Finally , recovered from another bout of sore throat and Bronchitis. It’s been a few years since I suffered from Sore Throat and Bronchitis of this severity wherein I required Nebulisation.
During this Pandemic , every sneeze or cough is looked upon with suspicion and the individual is treated as a potential COVID patient untill the symptoms subside or proved COVID negative after a test.
Thankfully, my symptoms have subsided after 3 days with medication using Allopathy as well as Alternative treatments.
If interested , you may check out my blog posts from the last three days on the details.
A herbal cough syrup , a herbal powder and nebulisation helped me recover in 3 days. I was able to avoid taking Antibiotics which is the default treatment for a sore throat.
I am now back to my normal diet since morning. However, due to all the coughing , the muscles around my waist are hurting whenever I cough a little.
I was getting a phone call everyday ,during the last 3 days, from Mom and Dad. I told them about my condition on day one casually and since then they have been monitoring me. They are glad that I recovered quickly
Decided to take more precautions whenever any part of the house needs to be cleaned .
Update on my garden :
This is the best season to sow vegetable seeds. So, I planted a few Okra seeds in one container today. Checked the condition of all other plants and found that all of them are affected by ‘Powdery Mildew’ and the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. This is caused due to humid weather from the recent rains. Will wait for a couple of days , so all the leaves drop off and will then spray an Organic pesticide.
Why I avoid buying Country Eggs :
One guy selling eggs, on his modified bicycle, rang the doorbell to check if I wanted some eggs. My neighbours are his regular customers and so I began buying . I had bought a couple of times earlier . I took some eggs from him today and complained about the Country eggs that he delivered on his previous visit. Some of them were rotten. I then decided never ever to buy Country Eggs from anyone . I usually avoid, but this time I was tempted to take. I stopped taking meat or eggs but buy for the guys at home. Country Eggs are tastier and healthier compared to the ones that we get from chicken farms. Though some farms are rearing free range hens ,their freshness is doubtful. Such farms are located far from the cities and the delays in transportation can affect the freshness. So , no more country eggs till I find a reliable source closer home.
Cap/Crown replacement for my tooth :
Looking forward to a message from my Dentist. I am due for the final step in my Root canal treatment. They said they would message me when the cap/crown was ready.
If interested , you may check my previous posts on the Root canal Treatment .
Delivery of vegetables from Farmizen :
Every Tuesday , I receive a bag full of fresh naturally grown vegetables from Farmizen. My son soaked the vegetables in salt water , drying them under the fan, packing for them and storing them away in the refrigerator. This is his duty every Tuesday.
Glad that my sister finally subscribed to Farmizen and she too received her first delivery today. She is happy with the quantity and I am looking forward to her feedback on the taste of the veggies vis a vis the store bought veggies.
Last night , my Bronchitis worsened and my throat was beginning to burn as I was coughing a lot.
Yesterday, my Ayurveda Doctor, advised me not to start nebulisation.
It was late night and I was unable to tolerate the breathlessness and burning throat.
So, I decided to take nebulisation and felt better this morning.
My condition this morning :
This morning at 8am I updated my Ayurveda Doctor on my condition. He advised me to start an antibiotic or take one Herbal tablet. However, I have not yet started these as I wanted to wait till evening.
My coughing episodes have reduced and soreness in the throat too has reduced. I was continuing to cough up some watery phlegm all morning.
I was in no mood to eat ,so I had papaya for breakfast.
I was feeling mild breathlessness throughout the morning but was able to manage. I continued to take the herbal cough syrup and Mishran powder every 6 hours.
My condition in the afternoon :
I had idli and sambar for lunch. Ordered from a restaurant. Felt nice to eat idli with hit sambar.
By afternoon, my breathing was getting tougher though coughing was much lesser. I decided to take nebulisation in the late afternoon. Felt very comfortable after the nebulisation.
For dinner I had Rice with Rasam. My taste buds have lost their sense of taste and Rasam is one dish that tastes good when one is sick. Rasam is sour,salty ,tangy and peppery. It is like a soup made with all healthy ingredients like pepper, cumin seeds, garlic, coriander seeds, turmeric powder tomatoes, tamarind/lemon juice ,curry leaves and coriander leaves. All these ingredients boost the immunity too. Most South Indians prefer this comforting food , rice with rasam, when they are sick.
It is 8pm now and I feel much better. Breathing is normal and cough has reduced too.
As of now ,I don’t see any reason to go for the COVID test.
Just when I was celebrating my ongoing Root canal treatment ,I woke up this morning with discomfort in my throat. I immediately drank a concoction made with a powder that I always have at home. I always keep stock of this powder and consume it whenever I sense some trouble in my throat. I get this Mishran powder from my Ayurveda Doctor.
The usual worry started as I began to think how I ended up with a sore throat. What might have triggered this. I have been successfully managing well for the last two years and never did it get this bad.
BTW my son caught a cold three days ago and I was constantly giving him Herbal remedies. Today is the third day and he has almost recovered.
Did I catch the bacteria/virus at the Dental clinic. This was precisely the reason why I was avoiding to visit the Dentist. Was it at Starbucks , I hadn’t visited any eating place during the last two years.
Me and my son did a little cleaning at home a few days ago. We did wear masks while cleaning. All of us are allergic to house dust and do our best to keep the house dust free.
Was the dust ,after vacuuming, lingering inside the house and did we inhale that dangerous stuff or did I catch the virus from my son. I made sure I was nowhere close to him during the last two days.
Hmmm….whatever be the reason , it is here to stay 🙁
Advise from my Ayurveda Doctor:
Called my Ayurveda Doctor and described my symptoms. I asked him if I should go for a COVID test and he told me to wait for a day.
Whenever I have severe sore throat, I usually end up with Bronchitis. I began coughing up watery phlegm and when I told about this ,he suggested a Herbal tonic. I was able to get this tonic from a local Ayurveda store
If the Bronchitis gets severe ,I will have to start taking nebulisation. I have a portable nebulizer at home. The doctor advised me not to start nebulisation yet.
It is 6pm now. Since morning I have been taking the Concotion and the herbal tonic every 6 hours. Not feeling comfortable yet. The irritation in the throat continues.
Hoping there will be some improvement by end of the day.
Ghee is clarified Butter which is obtained from the milk of Cows and Buffaloes by a process of making curd , then churning the curd to extract butter , the butter is then heated to produce clarified butter/Ghee.
However, the best Desi Ghee is made from the milk of Native Indian Cows and is preferred as it has several health benefits.
Ghee from Native Indian Cows is called ‘Liquid Gold’ as this has a golden color. It is interesting to know that in ancient India, those with the most ‘Liquid Gold’ or more cows , were the richest.
With ‘White Revolution’ , a lot of Dairy farms started rearing Jersey/Holstein cows , as they produce a lot of milk . Not many are aware that these cows are a hybrid variety and not native to India.
Since ancient days , Native Cows of India are revered and treated like a family member.
Native Indian Cows at an Organic Farm, that I visited, near Hyderabad , India.
Lord Krishna says that if one worships a Cow , it is as good as worshipping Him. Lord Krishna was a Cow Herd and loved cows and hence called ‘Go-Pal’ , one who rears Cows.
Lord Krishna , with Cows
What is A1, A2 Milk and why we should consume A2 milk products :
The Milk produced from Native Indian Cows is called A2 Milk , whereas the milk from Hybrid cows like Jersey, Holstein is A1 Milk.
Ghee prepared from A2 Milk of Native Indian Cows has numerous health benefits when consumed in moderation. For that matter everything should be taken in moderation.
The protein in A2 milk is good for our health.
It is observed that the incidence of Cardiovascular diseases and Diabetes is more in those who took A1 Milk products.
I am using Ayurveda Medications since almost 6 years. My Ayurveda Doctor prescribes 1-2 tsps of Cow Ghee per day for me.
Health Benefits of Desi Ghee :
Here are a few health benefits of incorporating A2 Ghee in your diet -Contains Butyric acid which increases the generation of T-cells in the body. It is these T-cells which improves the immunity in the body.
It is good for improving memory.
Lubricates the connective tissue and hence prescribed for Yoga practitioners
Ghee is a yogavahi—a catalytic agent that carries the medicinal properties of herbs into the tissues of the body.
Acts as a medium for absorption of all fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K .
Has antioxidant properties as it contains Vitamin E and Beta carotene and reduces inflammation in the body.
Induces Apoptosis in Cancer cells.
Slows the aging process
Enhances Digestion
Contains antiviral properties
Has high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids which is good for heart health
…and many many more
How is the Best Desi Ghee prepared and what is the price :
I have learnt from various authentic sources that to prepare 1kg of Desi Ghee, around 25-35 Liters of pure Desi Cow’s milk would be required. This depends on the fat percentage in the milk. Fewer liters of milk would be required if the fat content is high. I was told that the price of 1 liter of pure Desi Cow’s milk is Rs200/-.
This works out to a minimum of Rs5000/- for 1kg of pure Desi Cow Ghee. Any price which is drastically different from this is not a genuine product.
No wonder it is called ‘Liquid Gold’.
Where do I buy Desi Ghee Online :
My search for various sources of A2 Ghee began a few years ago , when my Ayurveda Doctor told me to use Ghee daily. I even spoke to a few folks from near by Villages, who worked in the city, if they could help me get Cow Ghee. Unfortunately, none in the villages are into A2 Ghee business as there is no demand .Basically, the knowledge of the wonderful properties of Desi Ghee is lost. Native Indian Cows give a lower quantity of Milk and also has lower fat content. Hence, most people prefer to rear Buffaloes.
Ghee adulteration is rampant and hence one should be aware of the source of the Ghee.
I then started searching for A2 Ghee online . Thankfully, now a days, there are several brands of A2 Ghee online. After checking the reviews , reading about the people who are behind the product and the method used to prepare ghee, I went ahead and ordered.
Klimom Desi Ghee :
Initially I used ‘KlimOm Ghee’. KlimOm is based in Hyderabad. I found it on Amazon and liked the product. The grass which is fed to the Gir Cows is grown in their farms without using any pesticides. Cows are not injected with any hormones and are milked using hands.
Traditional methods are used to prepare the curd from milk and churned to extract the butter. This butter is heated and then it gets converted to Clarified butter.
I began searching for another product and bought A2 Ghee from Isha Vasyam. The quality is very good. Mr Vivek Sharma , founder of ‘Isha Vasya’ wanted a cure for his parents health issues and rediscovered the ancient vedic remedies for the current age health problems.
I am always on the lookout for Organic/Naturally grown produce. During my search I came across ‘Two Brothers Organic Farms’ . There are some videos about their farms that I watched on YouTube. They are into Natural farming and I am impressed by their farming practices. The brand name of their products is ‘Amorearth’ . They have free range Native cows, which are fed with Organic grass and other feed , from their own farms. The manure from the cows is used to fertilize the plants and the cycle continues. Cows are the basis for Natural farming and they have a symbiotic relationship. They also sell several other Organic products.
Currently , I am using A2 Cow Ghee from Amorearth.
It is high time , we revert back to our ancient way of living. Let’s do the best we can to access the healthiest food products. No doubt , such products are in shortage and the demand for these is slowly increasing. There is a shortage of supply, however, the more we purchase , the more will eventually be produced.
It is true that A2 Ghee is very very expensive compared to Ghee from Buffalo Milk. But, Ayurveda recommends 1-2 tsps of A2 Ghee to those who are keen on regaining their health. So, make sure the source is authentic and if you have access to a Goshaala or anyone who is rearing Native Indian Cows , then you are the luckiest.
Let’s spend our hard earned money to buy healthy food for our family. Nothing else is more important than healthy eating habits. Thankfully good products are available.
Hair shampoo , Detergent , Bath soap , Floor cleaner , Pesticide , Dish washing liquid , Jewelry cleaner , Mosquito repellent , Bath soap for Pets , Kitchen cleaner : Using Soapnuts , an environment friendly and sustainable solution given by Mother Earth.
After having experienced a life surrounded by chemicals and pollution , I have begun rediscovering all the traditional healthy practices that were followed in India since hundreds or thousands of years. In this journey , I have recently rediscovered Soapnuts. The most Eco-friendly , Natural All-Purpose cleaner .
My earliest memories of Soapnuts , also called Soapberries, are from my childhood days when my Mom would give us (me and my sister) a hair wash using the liquid extracted from Soapnuts .
Soapnuts or soap berries grow in India , in the Himalayas and in South India. They are light to dark brown in color when ready to pick and one to two centimeters in diameter with a hard black and big seed. When dry they are shelled and can be used like soap as they give a lot of lather as they contain Saponin which is a surfactant. Soapnuts are a natural cleaner given by Mother Earth.
I remember my late paternal aunt used to get a big sack, full of soapnuts whenever she visited us. She lived in a village adjacent to the Tirumala hills. The soapnut tree grows wild in the forests on the Hills.
Soapnuts for washing Hair :
Ok, So let’s go back in time, almost 3-4 decades ago , when shampoos were unheard of and the soapnut ritual took place every sunday at my home. Come Sunday morning , two big handfuls of soapnuts were broken by placing each one on the floor and breaking them open using a small round granite stone or placed in a Mortar and Pestle which was dedicated for breaking up the soapnuts. The big black seeds would be separated from the shells and the shells would be soaked in water .While the soapnuts were soaking , a copper water boiler would be filled with water and coals would be fired up at the bottom of the boiler drum.
The soapnuts would soften while the water got hot and they were squeezed with the hand to extract the juice from the soapnuts. The soapnut extract would be filtered into another vessel and more water was added to the remaining pulp. If required the soapnuts would be squeezed again.
This extract was the shampoo during those days. At times the liquid would get into the eyes and the eyes would burn and become red. We would sprinkle cold water on the eyes and get some relief. Very soon the eyes were back to normal.
After washing the hair , it was time to dry the hair using towels and letting the hair dry naturally in the sun. We let our hair down and stood under the sun. Mom didnt let us use the Hairdryer which Dad had bought from Italy when he went there on Official work. She felt that the heat from the dryer would damage the scalp and make the hair brittle.
Once the hair is around 70% dried up , Mom would comb our long hair to disentangle the knots and then braid the hair into one or two plaits. All our neighbours envied our long hair.
This was the morning routing every Sunday morning.
It was this ritual which helped in the growth of thick long and healthy hair , soft hair , no dandruff ,no loss of hair and no grey hair.
Very soon , we starting washing the hair ourselves and found a short cut to extract the soapnut liquid. We simply put the soapnuts in a vessel, poured water and heated the water. While the water cooled down , the soapnuts would become very soft and it was very easy to squeeze and extract the liquid. Mom somehow didnt like what we did, and complained that we were too lazy 🙂
Soapnuts as a Body scrub :
I also remember Mom telling us to use the soft soapnut pulp to scrub the skin instead of using a soap. This natural cleaner is good for the skin as they prevent/heal skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. These nuts have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties too.
Very soon we began hearing of shampoos and initially we used these shampoos once in a while when we were in a hurry and didnt have the time to soak and squeeze .
Didnt take very long for all to forget soapnuts and shampoos were here to stay. The comfort , convenience , instant solution for a hair wash was too good. What followed was dandruff, loss of hair, brittle hair , split hair and grey hair.
Having realised the benefits and advantages of soapnuts over shampoos , we are now scrambling back to the traditional methods.
Since a couple of years I had been searching the shelves in the supermarkets for soapnuts and didnt find any. I was surprised that they had disappeared.
To this day , I dont see them yet in the supermarkets, but glad they are available online.
Washing silks and woolens with Soapnut extract :
For my wedding , I had several heavy silk sarees and maintaining silk sarees is an art . While discussing as to how I should clean and maintain Silk sarees with Mom, she told me to soak my silk sarees in soapnut extract diluted in a bucket of water and give them a gentle scrub with the hands.
Delicate and expensive garments can thus be cleaned using natural soapnut extract so they last long compared to using chemical based detergents.
Cleaning Gold jewellery with Soapnut extract :
Mom also once told me to clean gold jewelry with this extract. I just soak the jewelry in the soapnut extract for a while and use an old toothbrush to clean them.
Soapnut extract as an Organic/Natural Pesticide for Plants :
I have been doing some kitchen gardening using Organic fertilizers/pesticides since one year and I watch videos on YouTube whenever I require some information. I also learnt how soapnut extract can be used as a pesticide spray for plants. This is a natural way to control pests.
Mother Nature’s Detergent :
Eco friendly products and sustainable solutions are the need of the hour and soapnuts are the Natural cleaner that Mother Nature has given to humanity.
The soapnuts can be used as a detergent to wash clothes in the washing machine. Tie around 4-5 soapnuts in a cotton pouch or put them in an old socks and toss it into the washing machine.
How to prepare and use Soapnut Extract:
Method 1 : Prepare soapnut extract by soaking the nuts overnight. Next morning , squeeze the soapnuts with your hand for the best results and strain the liquid using a strainer.
Method 2 : Boil the soapnuts in water for 15 mins. Let the water cool down. Now you can squeeze the softened soapnuts and extract the liquid. Strain the liquid using a strainer.
The extract can be stored in a refrigerator. If left outside it will begin to smell bad and has to be discarded.
Fresh extract is recommended.
Other uses of the Soapnut Extract :
The extract can be diluted with water and used for all the following purposes .
Dish washing liquid
Washing Fruits and vegetables
Floor cleaner
Mosquito Repellant
Glass cleaner
Hand wash
Glass, Tiles, Kitchen counters
Giving a bath to your pets
Shaving cream
The water that is left after all the washing, can be let into the water harvesting pit or used for watering the plants in the garden.
I have begun using soapnuts for laundry, washing utensils, floor cleaner, as a bath soap, washing hair, as a pesticide, washing silks and also as a hand wash.
Laundry detergent , Dishwash liquid , Handwash liquid etc are also available online.
With COVID around , I began searching for a good product to sanitize fruits and vegetables, during the ongoing pandemic , I came across one good product named Bubblenut Wash which has soapnut as one of the key ingredients . I began using this before I started using soapnuts as it is very easy to use. Here it is –
Bubblenut Wash-Natural and Organic Fruits and Vegetables Wash :
There are other cleaning products sold by the same company .
Bubblenut wash Laundry Detergent :
Bubblenut wash – Natural and Organic Laundry Detergent Bar :
…and many more
These products are especially very useful for those who have skin allergies and are unable to use the normal soaps/detergents.
Initially , it is very convenient to buy and start using them. Later on you can buy soapnuts and make your own Natural cleaner.
However, if you wish to buy the soapnuts and use them directly you can use them in the following ways :
Full berries can be used directly for Laundry , by placing a few berries in a pouch or old socks and tossing them into your Washing machine.
The extract of these berries after soaking in water can be used for washing hair, in the dishwasher, Floor cleaning, cleaning gold jewelry etc
The soap berries can be powdered and also used in the washing machine, soak in hot water and use as a shampoo
The left over berries from which the extract was prepared can be made into a paste in the mixer-grinder and used for cleaning kitchen counters ,sinks, stove etc
Feel free to experiment and you will not go wrong.
I recently bought the following product and started using them.
I now prepare a batch of soapnut liquid by soaking the soapnuts overnight and use it the next day for all my cleaning jobs.
Take the following precautions while using Soapnuts:
-If the soapnut liquid gets into your eyes while washing hair, do not panic. Just splash cold water over your eyes till you get some relief. There is no danger to your eyes. Your eyes may appear red for a while but do not worry , they will be back to normal soon. To prevent the liquid going into the eyes , just make sure that your eyes are tightly closed 🙂
-Soapnut liquid tastes bitter. It is not poisonous. However, just make sure it is out of reach of small children.
-Freshly prepared soapnut liquid has to be used within a day. Store it in the refrigerator if you wish to use it over a longer period.
I have been taking Ayurveda Medication for Multiple Myeloma from my Ayurveda Doctor every month. I have been prescribed several types of medicines with different dosages during the day .
This month too my medicines were delivered , but I opened the parcel only after a few days of receiving it. You know the virus thing and not to touch parcels for a few days and leave them outside the door thingy 🙂
When I opened the parcel I found that the required dosage of tablets/capsules was missing from a couple of medicines. I then messaged my Doctor informing the same. He said I should be reducing the dosage of medicines. I refused to accept what he said and said that I prefer to continue the same medication for ‘some more time’ .
He then said that I should reduce my dependence on Medicines and that I should be more confident and do meditation also.
I said OK and then …..
My Ayurveda Doctor : According to me, you are Cancer Free !!
I couldn’t believe those words. Those were some very precious words that any patient would love to hear from a Doctor. I was feeling overwhelmed and my eyes were welling up.
While it is true that my last test reports , few months ago , were all normal , I didn’t want to rush and reduce the dosage.
I do believe that my new ‘Natural Lifestyle’ along with Ayurveda is doing wonders for my body. I do feel good and able to manage most stuff on my own at home and at work too !! . I do get a lot of help from hubby and son 😛
Its been more than 5 years since I started taking Ayurveda Medication and No chemo since then.
And its been 5 months since I started following the Diet prescribed by ‘Natural Lifestyle’ . Surely the combination is working for me 🙂
Thanks to the Almighty for showing me the right path.
I hope and wish more and more people give up wrong eating habits and spend more time on improving their health by eating wholesome food that comes directly from Mother Nature, by exercising, Meditation and most important to have a free mind by letting go , being grateful, by forgiving self and others , giving up resentment and being compassionate to all .
The first COVID +ve case in my company was confirmed yesterday.Thousands of Employees and Non-Employees work in our company. The news spread like wildfire within minutes in all the different whatsapp groups. All the primary contacts of this person have been told to quarantine themselves at home.
Our HR department immediately convened a series a meetings and formed a few committees which will oversee such cases. Procedures to inform HR regarding sysmptoms, going for the test , quarantine for self and family , referrals to Panel hospitals etc were quickly decided and circulated on our Intranet.
Senior colleagues in my department met this morning to decide as to how we can restrict movement of others coming into our building. It was decided to put up a barricade at the Main door of the building and have the door manned so as to stop others from entering our building. The decision was implemented immediately and we heaved a sigh of relief. Glad that we have reduced the probability of the virus sneaking in.
I had always been wondering as to how people are get infected , in spite of taking all possible precautions. I got my answer today when I observerd a colleague taking of his mask while talking on the phone. I noticed that he touched his face several times during the conversation. After his talk ended , I told him my observations and he was surprised. I now have a clue as to how we are committing blunders …. purely by ignorance. Even the so called educated are not exempt from such blunders.
All my family and well wishers are worried for me and have been suggesting that I work from home . Unfortunately our HR doesnt permit WFH , as we are a manufacturing company. The maximum possible is to work in Shifts , so the workforce is staggered. But with thousands of people it is not practical.
The best we can do it to limit meeting coworkers , have very short conversations, not to remove the mask at any cost and keep sanitising the hands.
The Enemy has surrounded us. Have to be very cautious at every step. Quite possible that I might have touched the virus and then gave it a nice wash with the sanitizer 🙂
Have to be overly cautious as I have comorbidities.
I still feel confident that I can defeat the enemy 🙂
Thanks to the Lockdown , I was able to spend some time everyday for almost 45 days with my plants. I dont have a lot of space for gardening , but whatever little space I had , I used it to the maximum.
Unlike other hobbies , I think gardening is one hobby that makes you fall in love with Life , all over again 🙂 .
And that is because a lot of lessons in life are learnt while pursuing gardening.
We learn to appreciate nature and creation. When you sow seeds and see them sprout , when you see the first leaves appear, when you see the flowers bloom and when you see the fruits , at every stage the happiness increases manifold.
There are times when the plant struggles to live and it collapses one day. During these times , we learn to accept failures in life. That whatever we do need not always result in success.
We learn to be patient. We wait for the plant to grow at its owns pace. We learn to see how life unfolds and accept the pace at which events happens around us. A lot of factors affect how well a plant grows. Similarly , a persons growth also depends on various environmental factors.
We provide additional support to plants , and give sufficient resources like water, fertilizers , sunlight etc. Similar support is to be given to our near and dear ones to help them grow. We usually dont blame the plant for not growing well. We only try to give it more support.
We see the interconnectedness of all things on Earth. Not just the relationship between living beings , but also the interdependency between all living and non living entities like the sunlight , the water , fire , earth and space. We learn to see that even these so called non living entities are as lively as the ‘living’ beings. Without these 5 elements , ‘Life’ isnt possible.
All the hard work that goes into growing plants yields a lot of ‘fruits’ …. and vegetables 🙂 . The same applies to hard work in real life too. More often than not , success follows hard work.
We learn to see not just the life which lives over the soil , but a lot of other creatures which live under the soil.
The plants do their best to thrive in all kinds of extreme climatic conditions. They are very strong and patiently wait for the right conditions and bounce back soon. When there is no water , their roots grow further down to reach places with water. They grow towards the Sun if planted in a shady place. They are intelligent creatures too.
If required they do take support of nearby objects to grow. This is an important quality to be learnt by humans too which is to take help from others if required. There are many plants which are creepers , which grow only if they have good support. So, it is important to take the required help whenever necessary and not hesitate.
While a plant is growing , if the main stem is cut , the plant grows several other side branches. It doesn’t give up and die , it grows more vigorously and bears more branches , flowers and fruits. We need to learn this trait from plants. A never give up attitude.
Creepers are very flexible , they grow any which way that is comfortable. They can bypass any obstacles on their path and continue to grow.
I strongly feel that everyone has to spend time in Nature to understand and appreciate all life on Earth and to learn from each other and to coexist with each other.
I had mentioned about my new diet in one of my earlier posts. I am currently following the Diet recommended by an organisation named “Natural Lifestyle” .
I read all about the founder Shri Acharya Mohan Gupta and his Gurus. Watched a lot of videos on their youtube channel. I got convinced to follow the diet prescribed by him.
The diet recommends Intermittent fasting for 16 hours every day. Most of the food is eaten raw and only one meal during the whole day comprises of cooked food.
The diet is based on the belief that ” One who eats once a day is a Yogi, who eats twice a day is a Bhogi and who eats thrice a day is a Rogi “
In the above statement the food that is eaten is food that is cooked.
The aim is to eat just one cooked meal in a day and Raw food / juice during the other meal times.
This diet helps in cleansing the body and to treat diseases.
Here is my diet on any normal day :
Pre-Breakfast : 8 am – one glass of Ash gourd juice
Breakfast : 10am – A plateful of Raw vegetables with a few slices of coconut
Lunch : 1-2pm – 3 Composite Rotis with lots of vegetable curry
Dinner : 6-7pm – A plateful of fruits (any one type of fruit) with a few slices of raw coconut
This has been my diet for the last 5 months.
I do cheat once in a while and eat a little bit of regular food like rice with curry or vegetable fried rice or breakfasts like upma , dosa and junk food like noodles too 🙂
I have lost a lot of weight after following this diet. My family and colleagues do comment on my appearance but I am happy as long as i am healthy.
I am able to carry out simple tasks like cooking , going to work and spend some time in my garden. Not doing much physical work .
So far so good.
It is a bit cumbersome to follow this diet as my diet is different from the diet of family and this requires more cooking time. Hubby and I plan our meals and so we are comfortable.
Very difficult to control the senses of taste and smell :). There are times when I feel, what is life if I am unable to eat all that I would like to. But I console myself that i have to do anything and everything to stay alive and this keeps me motivated to continue this diet 🙂
As the migrant workers move back to their villages from the cities, they are carrying the virus along with them. Having lost their jobs and clueless as to the future, they have begun going back to their roots.Hopefully they have the immunity to fight the virus and dont infect the locals there.
Almost 23 million migrants have left the cities. There is now a shortage of skilled workers in the construction businesses and the builders are flying back the migrants to the cities.Cost of labour and construction material has already gone up.
My First Date with Cocopeat :
For the first time I used cocopeat for preparing seedlings. Was nice to see the block of cocopeat that I bought online , soaking up all the water and turning into a soil like mixture. I added some sand and red soil and mixed everything well. I then sowed Brinjal and Tomato seeds. Looking forward to the seedlings 🙂
Installation of Plastic Shield inside the Car :
I had ordered a plastic curtain online which I wanted to use as a plastic shield in our car. As I have a Driver to drive me to office , I wanted to be safe by fixing a Plastic sheet between the front seats and the passenger seats at the back. This was one important suggestion given by my Ayurveda Doctor when I asked for his advise whether I can go to Office once the lockdown was removed.
I have uploaded a very small video clip of the final installation. Here is the link :
