What Is Ayurveda and How Does It Benefit Seniors
Ayurveda is a natural and alternative Hindu system of medicine originating in India over 3000 years ago. The term translates to knowledge of life and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing. Ayurveda is considered a pseudoscience and is practiced in some form by about 80% of the popular in India and Nepal. The system of medicine promotes the belief that the universe is composed of five elements including air, earth, fire, space, and water.
Ayurvedic treatments are designed to cleanse a person’s body of undigested food which can stay in the body for extended periods and lead to various illnesses. The process of cleansing a person’s body aims to reduce symptoms and restore balance and harmony.
Benefits of an Ayurvedic Diet
Ayurvedic-approved foods like Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is a small round and bright yellow-green berry that grows on a flowering tree. They can be eaten whole or in a powdered form. It’s rich in vitamin C that can help reduce bad cholesterol, manage weight, strengthen immunity, and boost digestion. It is also linked to the prevention of asthma, cough, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Ashwagandha is an herb that helps reduce the effects of numerous mental health problems that come with aging. These include anxiety and depression caused by the loss of control and weakening of the body. It also helps with memory problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. If you suffer from any of these diseases you should opt for professional medical aide, but supplementing your daily diet with this herb can help prevent or slow the development of mental health problems.
Turmeric is a popular spice in Ayurvedic diets known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has also been linked to protect against heart disease as a result of its ability to improve blood flow just as effectively as exercise and select pharmaceutical drugs. Certain compounds in turmeric may also help to preserve brain function by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which combats the development of Alzheimer’s and depression in adults.
Other foods, herbs, and spices present in Ayurvedic diets include boswellia, bibhitaki, haritaki, brahmi, cumin, licorice root, gotu kola, bitter melon, and cardamom to name a few. Some of these are available in grocery and health stores, but you may have better luck going to a specialty Indian or Mediterranean store where most of these items are staples.
Benefits of Yogic Breathing
Yogic breathing is an Ayurvedic technique that draws oxygen in the largest and lowest part of the lungs by expanding the abdomen and allowing the movement of the diaphragm. It’s believed that this improves airflow throughout the body and helps to relax and recharge the nervous system. There are four effective and easy breathing practices seniors can do when they are beginners, including diaphragmatic breathing, three-art breathing, bee breathing, and mindful breathing. There are many online and print resources that show the proper ways of doing each, but it’s a good idea to do each one under the guidance of an expert when one is just starting. Some of the other health benefits associated with yogic breathing include improved blood circulation (which helps cleanse the body of toxins, reduced stress, better automatic function, and pain management.
Before starting any Ayurvedic treatment, you should speak with a practitioner. He or she will create a treatment regiment that is specifically designed for you considering your unique emotional and physical makeup, your primary life force, and balance between all these elements. There are very few state-approved Ayurvedic schools in the U.S. and some products have even been banned from entering the country, so you should always check reviews and do your due diligence before starting a treatment regimen.
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