daily health tips

An exclusive milk diet for rapid gain of weight has been advocated by some nature cure practitioners. In the beginning of this mode of treatment, the patient should fast for three days on warm water and like juice so as to cleanse the system. Thereafter, he should have a glass of milk every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the first day, a glass every hour and half the next day, and a glass every hour the third day. Then the quantity of milk should be gradually increased so as to take a glass every half an hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If such a quantity can be tolerated fairly comfortably. The milk should be fresh and unboiled, but may be slightly warmed, if desired. It should be sipped very slowly through a straw. The milk should be unpasteurised, if available.

Some common ailments and fruit and vegetable juices found beneficial in their treatment are mentioned below:
Acidity: Grapes, orange, mosambi, carrot and spinach.
Acne: Grapes, pear, plum, tomato, cucumber, carrot, potato and spinach.
Allergies: Apricot, grapes, carrot, beet and spinach.
Arteriosclerosis: Grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, celery, carrot, lettuce, and spinach.
Anaemia: Apricot, prune, strawberry, red grape, beet, celery, carrot and spinach.
Arthritis: Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, carrot, lettuce and spinach.
Asthma: Apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, carrot, radish and celery.
Bronchitis: Apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, tomato, carrot, onion and spinach.
Bladder Ailments: Apple, apricot, lemon, cucumber, carrot, celery, parsley and watercress.
Colds: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion, celery and spinach.
Constipation: Apple, pear, grapes, lemon, carrot, beet, spinach and watercress.
Colitis: Apple, apricot, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach.
Diabetes: Citrus fruits, carrot, celery, lettuce and spinach.
Diarrhoea: Papaya, lemon, pineapple, carrot and celery.
Eczema: Red grapes, carrot, spinach, cucumber and beet.
Epilepsy: Red grapes, figs, carrot, celery and spinach.
Eye Disorders: Apricot, tomato, carrot, celery, parsley and spinach.
Gout: Red sour cherries, pineapple, tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot, celery and spinach.
Halitosis: Apple, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, tomato, carrot, celery and spinach.
Headache: Grapes, lemon, carrot, lettuce and spinach.
Heart Disease: Red grapes, lemon, cucumber, carrot, beet and spinach.
High blood pressure: Grapes, orange, cucumber, carrot and beet.
Influenza: Apricot, orange, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion and spinach.
Insomnia: Apple, grapes, lemon, lettuce, carrot and celery.
Jaundice: Lemon, grapes, pear, carrot, celery, spinach, beet and cucumber.
Kidney Disorders: Apple, orange, lemon, cucumber, cucumber, carrot, celery, parsley and beet.
Liver ailments: Lemon, papaya, grapes, carrot, tomato, beet and cucumber.
Menstrual Disorders: Grapes, prunes, cherry, spinach, lettuce turnips and beet.
Menopausal Symptoms: Fruits and Vegetables in season.
Neuritis: Orange, pineapple, apple, carrot and beet.
Obesity: Lemon, grapefruit, orange, cherry, pineapple, papaya, tomato, beet, cabbage, lettuce, spinach and carrot.
Piles: Lemon, orange, papaya, pineapple, carrot, spinach, turnip and watercress.
Prostate Troubles: All fruit juices in season, carrot, asparagus, lettuce and spinach.
Psoriasis: Grapes, carrot, beet, and cucumber.
Rheumatism: Grapes, orange, lemon, grapefruit, tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot and spinach.
Stomach Ulcers: Apricot, grapes, cabbage and carrot.
Sinus Trouble: Apricot, lemon, tomato, carrot, onion and radish.
Sore Throat: Apricot, grapes, lemon, pineapple, prune, tomato, carrot and parsley.
Tonsillitis: Apricot, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, spinach and radish.
Varicose Veins: Grapes, orange, plum, tomato, beetroot carrot and watercress.

Raw potato juice is regarded as an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. One or two teaspoonful of the juice pressed out of mashed raw potato should be taken before meals. This will help eliminate an acid condition and relieve rheumatism. In some rural areas in Great Britain, it is a custom for rheumatic suffers to carry a potato in their pockets, in the belief that the potato will absorb in itself some of the acid from the sufferer's body. The old potato is thrown away and replaced by a new one after a few days. The skin of the potato is also an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. The skin is exceptionally rich in vital mineral salts and the water in which the peelings have been boiled is one of the best medicines for the ailments caused by excess of acid in the system. The potato peelings should be thoroughly washed and boiled for a few minutes. The decoction should then be strained and a glassful of the same taken three or four times daily.

Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. Over 2,500 scientific studies published in 10 languages find that garlic lowers blood pressure, deters the production of unhealthful cholesterol, and prevents the formation of the clots that can cause heart attack and stroke. The pressure and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasms of the small arteries. Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The average dosage should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the high blood pressure.

Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. It was proved in recent experiments that a substance extracted from watermelon seeds has a definite action in dilating the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure. A side-benefit of eating watermelon is its generous supply of the phytochemical lycopene. This pigment in red and pink fruit and vegetables can deter various cancers in women and prostate problems in men. It is also helpful in avoiding the problems of aging in the health of the eyes.

Ingestion of honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra deposited fat in the body and puts it into circulation which is utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with small quantity of about 10 grams to be taken with hot water. The dose can be gradually increased. Fasting on honey-lime juice water is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of energy and appetite. In this mode of treatment, one spoon of fresh honey should be mixed with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and taken at regular intervals.

The most effective remedy for peptic ulcers is bananas. They are said to contain an unidentified compound called, perhaps jokingly, vitamin U (against ulcers). Bananas neutralises the over acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by quoting the lining of the stomach. Banana and milk are considered an ideal diet for the patients who are in an advanced stage of the disease.

The diet of the arthritis patient should be planned along alkaline lines and should include fruits and vegetables for protection and proteins and carbohydrates for energy. It may consist of a couple of fresh raw vegetables in the form of a salad and at least two cooked vegetables. Cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, endive, lettuce, onion, radishes, tomatoes and watercress may be used for a raw salad. The cooked vegetables may include asparagus, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, celery, brinjal, mushroom, onions, peas, beans, spinach, tomatoes, squash and turnips. In severe cases, it will be advisable to put the patient on raw vegetables juice therapy for about a week. Green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed with carrot, celery and red beet juice, is specific for arthritis. The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of deposits around the joints and in other tissues. Fresh pineapple is also valuable as the enzyme in fresh pineapple juice, bromelain reduces swelling and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Repeated juice fasts are recommended at intervals of every two months.

Celery is another effective food remedy for rheumatism. A fluid extract of the seeds is more powerful than the raw vegetable. This also has a tonic action on the stomach and kidneys. Five to ten drops of this fluid should be taken in hot water before meals. Powdered seeds can be used as a condiment. Lemons are also valuable and the juice of two or three lemons may be taken each day.

Indian gooseberry (amla) is another effective food remedy for high blood pressure. A tablespoonful each of fresh amla juice and honey mixed together should be taken every morning in this condition. Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is essential for preventing capillary fragility.