Ayurnepal.com

Like most civilisations whose roots lie in very hoary and splendid traditions, Nepal  has been blessed with a great and noble heritage in many realms of human endeavour. This is particularly true of our ancient systems of healthcare such as the ayurveda and the unani.

Lately, there has been a surge in the popularity of such alternative systems of health management. Not surprisingly, ayurvedic offshoots of weight and health management have acquired an aura of their own.
Given such interest in natural remedies for weight control, we thought it prudent to comment on some of the ingredients in the more popular remedies. Though many of these ingredients are quite harmless, the general belief that anything ayurvedic or natural is free from side effects needs to be categorically denied. Many of the world’s most toxic poisons are found in nature!


•Honey-hot water-lemon: The most popularly touted formulation — that can be deemed ayurvedic or natural — for losing weight is the lemon juice-honey-hot water combo drink. From the point of view of science there is some merit to this formulation. The lime as well as the hot water act by suppressing appetite. This is caused by the increase in the levels of the chemical cholecystokinin in our bodies that causes appetite to decrease by creating a sense of fullness.

•Green tea: Pushing my point about caution further, there is scientific data to support the fact that drinking a couple of cups of green tea could rev up your metabolism leading to control in weight gain. Further research, however, is required before we make a strong recommendation. Moreover, green tea extracts taken for weight loss could cause vomiting, nausea and bloating in addition to loading one with heavy doses of caffeine. In fact, many weight-loss teas contain botanical laxatives (Senna, Triphala) and diuretics.

•Guggul: This is another popular ingredient in weight loss preparations that has been used traditionally. Guggul is a resin/gum and its active ingredient is a plant sterol that reduces fat in the human body. Scientists have studied guggul and preliminary data suggests that it may be associated with a small loss in weight or a reduction in tissue folds. But the studies have been small and it is not yet clear whether guggul offers any benefits over diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity.

* Watch the sugary beverages. Instead, drink water, non-fat milk and zero-calorie beverages.
* Slow down -- when you eat too fast you will eat too much.
* Choose broth-based soups, such as chicken broth, with lots of vegetables over cream soups.
* When you go out to eat, take half of your meal home.
* Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter instead of a jar of cookies.
* Don't skip meals -- you will just get too hungry and eat too much at the next meal.
* Add one cup of chopped vegetables to your favorite soup or pasta meal.
* Don't keep high-calorie snacks in the house -- buy fresh vegetables and fruits, low-fat yogurt, and enjoy air-popped or light popcorn.
* Keep track of calories -- join Calorie Count.
* Get moving -- walk or run every day to burn calories.