DIET & HEALTH
Both Vitamin A and C are very important
for the skin. Vitamin C strengthens the
immune system and delays early aging.
It also helps to maintain healthy
collagen, the supportive tissue of the
skin. Similarly, Vitamin A and E play
significant roles in maintaining the
softness and smoothness of the skin
texture. Dates, seeds, nuts and dry fruits
are available in plenty during the winter
months. So are peas. These provide
proteins, vitamins and minerals which
are needed by the body. They are a
source of energy, which the body
requires in winter, to maintain body
heat. Savouries and snacks are made
from seeds like sesame seed (til) and
peanuts. However, nuts should be taken
unsalted and one should be careful not
to have them in large quantities, as they
contain fat. Those suffering from high
cholesterol should check with a doctor
first before taking nuts in large quantity.
A diet that is high in fresh fruits and
vegetables, unprocessed cereals,
sprouted grains, nuts, seeds and
yoghurt, can make you look and feel
much better in winter. Fruit and
vegetable juices, freshly extracted are
ideal. You can make them from
seasonal fruits, like oranges, mausambi,
pomegranate (anaar), or from carrots,
spinach or cabbage. Juices not only
ensure a supply of valuable nutrients,
but also help to cleanse and purify the
system. Fruit and vegetable juices are
22 www.yogicherald.com Dec. 2018
best taken freshly extracted and diluted
with water.
Winter is also the time for hot drinks.
Instead of tea and coffee, try herb teas
and clear soups. Some of the
ingredients in herbal teas are ginger,
embilica (amla), barley, rose, liquorice
(mulethi), black pepper and so on.
These help in aiding digestion, warming
the body, calming the nerves,
protecting the digestive system and
preventing cold. In Ayurveda, ginger is
known as “a universal remedy” because
it has so many benefits. Ginger tea is
advocated for coughs and colds. If
lemon is added, it makes a tasty drink.
Black pepper and tulsi, for instance, are
also said to be useful in coughs, colds
and respiratory congestion.
Hot soups can be delicious during
winter. You can make a mixed vegetable
soup with potatoes, carrots, turnip,
peas, tomato and so on. Or make a
spinach soup (palak). Fresh
mushrooms, available in winter, make
good soups too, especially if you add a
little milk. After boiling the vegetables,
strain and puree the vegetables in a
mixer. Then add it back to the water.
Add salt and black pepper, along with a
little milk to make it tasty and more
wholesome. In spinach soup, you can
add a dash of lemon juice. Grated
cheese also makes a tasty addition to
vegetable soups.
About the author:
Shahnaz Husain, pioneer and leader of the
herbal beauty care movement, based on
Ayurveda, has received unprecedented
international acclaim for taking the Indian
herbal heritage worldwide with a crusader’s
zeal. Today, as CMD of the Shahnaz Husain
Group of Companies, she heads the largest
organization of its kind in the world with a
global network of franchise salons, spas,
beauty training academies, retail outlets, as
well as 375 formulations for beauty and health
care. Shahnaz Husain has marketed India’s
5000 year old ancient civilization in a jar and
created an international market for Ayurvedic
beauty care. Shahnaz Husain has received
several prestigious international awards,
including the “Outstanding Ayurvedic
Innovation Award” in the British Parliament,
and the World’s Greatest Woman
Entrepreneur Award from Success, the U.S.
based Business Magazine. She was also
conferred Golden Peacock Award in London,
by Theresa May and the Padma Shri Award
by the Government of India for exceptional
service towards the country and distinguished
achievement in her chosen field.