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Wellness expert Roopashree Sharma answers your health queries.
Dear Reader,
We all take our health for granted. Aren't we always sure we are healthy? But then one day, we get a rude wake-up call and find that we can no longer do so.
Does your health bother you?
Do you want to strengthen your body or your immunity?
Do you have bad skin? Or hair issues?
Is your digestive system giving you trouble?
Or is belly fat your problem?
Mail your queries to wellness expert Roopashree Sharma at getahead@rediff.co.in (SUBJECT: Roopashree, can you help?) for her advice.
Hello Roopashree,
I am 31 years old, 6'2” tall and 118 kilos heavy.
I am from Maharashtra.
I eat my lunch 7.30 am and dinner at 7.30 pm.
Due to the pandemic situation, not eating with others.
Can you please suggest a proper diet for the day?
How should I lose belly fat?
Thank you.
Ashish Khairnar
A healthy body is the outcome of the right diet accompanied with right amount of physical and mental activity.
A regular routine to work out your physical body and healthy practices for mental health are important, especially during the current pandemic period when our schedules are upside down.
I suggest you start a physical workout with walking -- from easy walks in the morning/evening to brisk walking over a month.
Thereafter you can start slow surya namaskar, under guidance. It's great to bring your overall posture in shape.
Thereafter, you should also try dand baithak; again a routine in itself to keep you healthy and strong. Start slow with four or five each and you can gradually increase.
Don’t overdo anything to lose quick weight -- an exercise routine of 40 to 60 minutes is enough for a day. Include a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes of pranayams, not only to ensure mental peace, but also to relax your body after the workout.
Dear Roopashree,
Due to the pandemic, I do not feel safe going to the parlour.
I have combination skin on my face, basically a T zone.
Can you suggest natural ways to take care of my face and remove dry skin and blackheads and whiteheads?
Thank you in advance.
Ashwini Khandekar
Skin is the reflection of our inner health. Therefore we should opt for both internal as well as external remedies to have a healthy skin.
Dry skin might be an indicator of dehydration, or other reasons that effect the secretion of natural oils that keep the skin moist. If you have excessive dryness, you should visit an Ayurveda practitioner to understand and cure the root cause.
Meanwhile, a few external remedies like a tomato-honey pack and sandalwood pack, on alternate weeks, can be helpful.
For blackhead removal, make a thick paste from hibiscus powder. Lleave for five minutes and scrub gently. Leave for another 10 minutes and rinse. You can do this every fortnight and eventually once a month.
Dear Roopashree,
I am suffering from vertigo.
I did not have this problem earlier.
It has developed over the last few years and is getting worse.
Kindly suggest a remedy.
Thank you.
Abhishek Rane
Vertigo can be due to multiple reasons. It is either related to your sinus points and other issues in the ears. Or cervical spondylosis is the cause.
You should evaluate the root cause. Check if you have blood pressure fluctuations and accordingly go for treatment to a doctor.
If it is related to issues with the ear, an Ayurveda practitioner can help with a course of treatment that might include steam inhalation to clear your sinus points behind the ear, breathing exercises, etc.
If it’s a cervical spondylosis, then visit a physiotherapist.
Also constant mobile gazing is a common cause of vertigo these days. Try digital fasting by cutting your screen viewing for a week to check if there is any improvement.
Dear Roopashree,
How does the problem of acidity and heartburn develop and how can one cure it naturally?
Ankita S
Acidity is quite a common disorder these days, and we have learnt to live with it and usually find cures rather than precautions.
There are multiple reasons for acidity, sometimes so severe that it leads to heart burn. It is named so, as the oesophagus, where the burning sensation is felt, lies just behind the heart.
The first step is to better understand your body type -- what agrees with your digestive system and what doesn’t.
Secondly, it’s the quantity. Always eat so your stomach is half full. And it is about timing -- heavy meals during the day and light or no food after sunset.
Once you understand these principles, you will be able to balance the acid refluxes and avoid severe acidity or heartburn.
Dear Roopashree,
I love junk food and desserts.
I tend to binge eat.
Is it okay to eat them as long as one eats healthy as well?
Please don’t tell me to stop eating snacks and sweets; I can’t survive without them.
I will be very unhappy.
In anticipation,
Ranu Attavar
Aren’t we all sailing in the same boat.
The key is not to ‘give in’ or ‘give up’ your cravings.
Healthy food can also be snacky and tickle your taste buds, provided we spend time learning about these options.
As you seem to be a food lover, you should explore more in the area of culinary arts. You will realise that our body agrees with fresh food, more than junk food. Junk food, as the name suggests, is processed and packaged food.
If you want to go for junk food once in a while, you should compensate with the next meal that helps detox its ill effects. For example: A pizza afternoon can be followed by light salad, home-made, no mayo, at night.
Hope you find your healthy balance soon :).
Roopashree Sharma, a qualified yoga trainer and naturopathy enthusiast, is the founder of Atharvanlife.
You can send in your health queries to Roopashree Sharma at getahead@rediff.co.in (SUBJECT: Roopashree, can you help?). Do remember to include your age, height, weight, where you stay, health issues and any other details that will help. If you wish to remain anonymous, please let us know.
Please note: This is an advisory. Please consult your doctor as well. In case of any discomfort, please stop the regime and visit your doctor.
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