The two most important things I learnt were:

• “It is your “perception” of weight loss that is the    deciding factor of whether you will succeed in loosing weight permanently or not.”

• “if being slim/lean and sexy is your goal, your most likely to fail, and even if you do succeed, it carries with it severe health complications which will accentuate, if the weight goes.”

To understand this better; here is how it happened to me:

When I moved to New York I was 52 kilos and my height is 5’4”. Over a period of 5 years, I had gained 30 kilos and was 82 kilos..my struggle to lose weight had started in the 2^nd year when I was 64 kilos and I had finally panicked!!

I started off by joining a gym, and decided to eat salads, which to me meant death, but I had to do it, because I couldn’t be fat and not sexy. I believed that the only formula to losing weight was cardio and dieting (which to me meant starvation).

I battled on the inside to suppress cravings. I hated the gym, but I dragged myself there and ruthlessly punished my body trying to burn fat. To deal with this trauma I rewarded my self once a week and ate everything I was not supposed to in excess quantities to feel good. Before I knew it I was 70 kilos by the end of year 3.

Now all I thought of was my fat, I became obsessed with myself and with loosing weight, my life revolved around whether I was looking slim in what I was wearing, making sure everything was hidden, wearing the highest heels to lengthen the thighs, lots of makeup to make myself look sexy and the list goes on and on. Shopping became a task that I dreaded, looking slim was my only goal, and it affected my actions in every sphere of my life.

Anything or anyone that assured me weight loss was my best friend. In sheer desperation I even tried the Atkins diet, GM diet, diet shakes and weight loss pills to only realize that by year 5, I was 82 kilos.

In these 5 years my self esteem and morale had gone to an all time low. I couldn’t find the answers no matter how hard I tried, and this is where I would say karma intervened and as I destined my self to succeed at a subconscious level, I found myself giving up everything I had built in New York to start afresh in India.

It took me 5 years of research and study to finally crack the code. Having practiced all that I have learnt, I have shared it with 100’s of my clients.

Today I offer this to all those out there who want to be healthy slim and fit..

The First most important thing I learnt was:

• It is your “perception” of weight loss that is the deciding factor of whether you will succeed in losing weight permanently or not.

By this I mean, that if you project constant hatred for your fat body, that’s exactly what you manifest. Read “The secret” or any such book that shows you how the mind works. Basically input=output

The Second most important thing I learnt was:

• If being slim/lean and sexy is your goal, your most likely to fail, and even if you do succeed temporarily, it carries with it severe health complications which will accentuate over time, if the weight goes.

Vanity is my favorite sin too; however I learnt that the body only accumulates fat and water when the toxicity levels go up in the body. The body does this to protect you not to make you look fat or ugly. Your body loves you no matter what you think of it. The only reason there is a communication gap between you and your body is because the body is too advanced for your understanding and just as the body does not take your permission to circulate blood or make your heart beat. It takes the necessary actions to protect you till the very end.

So the obvious next question is “how do I reduce the toxicity in my body, so that no extra fat and water are required to be stored?”

The Answer to that:

• Reduce consuming toxic products and toxic food.

• Get to the root of where the toxicity is building up from.

Apart from toxic foods like packaged meats, processed foods, aerated drinks, pastries, cupcakes, refined oil, white rice, white sugar etc know that most medications, negative thoughts, stress and anxiety cause toxicity to build up as well. When a body is fat, know that it is unhealthy and dis-eased, and requires your serious attention. However it requires your attention to heal not to be vain. And the sooner you accept this reality the sooner you will achieve your goal of being slim.

I know it is difficult to refrain from all toxic foods, and be completely emotionally balanced with no baggage.

However the sooner you start the process, the sooner you will see results. There are a wide variety of great alternative therapies like yoga, naturotherapy, theta, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, life force healing etc that can aid you to start healing your mind body and soul.

Having found my balance with a combination of yoga, nutrition and hypnosis. I achieved a healthy body which in turn made me slim as no healthy body is ever fat!!

Written by Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you, click here.

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My husband is 163.5 cms, 40-years-old and weighs 97 kgs. He has been facing acute pain in both his heels recently and finds walking very difficult. What could be the cause of the pain? 

Your husband is overweight and needs to start lowering that at the earliest. With regards to the pain, it could be standing in a bad posture that’s putting extra pressure on the heels. However it could also be a nerve problem, so I suggest you have it looked at by a professional.

I am 22 year-old-man, 6’2” and weigh 108 kgs. I have tried several diets but none seem to work. I am also lactose intolerant. Could you suggest a diet that I can follow long-term? Since I am a Keralite, many of the dishes made at home are coconut-based. Where am I going wrong?

I would need a lot more information to suggest a diet however you are not grossly overweight so I suggest you follow the basic principles of eating healthy (lots of raw fruits and vegetables), exercising and staying hydrated. Also ensure that you are not eating a lot of white rice. As for being lactose intolerant; the most effective treatment is to avoid foods and medications that contain lactose, primarily milk and milk products.

I am a 40-year-old man weighing 57 kgs. I’ve been trying to gain weight but have reached a plateau. Can you recommend a diet that will help me gain weight the healthy way? 

The information provided is insufficient as I need to not only know your height but I also need to know your current diet to understand why you have reached a plateau. Doing yoga helps you achieve your ideal optimum weight, so I suggest you start  Hatha yoga and see if that helps.

I’d like to know if slaked lime can be used as a calcium supplement. How must it be consumed? Can be added while cooking or had raw? What is the quantity needed for daily supply of calcium? Can slaked lime help preventing/ curing osteoporosis? 

I do not recommend slated lime as a calcium supplement. I suggest you get your calcium from natural vegetables, nuts, sesame seeds etc., I suggest you research the internet for natural food sources of calcium as there are too many to put down here. I also suggest you give your body morning sunlight as it is vital for building bones, apart from that I suggest you go yoga and keep your body alkaline by eating healthy as a lifestyle as that is the best way to supply calcium to your body daily.

As appeared in the Bombay Times Column(Ask the expert)

By Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

Written by Sejal Vora

For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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I am a 30 year old married woman weighing 75 kgs. In the last six years I have put on 25 kgs much to my dismay. The culprit is a stressful lifestyle — no exercise, irregular diet, a tiresome job and late sleeping hours. My periods are also irregular periods and I have been diagnosed with cysts in my ovaries. What diet should I follow to lose weight? 

You already know the reasons why you have put on weight. The fact is that you have not been able to implement weight loss as you have not been able to implement regular exercise, diet, sleep or lower stress which leads to a healthy body. I suggest you first work with your mind. You could choose from a variety of alternative therapies like naturotherapy, life force therapy, homeopathy, reiki etc as all these practitioners work will help you lower stress and guide you towards finding your balance which in turn will enable you to eat healthy, exercise and lower stress etc. As for the cysts, I suggest you try hypnotherapy, as mostly this is related to birthing blocks and fears.

I am suffering from a number of food allergies. Could you suggest a healthy alternative to milk, nuts and corn? What food should I substitute for wheat?  

There are natural Allergy Elimination Techniques which are non-invasive, drug free and a natural solution to alleviate allergies of all types and intensities. These techniques use a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure, nutritional, and kinesiological disciplines of medicine where one allergen is treated at a time. I suggest you research this on the internet and work towards clearing your allergies to live a healthier life. As for your question for healthy substitutes; you can have 2 tablespoons Omega3 cold pressed oil instead of nuts. Milk and corn can be avoided as they are very acidic but do research on foods high in calcium and make sure to have calcium every day. Wheat can be substituted with Millet – Great, Sorghum aka Jowar.

I have been told that fasting once a week is a good practise. I try and skip my lunch every Friday (there is an eight to 10 hour gap between my breakfast and lunch). Is this a healthy practice?

An 8 to 10 hour gap is not good between breakfast and lunch. Up to 4 hours is ok.With regards to fasting, there are many types of fasts, I suggest a fast that allows you lots of raw fruits and vegetables all day as it nourishes the body and yet rests the digestive system. Please remember that it is important to rest when you fast.

Is having a jawar roti slightly dipped in oil or ghee good to have at breakfast? Also, I have noticed that when I skip my meals I tend to feel very heavy. Why is that?

Jowar roti is good, a little ghee is ok, if the oil is cold pressed then that’s good too, however its always better to start your morning with a variety of fresh fruits for breakfast and save the roti for later in the day . Without a complete diagnosis I cannot answer your question accurately, I suggest you consult a naturopath or homeopath and understand what’s causing it, to be able to cure it. It is also advisable to not skip meals and eat smaller portions more frequently.

As appeared in the Bombay Times Column(Ask the expert)

By Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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How long after eating possibly contaminated food would one suffer the symptoms of food poisoning?

Anywhere from a few hours to a few days after consuming contaminated food is the typical timeframe for experiencing symptoms of food poisoning. Although these symptoms may vary and may be mistaken with symptoms of other illnesses, the cramping, watery diarrhea, and vomiting may be part of the ordeal of food poisoning. While food poisoning symptoms usually go away in one to two days, symptoms may last for up to ten days. Immediately contact a health care provider if you experience high fever, bloody stools, dehydration, and diarrhea lasting more than three days.

I have very dry skin in winter and even though I moisturize it every day in the morning, by the evening it’s dry and itchy. Please advice the best way to keep skin moisturized all day and night.

Cold air cannot hold water and dry air dehydrates skin, causing smooth layers of cells to fall apart like a dilapidated wall. Hydration is the key to keeping your skin moist inside out. Drinking plenty of fluids like water, juice and soup to help maintain healthy skin. All natural Oils like coconut, olive, Almond and Omega-3 oils are healthy for your skin and can be applied instead of creams. Apply oil to your skin after bathing and if you don’t like the smell add a drop or two of any natural essential oil with fragrance. Last but not the least; eat plenty of nuts high in omega-3 during winter.

I have been experiencing pain in my lower back mostly during the night. It usually only happens when I am lying on my side, however lately it has been when I am lying on my back as well. Please advice.

This is the most common type of back pain known as non specific lower back pain. Non-specific low back pain is mechanical in the sense that it varies with posture or activity. Most people that lead unhealthy and sedative lifestyles encounter this pain at some point in their lives. In Hatha yoga, practicing postures (asana) that involve back bends help improve and strengthen your lower back. It is important that you eat healthily and practice these asana’s till your back improves, and once it does you need to try and incorporate yoga into your daily routine to stay healthy.

For the past few months or so, I’ve been having this tingling feeling in my feet just as I am falling asleep making me shifty and unable to fall asleep easily because of the tingles, I don’t seem to have any other symptoms and it happens once every few days. What could this be due to?

Since you have no other symptoms trying emptying your bladder before you go to bed, often tingling occurs when you try to sleep with a full bladder.  This should work. However if it still persists despite emptying the bladder then I suggest you check for diabetes and or deficiencies in vitamins. Poor circulation also contributes to tingling, so make sure you are keeping your body healthy by doing yoga to improve your blood circulation and maintain overall health.

As appeared in the Bombay Times Column(Ask the expert)

By Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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Is it true that water is bad if taken with food?

Yes, it’s true. Drinking water or any other beverage with a meal is unhealthy because it restricts digestion. The stomach has no teeth. Digestion begins in the mouth not in the stomach.  When we drink with a meal we dilute the digestive saliva of the mouth which comes from chewing properly.  Chewing your food to mush before swallowing prepares it for the stomach enzymes to break it down further before passing it on to the small intestine where pancreatic enzymes are released.  Water is the best beverage and should be had 20 minutes before or an hour after any cooked meal, not with.

My son is 9 years old and constantly keeps falling sick; mostly it’s a cough cold and sometimes even a fever. I don’t like giving him medication, but he cannot keep missing school, I don’t know what to do.

It looks like your son has low immunity, if the body is frequently creating mucus; it is doing so to protect him from unwanted virus/bacteria by trapping it in the mucus. The cough is also connected as the body tries to throw out used mucus. And the fever last but not the least is a sure shot sign that the body is constantly needing to fight for him as his overall immunity is low.  Unfortunately allopathic medication will only weaken him more. His immunity could be low due to different reasons, however it is important that you monitor your child’s nutrition and consult with a specialist to make sure he is getting the correct nutrition in to boost his immunity.

I have a constipation problem and it’s probably because I eat almost no fruits and vegetables and my diet consists of primarily meat. Is there any other solution besides eating fruits and vegetables as I don’t enjoy fruits and vegetables at all?

The body needs natural fibre, and there is no shortcut for that, fruits and vegetables are not only important for constipation, but most important for your entire physical well being including your youth and vitality. I suggest you start working with clearing your block against fruits and vegetables. This is easily doable with the help of positive affirmations or hypnosis.

I work at a bank and I report to work by 9 am, by around 3 pm I feel fatigued every day. As you had mentioned in one of your articles, that tea and coffee cause fatigue, I stopped drinking coffee in the afternoons, but the fatigue is still there. Is there anything else I can do or take?

I suggest you check the amount of water you’re consuming through the day. On an average depending on your height and weight, you need to drink sufficient water, as dehydration is often a cause for fatigue. Also watch you’re eating habits as if you are eating a lot of carbohydrates like white rice or white bread for lunch, it causes fatigue because it is high glycemic and uses a lot of energy to digest leaving you with none. If overall your nutrition is healthy and you are drinking enough water and still fatigued, I suggest you get it checked by your physician.

As appeared in the Bombay Times Column(Ask the expert)

By Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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 What are the benefits of breastfeeding over giving my baby bottled  milk?                         

Just as no animals child drinks another animals milk, is nature’s way of telling you as a mother to feed your baby. Mother’s milk has all the correct nutrition required for a human baby to grow healthily and most importantly mother’s milk alone helps build the child’s immunity which is what will protect your child from illness in the long run. Bottled milk or formula milk is very acidic for children. Ideally you should breast feed your baby for a year.

Is sugar in fruits safe for diabetics?

Absolutely, a diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits and vegetables which contain sugar and starch. Fresh fruits contain fructose, which does not need insulin for its metabolism, making it safe. People with diabetes however should eat fruits with a low glycemic index, i.e. below 55. This is to help prevent blood sugar spikes that make diabetes worse. Fructose also has a much lower glycemic index of 19 compared to glucose or sucrose (table sugar) which has GI values of 100 and 60 respectively. This means high fructose fruits will not spike blood sugar levels to the same extent as high glucose fruits. High fructose fruits like apples, pears, grapefruit and guavas, are beneficial for diabetics. It should be noted that beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are not a substitute for fruits high in fructose. These heavily processed drinks tend to have an extremely high fructose content, far in excess of that found in fresh fruits and are devoid of any nutritional benefits. Chronic consumption of HFCS has been linked to increased rates of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

I have tried several diets to lose weight, but I keep putting it back on, what in your opinion is the best diet to lose weight permanently?  

A diet is often thought of as a regimented eating plan to lose weight, however the truth is that no weight loss diets ever work permanently. The only way to lose weight permanently is to change your lifestyle and aim to be healthy vs. trying to be slim. If you are overweight you are most likely suffering from acidosis which does not allow you to lose weight. When the body is in a state of acidosis, the body needs all the fat and water it can retain to dilute your fat soluble and water soluble toxins. It is for your own safety that your body does this as it chooses survival over vanity. The key to losing weight is to focus on becoming healthy on the inside which will eventually lead to weight loss. Weight loss is a guaranteed side effect of being healthy.

I am asthmatic and have heard that wet haldi boiled in milk is beneficial. However, it is very harsh on the stomach. Is there something that can be added to the milk to balance the heat?

I am personally not a big fan of milk as it is acidic to the body. Turmeric may or may not cure your asthma, but is great in general to eat anyways as it will only do you good. A good way to consume haldi is with either a little bit of honey or ghee. I recommend you visit a hypnotherapist as asthma is most often related directly to the mind, and is most effective if treated through the mind. If you have been suffering from a long time, it is possible that the cause lies in your past; hypnotherapy allows you to locate the cause and resolve it, allowing you to be asthma free permanently.

as appeared in the Bombay Times Column(The Truth About)

By Sejal Vora (Naturotherapy Practitioner)

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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Different therapies for different people

The truth is that all disease in the body, whether it is obesity or cancer, PCOD or tumours, diabetes or high blood pressure, depression or insomnia is ALL rooted in the mind. Over time as the mind is not dealt with, it starts to manifest as disease in the body purely to get your attention.

If you only work with the body and ignore the mind, you will in effect only be suppressing symptoms. If you work only with the mind, you can cure yourself in time but it requires a lot of dedication and time. The best balance is found when both are dealt with together and that’s where alternative medicine comes in.

Alternative medicine tackles both the mind and the body if used correctly.

A few Alternative therapies are: Homeopathy, Bach Flower remedies, Hypnotherapy, Craniosacral therapy, Rieki, Theta Healing, Herbal medicine, Hatha Yoga, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Nutrition, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Life Force Healing and the list goes on.

In a fast paced world, where everyone wants short cuts, western medicine works wonders. But short cuts only make your journey shorter, and as all wise ones say, life is a journey, enjoy the ride, and don’t be in a rush to get to the destination as it is the journey that matters. Your body is merely a vehicle chosen by your soul to experience life on earth. The quality of your vehicle will determine the quality of your journey.

Western medicine is not going to work in the long run purely because you cannot separate your mind and body,  or your soul and your body, or your spirit and your body, at least till you are alive. Your body is created for your soul and not the other way around. If you keep ignoring your mind/soul and only dealing with the body, sooner or later you will be ringing my doorbell as they all do.

Most of my cases comprise of people who have tried for years to suppress one disease after another by popping pills and over the years more and more complications have arisen finally making them realize “It’s not working.”

Let me explain this with an actual case study:

I once had this woman who was in her late 30’s and she had recurring urinary tract infections, PCOD and recurring vaginal yeast infections. She had tried enough medication and had drunk all the cranberry juice she could get her hands on. She had even modified her diet using basic logic of less spice, less fried etc. Unfortunately over years the medication had caused acidity, face breakouts, IBS, constipation and lots of discomfort and pain most of the time, she eventually started taking sleeping pills as she couldn’t get sleep with the pain. Her body had also stopped reacting to pain killers, and last but not the least she had started experiencing mood swings, all in all she had been battling this since she was 17 and had spent 15 odd years living with the fear of pain and getting sick.

When she came to meet me, she wanted to understand nutrition and how she could eat more correctly to resolve this problem. She had done her research and had understood that specific foods can heal specific problems.

What she hadn’t researched, was her own life. In Alternative Medicine that’s the first thing that’s done. It is important to understand broadly, what experiences the patient has had that could be life altering for the future.  As I started my research on her life, I learnt that she had been sexually abused for 3 years by her uncle. She was 11 then and scared and obviously it hurt. She hadn’t told anybody about it, as she was told by her uncle that no one would believe her. Being at that tender age, a child is incapable of handling such situations. Her abuse only ended due to his sudden death.  And as he existed no more, she buried it deep down feeling shameful and eventually thought she had moved on.

Having noted this I asked her about her sex life in her current relationship and sure enough she was single at that time. As I dig deeper into her past few boyfriends, the deep rooted fears of her sexual abuse as a child start to emerge as a pattern in her life today, she couldn’t hold a relationship mostly due to sex. She found sex very uncomfortable and it often started off the infection. it was the infections that made her believe she was unable to enjoy sex, thereby avoiding it which eventually would chase the men away, leaving her single and frustrated.

The case had many more facets that revealed her strengths and weaknesses; however this particular trauma of sexual abuse had manifested into vaginal issues and was affecting her today. Her mind had associated sex as painful and non pleasurable. But being in her 20’s where consciously consensual sex is normal and healthy for girls that age, her subconscious mind associated it to painful and traumatic and not pleasurable, and that’s why it hurts her when in fact it is supposed to be pleasurable. Deep down buried was a fear of sex, and the infections were her body retaliating to trauma that she had not released.

It was clear that she needed to release this fear and release the anger that had built up over the years for not being able to share it without being judged or trusted, it was important to release all thoughts of shame as it is not shameful at all. While working with the mind either through hypnotherapy or theta, the body is simultaneously addressed and healed through natural foods step by step with a change in lifestyle v/s crash diets.

And that’s what alternative medicine is all about. It’s about using techniques that deal with resolving traumatic experiences that you are carrying for years. It is a form of healing that acknowledges your fears and traumas for real.

Western Medicine deals with the body, Nutrition also deals with the body. However till the mind is not addressed, you can pop as many pills as you like or eat all the fruits and vegetables in the world. In the long run, it is not going to work!

Western medicine definitely has its place in the spectrum of miracle recoveries, if we take it for what it is — a stop on the path to wellness and wholeness. I wholeheartedly am grateful for the miracles that allopathic medicine has provided. When viewed as a component of the process of overall health, I think that it serves an important purpose. It’s just a matter of putting it all in the larger perspective and plan, and not abusing the function it serves, or using it for manipulative purposes or as a lifestyle.

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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Being a Naturotherapist by profession helped a lot, as years of advising patients on how to deal with it, put additional pressure on me to perform and find my balance at the earliest, as I, of all people could not possibly be suffering like this. I was supposed to know it all!

Life presented itself in a way, where I feared losing what I loved and wanted most. And BAM! I experienced True Anxiety. Just in a moment, from no where, I felt like my heart would soon start beating in my palms, I was restless,  I didn’t know if I was coming or going, I felt no energy in my body, de motivated, loss of appetite, heartache, stress, depression, a sinking feeling, hollow and my head was filled with questions like:

Why me? What have I done to deserve this? What do I do? Please take this feeling away? How can I resolve this? How can I make everything normal again? Where is the old me who was happy? And many more, 16 days of anxiety can hold a lot of questions!

Frustrated I decided to switch off, as I couldn’t take it no more. Every day that counted up to the 16^th day felt like things were only getting worse and more confusing.. having read a lot on spirituality and philosophy, I couldn’t put a single theory to use. I could not implement anything with the storm inside me.

On the 17^th day I packed myself to Goa.  Just the act of having to pack, take a flight, book a cab, organize my stay gave me a sense of temporary calm for the first time in 16 days.

With just a little relief, I realized I needed to do things I loved just so I could be sane if not happy. Happiness was no where in sight. The relief periods were short but something was better than nothing. Using these temporary relief periods I tried to re open Pandora’s box, but it was a catch 22 situation, every time I pulled out an issue or tried to resolve it, I was back in the trap of confusion, first taking responsibility, then blaming when nothing else seemed right and bringing back on all that anxiety out in the open. Damn it! I was frustrated! The burden of living with stress, anxiety or depression is pretty much the same thing, they are all intertwined and I can personally tell you, I felt them all. I felt anxious at being helpless, depressed when I thought of my loss and stressed about what is to come, pain and guilt for not having acted earlier or not having said what I wanted to etc…

Pulling through somehow, on the 21^st day I crawled to the beach early and lay there watching the ocean for hours with all the same thoughts re-running in my head for the millionth time and no answer at all.

Suddenly just out of the blue, a thought appeared in my head:  it had no relation to anything, but I still played along.

What if a tsunami were to happen right now?

A Tear rolled down my cheek, and just in that moment I knew the magnitude of the question that  had appeared.

I wish I could explain how that moment of clarity felt, but id rather let you experience it, cause if there is anything I have learnt, it’s that: only experience is your true teacher.

If that wave came, there was absolutely nothing I would be able to do.

I felt a sense of relief . Just the clarity of knowing one thing right, something as simple as “there is nothing I can do right now if a wave pulls me in.” For the next 6 hours I lay there repeating this over and over again in my head. If a wave were to pull me in, then that’s my reality, I only have two choices, I can either accept it or fight it. And since I can’t fight it, I would have no choice but to accept it.

I started vaguely connecting the dots. I had not accepted anything for the last 21 days. Even though this tsunami thought had no relation to any of my issues, just accepting something without confusion made me feel calm.

If that wave were to take me, that would have been my reality.

I realized in that moment, that everything that is in our reality, in the current moment is true and unstoppable, making it destiny.

That’s called Destiny.  There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. If it’s there,  it’s there. It can change in the next moment, but then that becomes your destiny. Reality or destiny is what is happening to you NOW. and it changes moment to moment.  It is that short-lived.

The fact that you are reading this article right now, is because it’s in your destiny to do so, you have two options: you can either read it or not, either way, at this moment it’s still real, no matter what your next choice is.  You could choose to close it right now if it makes no sense, and so now you don’t see it, which is also now your new reality. How ever the fact that it was ever open before you closed it, both realities lived in their moments. Nothing you do, can take away from that.

My most logical next question was: If  its destiny and it’s not in my control why am I so anxious?

And the answer just flowed: I thought destiny is in my control, or worse, I needed to control the person or the situation to create the prefect destiny.

Was I passing the buck again? Was I blaming destiny for all my anxieties and not taking responsibility?

But as I brought each fear and anxiety out to question, I soon realized it actually was all destiny that I was fighting, it was my reality, those feelings of sadness were real, I couldn’t deny their existence even it were in my head and not a tangible thing. It was as real to me as a table or a chair.

If I accepted that I’m anxious I accepted that as my reality. That’s it. That’s where it ended. I couldn’t be confused anymore even if I wanted to. I couldn’t fight it. I couldn’t justify it, I couldn’t argue with it. It was the truth. I was feeling anxious. I couldn’t deny it any more. The minute I accepted it, I strangely felt ok. Not ecstatic but ok, and right now anything was better than anxiety.

Your current reality is your destiny. The only option you have is to accept it or fight it. When I say fight I mean deny, justify, blame, guilt and all such emotions which basically come down to not accepting your reality that has already presented itself. It’s there. Its real and you still don’t want to accept it.

Eg: if a wife is being beaten up by her husband, she does not need to accept the beating, she needs to accept that he is an abuser. Most women that stick to their husbands despite of being beaten, will convince you on how he is actually not always this angry, it’s just that this happened and that happened. That’s not accepting. Because if you accept that he is a beater, you stop expecting him to change and you realize this is what it is, I can’t change it. It is this acceptance alone that is required, nothing more.

You need to do NO more. You cannot do anymore even if you wish too. You cannot stop him from beating you, you cannot make yourself batter proof, you just need to accept that he is like this and that acceptance, then opens the next door, as your choice will be based on acceptance.

It is only acceptance that makes true sense. It seems like it’s too scary to accept because then you would be accepting anxiety which is worse cause then, you would really be anxious.

But it didn’t work that way, it worked differently. And I say this only out of my experience.

Think of it this way: your anxiety is as real as a table, now if you want the table to disappear, you can scream shout and blame it, ask it to go away, or even walk away physically from it, but in your head you know you are walking away from the table and so there is no solace there, because you actually wanted the table to get rid of itself. It’s the same with anxiety, its real, it’s there, accept it. You can’t ask the table or the anxiety to go away, you have to let it be because it already exists. It is IN your reality and that’s the truth. No if’s and but’s.

That sinking feeling that Medical Science says is one of the symptoms of anxiety and stress, is not a symptom. It’s the anxiety itself, popping a pill may reduce the sinking feeling by chemically and artificially inducing more happy hormones to be released. But you are still not accepting it.

I carried forward this new-found truth to my personal issue of whatever was causing me the anxiety to start with, because up till now I had only accepted the anxiety, I had yet to examine what really was causing it, why was I feeling it etc.. soon I realized I was re-entering the trap feeling anxious, so I pulled back out and went back to just accepting my anxiety and accepting that I can’t seem to stay out of the trap any other way.

Soon I realized there is absolutely no process. For 2 days I had tried every combination under the sun, and only accepting my anxiety made me feel okay.  I finally gave in and allowed my anxiety its own identity. I became friends with it once I accepted it. It was not  as scary as I thought, it was in fact very scary those 16 days where I didn’t accept anxiety and made it my enemy.

It was now the 22^nd day, strangely I found myself actually enjoying being with my friends, even though they had been with me in goa since the 17^th day, I was completely disconnected internally. Just accepting my anxiety allowed me to function at a normal level with something that didn’t have to do with my anxiety to start with. This time it was not a distraction, I was hanging with them with the awareness of my anxiety’s existence.  Big difference! I understood that the enjoyment came because I was not fighting my anxiety, both could co-exist. Anxiety for the first time felt like a friend too, felt real and I was acknowledging and accepting that.

It took me yet another day to experiment with other small issues and the theory fit perfectly to everything. If  I accepted it, there was no fight. The minute I would question it I was back in the trap.

I soon realized the nature of the trap, and no matter what your trap is, the underlying meaning is that you are not accepting it for what it is. If you want that table to be a chair, or you want that anxiety to become happiness.

It Doesn’t work!

So I re opened Pandora’s box, as this time I felt more confident internally having accepted anxiety. When I re opened the box, I started running old stories that caused me the pain and in that moment I realized that all of that too was my reality at that point and in that moment in time.

It was because I didn’t accept it I was in pain.

That was simple! Maybe a little too simple, I thought.

So I quickly sat up and wrote down everything that had caused me anxiety, and to my surprise the entire list which carried all sorts of  grouses had one thing in common. I had denied all of them their place in my destiny/reality.  I  had never accepted them.

I couldn’t digest, that all I had to do was accept it. I couldn’t believe that there was no thinking involved, no logic, no reason.. WTF! All these years I thought I had been planning my whole life, and making all the right choices.. but honestly I was just a fool.

The truth is that all the reasons that caused me anxiety were true. As true as the anxiety itself, and so if I had to accept the anxiety I had to accept the catalyst that brought it. So I gathered my courage and said the words aloud  “I accept”… and when I did, there was absolutely nothing more to say. For the first time I experienced true silence, and wowowowow what a feeling that is.. I couldn’t believe I was experiencing all this at once.

Having put that to rest, now I had reached the 23^rd day and I felt like I was ready to take the world on. I had still not practiced my new theory enough but it was so short and simple I just had to start applying it.

I found myself chanting I accept, I accept, I accept all day long..  and as the day progressed my realities kept changing and it was fun to actually be the observer for once accepting  my reality as it was unfolding, I felt like I had nothing to do with it, I was just there.

Soon I found myself in a discussion among friends about yoga, and being the hardcore yoga believer that I am, I saw my self pushing my thoughts down everyone’s throats…hmmmm… feeling a tad bit aggressive are we? I asked myself.

I took a step back and I saw the aggression, it was real, and so was the conversation and the different points of view. I actually said OK.. I Accept… suddenly I wasn’t anxious about being aggressive, I accepted that I was pushy, and kept quiet. I also then understood that acceptance goes beyond just you, it extends to everything in your reality at that point, I had to not only accept that I was pushy, but I also had to accept that what others believed about yoga was their reality and if  I couldn’t change mine, changing theirs was futile. Having accepted their point of view as truth the chapter was closed. Yes I had my own view points which I thought were true, but I also accepted that what others believe, is their reality and its as true as mine, no more no less.. WOW.. it was working!

Day 24 – I thought I had mastered it and feeling all in control I started my day, only to find out that I had been betrayed by a friend who I considered very near and dear to me for years.. I was shattered and angry on the inside. My immediate reaction was to give her a piece of my mind, my second reaction was to ignore it and my third reaction was to pretend to be above it and let it not affect me.. all were just forms of not accepting that I was betrayed. So I had no choice but to say “ ok.. I accept im cheated” I accept im angry and shattered.” Suddenly I felt nothing more. The chapter was closed. I accepted the hand destiny dealt to me on this one. I could have gone on for days and months and years about it, but denying anything that is real will only create more denial and that’s the real trap.

Accepting it just made it so much easier to deal with it. Because now I knew clearly what my next step was going to be. This next step would have never come to me clearly had I not accepted being cheated in the first place.

Today here and now as i type this,  is where my new journey begins.  A journey where I will do absolutely no intellectualizing of my reality, It is what it is, and its ok… I accept.

Everything is true, including a lie.

Thank you baby.. I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you.

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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Understanding Sugar:

The Sugar we eat today sold in grocery stores is a white unnatural substance produced by industrial processes (mostly from sugar cane or sugar beets) it is pure poison due to refining with chemicals, such as sulphur dioxide, phosphoric acid, calcium hydroxide, and activated carbon, stripped of all the natural food nutrition that it originally had in the plant itself. By refining it down to pure sucrose, after stripping away all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes and other beneficial nutrients, what is left is a concentrated unnatural substance, which the human body is not able to handle.
In producing heroin, the opium is first extracted from the poppy: The opium is then refined into morphine. The chemists then went to work on morphine and further refined it into heroin. Similarly, sugar is first pressed as a juice from the cane (or beet) and refined into molasses. Then it is refined into brown sugar, and finally into strange white crystals, that are an alien chemical to the human system.

It is interesting to note that raw sugar is also refined. Only evaporated cane juice is truly “raw” sugar (of the cane variety – sugars can come from other sources as well, such as beets and fruit). Once the cane juice crystals are harvested, they are washed, boiled,  filtered, and dried. The purpose of this is to remove all of the original plant materials (stalk, fiber, etc.) to produce the pure sugar. This process removes most of the fiber and nutrients that existed in the original crystals. The sugar then becomes refined, with no nutritional value.

The use of artificial sweeteners is often a case of trading one problem for another and is definitely not the path to excellent health. Needless to say, artificial sweeteners are more poisonous than refined sugar!

Sugar is the drug of choice for many people and it is not without consequences.

Sugar is a deadly addiction; people not only develop a strong taste for sugar but an insatiable craving for it so that they never seem to get enough of this poison, the reason being: refined sugar stresses the pancreas and deplete’s the body’s supplies of chromium. A common symptom of chromium deficiency is sugar cravings. And satisfying these cravings further lowers chromium and increases cravings.

Refined sugar deplete’s your body of all the B vitamins; it also leaches calcium from your hair, bones, blood and teeth. If that is not enough, sugar also affects your body’s digestion. Sugar ferments in your stomach. It stops the secretion of gastric juices and inhibits the stomachs ability to digest. Weight gain, mood swings and irritability are a few more side effects from consuming too much sugar. Sugar plays a major role in altering one’s mood. Refined sugar has a chemical reaction on the brain, releasing serotonin, the ‘feel good’ hormone; this tricks the body into a temporary lift as well as causing a rise in blood glucose levels. This ‘feel good’ lift is then followed by the crash where you feel tired, irritable and even depressed.

Do you know a major focus of the digestion and metabolism of all the carbohydrates we ingest is to produce a simple sugar: glucose. In fact, the glucose that courses through your bloodstream is so vital to survival that your body has elaborate mechanisms for ensuring that you always have enough of it available. Glucose is critical because it powers your brain, and without it, you can’t survive. Glucose is an important fuel required by your body.

Intrinsic sugars are natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables. These sugars are NOT harmful to our health nor are they fattening. Because natural sugars found in honey, fruits and vegetables are unprocessed and rich in fiber and nutrients, a diet high in fruits and vegetables will ensure that your body gets the small amount of sugar it needs while providing you with far more health benefits than refined sugar.

The reason why natural whole foods are so healthy is because we spent millions of years evolving on them. Based on this, an easy way to make sure that you’re eating the right foods is to ask yourself if they existed 10,000 years ago. If they didn’t, or if they’re packaged in plastic or a box, they’re likely to contain refined sugar.

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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A habit is something you do over and over again, ranging from brushing your teeth, drinking that cup of tea or coffee, smoking, being negative, being positive, being rich to attracting the right partner for you. In this dimension or on planet Earth, we are creatures of conditioning, and work within the parameters of the conscious and the subconscious mind.

If this is to be understood in more detail please read my article on the truth: About the Mind

If you do not understand how the mind works, your chances of successfully kicking or adopting a new habit are slim.

Most of us wage wars within us trying to change habits, not realizing that the “war” itself becomes a habit.

If you were to look at an EEG of your brain while you enjoying that cup of tea, you would see a line of neurons lighting up in a particular pattern. Every time you drink tea, or even imagine drinking tea, the same line of neurons light up.

If you are struggling to quit caffeine, nicotine or sugar, most likely you’ve been struggling for a long time, and trust me, it’s not changing anytime soon, as the neural pathway of struggle too has been created and reinforced everyday to not only make  the habit stronger but also the struggle harder.

The first and most important mistake people make is segregate habits as “good” or “bad”.  I call this a mistake only because the way we approach bad and the way we approach good makes all the difference.

The minute we address a habit as bad, we start punishing ourselves for not being able to kick it, we start experiencing emotions of guilt and lack of will power. We yell at ourselves in vain as we eventually succumb and then promise to start fresh tomorrow.  No prizes for guessing that the tomorrow mostly never comes.

We generate so much negativity trying to get rid of negativity that the end result is nothing but negativity.

Fortunately the good ones keep you positive which in turn will keep you healthy in the body and mind. It’s the ones you think of as “Bad” that need to be addressed.

Honestly guys… Stop punishing yourselves to rid a habit! It only makes things harder.

If you really want to kick a habit, stop fighting it!

What we need to understand is that neural pathways are neural pathways. The get formed with every thought/action and the more times it is repeated, the stronger the neural pathway gets regardless of whether it is good or bad.

Stop segregating habits into “good” and “bad”. You have free will to change what ever you like, exercise it gracefully. Be more accepting and loving towards your self.

Stop fighting to change it. As it is you have a habit to deal with, don’t make the struggle a second habit.

Always try to create a new habit to replace an old one and be gentle on your self. Aggression is the worst habit to have. All that you require to change a habit is  re-wiring in the brain, retraining the pathway of the neurons to line up with something new. Most people want to see it to believe it, but the truth is that you have to believe it to see it. So believe it’s easy and it will be.

Start at the level of your thoughts, after all it is mind over matter:

For e.g.: If you want to start a habit of healthy eating, spend 30 days practicing this thought every day: “I am a healthy eater, and I love choosing foods that support my vitality”. Spend this time before you do ANY action and you will find yourself with a solid foundation from which to shift your actual behavior.

Start small, start slow.

For e.g.: If you want to start Yoga. Don’t jump into it 6 days a week at 5 am. The brain and the body like humans do not take kindly to abrupt changes in their environment. When the body is exposed to small daily changes, it gradually adjusts to those changes through a process known as adaptation. So start with twice a week and then build it from there.

If there is a physical addiction (nicotine, caffeine etc) use alternative therapies like hypnotherapy or acupuncture as they tremendously aid the process.

Whatever you do, please love yourselves through the process. Believe it’s easy and don’t stress. Know that it is you who “started” it and you who will “end” it;  however it is the “journey” that truly matters. and if struggling has not given you the desired result, try something new.

Written by Sejal Vora

To read similar articles click here. For more information on how Naturotherapy can help you click here.

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