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‘It was a Divine intervention’
Ahmedabad based graphic designer Palak Jain was suffering from a chronic eye infection and to her surprise her hypertension showed her the way!
I was suffering from an eye infection since 2008 which had become chronic. It would result in redness of the eyes, dark circles, dryness, mucus formation and oozing of acrid substances from the eyes. I would regularly visit the ophthalmologist and was prescribed a lot of ointments, steroids, anti-allergens and pain killers. This went on till 2019.
To add to my suffering I was diagnosed with borderline hypertension which left me feeling very sad and dispirited. That’s when I happened to attend a one-day ‘Reversing Diabetes and Hypertension’ seminar by Dr. Nandita Shah. That was a life changing experience for me. I still remember the day I came back from Mumbai after the seminar. There was no looking back. It felt as if I had finally found a way. It was a divine intervention.
I took the reins of my health in my hands (with constant support and guidance from Team SHARAN). Though there were some obstacles initially, to get organic fruits and vegetables, they were soon resolved. It is rightly said that “Where there is a will, there is a way.’’
My blood pressure normalised, my eye infection vanished, my dental health improved, my skin started to glow. I got rid of dandruff and last but not the least lost 6 kg. And I gained a lot of confidence. I am very thankful to SHARAN and my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Nandita Shah.
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Carrot Peanut Raisin Salad
Carrots as everyone knows are great for the eyes. Include them through this delicious and easy to whip up salad.
Ingredients
- 500 g unpeeled juicy carrots, grated
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup roasted and coarsely chopped unpeeled peanuts
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
- 2 tbsp roasted unpolished sesame seeds
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp date paste
- 1 tsp whole cumin (jeera) seeds, roasted and coarsely crushed
- 1 tsp unrefined salt
- ½ tsp black pepper (kali mirch) powder
Method
Soak the raisins in just enough water until they become plump. If in a hurry, soak for a few minutes in just enough warm water. Take carrots, raisins, peanuts, coriander leaves and sesame seeds in a bowl.
For the dressing, mix together lemon juice, garlic, date paste, cumin seeds, salt and black pepper powder in a small bowl and add to the carrot mixture. Toss well. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
Variations
Julienne the carrots (cut into matchsticks like in Chinese cooking), steam lightly and chill them before mixing with the rest of the ingredients.
You could substitute carrots with beetroot.
Serves 6
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 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 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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Eyes – the Windows to the World
In earlier times, people needed reading glasses with age. Today it is fairly common to see both children and adults wearing spectacles! Optical shops and week-long appointments at ophthalmologists are a testimony of our poorer eyesights.
According to the World Health Organisation, 39 million people are blind and about 6 times that many have poor vision! Nearly half of all Indians are in need of vision correction! But did you know that 80% of visual problems world-wide are avoidable or even curable?
With the lockdown and screens surrounding us, coupled with poor nutrition, eye-care is something which we cannot afford to allow to take a back-seat.
A check-list to eye-care…
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1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables, like dark leafy greens, bell peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli, papaya and tomatoes – all best had raw – help support blood vessels in the eye.
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2. Vitamin E
Peanuts and nuts like almonds and pistachios are a good source of vitamin E, a nutrient known for protecting eyes from free radical damage.
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3. Plant based Proteins
Your eye has a mucus layer which is made from proteins, so include beans, legumes, nuts, sunflower seeds and of course vegetables and fruits too!
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4. Correct sitting posture
It is best to sit on a desk and avoid lying down when using a screen. Make sure to maintain a screen distance of at least 40 cm.
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5. Look at Green!
Take time to look at nature everyday outside your window or at indoor plants. It does wonders for the eyes.
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6. Blink every 30 seconds
Add pop-ups or an alarm every hour on your screen to remind you.
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7. The 20-20-20 Rule
When you are working on a computer, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
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8. Exercise ( including eye exercises)
Improves blood circulation, which improves the oxygen levels to the eyes and the removal of toxins from the eyes.
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9. Avoid smoking
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Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress.
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10. Don’t read in a moving car
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11. Remove your eye-make up before sleeping as it causes irritation
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12. Hydrate yourself
Avoid caffeinated beverages which actually dehydrate your body.
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13. Correct spectacle power
When was the last time you checked?
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14. Do warm water compress for dry eyes
Doing this for 5 minutes improves the flow of oil glands in your eyes
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