Super Slim Pomegranate

<p>Vitamin A is rich in animal organs like livers and kidneys, eggs and milk. Carotene is easily found in vegetables of dark colors. For example, carrots, lettuce, amaranth and spinach are of this type. And we can also ingest the nutrition by eating fruit such as mange, orange and loquat. There are six kinds of food that we do not often eat. But scientific studies tell us that they are all good sources of vitamin A and carotene.</p>

<p>Shrimps are much more nutritious than prawns. They both are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acid. But the proportion of saturated fatty acid in shrimps is lower than that in prawns. The best way to eat shrimps and prawns is to simply boil them. Or it is a nice idea to eat with ketchup or pepper. This way overwhelms, for it can maintain the original taste of shrimps and prawns.</p>

<p>Kiwis are rich in vitamin C. The vitamin in two kiwis is more than an orange and it contains a lot of kalium and fibers. Peel the kiwi and you can enjoy its particular taste. Or you can make a fruit salad.</p>

<p>Pomegranate is an excellent antioxidant with adequate anthocyanin. The polyphenol and flavonoid in it can protect our heart. It is also an ideal source of vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin A. Eating a pomegranate needs some patience. You have to peel it and soak the dirt out.</p>

<p>Cauliflower is a source of the antioxidants. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium. You can steam it, boil it or stir-fry it after washing. It is suggested to cut off the rhizome.</p>

<p>Green soy bean is an important choice if you want to complement protein. It also provides plant estrogens and fibers. Half a share of green soy beans contains 120 calories. It is a delicious dish. It is wise to steam it and then put it in salty water. After that, heat it by the microwave oven for two to three minutes. When the beans are separated from the legumes, they are ready to serve.</p>

<p>Whole wheat flour contains a lot of fibers. It is hard to chew and a little amount of it can make you feel full. If it is nutrient fortified, it would be better. Food made of whole wheat flour needs more time to cook. Such food is attractive and more delicious than food made of ordinary flour. It can be made into noodles, or added into sausages.</p>

More How To Eat A Pomegranate Articles

The juice from a pomegranate offers some of the worlds most powerful antioxidants. In fact, studies show that pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than other known antioxidant drinks such as red wine, green tea, blueberry juice, cranberry juice and orange juice.  In addition, there are some studies that suggest pomegranate juice my help in the treatment of prostate cancer and may prevent some brain injuries in babies. Not bad for a fruit that many people are not that familiar with.

The Cancer Research

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is next as the cause of cancer death among men in the United States.  A recent study at UC Los Angeles found that drinking pomegranate juice helped fight prostate cancer.  The study was performed on 48 men with recurrent prostate cancer.  Half of the men drank 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a day and the other half did not drink any pomegranate juice.  The men that drank the juice were able to go 37 months before symptoms reappeared, the non-juice drinkers only went 15 months without symptoms.  This study was small and is certainly not the final word on the subject.  However, the
research is promising and certainly warrants giving some consideration to adding pomegranate juice to your diet.

Brain Injury Research

A new study on mice conducted by the University of Washington School of medicine in St. Louis could hold promise for expectant mothers at risk of premature birth.
Pomegranate juice may help their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow associated with premature birth.  The phenomenon, which is called hypoxia ischemia, causes brain injury in approximately 2 of every 1,000 full-term human births.

In this latest study, researchers temporarily lowered brain oxygen levels and brain blood flow in baby mice whose mothers drank water mixed with concentrated pomegranate juice, their brain tissue loss was reduced by 60 percent in comparison to mice whose mothers ingested other liquids.

What is a Pomegranate?

The pomegranate is a native fruit of the Mediterranean regions and has been grown there for thousands of years. The tree was brought into California by Spanish settlers in the late 1700′s.  It’s primarily grown for fruit production in the drier parts of California and Arizona. The actual fruit is pink to bright red in color and is the approximate size of a softball. For those of you on a diet, one pomegranate is approximately 100 calories.  When you open up a pomegranate there are little fruit sacs inside that look a  little like vitamin E capsules (except they are red).  The fruit is held together by a white, spongy, bitter tissue. Try not to eat the tissue as it does not taste very good.  You can get the actual fruit in supermarkets from about October thru January, for the remainder of the year you will need to buy the juice.

How to Eat a Pomegranate

Pomegranates can get really messy when you open them up. Be careful as they stain.

1.      Cut off the ends

2.      Slice into sections like you would an apple

3.      Place sections in a bowl of water and let soak for about 10 minutes

4.      Separate the fruit sacs from the white spongy tissue

5.      Throw away the white tissue and drain the fruit.

6.      Eat and Enjoy

If this is your first time eating a pomegranate you may find the fruit a little bitter and tart.  It reminds me a little of cranberry.  Give this fruit a chance as you will learn to love it.

How to eat a pomegranate.

Persephone was the daughter of Demeter the goddess of the harvest.   She and her mother were the centre of a religious cult called the mysteries.  They are shown on the west pediment of the Parthenon sat on their box of mysteries.  What was in the box?  No one knows hence why the contents of the box were a mystery.  The mystery cult was believed to have started after Demeter was reunited with her lost daughter, Persephone.  The main focal point for the mystery cult of Demeter and Persephone was Eleusis, just outside Athens. This sanctuary contained various buildings based around the worship of the mysteries.  The Telesterion was a large square shaped building held up by numerous columns that criss crossed the building.  After the pilgrims arrived at the sanctuary, they would eat grain from the grain stores at the sanctuary.  This was a special grain (Kykeon) that was allowed to go mouldy.  After the worshippers had eaten the grain they would be led to the Telesterion . There were no windows so the interior of the building was very dark.  Eating the mouldy grain made the worshipper hallucinate and this combined with the large confusing dark space inside the Telesterion made for a powerful experience.  It was believed that the presence of the goddesses could be felt at these times.  Only pure people were allowed to join this mystery cult, therefore people such as murderers were not allowed to join.  The benefits of joining the mystery cult for the participants was that they believed that they would have a true life after death in the underworld, unlike non members who would end up as witless shades instead.

The most famous story about Persephone was that of her abduction by Hades the king of the underworld.  She was out one with her attendants picking flowers in a meadow when Hades noticed her.  The ground that she stood on opened up and Hades dragged her away with him.  Her attendants told Demeter what had happened, which left the goddess heart- broken.  She spent months searching for her daughter disguised as a mortal.  She would sit in the rain by herself refusing to acknowledge those around because she was so grief stricken.  Finally a peasant man called Keleus happened to be walking past her while she sat sadly by herself in a field.  He was with his daughter.  The young girl called the goddess mother and asked her why she was sad.  This pleased the goddess because the term ‘mother’ meant so much to her now that her daughter was missing.  Keleus invited her into his house.  At first she refused his hospitality, however she finally accepted his offer.  Keleus had a son called Triptolemos who at the time of Demeter’s visit was sick and dying.  When Demeter entered the cottage she touched his cheek.  The boy immediately recovered.  Later while everyone slept, Demeter took the boy and put him in the ashes of the household fire. 

She started to perform the ritual needed to turn a mortal into an immortal being.  Triptolemos’ mother Metanira had been secretly watching but did not understand what Demeter was doing so as soon as he was put on the fire she leapt up and snatched him from the fire.  Demeter told Metanira that her love for her son had denied him immortality.  She did say that she was not finished with Triptolemos however.  Triptolemos would ride on a chariot through the skies and spread the word about the harvest to mankind. 

Demeter continued to look for Persephone without success.  She finally gave Zeus an ultimatum, telling him that she would refuse to let the harvest grow on the earth so long as she was without her daughter.  Zeus agreed to reunite her with her daughter.  Persephone would be allowed to leave the underworld so long as she had not eaten anything.  Hades knew this so he tricked Persephone into eating one seed from a pomegranate fruit.  Persephone could not leave.  Zeus intervened by coming up with a compromise to suit  both parties.  In the spring, summer and early autumn months, Persephone would live in the heavens with her mother.  In the later autumn season and winter she lived with her husband in the underworld.  The story was one way of explaining the seasons, where the cold months of the year have little growing. This would be seen as Demeter taking away the harvest because her daughter is no longer with her.  The warmer months would be when mother and daughter where together.  During these months, Demeter would allow plants to grow and for a harvest to reap.

 For more Greek myths visit http://www.mythologyhellenic.com

Hades was the king of the underworld.  He was the brother of Zeus the king of the gods.  Hades was the oldest son of the titan gods Kronos and Rhea.  Kronos was the king of the gods and the god of time.  He heard a prophecy that foretold one of his children growing up to overthrow him as the king of the gods.  Kronos made sure this would not happen and each time Rhea gave birth to one of his children he would eat the child.  This was a metaphor for time consuming everything. 

Hades along with his brothers and sisters were each swallowed up by Kronos. Hades,  Hera, Poseidon, Hestia and Demeter were all consumed by their father.  Zeus was the youngest of the children and when he was born Rhea hid him from his father and instead offered Kronos a stone wrapped up in swaddling.  Kronos was deceived by this and ate the stone.  Zeus grew up and finally challenged his father.  With the help  of the goddess Metis (wisdom) he made Kronos disgorge all of the children he had eaten.  When Hades and his siblings were freed, they along with Zeus fought their father until finally they defeated Kronos and threw him out of the heavens.  At this point Hades was not the king of the underworld.  The poet Homer says that Zeus, Poseidon and Hades decided to draw lots to find out who should have authority over the sky, sea and underworld.  Hades drew the lot that gave him kingship of the underworld. 

The underworld was a place with different rivers and areas.  There were five rivers, Kokyos (lamentation), Phlegethon (fire), Acheron (woe), Lethe (oblivion) and Styx (hate).  The main regions of the underworld were the fields of Asphodel, the isles of the blessed, Tartaros and the pools of Lethe and Mnemosyne (memory).  In later Greek religion the initiates of mystery cults such as the Elysium mysteries and Orphic cults taught that they could drink from the pool of memory in the underworld and thus retain their sense of self in the afterlife.  During the times of Homer (c.800-700BC) such beliefs were not prominent, with a pessimistic view of witless shades the outcome for most mortals.  Hermes would usher the psyche of the dead person into the underworld where it would lose all memory of the person it once was.  Odysseus met the shades of the dead in Homer’s Odyssey (book 11).  He visits the fields of Asphodel and performs a ritual sacrifice of a black goat.  The blood from this sacrifice is mixed with barley and poured into a circular ditch.  The shades approach and when they drink the blood retrieve their memories and are able to converse with Odysseus.  Tartaros was the deepest section of the underworld and a place of punishment for impious mortals, titans and giants.  The isles of the blessed  (Elysium fields) is a later optimistic view of the underworld where the sun shone and the heroes lived in a sort of semi immortality.  The pool of memory is where the judges of the underworld resided.  They were Rhadamanthos, Minos and Aeakos. 

The most famous story involving Hades was his theft of Persephone.  Persephone was the daughter of the goddess Demeter.  She was out in a meadow with her friends when Hades appeared from the ground and snatched her away.  Demeter searched for her daughter for many months and threatened to stop the spring months from coming to earth.  Zeus intervened and told Hades to release Persephone.  Hades knew that he could keep her if he tricked her into eating something so he gave her a pomegranate seed to eat.  Finally a compromise was reached with Demeter and Hades.  Persephone would live with Demeter during the spring, summer and first months of autumn.  She would then live with Hades in the underworld during the latter months of autumn and winter.  This story was a way of explaining why there were fruitful times of the year and times when little would grow. 

Another famous story involving Hades was when Pirithous  and Theseus.  Theseus decided to abduct Helen of Sparta and keep her until she was old enough to marry.  Pirithous decided to abduct Persephone from the underworld.  The two heroes descended in the kingdom of Hades and attempted to take Persephone.  Hades knew of their plan before they arrived and soon imprisoned the heroes.  He tricked them by pretending  to host a great feast.  The heroes were enjoying the entertainment when the food started to turn to snakes which coiled around them and acted like chains.  Herakles would later rescue Theseus, however Pirithous would remain a prisoner in the underworld. 

Hades is rarely depicted in art, however it is safe to assume that his appearance would be similar to Zeus.  He did not have temples dedicated to him like the other gods, however he was remembered in prayer.  Although Hades is a very important god he has not ranked as one of the 12 Olympian gods.  Special honours known as the secular games were held every hundred years in honour of Hades.

For more stories about the Greek heroes and gods please visit http://www.mythologyhellenic.com

Everyone has heard about the importance of a balanced diet for maintaining good health. Similarly, everyone knows that they should be getting exercise – or at the very least adding more activity into their days. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential – without it, you’ll find that your immune system starts to slack off a bit and you put yourself at a greater risk for catching a cold or coming down with the flu.

We all know what we should be doing, but let’s be honest: very few of us eat a balanced diet all of the time. Many of us make the choice to take the elevator rather than the stairs and we try to find a parking place that’s as close as possible to our destination rather than taking the opportunity to walk a little further. We also tend to let stress, work, social gatherings and more interfere with the amount of sleep that we’re able to get each night.

When we don’t go the extra mile to take care of ourselves, and when our immune systems start to falter because of it, we may not feel it right away. Soon, sluggishness starts creeping in. This sluggishness not only slows us down, it also ages us prematurely.

Fortunately, there’s something that we can do in order to maintain our young living. We can maintain our youth simply by adding antioxidants to our diet.

What are antioxidants? The simplest answer is that antioxidants are the vitamins and minerals found in foods that serve to fight off disease. The more complex answer is that antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, Vitamin A that are found in fruits and vegetables. By making an effort to add antioxidants to our diet, we can keep our young living going; we can keep ourselves healthier longer.

Antioxidants are, in effect, sponges that soak up the free radicals in our systems. By fighting the free radicals in our bodies – free radicals that are the result of less healthy foods that we eat, alcohol that we drink and smoke that we’re exposed to (whether we smoke cigarettes ourselves or are exposed to second hand smoke from friends, family members who smoke, neighbors in our apartment buildings or co-workers at the office) – by adding more fruits and vegetables to our diet and by adding young living essential oils, we are better able to maintain our good health and reduce the risk of developing some cancers and even heart disease and stroke.

Young living oils take the essential oils from lemons and oranges and combine them with Ningxia wolfberries, juices from blueberries and pomegranate, along with other nutrient sources. Those who add antioxidants in this way will find that they:

* have increased energy; that they have regained a sense of young living that doesn’t come from caffeine or other stimulants that effect you for a short while and then wear off leaving you to crash even harder, feeling more tired than you had before, and,

* help you to protect your body from the effects of a weakened immune system that comes from a lack of adequate self care.

However, increased energy and a sense of better health aren’t the only reasons why young living oils are beneficial to your body. The other reason is that the antioxidants serve to help your body to work more effectively. From boosting your immune function to helping your liver to better filter out toxins, from improving your cardiovascular function to maintaining the health of your eyes, you’ll find that antioxidants along with you living oils just help you to feel better.

While you may not always be able to make the time to eat balanced meals, you may not always be able to make time for a run or for time at the gym, you’ll find that increasing the antioxidants in your body with young living oils doesn’t take much time but still offers many of the same benefits. You’ll also find that, because the energy rush young living essential oils is all natural and without stimulants, not only won’t you crash out but also your sleep cycle is less likely to be disrupted.

Are these essential oils the magic bullet to good health? Not necessarily, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the key to young living.

Would you like to lose weight effectively without the common rebounds that many individuals face?  Are you looking for a lifestyle change and not a quick fix?  If so, then getting to your target weight requires you to:

Develop an effective workout plan
Eat and live healthy

Workout Plan

If you would like to lose weight successfully, then you need to have a long-term workout plan that is easy to carry out and can help you meet your goals.  When you first begin your routine, it is important that you take things slowly so that you reduce the chances of quitting.  If your workout is too taxing or unrealistic, then you need to change it.  You should start by working out a few days a week for about 1 hour.

Your plan should incorporate toning exercises, cardiovascular exercises and weights.  By mixing things up a bit, you will not get bored or overwork certain areas of your body.  If you sign up with a gym, then you should consult with a trainer on site so that you can learn which areas of your body you should be targeting and how to do it.

Daily Diet

In order to make permanent changes for your body, you will need to create a diet plan that you are ready to commit to over the long run.  You can find plenty of examples through online research and diet books.   

Consuming essential vitamins and nutrients is at the heart of any successful weight loss plan.  However, it is not always possible to eat all of the recommended amounts of every essential food since most individuals lead very busy lives.  It unfeasible to be constantly eating in order to have enough omega fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which is why supplements play such as an important role.

One acai berry supplement from PureAcaiBerryMax.com will not only satisfy your food cravings, but also help you lose weight.  Each easy-to-take capsule includes:

Vitamin B1, B2, B3
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Calcium
Copper
Zinc
Magnesium
Potassium
19 Amino Acids

It also has 30 times more resveratol and anthocyanins than red wine, 50 times more cancer-fighting agents than mango and 2 times more antioxidants than pomegranate.  All of these benefits are packed into one small capsule that has 1500mg of organic, freeze-dried acai berries.  

Using an all-natural product reduces your intake of toxins, chemicals, pesticides and fillers, which leads to a more effective weigh loss plan.

Visit PureAcaiBerryMax.com for more information…

An awesome way to turn your body into a fat burning machine is by adding green tea to your diet and exercise routine. With all the different varieties of green tea on the market, its rather easy to find a flavor that you will enjoy. My personal favorite is pomegranate and cranberry green tea. Even though exercise is the best way to burn fat, green tea contains catechins that signals the body to burn fat for energy instead of burning carbs. This is great news for carb lovers.

Drinking green tea does not give people a license to eat irresponsibly. You still have to exercise a bit of wisdom with your daily routine, but this is one of the easiest ways to turn your body into a fat burning machine. All you have to do is replace your normal beverage choice, especially if its soda, and drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea everyday. The awesome thing about green tea is that it will burn fat whether you exercise or not, but when you combine exercise with the tea, you are literally sending your fat burning abilities through the roof so why not do both?

Similar results have been found by eating certain types of food such as apples, grapes, and cucumbers. These food do not necessarily burn fat but they work by hydrating the cells so that fat is prevented from being stored. Think of them as fat barriers. Anytime the body is well hydrated, you simply look better. Other foods that turn your body into a fat burning machine include vegetables that are bright in color. Not only are they loaded with vitamin C but they specifically prevent the breakdown of collagen which actually supports your skin. When collagen is weakened from a lack of vitamin C or by sunbathing, fat cells underneath the collagen will press through and this gives the skin that bumpy look we all know as cellulite. If you want to get rid of those little puckers that show up on your butt and thighs, I suggest you get your daily dose of vitamin C to build collagen.

One beverage I drink is a mix of 8 oz orange juice with lots of pulp, with 8 oz of grapefruit juice about 30 minutes before a workout. Not only does this give me the vitamin C I need, but it also gives me the energy I need to sustain me throughout the workout and helps burn up to 30% more fat during exercise. Additional foods that help burn fat include healthy whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. A simple and quick breakfast I like to eat is a bowl of honey nut cheerios with a diced apple, tablespoon of raw oatmeal and 1/4 cup of a walnut and sliced almond blend added to the cereal. The fiber in whole grains are more filling and they don’t trigger an insulin spike which tells the body to store fat instead of burning. Combining foods is a great way to turn your body into a fat burning machine plus meet your daily servings at the same time.

Let me take you out from the city of Athens, across the darkening waters of the Aegean to the beautiful volcanic isle of Santorini. And sit with me for a while by the old stone quay as the last church bell peals from the cliffs above and the orange melting sun tries once more to set the surface of the sea afire. Stay with me, as the lonely seagulls, swoop and cry, and I try to remember my way back along those sprawling hillsides to a little taverna I visited many years ago. As the sun sets, we ascend the cobbled steps, 587 in all, which weave their way up the face of the red hill to reach the whitewashed hill town of Thera. From here, we pass the houses, where the old men once sat and gossiped away the long evenings of summer and look for the little back road that snakes its way to the little village of Akrotiri. Let us linger awhile, as the air is still hot and listen to some distant kantathes music being carried in the evening air and savour once again that sweet smell of myrtle and eucalyptus, while the haze around my memory clears. After all it has been, as the Greeks wo. As the sun sets, we ascend the cobbled steps, 587 in all, which weave their way up the face of the red hill to reach the whitewashed hill town of Thera. From here, we pass the houses, where the old men once sat and gossiped away the long evenings of summer and look for the little back road that snakes its way to the little village of Akrotiri. Let us linger awhile, as the air is still hot and listen to some distant kantathes music being carried in the evening air and savour once again that sweet smell of myrtle and eucalyptus, while the haze around my memory clears. After all it has been, as the Greeks would say, ‘kronia polla’, many many years.

She’s probably married in some northern town in Denmark, but she alone could help us to find the way to that little restaurant. You know, it’s only seems like yesterday that we both stepped through that open door into the courtyard of these memories. And all been said, the village of Akrotiri is remote, probably the capital village of that part of Greece that no package tourist ever sees, or would wish ever to return if they had savoured the service in that little taverna. The building, I remember consisted of a string of old buildings opening onto the courtyard, not very romantic and a far cry from the philoloyika kafeneia (literary cafes) of Syntagma Square, where writers and actors were wont to gather in the evenings and sip some ouzos. I remember the green creepers on the flaking white walls and how I felt awkward about having farm animals wandering in the courtyard, but we were hungry then and not inclined to ask questions. There was a long wooden table placed under a pomegranate tree at which a half a dozen locals were eating from platters laden with magaritsa, mousakka and salad. The sweet smell of cooking filled the night air and to our hungry eyes the meal was a banquet. A squeaking metal fan with three and a half blades provided the only background sound but we were tired from searching the smaller streets for food and not seeking more traditional melodies. I remember how the locals stopped eating when we arrived and watched us in silence as we took off our backpacks and waited by the doorway. An old woman, dressed in black, politely shooed away the animals away but left us standing where we were, seemingly unwilling to give us a table. We nodded across at her, even smiled politely,but she just muttered some words under her breath and then rudely walked away.

Where is Trine now?

I had never been left unattended in a restaurant on the island before and I was surprised how unsettling and undignified the feeling was. We were hungry and despite our best efforts, our eyes wandered into hunter mode and occasionally were wont to settle on the table with the food. When we stared too long, the other customers looked resentful and they also turned away. From time to time, I even felt these sons of Socrates even giggled amongst themselves, until eventually an old man with an upturned moustache threw his hands in the air and said, “Ti na kanoume!”. (What can we do!)

After about twenty more minutes we became impatient, and felt obliged to take it upon ourselves to sit with the others at the table and order a bottle of wine. The old woman came back, moving with those sort of shuffling steps that would instantly deny her promotion anywhere else. For a long time, she stood in silence, studying us with those kind of unswerving eyes that can look deep inside your soul, but she still made no effort to provide us with a meal.

“Retsina!” I declared, getting rather annoyed with the lack of service and striking the wooden table in defiance. An instant hush descended on the gathering and many mouths opened in anticipation of what was going to happen next.

“And Magaritsa!” I continued.

I glanced at Trine, all the time wondering why the old woman was so unwilling to serve us. The hush in the courtyard reigned supreme until a small man in a neatly pressed white shirt got up from his chair and spoke to the old woman. He talked gently, all the time retaining eye contact with her, as if he was eager to see her response. The old woman slowly smiled, cackled something aloud about foreigners and then went back inside to the kitchen. She returned a few moments later with a bottle of retsina and a large platter of food. A young girl appeared with a large jug of water and glasses and placed them on the table. There was something likeable about the old gentleman and I thanked him for his help. I also smiled at the other customers, hoping they would forgive my previous rudeness towards the old woman. The old man was eager to know if we came from Australia and the other guests wished us Kali orexi, the Greek words for ‘enjoy your meal’.

The young girl brought us more food and our feasting continued until there wasn’t an empty plate left on the table. She then went upstairs and returned with a small candle, which she lit and placed on our table. I watched its flickering flame and noticed how its golden glow fell upon the edges of Trine’s face, its light raised our spirits, giving us a hormonal thirst for more retsina. I’m sure the fact that we were in love, enchanted with the turn of events and had all the time in the world also played a role. We inquired of the old gentleman during a gap in his conversation if he would get the owner to fetch us another bottle. The old woman reappeared, small beads of sweat gathering on her forehead and she put another bottle of retsina on the table. As the night progressed, she increasingly had the look of a tired barman who was anxious to please but was exhausted by the experience of carrying wine to tourists.

Soon it was past midnight and time for us to make our way back to our hostel in the village of Thera. A thousand stars glinted in the night sky as I reached for my credit card and went over to the half-open kitchen door to pay for our meal. In the glimmer of the moon the old woman took my credit card and studied it under its light. She examined it for a long while, her eyes wide open and I could see from her response that she was unsure of what to do next. I waited quietly, as she went back along the courtyard and gave it to the guests at the table. In the dusky light, they passed it around from person to person, before it eventually ended up with a younger man whom I had not noticed before. A sudden smile split his face in two and he started laughing heartily, before he turned to me and said.

“Mister Treacy, theese is not a restaurant, you have being eating and drinking with my family in our private house”

50% of people, who travel, suffer a travel – related illness. All travelers should be well prepared for travel and be prepared to protect themselves from travel related illness. In this issue various aspects of travel related illness have been discussed with related protective measures.

According to ayurveda traveling causes vitiation of vata dosha. Vata dosha regulates all the activities of body like digestion, respiration, excretion, transmission of nerve impulses ,reflexes, body movements etc. When vata gets vitiated due to traveling all these normal functions of body also get imbalanced .The imbalances in body functions project themselves as travel related illness.

Motion sickness: Almost every body are susceptible to motion sickness. Fatigue, giddiness, deprivation of sleep, nausea and vomiting are the main unwelcome symptoms of motion sickness. Avoid consuming alcohol, pain killers, spicy foods, fried foods and junk foods during traveling. Try to relax and chose a window seat. Do not read or talk. Or watch someone who is motion sick.

Eat light food. Include pomegranate, ginger and curds in your diet while traveling. Rinse your mouth and wash your face with cold water as soon as you take your food.

Diarrhea: Though travelers’ diarrhea is mild inconvenience to a traveler, it may at times be life threatening too. Upsets in digestive system frequently occur in travelers due to stress, time zone changes, irregular meal times and new foods. But serious diarrhea during traveling is caused by bacteria, viruses or parasitic infections. The best way out is to take ample precautionary measures.

Wash your hands frequently. Use sanitizing liquids, hand washes or gels which cleanse the hands without water. Always use disposable hygienically packed tissue papers than towels. Avoid street, roadside foods, buffet meals. Select food which is well cooked and served hot. Thick-skinned fruits which you can peel yourself are usually safe. Avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish, uncooked vegetables, salads. Be care full with unpasteurized milk and milk products. Always use sealed mineral water, canned juices and beverages. Never use ice cubes or unsealed bottled beverages. Bottled Beer, wine and hot coffee or tea are safe. Drink from original containers or clean glasses

If you get mild diarrhea eat light ,soft and semi solid foods like idli, soups etc which are easily digestible. Avoid heavy, spicy and non vegetarian foods. Drink plenty of fruit juices.(canned or hygienically packed.). Keep yourself well hydrated. Consult a doctor immediately if diarrhea leads to dehydration.

Constipation: people often become constipated when traveling because their normal diet and daily routines are disrupted. Drink plenty of water and consume food which are rich in fibers to avoid constipation .

Try to adhere to routine food timings .Drink a big glass of water every day morning. Avoid frequent consumption of tea or coffee. Taking two thriphala tablets with warm water before going to bed helps to normalize bowel movements. These tablets should be avoided during pregnancy.

Tired feet Even healthy people can get blood clots in their legs after long hours of traveling. Try to walk every now and then. Drink water, stretch your calf muscles while you’re sitting and wear support stockings.

Foot bath for tired feet: Massage your foot with little coconut oil and soak them in warm water . You can add few drops of lavender oil or peppermint oil or sandal wood oil to warm water. After a foot bath rub your foot. Relax after a foot bath.

Prevention of Malaria: To prevent mosquito bites and malaria wear mosquito repellent .Stay indoors between dusk and dawn. The malaria spreading mosquitoes generally feed at this time. Apply mosquito repellent, to your clothes and bedding. Wear socks, long pants, and long-sleeve shirts when outdoors. Use a mosquito net while sleeping. Stay in air-conditioned, screened accommodation.

Jet lag To avoid jet lag get plenty of sleep before you leave. Don’t drink a lot of alcohol while on flight. Eat well-balanced meals and avoid over eating. Exercise as much as you can on your trip. Get used to a new time zone by going along with the local meal and bedtime schedules.

Accidents: Do not drive in unfamiliar places where you know less about that regional language, road conditions, rules of the road, condition of the vehicles. etc. Choose your transportation carefully. Check the security, life saving facilities provided in the transport. Chose, the cab with seat belts, hotels with fire escape and ferries with life preservers. Never swim in unknown rivers or seas when you are not familiar with sea currents and waves.

Sex: Have a safe sex when you are with unfamiliar new partners. Alcohol, drugs and sex are dangerous combination

Immunization: Get immunized with vaccines before traveling. Avoid animal bites and saliva. If you are bitten by dog wash the wound immediately with soap and water.

Travel during pregnancy: If you chose to travel during pregnancy the second trimester (weeks 14 to 27) is the best time. Before traveling take the opinion of your consulting doctor and provide him the sufficient details about the places you are visiting, mode of transport etc.

Tips for older travelers See your doctor for a checkup and discuss your fitness .See your dentist and ophthalmologist. Keep a spare pair of glasses, any medications you need in a small medical kit. Organize travel health insurance with pre-existing illness cover if needed. Make sure it covers emergency evacuation. Make sure routine immunizations are done before traveling. Consider your back – use luggage with built in wheels. Take clothes and hats to suit the climate.

Other safety precautions: Check with the regional office or through internet the situation of places you are planning to visit. The destination places must be free from riots, terrorism, floods or other calamities.

Mental tensions: Preparations for traveling lead to worry and tensions. Here are few relaxing tips before and during traveling.

Close your eyes , take five deep breaths through your nose and pay attention only to your breathing while doing this.

Taking a hot shower relaxes your muscles, and the break from more stressful activities helps too.

Laugh. Laughing helps to relax. Find people who can make you laugh and make your moments lighter..

Listen to relaxing music.

Take a walk.

Get a hug.

A visit to your family physician and some thought and planning ahead make your trip more successful and memorable. We wish you a rewarding, memorable, safe and healthy trip.