which can increase irritation, try the following simple remedy from Vaidya Agrawal. 1. Roast one garlic clove (dry or in a little ghee) until golden but not burnt. 2. While still warm, apply garlic clove on the corn and place a band-aid over it. Use one clove of garlic for each corn. Leave it on for a day. 3. Apply daily until corn falls off. 4. Massage feet with Rejuvenation Massage oil to soften skin and prevent the recurrence of corns. Preventing Foot Odor Smelly feet can result from perspiration, dead skin cells and bacteria. Synthetic shoes and socks increase the problem by not letting your feet breathe. The following recipe naturally deodorizes your feet. 1. Perform the herbal foot bath according to the instructions above but add 1/2 -1 teaspoon of salt to the water. 2. Mix 1 part organic corn starch, 3 parts M.Spa Herbalized Clay, and 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil. 3. Make a paste by adding cold water to a small amount of the above mix. Apply paste on your feet for 20-30 minutes. 4. Wash paste off with lukewarm water and dry thoroughly. --------------------------- DISCLAIMER --------------------------- The sole purpose of this newsletter is to provide accurate information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disease. If you have any serious, acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic expert, call our Health Educators or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. _________________ JoAnn Guest mrsjo- DietaryTi- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO " Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen " Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future " http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER We have made every effort to ensure that the information included in these pages is accurate. However, we make no guarantees nor can we assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process discussed. Check out the new Front Page. www. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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