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Pandemic Positives – Charmaine Behl shares her story
This lockdown has helped me experience my own inner strength and increased self-awareness as well as compassion towards other living beings.
The lockdown came as a shocker! Suddenly, I was forced to cook 3 meals every day, handle the never-ending chores around the house and manage my professional work!
Since the family’s and my health is my top priority, I decided to reset some of the major factors that affect it. Food-wise, we normally ate non-veg regularly but due to non availability and fear of compromising immunity meant that we became vegetarian. All thanks to SHARAN’s Timeless Recipe Book, The Salad Revolution and Meat Alternatives sessions, I could moderate the use of spices, oil etc and make delicious dishes.
As a yoga instructor, I had been irregular with my own practice, but I carved out some me-time; daily 1 hour for self-practice and another 30 minutes of pranayama/meditation with the family. Also since there are no more late nights and socializing, now I am able to get my 8 hours of sleep to rejuvenate and face the challenges each day.
Emotionally also I stay positive by chanting affirmations, keeping a gratitude journal, reading spiritual books and also attending SHARAN’s wellness workshops. I also began coordinating a ration providing service for needy families, and crowdfunded mobile sets for needy children. This brought me joy and also made me appreciate my own blessings manifold.
In spite of all the extra work and the stress, I started to feel more active and energetic. I had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2010 and have been on homeopathic medication since then. However, over the past 3 months my symptoms have reduced drastically. I have realized that food is the real medicine. I have noticed a visible change in my behavior. I decided to go a step further and changed to a vegan diet from July 4, 2020. It’s been just one month; I have not been healthier or fitter than I am today. I have understood and felt the impact of food on my life and made a change for the better. A huge thanks to SHARAN.
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Herbal Shampoo Powder
Surrender to nature’s gifts and try making this home-made shampoo.
Ingredients:
You can source these ingredients at any local grocery or ayurvedic store or online.
- 500 gms of shikakai
- 100 gms of soapnut (reetha)
- 100 gms of Indian gooseberry (amla)
- 200 gms of fenugreek seeds (methi) (optional)
- 50 gms of Hibiscus dried flowers (optional)
Method:
- Dry all the ingredients (except the dried flowers) in the sun for 1 or 2 days. If sunlight is not available then bake them at a very low temperature 20-50 C for 15-20 mins. The shikakai pods should be brittle to break.
- Then grind all the ingredients into a fine powder and sieve. If the ingredients are already in fine powder form then skip the above steps.
- Mix all the ingredients well and store in an air tight glass bottle.
Application
- Mix the required amount of shampoo powder with plain water and make it into a runny paste. Add little extra water as the paste tends to become thick.
- Keep it for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight. Best is to keep it overnight.
- Apply on wet scalp to roots of hair, rub gently and wash off with plain water.
- For extra hair conditioning, you can add rice water, 1-2 tbsp aloe vera gel and juice of one lemon in the herbal shampoo powder instead of water. You will notice the difference in your hair after drying naturally!
Food for the mind
FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP
If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant based journey. we are offering two possibilities
1. SHARAN India This is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.
2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group This is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.
All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.
Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.
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Hair issues anyone?
Good hair health indicates a healthy body. So, if hair thinning and dandruff are issues we are dealing with, then the body is trying to tell us something. Are we listening?
Hair health depends on a variety of factors including what we eat, what we think and what we do. Read on to find essential hair care ideas.
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1. Go plant-based
Does eating meat and dairy have any effect on hair? It does. Having animal products can lead to various diseases, which result in hair issues.
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2. The curry leaves magic
Add curry leaves in your green smoothies and dishes, as they help enhance hair health. Of course, all other greens also help, but curry leaves have a special place when it comes to hair health.
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3. Eat healthy fats
You truly don’t need to apply hair oil externally if you have nuts and seeds in your diet. Consume chia seeds, almonds, walnuts and coconuts in plant-based milk and cheese or sprinkled on salads or as it is.
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4. Use herbal hair products
Chemicals in store-bought shampoos and conditioners damage our hair. The gloss and the softness are truly temporary. Look for more natural solutions.
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5. Avoid hair colours
They are filled with chemicals. If colouring your greys is mandatory, then opt for herbal colour packs.
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6. Wash your hair less
Wash as and when required and let it air-dry, instead of using hair-dryers. The chlorine in tap water is not very good for the hair either.
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7. Brush your hair
This enables proper spreading of natural oil and prevents breakage. Avoid brushing wet hair and get it trimmed at least once in six months.
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8. The mind issue
Louise Hay states that hair issues often occur as a result of fear and mistrust in the process of life, as well as a need to control everything.
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9. Reduce reliance on medications
Not only chemotherapy, but other medications like antibiotics, antifungals, antidepressants, birth control pills, cholesterol lowering drugs and immunosuppressants are known to result in hair fall. Another reason to take charge of our health and keep medicines away.
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