“Excerpted from Tarika Ahuja’s ‘The Asthma Cure’ with permission from Penguin”.
We live in a country where the growing epidemic of poor air quality is a sword dangling on all our heads. Many children in India and China, where air pollution is accelerating, are prone to asthma. Asthma is related to one’s diet and environment. Sadly, modern medicine currently has no cure for asthma.
Hence what we need is a long-term solution dietary change as the foundation. The change needs to involve a move away from animal fats and sugars and towards a plant-based diet. In addition to that traditional energy medicine—such as yoga, macrobiotics, , naturopathy, unani—have a very clear understanding about specific dietary requirements which helps to minimize the damage inflicted by air pollution and other common triggers.
Tarika Ahuja’s ‘The Asthma Cure’ aims to provide food plans and dietary choices which if taken up diligently will result in evident positive benefits in a growing generation of individuals suffering from weak lungs and respiratory diseases.
Listed below are a few dietary suggestions and food plans in that healthy direction:
- Brown Rice: Brown rice should be a central part of the diet for someone who has asthma or any lung-related disease. If a person’s digestion is weak, then it is essential to cook the brown rice in a way that makes it easily digestible. Softly cooked rice, khichdi or cream are good options. Initially, it can be eaten three to four times a week. For those who do not suffer from chronic digestive diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis, brown rice can be part of the daily diet.
- Mucus-Dissolving and Lung-Nourishing Vegetables: These include white radish, red radish, pumpkin, gourds, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower and sweet potatoes in moderation. White or commercial brown bread, white pasta, cheese, butter, milk and sugar transform into mucus in the body. Pungent or bitter vegetables like white radishes, red radishes, turnips, leeks, ginger, spring onions (also known as scallions), bitter gourd, etc., help melt the mucus. Also, it is necessary to use calming, sweet and warm vegetables as well. Examples of these vegetables include carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc. If you are trying to reduce excess mucus in your lungs and body, emphasize on pungent and bitter vegetables for the first four to five months, along with some sweet nourishing vegetables. Also include one to two helpings of leafy greens each day.
- Hot Cleansing and Warming Beverages : These include traditional hot teas from India and the Far East with healing ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, Holy basil, clove, black pepper, cinnamon, kudzu root, burdock root and lemon.
- Black Seed Oil Remedy : You can opt for this three times a week or as recommended by a natural health counsellor. Mix ½ tsp black seed oil (kalonji oil) with one whole organic black peppercorn and a few drops of organic raw honey. Consume on an empty stomach or two hours after a meal. Have it at the same time every day.
- Soups: Have soups often. In the winter, you can have it almost every day; in the fall and spring about three to four times a week; and in the summer at least twice a week. Consume pureed vegetables soups most often as these support digestion and immune function. Pureed vegetable soups also help relax the tightness in the chest and lungs.
Today, people seem to have lost the ancient knowledge and deep intuitive sagacity about life, health and nature. This book using its genuine and practical tips and information hopes to bring this back.