Daily Lifestyle : 7 Crazy health and wellness trends in india

These are 7 crazy health and wellness trends in india

1. Gluten free

Gluten-free is certainly the new buzzword, but is it recommended?

Well, gluten is a family of proteins found in grains like Wheat, Rye and Barley. It all started in 1940s when a Dutch pediatrician published the adverse effect of gluten on his patients who were suffering from Celaic disease. So a person suffering from this disease consumes gluten then they will experience digestive issues and other side effects.

Well this is not something new, even keto diet is introduced by doctors in the 1920s for the treatment of child epilepsy which later become a fat loss fact. Modern research suggests that only about 1% of worlds population suffers from celiac disease. Taking this as an opportunity the so-called health industry came up with gluten free products and bashed gluten for its side effects.

As a result many people without Celiac disease are going gluten-free because they believe it is a helpful option. Even in India, people are beginning to ditch the Good whole wheat rotis and are instead ordering gluten free flours which are often devoid of zinc, folate, iron and fibre; So it's simple Don't make gluten free into a fat.

Of course, if you are diagnosed with celiac disease or faces any side effects of eating gluten foods then you should absolutely stick to gluten free options. If eating wheat rotis have never been an issue for you then keep eating them and other gluten filled grains without any worry.

2. Kangen water

Masterfully monetising the water is not new as the industry comes up with the new gimmicks every now and then, the latest being kangen water. Kangen is a Japanese term which means back to origin and this kangen water is basically alkaline water. Now we all know that water in its natural state has a pH of 7, whereas kangen water is artificially produced in a chamber by using electricity and and ionizer which brings the pH range of 8-9 due to the addition of certain minerals.

Then these companies claim over the Top benefits which hardly have any scientific backing till day. For an instance, let's assume that kangen water is good but I really do not understand why should anybody spend 1 lakh rupees on this product. when a better job can be done by a 100 rupees clay pot and mind you the benefits of kangen water that these companies boast of are those which are found in naturally alkaline water which passes over rocks and picks up minerals on the way which increases its alkaline level.

Not the so-called alkaline or kangen water which is produced through a chemical process called electrolysis, this is as ridiculous as frooti claims to give the benefits of real mango. It is one of those examples that when we try to replicate nature through a man made process which feels to give the desired results; so don't waste your hard earned money on it.

3. Raw food diet

Generally people are attracted towards the raw food diet, lifestyle as they believe that cooking a food will lose its nutrition. Although there is some truth in that but our traditional system of cooking food has been intelligently designed not just to make the food more palatable but also to digest and assimilate the nutrients better. Remember its not just the food that we eat but the food that we are able to digest that matters.

More so, being on a raw food diet a person completely misses out on whole grains which are major source of energy and minerals in an Indian diet. So, the point here is that one should not blindly follow such a crude, restrictive and almost impractical lifestyle. Also according to ayurveda, raw food is cold in nature and does not go very well with a vata type person, Especially when it is consumed after sunset.

This is the reason sometimes eating a raw vegetable salad can cause gas problems, pain in the joints and even sinus issues. While, it makes some sense in the west where people are heavily dependent on packaged, canned and frozen foods which gives an instant relief to their bodies. However, from an Indian perspective where the diet pattern is already quite sophisticated then this diet makes little to no sense.

4. Greek yogurt

Yogurt or dahi is an excellent source of Calcium, potassium, protein, zinc and vitamin b6 and b12, but whats a big with this greek yogurt that is doing the rounds on the shelves of Indian supermarkets. You might be surprise to know that Greek yogurt is nothing but the hung curd. Yes, simply if you take curd, strain and keep it for a few hours; so that the whey water is separated.

The thick consistency of the curd left behind is that buzzword called Greek yogurt which is sold in attractive packaging at premium prices, but is it healthy. Well, the companies promote these curds as it is rich in protein and suites lactose intolerant. Ayurveda has a deeper stand, as per ayurveda the curd is known to open up the clocked subtle channels in the body called srotas.

So, when you eat Greek yogurt which is devoid of water then it tends to be more constipating. Having said this you can eat Greek yogurt at times but why buy those overpriced one which seems to be actually coming from Greece, make them fresh at home. Moreover, the flavoured version of them have refined sugars and colours added. Personally, I would any day prefer homemade regular curd with jaggery powder mixed in it.

5. Gummies

Gummies are one of those products that are made to catch a kids eye most instantly. So brands have now come up with vitamins in the form of gummies, this is the master stroke as it booze the parents to buy these gummies for their kids health and the kid happily enjoys it; what is wrong with that you might ask?

Well the answer lies in their ingredients and the process that goes in making this cute looking sweets. They are completely processed, full of sugar, chemicals and artificial additives that even an adults body can't assimilate let alone a growing child. so, getting the necessary vitamin from these artificial foods give you not more than a false sense of satisfaction; rather it is damaging for the body.

These gummies have shown to promote cavities in the teeth, some even works as strong laxatives and cause uncontrollable diarrhoea. Needless to say, fruits and vegetables are the best sources for supplying the necessary vitamins and minerals. Last thing you would is want to make your child habitual to eating this crap; rather than giving natures gift of fruits and nuts.

6. Juice fast

Juice fasts are a new hit where you are living only on juice for a few days with an intention to give the digestive system rest and promote detoxification. Juice fasts are again something which are propagated with the right intentions but it too has certain hidden nuances.

Blindly doing long juice fasts can cause toxins formation in the body rather than detoxification. According to ayurveda, when you squeeze out the juice from a fruit then the properties of juice get colder than the original fruit. While such a fast can do wonders for a person with a dominate Pitta dosha but it might not go well with a Vata or a Kapha type person.

A better way to give rest to your digestive system could be to do a liquid fast where you consumes juice for your breakfast or even till lunch time but as the sun bigens to set then you should switch to broth based soups with adequate spices to keep the digestion fired up.

7. Water enema

Water based enema has been popularized by the west as a miracle therapy for cool and cleansing. So, what is this miracle therapy?

Basically, lukewarm water is pushed through the rectum and then later it is dispelled along with bowels to cleanse the colon. First of all you should know that enema is not a practice which is alien to Indian traditional culture, it is called basti in ayurveda.

Ayurvedas primary root text Ashtang hridyam in its sutrasthan chapter 19 title bastividhi adhyay explains the complete procedure and benefits of enema therapy. Further in the kalpsiddhi sthan, chapter 4 and 5 are fully dedicated to the enema recipes and the management of its complications; No where, only water based enema is recommended.

Instead, ayurveda clearly mentions that enema should be done with oil mixed with water which has herbs in it depending on ones body type and the health status for colon cleansing and detoxification. In fact, only water based enemas are depleting and will cause the Vata dosha of the body to imbalance causing gas, dryness and fissures in the intestine.

We must also understand that basti is one of the holistic panchkarma practices and it is recommended to be done only under the guidance of ayurvedic practitioner. Today many people are doing only water based enemas on a daily basis, this is bound to cause vata disorders in the long run. Surely, enema is an amazing practice but it should be done in the proper way under guidance and certainly not daily.