Anti-Ageing – A Fresh Approach – Boosting Immunity – Part -1
By Prithu Nath
Getting to be Young again Past 45, with better digestion and quicker bowel movement by using Ancient Indian Herbs that help to get the digestive system to function optimally as it used to, when we were in our 20’s to 30’s may now be possible.
Slowing of which is the first and root cause of accelerated ageing, Medical Issues, Impaired Immunity & Metabolic Syndrome.
Getting things to move more quickly as they used to in your 20’s and 30’s is possible with a bit of diet control to repair the damage, a less sedentary lifestyle and with ANCIENT INDIAN HERBS AS A COMBINATION THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HEAL AND DETOX ALSO!
As Food gets digested Properly and the Bowels move quickly again, better and in greater quantity minerals, vitamins and amino acids absorption begins to reoccur and more food can pass through more quickly via our gut. Lesser Toxins are absorbed from the Stagnating Food inside the Gut and the result is constipation vanishing naturally.
Try it for 30 days and see the difference ! The Solution to the Problem is at the end of this write-up.
What Really Happens to Our Digestion that results in Ageing quickly !
Past 45 . Slowed and Impaired Digestion, Slower Bowel Movements, Constipation are the first Cause of Accelerated Ageing !
Getting Past 45 and thinking about ageing and it’s consequences on your physical appearance?
Been wondering how some people just don’t seem to age and look young even when they cross 60 ?
Looking at your parents and grand parent one always wonders why so many ailments cropped up past 45 and one tends to believe in the make believe that this is part of the natural ageing process ?
Worldwide people and scientists are researching on the ways to increase life span and prevent ageing !
One fact is, that as we age, one very important change occurs in our body which is the ageing of the digestive system in multiple ways. Once this happens we start getting less minerals and vitamins and amino acids into our body which in turn leads to a quick degeneration of our health, appearance and our body in general.
Aging puts the body at higher risk for an assortment of health ailments and conditions. With age, many bodily functions slow down, including your digestive tract — it just might not work as efficiently or as quickly as it used to. The muscles in the digestive tract become stiffer, weaker, and less efficient.
Your digestive system moves food through your body by a series of muscle contractions. … As we age, this process sometimes slows down, and this can cause food to move more slowly through the colon. When things slow down, more water gets absorbed from food waste, which can cause constipation.
There’s no doubt that the aging human body undergoes numerous changes. Age-related health conditions include macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, hypertension, and neuro-muscular and anatomical changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As we grow older, onset of digestive symptoms such as dyspepsia related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and flatulence become multi-factorial. Oral health, lifestyle and diet, medication use, motility or anatomical alterations, and hormonal shifts are among the contributing factors.
A sedentary lifestyle coupled with a slower metabolism often leads to weight gain in middle age. Overweight and obesity increases diabetes risk, and diabetes can cause a decrease in GI motility, resulting in gastroparesis. Moreover, additional weight puts pressure on aging joints, which can further inhibit exercise. The associated joint pain resulting from excess weight may lead to frequent use of NSAIDs, and both weight gain and NSAIDs can exacerbate GI issues such as GERD and gastritis.
Lifestyle and GI Consequences
In addition to oral health, a decline in physical activity, alcohol intake, and stress can play both an indirect and direct role in exacerbating GI symptoms. More specifically, a sedentary lifestyle, excess alcohol intake, and overeating can worsen GI symptoms or create a new health issue that disrupts GI function or requires medications that cause GI side effects.
“Obesity is the number one chronic disease. One hundred forty six billion dollars are spent annually on treating obesity-related chronic diseases including GERD. Frequent large meals, eating before bedtime, alcohol use, along with insufficient exercise, contribute to GERD risk.” Caffeine use also may worsen the condition. GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t close properly, allowing acid from the stomach to rise to the esophagus. Symptoms include indigestion, burping, bloating, and heartburn.
Other symptoms of GERD that are prevalent in 35% of individuals aged 50 to 79 include dysphagia, and regurgitation.6 Stress can contribute to greater alcohol consumption, which can further aggravate GERD symptoms, and increase the risk of diverticulitis, a condition that presents with abdominal pain, alteration in bowel habits, and fever resulting from inflamed or infected small sacs or pouches, called diverticula, that have formed in the lining of the large intestine.7
Medication Side Effects
Several medications also induce GI symptoms. NSAIDs are associated with a higher risk of GI mucosal injury–associated gastritis. Geriatric patients are the heaviest users of NSAIDs because of the pain and discomfort linked with osteoarthritic changes.2 Drug-induced GI villous atrophy, the flattening and erosion of the absorptive areas of the small intestine, has been described with the use of Imuran, methotrexate, neomycin, and olmesartan, which can cause severe bloating, distention, change in bowel habits, and malnutrition.8 Metformin, a commonly prescribed oral anti-diabetes drug, can cause nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, and diarrhea. Narcotics or neuroleptic medications can lead to a decline in colonic transit contributing to constipation. Proton pump inhibitors may promote small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) by minimizing gastric acid, a key antibacterial barrier in the small bowel. SIBO is a condition in which abnormal amounts of bacteria overgrow in the small bowel, resulting in gas, bloating, and changes in bowel habits.
Anatomical and Neuromotor GI Changes
Physical or anatomical changes in older people due to muscular atrophy also are common. The GI tract comprises a series of muscular organs. While coordinated movements of these muscles contribute to normal peristalsis, aging can weaken the muscles, and circumstantial events, such as pelvic floor damage due to difficult childbirth, potentially can culminate in the onset of GI symptoms, including constipation and bloating. Neuromotor changes in how nerves impact motility, due to neurodegeneration, can occur in the GI tract during aging, which can contribute to dysphagia, GERD, and constipation.9 There’s an increased frequency of slow transit or motility-related issues, such as delayed gastric emptying and constipation with aging.10
Diverticulosis
Another GI disease that’s common in middle-aged people is diverticulosis, a condition in which the diverticula within the lining of the large intestine aren’t infected or inflamed but may cause constipation, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, or pain in the lower abdomen. It’s estimated that by age 50, one-third of Americans will have some diverticula and by age 80, nearly two-thirds will have diverticular disease.2 Studies have found links between diverticular disease and obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and certain medications, including NSAIDs. Alcohol intake is a risk factor for diverticulitis and perhaps is the reason this condition is more prevalent in Westernized countries, although heavy intake of highly processed, low-fiber foods also has been implicated.7
Pelvic Floor Disorders
Anorectal dys-synergy or paradoxical anal contractions can lead to incomplete emptying of the rectum. Diabetes can further contribute to constipation due to delayed transit times secondary to autonomic neuropathy. Age-related changes in the physical structure and function of the pelvic floor likely contribute to constipation and fecal incontinence.11 Satish S. C. Rao, MD, renowned motility expert and gastroenterologist at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, Georgia, says, “Pelvic floor disorders encompass many problems that include dyss-ynergic defecation, rectal prolapse, excessive perineal descent, fecal incontinence, and others. They affect 20% of the population and profoundly affect quality of life, particularly in the elderly. Recognizing the problem, defining the underlying mechanisms, and providing appropriate treatments are cornerstones for successful management. This requires a multidisciplinary approach involving gastroenterologist, registered dietitians, biofeedback therapists, and motility labs.”
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can result from food-borne illness, antibiotic use, fecal imp-action, colon cancer, carbohydrate mal-absorption, SIBO, or overproduction of bile acid.12 Ninety percent of colon cancers occur in people aged 50 or older.2 Celiac disease is increasing in the elderly population. However, GI symptoms associated with celiac disease are subtler in older individuals.13 Food intolerance can occur at any age and should be considered if diarrhea is present.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance also increases with advanced age, and in one study it was noted to occur in 50% of elderly subjects. Of those with lactose intolerance, 90% presented with SIBO. Eradication of the bacterial overgrowth corrected the lactose mal-absorption, revealing the role of microbes in this condition.14
Fecal Incontinence
Fecal incontinence may occur due to pelvic floor dysfunction, which may develop due to obstetrical injury or with decreased rectal compliance, which can accompany aging. Fecal incontinence is common in middle age and also may occur due to chronic constipation, diarrhea, or chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes. A study from the University of North Carolina found that fecal incontinence prevalence was similar in men and women and increased with age, and noted that 15% of those aged 70 and older experienced fecal incontinence on a monthly basis.15
Hormone Changes
In women, GI symptoms often are exacerbated during menses and early menopause, suggesting that a decline in the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone may play a role. Whether this is a direct effect of hormone withdrawal on motility or an immune-related mechanism needs to be determined.16 Diane McGrory, MD, a gynecologist and clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and Newton-Wellesley Hospital, says, “Women often complain of abdominal bloating, increased gas, and increased abdominal fat in menopause. Some theorize that lower estrogen levels decrease bowel motility through changes in neurotransmitters. As women age, their abdominal muscles weaken, and there’s more abdominal bulge after eating. Abdominal bloating also is a symptom of ovarian cancer, so if the symptoms don’t improve by eating smaller meals and increasing exercise, then further investigation by a gynecologist or primary care physician should be initiated.”
THE SOLUTION TO AN IMPROVED DIGESTION
As one ages, digestion is impaired in most people due to reduction in stomach acids and weakening of the intestinal tract from where the absorption of minerals and nutrients happens. Trikatu rekindles this Agni which is the Fire within, for better digestion.
Secondly it also helps in healing the body when people are suffering from the Metabolic syndrome or a slowing metabolism.
Trikuta is an Ancient Indian Combination of Herbs that heal the body holistically.
We bring the benefits of Trikuta with other herbs to you as a Dal / Lentil / Vegetables Herbal Mix which not only enhances the taste of your dal but also provides immense Health benefits to the entire family.
It is always difficult to convince many members within the family to consume Herbs because of the taste and the inconvenience associated for some. Besides many people within a family may get stomach burn symptoms after consumption of the Herbal Mixes. Now we bring a more convenient way of having Herbs as these can be added to the Dals / Lentils and further more you can follow your own recipes of tempering the dals / lentils even after adding this spice Blend.
Now cook authentic North West Frontier Cuisine the traditional way with Herbs Blended with Spices.
North West Frontier Cuisine and Indian Cuisine in General is known for both flavour and health but we take this concept to the next level by adding Herbs that heal and are therapeutic in nature.
So next time enjoy your food plus boost your immunity and at the same time heal yourself.
History
Trikatu is a Sanskrit word meaning three spices or three peppers. Trikatu is an Ayurvedic blend of equal parts of the fruits of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Long Pepper (Piper longum) and the rhizomes of Ginger (Zingiber officinale). We have modified and supplemented Trikatu with other essential Herbs which are very important for ones well being ! You can call it Trikatu on Steroids !
Where to Use
This Herbal Spice Mix can be added to Dals / Lentils/ Beans/ Chick Peas / Curries.
Description
Tri means three, Katu means pungent. 3 pungent or heating herbs which contains Black pepper, Ginger and Long pepper.
- Help to clear excess kapha or mucous from the body
- Support respiratory functions
- Helps to rekindle Agni, the digestive fire
- Supports digestion and Boosts metabolism
- It works like scraping action on excess fat tissue. So helps in weight management.
- It helps to take out excess impurities or ama from the body
Trikatu is recommended to be used along with other Ayurvedic herbs to support and enhance the bio-availability of those herbs.
Trikatu supports respiratory function by getting rid of excess Kapha
Flavor Profile
Mild
10 Health Benefits Of The Potent Herbal Combination
Health Benefits
We have combined the goodness of black pepper, ginger, long pepper, Ajwain, Zeera, Nutmeg, Heeng, Bahera, Kulanjan to create a herbal remedy for digestive ailments, sluggish metabolism, obesity, and high cholesterol. Its immune-boosting effects and antimicrobial properties help you fight infections. It’s ability to soothe colds, asthma, and bronchitis make it invaluable to those prone to seasonal allergies. It improves Immunity plus with better digestion more minerals and vitamins are absorbed into our system thereby improving overall health !
Health Benefits Of Trikatu Boosted Dal / Vegetables Herbal Spice Blend
Trikatu is a herbal ayurvedic remedy that combines seemingly mundane larder ingredients to create a powerhouse remedy for everything from digestive problems to arthritis. This ancient blend makes the most of the warming effects of the spices it contains to rev up your metabolism, stimulate digestion, purge your body of toxins like mucus, and leaves you feeling like a new person. If that sounds promising, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Trikatu Is A Combination Of Black Pepper, Long Pepper, And Ginger
A spice-laden ayurvedic formulation, the pungent trikatu elements can get your taste buds tingling while also doing wonders for your body in more ways than one. Made from a heady blend of black pepper or Piper nigrum, long pepper or Piper longum, and ginger or Zingiber officinale, it is prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners to treat multiple diseases courtesy the range of biological activities the piperine in the peppers has on mammals like us!1 The churna or powder of trikatu is said to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, digestive, pain-relieving, and expectorant – the main properties of the formulation that you will find tapped in the list of remedies to follow.2 Here’s a more detailed look at its health benefits that you’d want to make the most of.
1. Improves Digestion And Detoxifies Your System
Trikatu churna is renowned for its ability to help you with digestion, so if you are having trouble in that department, look no further for much-needed relief. Long pepper helps rejuvenate your digestive system as does ginger, while the black pepper helps purge toxins. Together, these remedies combine in trikatu to improve food absorption, gastric function, appetite, and digestion overall. So if you are struggling with a sluggish digestive system, bloating, constipation, or other digestive problems like flatulence, you should consider trikatu.3
2. Improves Immunity And Fights Microbes
When it comes to fighting infections, trikatu can help on multiple fronts. It can not only boost immunity and enhance vitality but also has antibacterial properties.4 As one in-vitro study confirmed, it was able to counter bacterial strains that are common sources of many infections – the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Trikatu churna extract’s action was even comparable to that of a popular mainstream antibiotic drug ampicillin.5
Studies also show that that trikatu churna has strong anthelmintic properties that help tackle parasites. The formulation has the potential to stimulate the immune system to counter parasitic activity in the body and expel them.6 Another study also confirmed its anti-fungal properties against fungal species like Mucor and Aspergillus niger that are implicated in some respiratory illnesses.7
3. Boosts Metabolism And Helps With Weight Loss
Trikatu may be just the ticket for someone with slow metabolism and can also help tackle weight problems or obesity. Ayurveda looks at trikatu as a heating remedy that can rev up your metabolism. As you’ve already seen, it helps boost digestion and expels toxins from your body. This stands you in good stead if you are obese or overweight or have a sluggish metabolism.8 Combine that with its ability to help fat metabolism in your liver and you have yourself a good weight loss aid.
In one study, over a duration of 3 months, taking 2 gm of trikatu churna twice daily could help bring about a drop in weight and body mass index (BMI) as well as hip circumference in people with dyslipidemia. Their lipid profiles also improved. Combining the churna with 20 gm of aloe vera pulp brought about an even greater reduction in both weight and BMI.9
Just remember, because trikatu is also an appetite stimulant, you might find yourself feeling hungrier when you first start to take it. Beat the hunger pangs with a healthy snack or a calorie-free herbal tea, watch your calorie intake, and you should be able to tap its benefits as a weight loss aid.
4. Helps Ease Respiratory Problems
Trikatu combined with an equal amount of honey and anise seeds is used as a remedy for springtime allergies or mucus in the respiratory system. The paste can be taken twice or thrice a day, a teaspoonful at a time.10
Trikatu acts as an expectorant and decongestant, clearing your lungs and air passages and helping you breathe normally when you have a cold, congestion, or other respiratory problems. Ayurveda believes that it helps eliminate “ama” or toxins and clears congestion in the form of mucus. It is also used to treat chest congestion and phlegm if you have bronchitis and asthma.11
5. Boosts Liver Function And Helps Treat Jaundice
Trikatu can also help those with liver diseases. In one animal study, trikatu was found to have a hepatoprotective effect, countering liver damage when the subjects were exposed to toxic carbon tetrachloride.12 Trikatu is considered especially beneficial if you have obstructive jaundice, a condition that causes a blockage of bile flow to the intestine, resulting in symptoms of dark yellow urine and yellowish skin and eyes.13
6. Fights Inflammatory Conditions Like Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gout
Autoimmune inflammatory disorders can often be hard to beat. For those with the aches and pains from rheumatoid arthritis, some days can be a real struggle. If you’re looking for respite, the anti-inflammatory properties of trikatu may be just what the doctor ordered. Animal studies back up trikatu’s claim of being a potential anti-arthritic remedy.14 It may help properly modulate your body’s immune response while cutting the characteristic inflammation associated with the disorder.15
Gouty arthritis or gout causes your joints to become swollen, red, and painful due to the excess uric acid buildup in the body that forms sharp crystals in your joints.16 Animal studies show that trikatu was able to stabilize biochemical changes like enzyme levels that go awry in anyone with gout. It also eased inflammation in affected test animals. In addition, the remedy had a pain-relieving or analgesic effect.17
7. Reduces Risk of Atherosclerosis And Hyperlipidemia
When plaque from fat, cholesterol, and other substances builds up in your arteries over time, it can cause them to narrow. This condition known as atherosclerosis is potentially dangerous because it doesn’t just reduce how much oxygen or blood your body can supply to your vital organs, it also raises the risk of your developing a blood clot that could cut off flow to the brain and heart.18
Which is where trikatu comes in. The herbal remedy has the ability to reduce levels of both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as triglycerides and increase your “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – in effect, helping you maintain a healthy cholesterol ratio. This cuts your risk of a high cholesterol problem or hyperlipidemia as well as atherosclerosis.
Animal studies have backed up this with evidence and later human studies show promise too.19 For instance, in one study, patients with hypercholesteremia or high cholesterol levels who took 3 gm of trikatu churna twice a day after meals along with lukewarm water experienced improvement in their lipid profile in 3 months’ time. They also did not experience any adverse side effects.20
8. Improves Sexual And Reproductive Health
Trikatu may help you in the bedroom as it is believed to be a natural aphrodisiac. This warming formulation also strengthens the function of your reproductive organs, energizing them and boosting reproductive health in both men and women.21
9. May Treat Skin Diseases
Trikatu is also traditionally used for treating skin diseases.22 For instance, it is used in many ayurvedic regimens to treat psoriasis or eczema. Ancient ayurvedic texts describe the use of trikatu along with ayurvedic remedy haritaki as well as jaggery and sesame oil for a period of one month to cure skin diseases. Pitta problems like itchiness of the skin can also be improved by having trikatu.
10. May Help Improve Effectiveness Of Other Medicines
Trikatu is also a bioenhancer – a substance that helps make other drugs become more readily available and effective in the body. Such substances are usually given to patients along with their regular medication to help that treatment become more effective. For example, rifampicin, an antibiotic used for treating tuberculosis and leprosy, is increasingly coming up against mutant strains of bacteria resistant to it. However, if combined with trikatu, some of the effectiveness of the drug is restored. This makes the herbal remedy a vital addition to the treatment arsenal for such illnesses in the face of drug-resistant bacteria.
Similarly, if you need to take the anti-seizure medication phenytoin, heart medication/beta blocker propranolol, or respiratory ailment medication theophylline, trikatu could help boost their effectiveness. That said, further and wider human trials are needed to establish this benefit.23 24 So do not discontinue your medication or alter your dosage of any of these drugs. Instead, consult your doctor about how best to combine the benefits of the mainstream and alternative remedies.
Using Trikatu Safely
Trikatu is typically taken in small doses combined with either water, or honey, or milk but here we have modified the formulation so that it can be added to Dals / Lentils / Chickpeas and Curries without worrying on the quantity as it is a combination of many herbs. For adults taking it on a regular basis, the amount of powder taken should be very small – often less than even a quarter of a teaspoon. Doses are typically under 1 gm though you may sometimes need to take more.25 For children, the dosage may be as little as 125 mg. Pregnant women should avoid the remedy altogether, though nursing mothers may be cleared to take it after consulting their doctor.26
Baheda, Ajwain, Cummin Seeds, Nutmeg, Heeng, Sonth (dried Ginger) Plus, Kulanjan are all super beneficial for health and well being and digestion and in improving metabolism, for the respiratory tract, lowering of the bad Cholesterol etc.
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