Utilizing Ayurveda for Metabolic Health and Diabetes 2

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By Dr. Issac Eliaz

Ayurveda refers to the traditional health and healing system of India. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words āyus, meaning “longevity,” and veda, meaning “science.” Together they mean the “science of life.”

The ayurvedic philosophy is guided by the five great elements: air, space, fire, water and earth. Achieving balance and order in connection with these elements is considered crucial to health and wellness on all levels of being – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Ayurveda works by balancing the three basic energies, called doshas, which we all possess in unique proportions. Each dosha contains two of the five elements. The three doshas are: vata (air & space), pitta (fire & water) and kapha (water & earth). Each person usually reflects one prominent dosha, and when this dosha becomes imbalanced, the body experiences symptoms and illness related to the dosha’s properties.

Ayurveda uses traditional herbal formulas and personalized diet recommendations, among other modalities, to balance the doshas and reestablish health and wellness. Currently, more than 600 herbal formulas and 250 single plant extracts are used in Ayurveda.

As an integrative medical doctor and healer, I often integrate Ayurveda modalities and principles into my practice. One specific supplement that I formulated includes several highly revered Ayurvedic herbs which have been shown in scientific studies to be beneficial in promoting healthy metabolic function. The Ayurvedic herbs in this formula help to address blood sugar imbalances and other critical health issues related to diabetes and metabolic health. I formulated this Ayurvedic blend with gymnema leaf, cassia bark, fenugreek seed, holy basil leaf, jambolan seed, and other natural ingredients, which all work synergistically to balance and maintain a healthy metabolic system, thus helping to prevent and control Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes type 2.

Studies of the effects of gymnema leaf have demonstrated its ability to support healthy insulin levels. In Hinduism, gymnema is called gurmar, which means “destroyer of sugar,” and research shows this plant contains substances which decrease the absorption of sugar in the intestine. Gymnema may also increase the amount of insulin in the body and may enhance pancreatic cell growth, further benefiting insulin production in the body, as insulin is made in the pancreas.

Chromium is also included in the formula, as has been shown to promote insulin sensitivity and have positive effects on carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. In Ayurveda, the practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as “Rasa Shastra.”

Another powerful herb is Cassia cinnamon, or Chinese cinnamon. Cinnamon has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic health systems for thousands of years, and research indicates that cinnamon may reduce fasting blood sugar levels, with polyphenols that help maintain insulin sensitivity. Several human intervention trials have also shown that fenugreek seed positively affects metabolic health, and Jambolan seed contains fatty oils and tannins that can lower blood sugar. Holy basil, called Tulsi in India, is also widely used for a broad range of health conditions, including blood sugar imbalances, and is an essential herb in Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic formulas that promote metabolic health all contain unique blends of traditional botanical and mineral ingredients that have been shown to support healthy blood glucose levels, promote reduction of fat absorption, support healthy insulin levels, and help combat sugar cravings. Combining healthy supplementation with a mindful approach to eating and moderate exercise is an essential strategy for promoting metabolic health and a more energetic lifestyle.

For more valuable information on preventing and controlling diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, download a wellness guide by visiting www.dreliaz.org/wellness-guide/metabolic.

RECIPES: Healthy Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Dishes

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Looking to celebrate Thanksgiving without packing on the pounds – or clogging up the arteries with fat and sugar? Dr. Martha Howard, who maintains a blog focused on allergies at www.chicagohealers.com, shared two sweet potato recipes that can make this Thanksgiving a healthy one!

Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrition, particularly vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C and vitamins B5 and B6. They also offer a variety of powerful
disease-fighting phytochemicals, and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Here are two healthy options for this Thanksgiving:

“Candied” Sweet Potatoes
4 Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
Agave Nectar
Cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Scrub 4 large sweet potatoes, pat dry and oil lightly with olive oil. Pierce with a fork and cook on a rack in a pan lined with foil or parchment paper to catch drippings for 1 to 1¼ hours, or until tender when pierced with a fork.

Let potatoes cool slightly and cut in half lengthwise. Drizzle on a small amount (about a quarter teaspoon per potato) of agave nectar and sprinkle with a small amount of cinnamon. (You can also use a little fresh grated ginger and/or shredded coconut for a wonderful tropical taste.) Slide under the broiler and watch carefully, remove when light brown and bubbly, and serve.

“Mom’s” Sweet Potato, Pineapple, Marshmallow Casserole
4 Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
Organic Pineapple (Canned in its own juice)
Butter
Agave Nectar
Salt
Mini Marshmallows

Set oven at 375 degrees. Cook sweet potatoes as in the “Candied” Sweet Potato recipe above. Let cool, and then peel and mash. Lightly oil a casserole dish and alternate layers of sweet potato with layers of pineapple chunks and about one teaspoon of melted butter drizzled over each layer. Also, sprinkle ¼-1/2 teaspoon of salt evenly over each layer.

Arrange pineapple chunks on the top of the casserole, and arrange a half cup of mini marshmallows around the top between the pineapple chunks.

Combine a teaspoon and a half of agave nectar and a teaspoon and a half of melted butterand drizzle over the top. Cook at 375 for about 30 minutes, until the marshmallows are melted and the top is golden brown.

Green Tea Helps to Prevent Flu

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While many people run to the doctor or pharmacy for an annual flu shot, a recent medical study shows one cup of green tea each day may actually help to prevent influenza infection, especially in school-age children, according to an article in the DailyHerald.com, by Patrick B. Massey M.D., a medical director for complementary and alternative medicine for the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network in Illinois.

The medical approach for the influenza encourages washing hands, using disinfectant and flud vaccinations, as well as anti-viral medications, such as Tamiflu and Relenza. However, in recent years, research has shown the influenza vaccine is not very effective, said Massey.

A recent medical study, published in the “Journal of Nutrition,” looked at the relationship between green tea consumption and a reduction in the flu virus, particularly in children who drank it compared to those who did not.

“They chose children for two reasons: there is little research with children and influenza prevention; the children lived on or near tea plantations in Japan,” Massey explained in the article.

More than 2,600 children participated in the study, drinking an average of five cups of green tea per week. Researchers discovered those who drank the green tea had significantly fewer cases of influenza when compared to those who drank almost no green tea. Additionally, those who drank the most green tea (about one cup per day) also had significantly fewer sick days from school.

“The results were so conclusive that the researchers concluded that the regular consumption of green tea is protective against influenza infections during the influenza season,” said Massey.

Green tea contains a number of compounds, and one of the most researched is called catechins and the amino acid theanine. “Catechins inhibit the attachment of the influenza virus to cells and may interfere with viral replication, Massey explained. “The combination of tea catechins and theanine enhance systemic immunity, especially those cells that are directly involved in fighting viruses, T cells. In healthy adults, catechins and theanine actually have been demonstrated to prevent the symptoms of influenza.”

With all of the benefits found in green tea – outside of preventing the flu – drinking it every day can do nothing but help!

Website Offers Details on Risks, Side Effects of Popular Alternative Medicine

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It is estimated that more than 83 million Americans use some form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to manage and treat their health problems including pain, spending more than $33.9 billion a year on out-of-pocket visits to CAM practitioners and purchases of CAM products, classes and materials. Some of the most common pain-related reasons people seek CAM therapies are for back pain, followed by neck pain, joint pain, arthritis, severe headaches or migraines and fibromyalgia pain.

The American Pain Foundation (APF) launched a new online educational module at the Web site, www.painsafe.com, focusing on the safe use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of its PainSAFE (Pain Safety & Access For Everyone) initiative, with information for both consumers and health care professionals.

“There are many different treatment options available to lessen the pain, improve functioning and enhance quality of life for the more than 116 million Americans living with chronic pain, including CAM therapy,” said Will Rowe, CEO of APF. “What works for one person doesn’t always work for another. An effective pain management plan must be individualized and very often an integrative approach, which includes a combination of treatment options, is needed.”

The module, developed with materials and assistance from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), provides information on the effectiveness of CAM therapies for managing pain, possible side effects and risks associated with each therapy, and how these therapies can be used safely. CAM therapies highlighted include acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation, relaxation therapies, yoga, tai chi and dietary supplements.

“A person in pain should be informed about all of their treatment options, risks associated with each option, possible side effects, and how these options can safely be used to manage their pain,” Rowe said. “PainSAFE provides consumers the tools and resources they need to become active participants in their pain care and offers health care providers the latest scientific information on treatment modalities.”

In addition to this new module, PainSAFE also offers resources on over-the-counter medication, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There is also an interactive Are You PainSAFE? quiz to allow people to test their pain safety knowledge.

Yoga Helps Women Balance Hormones

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Yoga has a huge number of benefits, from relaxation, mind and body balance, toning and so much more. In an article recently published on Yahoo.com, the author noted three ways yoga can help balance women’s hormones, including easing hot flashes from menopause, reliving anxiety and increasing libido.

Helping the Hot Flashes
An Indian study of 120 women proved the connection between yoga and the reduction of hot flashes, finding those who practiced yoga five days a week for an hour each time, which including breathing exercises and meditation, hot flashes and night sweats reduced by 50 percent compared to those just doing stretching exercises. The yoga group also reported improvement in memory, the report stated.

Relieves Anxiety and Improves Mood
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) found yoga may be superior to other types of exercise for relieving anxiety and uplifting the mood. Their study compared gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels (which are low in those with depression and anxiety disorders) of those who practiced yoga to those who walked. Each group exercised three times a week, for an hour at a time, and participants brain’s were scanned with a magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) before the study, and then before and after each hour-long session. Also, each person evaluated their mood at several stages throughout the study, the report stated.

Those who practiced yoga reported a more substantial decrease in anxiety, and more significant improvements in mood than those who walked, and over time, the positive changes were associated with higher GABA levels, according to Chris Streeter, M.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Improve Women’s Libido
Sadie Nardini, the yoga instructor and co-owner of The Fierce Club in New York City, recommended “The Kneeling Core Plank” to help women improve their libido, explaining: “By working your pelvic floor muscles along with the glutes, waist, thighs, abs and arms, you’ll feel more like taking your clothes off, and then be even more glad you did,” she said in the article.

Drink Up: Benefits of Rooibos Tea

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Rooibos or Redbush tea is Africa’s equivalent to the common tea, Camiellia sinensis, and has become a popular and healthy alternative to regular tea, according to an article by the Epoch Times.

Rooibos does not contain caffeine, is a rich source of antioxidants, and is noted for its calming effects on the body and mind. It also relaxes the muscles and releases tension, making it perfect to unwind with before bed, the article stated.

The tea contains minerals that have a number of positive effects on the body, such as fluoride, which protects tooth enamel from decay, and zinc, an essential mineral in wound healing. It also contains iron, magnesium and potassium, although the amounts differ depending on the oxidation and fermentation process of the leaves. South Africans have used the tea for its therapeutic qualities, such as a colic remedy for babies, and to sooth indigestion, menstrual cramps and heartburn in adults.

Red and green rooibos are the two varieties available. The red variety is exposed to oxidation, producing a richer, red or amber colored pigment in the water, offering a rich and fruity taste. The green variety is un-oxidized, offering a lighter, grassy tasting drink, the report stated.

Additional benefits include polyphenols, shown to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity, and it contains alpha hydroxyl acid, which is good for the skin, and can even be applied directly to the skin to help with acne, eczema and sunburn.