Go Natural For Health

With increasing pollution levels, inadequate nutrition, unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles, the human body is forced to deal with harmful internal and external stressors on a daily basis. With so many stressors, a nutritious diet and regular exercise, no matter how committed you are, is just not good enough. This is where the ancient Ayurvedic healing herbs, barks and concoctions come to the rescue. Easy to include in our daily diet, these natural health boosters up the immunity and help build internal strength. Here’s a look at some essential herbs and supplements that are packed with nutrients your body needs to keep illnesses at bay.

Triphala

Made using a combination of three fruits, amalaka, bibhitaki and haritaki, triphala quite literally means ‘three fruits’ in Sanskrit. Used in ayurvedic medicines for thousands of years, triphala is great for gut health and digestion. Rich in antioxidants, this anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial powder helps detoxify the body and boost liver and kidney health. It thereby helps build immunity and strength. This power packed concoction is commonly available in powder, capsule or liquid form.

Moringa

Known for its antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-depressant properties, moringa comes packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals. A serving (about 2-3 teaspoons) of moringa powder is said to provide 32 per cent of your daily requirement of iron and 18 per cent of vitamin A. While vitamin A is great for your metabolism and skin, iron helps reduce fatigue, improve hair and nail health and alertness. It’s available in powder form, which can be added to shakes and smoothies or had as capsules.

Wheatgrass

Making its way to juice bars and health food restaurants, this chlorophyll-rich plant has gained much popularity in the recent years due to its innumerable health benefits. While its antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress, the many vitamins and minerals, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium and amino acids help aid weight loss, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and keep blood sugar in control. Finding fresh wheatgrass juice can be a problem, so ask your chemist for a juice, powder or capsule to include it into your daily diet.

Mulethi

The root of the licorice plant, mulethi is an ancient Ayurvedic herb known for its sweet taste. Rich in calcium, glucose and iron, it’s great for oral health, which is why it can be found as an ingredient in many toothpastes. It also helps improve memory and immunity and its other health benefits include healthy skin, liver protection, hormonal regulation and improved digestion. It is high in antioxidants, and also an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent. You can buy the bark or better still, go for the easier option of using it in tablet or powder form.

Ashwagandha

Stress is a major reality for almost every individual and the reason behind many ailments. This ancient herb is known to balance cortisol levels in the body, thereby reducing the negative effects of either high or low levels of this hormone. Besides improving stress and anxiety, it helps stabilize the body’s blood sugar levels, and increases stamina and endurance. Studies have also shown that the natural antioxidants found in the herb prevent cell damage and increase longevity. It’s available in capsule, powder and tablet forms.