Many of us don’t realize just how exhausted we are. We lead fast paced lifestyles where we have learned to derive our sense of self worth from our productivity. We wait until we are very sick to admit ill health, and sometimes then, the repercussions are severe. It’s hard for us to admit; a little attention to self-care and prevention could have prevented disease.
Ojas is the ultimate refined result of digestion, metabolism, absorption and assimilation. The substance that connects the mind to the body and consciousness, it is a wholesome biochemical substance that nourishes all body tissues and has a direct influence on the nature and quality of physical, mental and emotional life. Ojas is responsible for higher states of consciousness, purity of thoughts, perfect health, positivity in feelings, love, joy, better immunity, longevity, intelligence, creativity, memory, bliss, and thought process.
Signs of Low Ojas
- Dry skin
- Cold hands and feet
- Weak sense organs
- Muscle pain and/or joint pain
- Heaviness of body and mind
- Impaired bodily functions
- Frequent drowsiness and/or fatigue
- A tendency to get sick frequently
- Mental confusion or fuzziness
- Lack of focus
- A consistently negative attitude
- Anxiety
- Depression and/or loneliness
What builds Ojas?
1) Gentle yoga, breathing and meditation practices.
2) Ample rest (with early to bed and early to rise patterns).
3) Spending time in nature and visually calming/beautiful environments.
4) Engaging in activities that make you happy.
5) Engaging in activities you are passionate about.
6) Regular exercise (without excess).
7) Ayurvedic self-massage with warm, herbal oil.
8) Supporting your digestion (eat slowly, not too late in the day)
9) Eating fresh, organic and seasonal foods
Fresh, whole foods that have been ripened by the sun contain the most vitalizing energy. Avoid over processed, dry, refined foods, alcohol, cold foods, iced drinks and stimulants, and incorporate these ojas-rich foods into your diet as given below:
- Fruits: avocados, apples, bananas, dates, figs, apricots.
- Vegetables: leafy greens, lettuce, parsley, alfalfa sprouts, okra, sweet potatoes, yams, rhubarb, spinach, turnips, watercress, zucchini.
- Grains: amaranth, basmati rice, oatmeal, whole wheat.
- Legumes: mung dal, soy beans, soy milk, tofu.
- Dairy: goat cheese, cottage cheese, fresh yogurt, ghee (clarified butter).
- Nuts: almonds, Brazil nuts, black walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts.
- Ayurvedic tonics like chyawanprash and almond milk, certain spices and herbs, such as ginger and nutmeg ,sipping hot water or ginger tea throughout the day,foods high in potassium (plant-based foods) etc also help.
10) The easiest tip we can give you to build your Ojas is this, “Stay positive”. When you share love, laugh, help people around you and come close to nature in whatever way possible, you are helping your body build Ojas. Also, make it a point to eat a balanced diet and stay physically active. Consult with an Ayurvedic doctor before taking Ojas building herbs and drugs such as Shilajeet, Ashwagandha, Punarnava, Shatavari and Triphala.
Our challenge is to provide ourselves with as many rejuvenating actions and attitudes as we can, to build a solid foundation for our health, so we are not depleted when stressors hit.
SUCCORING FENUGREEK PORRIDGE
Try out this special south Indian recipe with splendid health benefits!!!!!
Ingredients
- Fenugreek seed - 50 grams
- Par boiled rice - 1 cup
- Dry ginger powder - 1/2 teaspoon
- Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon
- Palm jaggery (Karuppatti) - 200 grams
- Sesame oil - as needed
- Salt – as per need
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Soak rice in water. Soak fenugreek seeds in water.( NOTE: Both Separately )
2. In a pan , heat water and add the Palm jaggery (Karuppatti) and bring to a boil. Cook this until the jaggery dissolves completely. Filter the liquid only and keep it aside.
3. Grind the soaked fenugreek seeds by adding water as needed until they are soft like butter.
4. Grind the soaked rice by adding water coarsely.
5. In a heavy bottom pan, heat jaggery water + a little more water and bring to a boil.
6. Now add dry ginger powder, cardamom powder, rice batter, fenugreek seed batter and cook by stirring continuously. NOTE: make sure no lump is formed.
7. Once this mixture becomes thick add sesame oil little by little as needed. Stir and cook this until the mixture doesn't stick to your hand then serve.