FIQ (Frequently Ignored Questions)

BUILDERS: Growing Strong

1. Why is protein considered an essential nutrient? Why do I need protein?

Protein is the most vital component of our structure. Everything in our body has protein. Our hair, skin, muscle and tissue – they all contain varying amounts of protein. Our hormones, neurotransmitters, digestive and metabolic enzymes, etc. are also proteins. The DNA and RNA within our cell are also protein. Instruction from one cell to the other is communicated through protein.

The magic of protein is in the fact that it has the capacity to configure and
reconfigure into different forms, as they encrypt and decrypt for different functions. This is possible because protein is not fixed but is made of amino acids. Instead of eating protein, we should be providing the body with amino acids, so that we can make the protein we need at any moment, according to the need from within.

2. Is my vegetarian diet depriving me of protein?

We are told that fruits and vegetables do not adequately supply all essential amino acids. This is true, because amino acids are made by microbes in our gut. When our gut microbes are fed well, we get all the amino acids we need.

When we break the body or its nutrients into parts, we tend to also isolate it and look at it only through a specific function. The idea is to not only to look at food or the body as a whole, but also to know that nature knows the whole.

The gut microbiome and its capacity to make amino acids is a recent discovery. Therefore, till a few decades ago, we believed that a plant-based diet cannot meet all the protein requirements of the body. Like the story of the blind men trying to describe an elephant, with each passing decade we seem to be learning more and more of what is “whole”.

3. Do I need protein after a workout?

During a workout, our muscles have to move and pushed to work. This makes us use up energy, which our body provides through glucose. Once we are done with a workout, the first nutrient we need to refill/replenish therefore, is energy – through fruits.

In high intensity activity, the act of pushing our muscles causes some wear and tear, which the body needs to repair. This act of pushing the muscle and its subsequent repair is what makes the muscles stronger. This repair process though, can occur only in a state of rest. Therefore the need for repair material happens before we sleep at night, irrespective of when we exercised. If we go right into our daily routine after exercise – especially in the mornings – without rest, the protein simply won’t get get used.

4. What is the right time and combination to eat protein?

Repair material in our body is not protein. It is actually a combination of amino acids, minerals and fatty acids. Think about it; if there is a crack in your wall, it cannot be filled with bricks alone. The bricks get held in place with cement and protected with plaster. Proteins are the bricks that make up our muscles. Minerals are the cement that holds them together and the fatty acids are the plaster.

Sprouts and greens provide the right proportion of amino acids and minerals. Add these without any reserve to your dinners – especially on the days of intense exercise.

Nuts provide fatty acids – have them as a part of the meal, or have them separately as nut milk, before sleeping. Of course, this material can only be used by the body as repair material when sleep is deep and restorative. Basically, it’s a combination of right material, right time and adequate space, that aids repair and growth of not just our muscles, but just about any part of our body.

5. If we don’t consume milk or milk products, how do we get calcium?

We do not need to eat hair to produce hair. Similarly, eating calcium does not make calcium. When we eat wholesome, natural food, the body processes the required nutrients from it. The body does not need to be fed isolated nutrients.

All leafy vegetables, raw nuts and seeds are rich sources of calcium. In fact, all these have a much higher grade of calcium than milk.

Milk’s calcium is tied up with casein which makes it difficult to use. Milk and dairy products actually deplete the body’s calcium reserves. When we consume milk it leaves behind highly acidic residue. The body then needs calcium to neutralise these acids, which it extracts from the bones and teeth which are the body’s

mineral reserves. This leads to calcium deficiency.

6. Should I be taking Shatavari to increase lactation?

Lactation is an automatic function of the body that is synchronised with childbirth itself. Both the mother and the growing child are pre-programmed to provide and receive nourishment. Inadequate lactation indicates that either there isn’t enough material (mother is not adequately nourished), or there isn’t enough time (lack of rest and sleep) or there isn’t enough space (over-consumption of blockers like dairy, wheat, sugar, etc.)

Shatavari is a stimulant, which may temporarily increase lactation. But if the mother continues to be deprived of Time, Space and Material, lactation might stop sooner than required.

7. How can I make massage and bathing a more enjoyable experience for my infant?

More than a massage, it is your touch that your child requires and is bound to enjoy. You are acclimatising your child to the world of sensations through your touch. Massage, per se, is for adults with long-held stresses and knots. With touch or massage, your child is introduced and awakened to the tactile world. Touch, soft stimulation of the skin and muscles further strengthens the process of bonding. It’s important to set the scene for this special one-on-one bonding time :

* Dim the lights, play music or sounds from nature

* Keep an aroma in the room or in the massage oil

* Start gently from the extremities – the fingers or toes and slowly work inwards. Let the massage be done by you or someone else who is relaxed, gentle and calm

* After the massage, bathe your infant in lukewarm water, again with some aroma in it

* Dip the baby in gently. Once again, start with the fingers and toes, and then go further

* Make sure that the person doing this is confident, calm, relaxed and gentle. The person should be one who loves kids, and enjoys the process too. Children, especially newborns, sense and pick up on our emotions. They can catch our moods and tell if we are worried, scared or insecure, and will respond and show agitation. In this wordless communication, feelings and emotions rule the roost and lay the foundation for security, comfort and trust.

* At the beginning of a massage or bath, they may cry or whimper, as it is a new sensation, a different environment. In a few minutes however, they will settle.

* Remember that even newborns can swim – so being in water, is a primal source of comfort and enjoyment.

8. Can two millets be mixed? Say ragi and foxtail? Can a grain (rice) and a millet be mixed together for making dosas?

Millet and grains digest in a similar fashion, through varied enzyme compositions. Mixing millet or grains, puts a demand on the body to secrete a higher number and concentration of digestive enzymes, which in turn depletes energy.

Avoid mixing two millets, or rice with millet, or two grains, as it will load the body. Instead you can add pulses like moong or channa, with rice, or millet to your dosa batter. You can also add some grated vegetables, herbs and spices, to add more nutrition and flavour.

9. I am told good bacteria enhance health. How can I increase my good bacteria? Can I take probiotics or kombucha or apple cider vinegar?

It has been discovered recently that microbes outnumber human cells by 9:1 in our body. They participate in almost every function and are a key component of our health. Microbes are so specialised, that very specific strains engage in very specific actions. Like a forest, the right concentration of each, maintains and sustains overall health and function. Microbes constantly evolve, based on changing environments, the food we eat, and even the people we meet. The highest concentration is found in the gut, and they work with our body to ensure digestion and assimilation of complex foods into bio-available nutrients.

Probiotics and kombucha / apple cider vinegar, might seem to help in the short-term but will have long-term consequences. They only increase one specific type of bacteria, which actually creates more of an imbalance. When we provide the body with the right inputs, the body is able to balance the dynamically-evolving microbial flora in the gut.

10. Which process is better for juicing vegetables – cold-pressed juicing or blending?

Vegetable juice is consumed to provide the body with much-needed fibre and minerals. This helps the body build reserves that help cleanse and build more
effectively. Cold-pressed juices are designed to take away all the fibre from the juice and gives the body only a portion of the nourishment it requires.

The best way is to blend and then sieve the vegetable juice with a wide-spaced sieve so that some pulp also passes through. In blending or grinding, the soluble fibre gets ground into the juice itself. The sieving only keeps out the insoluble fibre. This gives the body the nourishment required, while keeping the consistency palatable and drinkable.

11. Which oil is good for the heart? Is olive oil or rice bran oil better?

There is a lot of talk about which oil is the best – refined, non-refined, saturated, unsaturated, mono-saturated, poly-saturated, sunflower oil, olive oil, coconut oil, kardi oil, fish oil capsules and lots of others. A lot of health-related claims induce us to buy a certain variety. The baseline however is that – edible oil is bad for you.

Period.

Edible oil is highly refined and concentrated and this process of refinement and concentration leeches away its nutrients. Thus bringing its food value down to zero. Heating oil at increased temperatures makes it toxic, and is known to be carcinogenic. Edible oils may not have a direct role to play in creating heart blockages; however it leaves behind toxic residues in the blood which makes the blood viscous and increases blood pressure. Higher pressure of circulating blood wears out the arteries faster.

The body needs fatty acids, which you get in plenty from nuts and seeds. Have them whole rather than in the concentrated form of oils.

CLEANSERS: Letting Go!

1. Why do I feel thirsty?

Thirst is an important signal by the body. It gets triggered by two factors:

When mineral reserves are low: Our cells create power/electricity to carry out all their functions. This is done by the movement of positively and negatively charged ions across the cell membrane (its outer wall). Minerals supply these positively and negatively charged ions. Thirst is the body’s way of asking for more minerals. Water is neutral and actually dilutes the cellular fluid. Have fruits and raw vegetables when you are thirsty to quickly and efficiently supply the needed minerals.

When internal temperature is high and the body is not able to cool down: The process of keeping the internal body temperature at the optimum level is a continuous and important function of the body. When we overheat the body by consuming food that produces acid; by not sleeping enough; by overexposure to gadgets, radiation, etc., it expends a lot of energy to balance the internal temperature. The body communicates this load through thirst.

2. What happens when we drink water?

Water, the kind we drink, from a tap or a bottle, can cause the following:

Dilution. Water is neutral, lacks minerals and ends up diluting the fluids in our body, be it the saliva, digestive juices or interstitial fluids. The dilution of these fluids actually slows down function in the body. Instead, drinking mineral-rich fluids like fruit pulps or vegetable juices is better.

If the body is already overheated, which in turn makes you thirsty, the water will turn into gas. So instead of cooling down the body, it may cause flatulence.

Thirst is also triggered when the blood has higher toxicity. In this case, water only dilutes the toxicity and increases its volume. Furthermore, water creates a situation where the body needs longer and much more energy to flush out the toxins. It is best to give the body more cleansers in the form of lime, sabjaa (basil seeds) and fruits.

3. How much water do we need to drink for good health / good skin / efficient bowel cleansing?

Water that is external (tap/ bottled/ boiled/ UV water/RO water) and water inside the body in the form of metabolic liquids (water in and around the body cells) are not the same. Water dilutes the digestive process and causes ineffective digestion and fermentation of food. This is why you’ve often read / heard that you shouldn’t drink water while eating. This can cause gas, bloating, indigestion and discomfort – which interferes with efficient bowel cleansing.

Water consumed at other times dilutes the nourishment in the cellular fluid. Not only does it slow down functions, it also increases cravings as the body begins to feel starved. Water dilutes stored toxins and gives them a medium to spread. This puts the kidneys, liver, lungs and skin – the exit organs – under tremendous stress. Try and stay hydrated by water sufficiency – metabolic water that nature has provided in earth-friendly packaging – fruits, herbs and vegetables.

4. Why is it recommended that we drink eight glasses of water?

Drinking eight glasses of water a day is nothing more than a popularly propagated health myth. This myth can be traced back to a report by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council in the US, which states that the human body should be able to make 2.5 litres of water from the food it consumes. Which roughly equates to eight glasses.

This means you do not need to drink water but rather eat foods that hydrate the body. This is known as water-sufficiency. Keeping your body duly hydrated contributes to your overall health and wellbeing, as every cell in your body needs fluids for proper functioning. Fruits, raw vegetables in the form of salads and smoothies and soaked dry fruits supply this need while providing the right balance of minerals and nutrients.

5. What about alkaline water then? Is alkaline water / kangen water good for health?

Maintaining alkalinity is also a function of the body and therefore done by the body, in the body, through the nourishment and time we provide. No external input in the form of water is required to make the body alkaline.

Nature-based food helps in maintaining this alkalinity by providing energy, material and nutrients, which aid and assist other functions in the body. Alkaline water can keep the body alkaline, yet it provides zero nourishment value. It has no fibre, no minerals and no energy, therefore providing no material for function. Not only that, it actually dilutes nourishment.

According to natural law, our body is capable of all functions when we consume natural water-sufficient food like fruits, salads, vegetables, sprouts. Along with the right food, our action of cooling down in the day and sleeping for eight hours is also important. All these ensure that our body’s natural water is not exhausted.

6. Don’t I need to drink water in the summer?

Yes, that’s what we are made to believe. Adapting to temperature is an internal function of the body. Excessive sweating occurs only when the body is unable to adapt to temperature differences, when counteractions block this process.

Cooling down of the body requires a certain specific set of nutrients and material, which comes abundantly through seasonal summer fruits, vegetables and herbs. Melons, berries and pumpkins provide higher water content, while sweet fruits provide extra energy for temperature balance. Even summer herbs like mint and saunf are cooling. Not changing food as per season does not allow the body to balance temperature. This is the “summer-water” you should chew and enjoy.

7. Why do we sweat in the summer?

Temperature balance is done by the skin. Wearing unbreathable clothing, using excessive skin products or indulging in food that blocks the skin and traps heat internally forces the pores to sweat excessively in order to cool down.

Cooling down can only occur in a state of rest. When we are constantly stimulated by thought, excessive gadget use, delayed / less sleep and excessive digestion, we are depriving the body of the time to cool down.

Therefore excessive sweating is a sign that we need to work on adaptation. Aid the body by consuming local and seasonal food, allow the skin to breathe and take restful pauses during the day.

Not only does sweating result in loss of water, but it also drains the body’s mineral reserves. Drinking water in order to refresh the body denies it the opportunity to restock on these much-needed minerals. Also, instead of rehydrating, water ends up diluting an already depleted mineral reserve.

8. What causes constipation? Should we take an enema for constipation?

Bowel cleansing is an automatic and inbuilt function of the body. It is meant to happen without an external push or influence. It happens by the body in the body. All actions that stress the mind affect the peristaltic movement of the intestine and leads to constipation. Like Dr Vijaya Venkat used to say, “Constipation is constant anticipation.”

To clean the bowel, our body needs time, energy and space. This comes through adequate sleep, rest, higher quotient of nourishment / raw food, reducing food that overload the system and reduce mental and physical stress. Once all these supporters are in balance, cleaning occurs automatically. No external means and methods are required for this.

Enema is an intervention for heavily constipated people (those who have not passed motion for more than 3 to 5 days) when the body is not able to do the whole process of cleansing on its own. It is done for a short period of time until the body is able to perform this function on its own. In the absence of any symptoms, one does not require an enema.

9. Does Isabgol help in constipation or bowel movement?

Isabgol is an insoluble fibre. It cleans the system by irritating the lining of the gut and thus forcing it to eject toxins. It clears debris through a dehydrating process leading to more damage in other areas. While it takes care of toxicity in the gut, it does not have the capacity to clean the blood – this process requires soluble fibre.

Not being able to clear the bowel is a signal from the body that cleaning is not at its optimum. It is only an indicator that our body requires more energy, material, time and space to clear the toxicity.

10. If not Isabgol then what?

Give the body high volumes of nourishment with natural food like fruits and vegetables, relaxation and adequate sleep, movement, breath, sunning and mental calm. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with the soluble fibre that the body requires for cleaning. If these inputs are being consistently provided to the body, it will be able to carry out the cleansing function efficiently.

11. What is the role of lemon shots?

Lemon is an acid neutraliser. It stimulates the production of bile which in turn, aids the digestion of isolated fats like oils and ghee. A lemon shot taken after cooked meals that have highly-processed foods, helps the body neutralise the acid residue and keeps the digestive tract and saliva alkaline.

A lemon shot after a meal of greasy, oily or fried food aids in the secretion of bile and therefore makes digestion more effective. If the cooked meal is neutral i.e. the meal is made by steaming alone without using any oil or if there is enough raw salads to neutralise the acid, a lemon shot is unnecessary.

12. What is oil pulling? Is it a safe practice?

Oil pulling is a technique that involves swishing one to two tablespoons of oil in the mouth on an empty stomach, to be done first thing in the morning for about ten to twenty minutes, while making sure not to swallow it. Due to its antiseptic properties, coconut oil is the most commonly preferred oil.

Oil pulling is not safe. It coats the mouth with an immiscible (un-mixable) liquid. This blocks the porous cell wall in the mouth and prevents the natural exchange of nourishment and removal of toxicity. The toxicity actually gets trapped within the cell, leading to damage. The swishing movement works towards creating a pumping action. This opens up the lymphatic channels, which is why the toxins move out. This is short term. Once the channels open, they need material to clean toxins which the oil does not provide. Though a short-term, superficial cleaning occurs in the mouth, the teeth weaken over the long term.

When cleaning is activated externally in isolation in the oral cavity, cells in the other parts of the body also get activated. This activation can lead to inflammation, ulceration, induration in either the oral cavity or another part of the body. Oil makes the medium of the oral cavity acidic. Germs breed in an acidic environment. The oral cavity is full of natural microbial flora which in an acidic medium changes into harmful germs.

13. I hear a lot of good things about turmeric. How can I incorporate it into my meals?

Turmeric has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. We consume it separately only when our body requires external support during infection or inflammation.

All functions are done internally by the body including fighting bacteria and boosting the immune system. For the functions to happen, our body requires all factors of energy and material – the right food; time through rest, relaxation and sleep; space through movements, our perception of life, breath, sunning, etc. The body will function optimally when all its needs are fulfilled.

When we eat turmeric daily in isolation, we activate or rather deploy the body’s immune system for fighting. Even when there is no infection, the radar of the immune system will always be in firefighting mode rather than housekeeping. This then slows down the body’s daily function of restoration and growth.

Adding turmeric while cooking food for taste is completely alright. It is only when we eat it in isolation like taking a turmeric shot or adding it to warm water, like in a tea, or including raw turmeric in a juice, will it activate the immune system.

STRESSORS: Pulling the Trigger

1. I constantly feel like I’m falling behind schedule and need to catch up. How do I manage my time better?

Mother Nature has gifted us humans with the “new” brain, the Neocortex. This part of the brain allows us to process information and gives us the power to make informed choices. It is given to us to use in our unique, individual ways – to piece together solutions with our repertoire of imagination, rationale, logic, analysis, and introspection. This is the “work” of the pre-frontal cortex, an extension of the  neocortex.

Time, when carefully planned, expands. Use your neocortex brain by introspecting and sorting your priorities for the day.

* Mornings are a good time to plan your day. A to-do list of what is to be done can help set the pace for the day

* It has been observed that our left brain (logical brain) functions better when it can visualise things. Putting down a time-bound routine helps

* Do one action at a time with full awareness

Take the time to allow small pauses and breaks in the day, and use them to <br>reflect on the accomplished tasks. This will help you plan the next day better

2. Does the “falling behind” feeling indicate anything?

Yes, indeed it does. As we know, all symptoms are signals of the body. The feeling of ‘falling behind’ indicates that we are responding from the reptilian or mammalian brain rather than the neocortex. When our reptilian brain gets activated, we get into a fixed, stress response of Flight or Fight. Or we get caught in habit loops and memories (of the mammalian brain).

Acting out from a fixed response of either fighting with time or not taking steps to adapt, simply means that we are not accessing the resources that our brain is naturally equipped with. If the brain is not helping, there is always a breath to turn to. Inhale deep, step away and return with more control and natural ease of flow.

3. Where do I begin with all this? What’s the one thing that can get me started?

Gratitude. Feel gratitude at the end of the day for what you were able to accomplish. Make it an active part of your daily routine. Being thankful for what you have achieved, helps you focus on the ‘half-full’ portion of the glass – all the positive aspects of the day. Allow your accomplishments more mind-space than all the things you were not able to finish. And your mindset of breathlessly catching up will become one of equanimity.

4. Stress creates anxiety, and against my better judgment, I still feel compelled to pick up ‘wrong food’, stimulants, etc. None of them really make me feel any better, but I still go back to them. How do I break this habit?

While coping with stress, the body is required to adapt. This includes changing function in order to protect itself against the stressor. This adaptation, from a purely evolutionary basis, is the Fight or Flight response, triggered by the release of adrenaline.

When the body feels the effects of stress, it demands a higher release of adrenaline, so that it can move into a flight or fight mode and thereby, cope with the situation. Stimulating foods like tea, coffee, nicotine, spicy, fried, cheesy, sugary foods, are all triggers that release adrenaline, and therefore we crave them when we are stressed.

Humans are actually designed to cope with stress through innovative solutions put together by the neocortex. We are designed to think our way out of stress.

Stimulants, through the release of adrenaline, further heighten our sense of anxiety and our need for physical fight (aggression, anger, anxiety) or flight (brain fog, lethargy, disinterest), rather than helping our neocortex focus, think, rationalise and take the required action.

5. I do not feel motivated to eat right. And I’m reluctant to put into practice what I know I should. What is my body communicating?

Not feeling like participating with your body, or feeling detached from yourself, indicates that the body is in “anticipation mode”. It occurs when we feel we are unable or ill-equipped to cope with the stresses in our life. Our body has been designed to cope with stress. This cycle of coping with stress has two stages to it.

In the first stage, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol which prepares the body to deal with the stress.

The stress cycle is completed with the release of oxytocin. This is the second stage. Nature has designed this cycle. And it is programmed to run its course and automatically completes itself. For, stress is actually a protective mechanism of the body.

If we do not participate in this process or perform an action that creates release, the body stays suspended in the first half of the stress cycle during which adrenaline was released. Adrenaline then shuts down appetite and blocks us from being able to process or participate.

It is this cycle that we need to break by constructively aiding the release of growth hormones like oxytocin. Your body is simply requesting you to complete the cycle! It is reminding you that you are stuck in the first half of the cycle, like being suspended at the top of a giant roller coaster. To get to the ground, you have to complete the cycle.

6. What actions can I take to complete the cycle – especially since it doesn’t come naturally to me anymore?

The simplest, first and foremost step is to create joy and pleasure. Actively seek it out, either with people or in an activity/hobby that excites you or gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose. All this will help you decompress and relax.

Spend some quiet time in silence, as this will help quieten down your brain, and gives you the space to reflect and introspect about your aspirations and your needs.

Be fully present in what you are doing. The habit of being, allows us to engage with the here and now, and approach our lives with greater clarity and peace of mind.

Apply the same principle with food as well. Focus on addition rather than subtraction. Additions and balance will help bring the internal balance. Engage and participate in creating variety in your food.

When you engage externally, reflect in silence, add variety and nurture yourself. The body will automatically alter its course, less towards stress and more towards aspiration and growth.

7. When I get really stressed out, my carefully-balanced routine goes for a toss. Even after the stressful episode is over, I am not able to go back to my rhythm. How do I get back into the groove?

In times of stress, our body requires extra inputs to cope. When the body is dealing with external stress, the nervous system gets activated, slowing down other functions of repair, regeneration, and healing.

When you feel stressed or anxious – respond to it. But differently.

* Give the body more energy with higher, better nourishment

* Provide more space – take deep breaths or stretch or get a massage

Create more time by frequently switching off and taking cat naps. On days you do not get enough sleep, take more breaks in between your day or compensate on the other days

Our responses can help break the cycle of nerve overload that stress can cause.

When the period of stress is over, we’re required to focus on compensating for the energy depleted, during the stress. Our responses need to adapt to this new slightly extra demand and not remain rigid and fixed in a pattern.

The needs of the body post-stress are in fact higher. All inputs of nourishment need to increase through raw fruits and vegetable juice. Stay on raw for a few days to give your digestive system a rest. Allow your body to conserve energy and build its reserves. Include frequent breaks, longer sleep, more stretching and soon, your body will find its balance and rhythm.

8. I feel so guilty when I eat anything that is considered ‘wrong’. That can’t be good, can it?

It is a disservice to the joy of eating, to classify food as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. We eat food for various reasons – nourishment, taste, memory, pleasure, social and cultural engagement or just plain hunger and craving. Guilty eating barely satisfies, yet is programmed to demand more. It’s a cycle of one unsatisfactory experience after the next!

The real questions to ask are “Why are you eating? What are you eating?”
Knowing the answers, can put an end to guilt and your episode of indulgence is happily back in the kingdom of pleasurable choices. Fortunately, awareness is a very diligent watchdog and the only one that you need.

9. Okay, so if I manage to keep aside guilt, how do I eat those foods I like, yet avoid the negative consequences?

Firstly, eat with pleasure. Awareness is the spoon and Balance is the knife. The former feeds you and the latter exercises portion-control and serves you. When we indulge in rich food for taste or memory, it utilises more energy for digestion, creates toxicity and leaves behind acid residue. If we just remember to balance it with the right nourishment, the body will be able to neutralise the acid and compensate for the spent energy.

Aid the digestion of your indulgent meal with a salad. Balance with an extra glass of vegetable juice, extra fruits in the next meal or the next day. Have a lemon shot to neutralise the acid residue that the food has left behind.

10. Holidays/ family gatherings are so stressful, as my diet goes for a toss. How do I compensate?

Holidays and family gatherings are meant for happiness. Soaking and savouring the company of our loved ones. Getting spoilt by the family must be received with gratitude and unreserved happiness. Food is just one aspect, another way through which we reaffirm our familial bonds and relive our memories. Bonding is an energiser.

Enjoy, without reserve, just about everything – the food, the company, the surroundings. These moments make a holiday or a gathering distinct from daily life. Your personal distress about your personal routine shouldn’t become an issue for others!

During the vacation/gathering, try stay attuned to balancing.

Indulgence with nourishment.

Gossiping all night with deep sleep (and short naps in between)

Fried food with raw cucumber-tomato salads.

Sugar-rushes with neutralising lemon shots.

Sadness with comfort.

As they see-saw up and down, balance helps you find steady ground. Once you return to life as usual, that’s when you adequately compensate for the indulgences and excesses of your holiday. Like with stress or recuperation, recover from your holiday/gathering by keeping your focus on more and more additions. Additions of nourishing food, rest, sleep and creativity. All the energisers don’t merely
compensate, but add life to your life.

11. I don’t sleep well. Why do I wake up tired after 8 hours of sleep? I dream through the night which isn’t restful at all. I am a light sleeper and wake up at the slightest disturbance, and I take forever to fall asleep. What can I do?

Think of sleep in terms of charging your phone. If your phone is working or switched on while it charges, it either doesn’t ever get to full battery or gets there slower. The same principle works with sleep.

When your actions through the day over-stimulates your brain, it continues to remain in that ‘switched-on’ or active-conscious-thought state, which affects the quality of your sleep.

This manifests itself as taking time to fall asleep, intense dreams, light or disturbed sleep, requiring to urinate at night, waking up within a few hours of sleep, waking up feeling tired, rather than rested.

A good way to counteract this is to give your brain all the assistance it needs to fall asleep well before bedtime. Sense organs when relaxed, help the nervous system and brain to switch off, aiding the body to go into a deeper, more restorative sleep.

12. My family thinks of me as too rigid. I feel I am only “following” what is right. How can I make them understand?

When we ‘follow’, we get caught in the habit loops of the mammalian brain. Instead, we have to try access the parts of the brain which are designed to process information and give us the power to make informed choices.

At family meals, serve nourishment and indulgence in equal measure. Have dishes that balance out favourites with nourishment. So that, the fussy eater and his/her body appreciates the meal simply because each is given what they like.

Ensure that your body-food or the nourishment component of your meal is prepared with as much care and attention. Display it well. Don’t announce it as different or healthy. After all, you’re mostly only altering ingredient-use and methodology – not the recipe or the taste of it. As you relax with joy and find satisfaction in what you are doing, your family will find you more open and adventurous not rigid and stressed. They begin to understand.

What is crucial to remember though, is that narrow focus on following and staying rigid keep our radar on all the time. This does not help in absorbing the nutrition from the food we eat.

13. Why is it important to not to clock each breast? Isn’t finishing one breast indicative of hind-milk provided? How do I know I am not overfeeding/under feeding my baby?

Feeding is a fundamental, primary instinct, in all mammals. For, without hunger, there can be no survival. This is the most basic need to be met, one that nature has perfected and provided through eons of trial and error. Only from this can growth unfold. Your child will take as much as it needs and whenever it needs. All you need to do is simply trust and be available. Feeding, is by demand and not by clocking. Your body automatically responds to your child’s need for nourishment, and lactates accordingly.

Your child will suckle till both first and hind milk are “emptied”. Even a newborn “knows” instinctively, how much it needs to feed. Better than any clock or alarm or even you can know. Just relax, and allow both your baby and yourself to engage in nature’s special process known as “bonding”.

14. Will excessive lemon shots damage teeth enamel?

Teeth are one of the strongest organs of the body, designed to chew and digest food. Therefore it is not contact with a specific food per se, that damages or wears out enamel.

Long-term depletion of the enamel, is due to acidic saliva and lack of repair. The causes can be non-availability of pure blood, accumulation of toxicity and / or pure hygiene-related issues, that cause sensitivity, cavities and the loss of enamel.

15. How should I protect myself from the sun?

Sun overexposure makes us feel hot and bothered. It burns the skin. The natural response would be to seek cover in the shade, or stay in the shadows, or go for a cool shower. Sunscreens interfere with this instinctive, natural response. (You can read more on it here) *link

The truth is, we do not need to run away from the sun. In fact, sunlight is very beneficial. Here are some tips for avoiding skin damage, while soaking in some daily sunshine.

● Get out from under the sun at the first sign of irritation or burning sensation in any part of the body. You might be overdoing things

● Sun bathe your body earlier in the morning or later in the evening. Avoid peak sun hours when the rays are intense

● Wear protective clothing instead of sunscreen lotions during periods of prolonged sun exposure, like long sleeves and hats

Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Our internal sunscreen protection is best boosted with antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables. Good nutrition is the sun block that protects our cells from excessive UV exposure, thus boosting our skin’s natural resistance to sunburn.

16. Is it safe to use aluminium foil to keep the food warm or store food? What is a better way to keep food warm?

The truth is that aluminium from the foil enters food, and steals nutrients from it. Aluminium poses health risks, especially to the brain and the bones. This heavy metal is known to reduce the growth rate of human brain cells. High concentrations of aluminium have been detected in the brain tissues of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Aluminium is also a known cause of osteoporosis. Ingested foreign substances have to be filtered by the liver and the kidneys, to prevent its entry into the blood stream. Since the molecular structure of aluminium is heavy, it impairs cells in the liver and the kidneys and causes permanent damage.

Aluminium mining is extremely polluting and damaging to all the natural resources. Though cheap and convenient, it is neither safe nor clean. Better ways of keeping food warm include steaming food or storing food in stainless steel containers.

SYMPTOMS: Nothing but Signals

1. What happens during a fever?

During a fever, our body is:

(i) either clearing internal toxicity created by our lifestyle;

or

(ii) is fighting off external germs and viruses;

or

(iii) preparing for a growth spurt.

Every cell in the body switches on to support all these factors i.e. to fight, to stop recurrence, and to recover.

2. Why does the body raise its temperature?

At higher body temperatures, the blood filters out accumulated toxins at a much faster rate. For effective cleansing to occur, the body demands higher inputs of cleaning material and rest.

When the fever is fighting an infection, the body needs to be supported with
higher inputs of energy, more rest to conserve energy and additional immunity boosters as food.

Lastly, during a growth spurt, when material for growth needs to be transported throughout the body, higher temperatures allow for their faster movement. The debris left behind in the course of the growth phase also gets filtered out better at higher temperatures.

3. How does the body regain its normal temperature and bounce back to balance?

By getting digestive, physical and mental rest – the basic rites of restoration. Avoid cooked meals – especially grains, meats and dairy, so that digestive energy can be conserved and redirected towards internal functions like fighting, protecting and safeguarding against invasive germs.

Fruits and vegetables provide the ammunition and fuel power i.e. the energy, required for the fever to cleanse and repair.

Apply the physical brakes with pauses, rest and just sleep it away. This allows the job to get done and brings the body temperature back to balance.

A fever allows the mind some much needed rest by arresting the faculties that shout over each other and keep you awake. This state of mental rest completes the cleaning and restoring function of the fever.

4. When fever goes over 101 degrees, do I need to use a cold towel?

The goal is to not suppress the fever by any means, be it through a drug or any other method. By using a cold towel, we interfere with the process of the body. A cold towel will force the body to bring the temperature down. The body will then have to raise the temperature again, working against the external cooling factor. This will go on, until the process of purification is complete. Thus actually wasting energy and debilitating the body further.

Fever is a mechanism initiated by the body. Trust it, as a fever is only a protective mechanism and a way to return to balance.

5. What if the fever reaches the brain and causes convulsion or delirium?

Since the fever is a body-initiated process, it “knows” how far it should go. The temperature will rise in accordance to the germs it has to fight or the amount of debris present in the blood. By forcing the temperature down, we aid the germ or allow toxicity to remain. This “knowing”, is the body’s pre-programmed protective function.

Higher temperatures are not conducive to body function. Therefore at high temperatures, functions like digestion will slow down which manifests itself as lack of appetite. Thought slows down and is often perceived as disengagement. In
children, this is also seen as listlessness, lack of eye contact and not wanting to speak/communicate. In adults, it comes across as memory loss or delirium. These are the ways in which the body conserves its energy, in order to speed-up cleaning and efficiently return to normalcy.

Once the need of the fever is over, the body breaks it by sweating, which in turn, requires muscle movement. In adults, where control of muscles is higher, this is seen as shivering while in children it occurs as convulsions. The convulsions are not a sign of regression, rather a method through which the body breaks the fever, quickly.

The only time you should be worried with fever, is when there is lack of action, or even worse, suppression. If the body gets the right action, it will be able to optimise its functioning and will not require the heightened temperature.

In cases of high fever or concern, do get in touch with THAC immediately.

6. When I want to balance my weight or reduce it, should I avoid sweeter fruits like bananas and mangoes? Aren’t they fattening?

Fruits including bananas and mangoes, are energisers. They are pre-digested, and give bio-available material, to easily create nourishment and material for the body. When we eat fruits, the fructose in them is carried into the small intestine, where it gets utilised and converted into energy. This process requires a steady supply of minerals, which are contained within the fruit itself, in the right proportion to the amount of fructose in it. Therefore fruit sugars get metabolised quickly and is
converted to utilisable energy – not fat or sugar in the blood.

In fact, the body creates a fat cell only when its energy levels are low – for, fat cells provide the body with energy to function. Not having adequate volumes of fruit, will drop the energy reserves of the body, making the body rely on fat. Not the other way round. (Read more on fat here) *link

To reiterate – all fruits including bananas and mangoes, give energy to the body. Which means, in the long run it helps the body balance fat, rather than increase fat. No fruit is fattening. This you simply must experience and accept, to believe – they only provide the body with the right material-energy to function.

7. When sugar levels rise, do I need to cut out sweet fruits/dry fruits?

Sugar is the energy currency of the body. In fact, maintaining the right sugar levels is so important that when these levels dip, all foods, be it fat or protein, get converted into sugar. (Read more about sugar fluctuations here) *link

The body requires 9 units of minerals to 1 unit of sugar, in the presence of oxygen, to effectively convert sugar into utilisable energy. When we eat sugar-dense foods that are not supplemented with minerals, the body turns to its own reserves.

This ratio is maintained across all varieties of fruits and dry fruits. Therefore all fruits and dry fruits, supply energy to the body easily and effectively, without depleting its mineral reserves.

Usually, we abstain from sweet fruits or dry fruits in the fear that it will raise the sugar levels more. This is a myth. For if it were true, it would happen to everyone and not just a few people.

The only time fruit sugars can spike blood sugar levels is when fruit is eaten in the wrong combination or when we are severely depleted of oxygen (due to lack of sleep and rest).

8. What causes my sugar levels to fluctuate?

Our body converts food into chemical energy in the form of sugars. This is a
multi-step process that requires many inputs that converts the raw material from the food into utilisable energy.

The proper reply to this question is a technical one. So be prepared for a science lesson and hear us out with patience! It is quite fascinating though.

Fluctuations in sugar levels indicate that the process of consumption, digestion, assimilation, storage and utilisation of sugar is inefficient. This can happen for the following reasons :

1. Conversion of food sugars to energy requires minerals. The required ratio is 1:9, with oxygen. A depleted mineral or oxygen reserve will cause our sugar levels to fluctuate.

2. Absorption of sugar and its storage as energy is dependant on the action of microbes in our gut, further enabled by fibre. Eating foods without fibre will slow down the metabolism of sugar and make it leak into the blood directly, instead of getting stored as reserves.

3. Absorption of sugar by the cell for cellular function, requires the cell wall to be open. The cell wall can get blocked by residue from sticky foods (like gluten from wheat or casein from dairy) or by the chemical residue of thought (anticipation of danger, in particular, will cause the cell wall to shut). The sugar released for cellular function stays trapped in the blood, for the cell wall is not open to receive it. This also creates fluctuations.

To balance sugar levels therefore, we need to ensure that from consumption to utilisation, the body is always supported. Having the right food, at the right time in the right combination with the right rhythm that sync with our actions across the day. After all, sugar or energy is a constant need of the body. Balance, therefore, is an essential ongoing function. A disruption shows imbalance in all our actions.

9. I have started eating very less and I am also fasting on a few days. Yet I am not losing weight. Why?

Your question has two parts to it. The first is our understanding of fasting. The second is our notions of what fat really is.

Fasting is meant to be a time of feasting for the body. When we fast, the body isn’t preoccupied with digestion and it has more time available to focus on cleansing, repairing and regeneration. Yet function does not just happen with time, it also needs material. Raw food provides the body with the energy and material for its functions. When we fast, our body has all the time in the world but is short of the energy and material required for the functions. We are not allowing the body to feast and instead, deprive it of nourishment and material.

Fat is a living cell in the body, and like every other cell, it has a function to perform. It provides energy to the other cells to carry out function. Energy from fat is

needed only when the body does not have enough reserve energy for function to happen smoothly. When we fast without providing the body with material through raw foods, we actually starve the body and hence prevent it from building the required energy reserves. It will then hold on to fat for energy, rather than dropping it.

Therefore, weight (fat) balancing is an internal function of the body. It can happen efficiently when the body has enough energy reserves. Rather than focusing on cutting out food, we must focus on adding the right food.

Other energisers like adding relaxation, the right breathing, taking breaks across the day, sunning, breathing right, and engaging in creative activities will enable the body to build on its energy reserves.

10. My skin gets pigmented in the sun. Which sunscreen is safe for my skin?

Pigmentation is a natural process that occurs in response to changing exposure to the sun. Skin colours vary, based on geography and lifestyle. Expecting no change in skin colour, after prolonged or continuous exposure to the sun, is not fair! Pun intended.

Hyperpigmentation (which is darkening of the skin very quickly, even with little exposure to the sun) signals that the skin tissues and cells are unable to adapt to the sun. This occurs when the skin is already overloaded.

Our skin is meant to do three functions,

Balance temperature

Remove debris

Act as a sensory organ (part of our nervous system)

When it is deprived of rest, the body gets overheated and the skin has to do more work to balance temperatures internally. Or excessive debris gets collected under the skin, due to an indulgent lifestyle. Also, the over-stimulation of the nervous system, will show up as skin ailments. Any of these factors can cause the skin to feel burdened and overloaded.

In such a case, the skin will not be able to neutralise the heat from sun-exposure quickly or smoothly enough. Instead it over-produces/stimulates the pigment as protection, leading to hyperpigmentation. The body then, especially the skin, is asking for support which is time, space and energy, to be able to function without being overloaded.

11. How do I stop pain without painkillers?

Pain needs to be understood rather than stopped. Unless we know why pain gets created, how do we support the body?

Pain is a signal from the body, indicating cellular dehydration. All our cells live in a fluid medium, that nourishes and helps remove toxicity. These cellular fluids need to constantly maintain their concentration of nourishment, so that the cell can continue its functioning without interruption.

When this fluid gets depleted, cellular function slows down, which leads to degeneration and inflammation. To prevent this damage, the body creates pain, a signal asking for support. This can be due to :

* Lack of nourishment – When the amount of nourishment being consumed is inadequate, there isn’t enough material, to create this cellular fluid, for it is made in the body by the body.

* Excessive toxicity and debris – When food or thought create this environment, it will cause the fluid to become viscous with toxicity, and nourishment cannot be absorbed.

* Too much heat – Lack of sleep and rest makes the body heat from the inside which will reduce the volume of fluid and therefore reduce nourishment. The body also gets heated up, when there is excessive stimulation, high gadget use and exposure to radiation.

When we understand pain and its causes better, we can respond to it better. By allowing the body to cool down and providing it with nourishment, the cells get the right environment conducive to fluid replenishment. You can also apply ginger juice diluted with pure oil – this will increase blood flow and alleviate the pain. If the symptom persists to keeps returning, please get in touch with the THAC centre.

12. My child is teething and wants to put everything in the mouth. Is this safe?

Teething prepares the body for some big changes. As the digestive tract is readied for digesting cooked food, the body goes through major transformation. Teeth emerging is only a visible part of a significant internal change. The stomach, liver, gall bladder, intestine and pancreas are all being prepared for ingestion, digestion, absorption and processing of nutrients. These functions require gut bacteria.

Therefore, it is nature/instinct that makes them put everything within reach into their mouth. This acclimatises them to microbes and creates the vital microflora required by the body for its functioning, including building a robust immune system. Sterile environments deny children the support of environmental microbes and make them more susceptible to developing allergies or infections.

13. My infant has colic, why is it happening? What can I do to ease discomfort?

Colic is an indicator of fermentation and indigestion. This happens either when food combinations are incorrect or when there is excess heat generated by the body.

If your infant is only on your feed, the fermentation can be because of the way you’re eating. You might be eating food in wrong combinations or may not be getting adequate rest.

14. Is root canal safe?

A tooth has a bony hard structure and a root in the middle. This root of the tooth houses blood vessels and nerves that supply nourishment to the tooth. Each tooth also has a maze of very tiny tubules.

A root canal procedure cuts off the root. The good bacteria from this chamber are cut off from their food supply and they hide in the tubules. This gives them access to the blood stream and vital organs. In the absence of nutrients and oxygen, the good bacteria become highly toxic, stronger and more virulent anaerobic bacteria. A root canal is like a foreign body and can lead to inflammation or infection not just in the oral cavity but also organs, glands and tissues.

A procedure that’s done to apparently save the tooth, ironically chops the root of the tooth – negating all its chances of reviving again. And poses the risk of further compromising immunity and becoming a source of infection for the body.