Kokum cola !

 Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a mysterious drink that held incredible benefits for those who dared to try it. It was called Kokum Cola, and it was rumored to be the secret to long life and good health.

Being curious by nature, I decided to investigate this drink and find out what all the fuss was about. As I took my first sip, I was entranced by the taste - tangy and sweet, with a hint of spice that lingered on my tongue.

But it wasn't just the taste that impressed me. Kokum Cola was packed full of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that were essential for maintaining good health. It was a natural detoxifier, helping to flush out toxins from the body and improve digestion.

Not only that, but Kokum Cola also had powerful anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent drink for those suffering from joint pain or other inflammatory conditions. It was also a natural energy booster, giving me the stamina I needed to get through long days at work.

But perhaps the most impressive benefit of all was its ability to promote healthy skin and hair. Thanks to its high vitamin C content, Kokum Cola was like a magic elixir for achieving glowing skin and luscious locks.

As I continued to drink Kokum Cola regularly, I noticed a significant improvement in my overall health and wellbeing. I had more energy, clearer skin, and a stronger immune system - all thanks to this amazing drink.

So, if you're looking for a tasty and nutritious drink that offers a multitude of health benefits, look no further than Kokum Cola. Trust me, your body will thank you for it.

The Quirky Cool Soda -KOKM

 Good Day , everyone! Welcome to my stand-up routine about kokum soda and its health benefits. As you know, KOKM  – also known as kokum soda in India and wild mangosteen beverage in the West – is a refreshing, spiced beverage made from the fruit of the kokum tree. It's gaining popularity all over the world, but it's been especially popular in Konkan, a beautiful coastal region of India.

The main ingredient in kokum soda is the fruit of the same name. It's extremely rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a powerful health-boosting agent. Some of the traditional uses of kokum drink include supporting immune and digestive health, managing diabetes, preventing dehydration, and even helping to keep the skin healthy.

In addition to the unique health benefits of kokum, the drink is also surprisingly delicious. I'm a firm believer that you can't go wrong with kokum soda. It's not too sweet and the tartness of the fruit balances it out nicely. Plus, it's made with just a few simple ingredients, so it's a totally natural way to quench your thirst.

I recently started drinking kokum soda myself, and I can definitely attest to its health benefits. For starters, it's great for when I'm feeling sluggish as it gives me a natural boost of energy. Plus, it helps to keep me more hydrated, which is especially important when hot weather rolls in.

All in all, I think kokum soda is a great drink to have in your daily routine. It's deliciously refreshing, completely natural, and it provides a wealth of health benefits. So the next time you're feeling thirsty, why not give it a try?

The Sweet Aroma from the Land of Plenty.

Whether it is for religious purposes, medicinal value or simply for its pleasant fragrance, agarbatti is a product found across almost every Indian home. Today, the Indian market is flooded with agarbattis [also known as joss stick in China or incense stick in other countries] of various colours, fragrances and qualities. But, the market for agarbatti is not by any means limited to India. People across the globe, whether they be in US or UK, Malaysia or Ethiopia enjoy agarbatti as much as Indians do – opening up a global market for exporters.

Agarbatti, mostly a handmade product [in India], is exported to almost the entire known world from India. While many countries are known for selling unscented or raw incense sticks, India is known for its perfumed versions.

In India, a wide variety of agarbattis are available in different shapes, colours and fragrances at very competitive prices, from sandalwood to lavender, and rose to mogra. Buyers are practically spoilt for choice. Adding to the brag-bucket is the fact that India-made agarbattis are considered to be one of the best in the world – no wonder, we enjoy such a vast customer-base across the globe. So, how attractive is the market?

It’s in the air

The contribution of agarbatti to India’s exports business may not have attracted much attention as it accounts for a mere 0.04% of India’s total exports. But a deeper look at the numbers tells a story of a niche export product with tremendous potential. This product has seen a steady demand in overseas markets, irrespective of economic or political climate.

From India to the world

India exports most of it's Agarbatti to United States, United Kingdom and Australia and is the largest exporter of Agarbatti in the World. The top 3 exporters of Agarbatti are India with 68,487 shipments followed by China with 13,395 and Vietnam at the 3rd spot with 10,777 shipments.

Ancient practise

The practice of incense as a healing tool was assimilated into the religious practices of the time. As Hinduism matured and Buddhism was founded in India, incense became an integral part of Buddhism as well. Around 200 CE, a group of wandering Buddhist monks introduced incense stick making to China.

The oldest written source on incense is the Vedas, specifically, the Atharva-veda and the Rigveda, which set out and encouraged a uniform method of making incense. Although Vedic texts mention the use of incense for masking odors and creating a pleasurable smell, the modern system of organized incense-making was likely created by the medicinal priests of the time. Thus, modern, organized incense-making is intrinsically linked to the Ayurvedic medical system in which it is rooted.The method of incense making with a bamboo stick as a core originated in India at the end of the 19th century, largely replacing the rolled, extruded or shaped method which is still used in India for dhoop and cones, and for most shapes of incense in Nepal, Tibet and Japan. Other main forms of incense are cones and logs and benzoin resin (or ''Sambrani''), which are incense paste formed into pyramid shapes or log shapes, and then dried.

Growing trends in Indian Handmade Exports

 Handicraft is one of the most important sectors in the Indian economy employing more than seven million people. The country produces woodware, artmetal wares, handprinted textiles, embroidered goods, zari goods, imitation jewellery, sculptures, pottery, glassware, attars, agarbattis, etc. The Handcraft industry in India is dominated by female artisans with over 56% of the total artisan. The country has 744 handicraft clusters employing nearly 212,000 artisans and offering over 35,000 products. Surat, Bareilly, Varanasi, Agra, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Chennai, and Mumbai are among the major clusters. Most of the manufacturing units are in rural and small towns, and there is enormous market potential in all Indian cities and abroad.

Significant advances in the availability of handicraft products on various online portals are bolstering market growth in India. Handicrafts are becoming increasingly popular as the country's travel and tourism industry grows. Tourists spend significant money on souvenirs and other craft items, expanding the opportunity for local artisans and craftspeople to produce and sell efficient handicrafts. Furthermore, rising demand for handmade décor accessories in homes, offices, and restaurants and rising demand from the gifting industry are propelling market growth. The sector is economically viable with low capital investment, high value addition ratio and high export potential.

India is one of the largest handicrafts exporting country and a clear leader in the homemade carpet segment both in terms of volume and value. In May 2022, the total handicraft export, excluding handmade carpets from India was US$ 120.06 million, a 1.01% increase from April 2022. During 2021-22, the total exports of Indian handicrafts were valued at US$ 4.35 billion, a 25.7% increase from the previous year. Over the past three years, the export of handmade goods, especially carpets, has grown steadily. India accounts for roughly 40% of global exports of handmade carpets. Carpet exports from India totalled US$ 1.37 billion in FY20. Between April 2020-February 2021, total carpet exports totalled US$ 1.33 billion. Major goods exported by India are Handmade woolen, woodwares, embroidered & crocheted goods, art metal ware, hand printed textile & scarves, agarbatties & attars, zari & zari goods, and imitation jewellery. Handicraft export of various segments from April 2020 to January 2021 stood as follows, woodwares at US$ 611.48 million, embroidered & crocheted goods at US$ 463.13 million, art metal wares at US$ 353.92 million, handprinted textiles and scarves at US$ 239.73 million, imitation jewellery at US$ 144.19 million, miscellaneous handicrafts at US$ 714.67 million. From April 2022-September 2022, total handicrafts excluding handmade carpets stood at US$ 716.21 million.

Demand for Indian handicraft products has constantly been increasing in foreign markets due to their individuality and great beauty. The major handicraft export destination for India are USA, the UK, LAC, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, the UAE and Switzerland. USA is the top importer of Indian handicrafts with a share of 38% of the total exports during 2020-21. India exports carpet to over 70 countries worldwide, primarily to USA, Australia, and Europe. The largest carpet export destinations for India are USA, Germany, the UK, and Australia with a share of about 57%, 6%, 5% and 5%, respectively.

USA is a significant buyer of handprinted textiles, zari woods, embroidered goods, imitation jewellery, and shawls. Carpet export to USA stood at over US$ 1.2 billion in 2021-22. The UK is a customer of Indian handicrafts, purchasing art items, crocheted items, handmade handicrafts, wood wares, and imitation jewellery. The country has also been a major importer of Indian handmade carpets. UAE is one of the major buyers of handprinted textiles, embroidery goods and art metal ware.

Handprinted textiles, imitation jewellery, embroidery items, and art metals are popular purchases in Germany and the country purchased carpets worth US$ 116.64 million in 2021-22.

Pharmaceuticals and medical errors are now a leading cause of death.

We don’t have to live in a medicated world, but we certainly choose to. The crux of the matter is that we refuse to proactively think about prevention because we reactively commit to treating the symptoms of underlying health problems. This is the allopathic model. We want the quick fix so we can continue our poor lifestyle and dietary habits. It doesn’t have to be this way, but it is. We can blame doctors, the medical institutions and healthcare systems all we want, but self-responsibility is our only recourse if we are ever to surface from this mess. There are no excuses–if you’re taking one of these drugs, consult with a Natural Health Practitioner this week about phasing out your medication and phasing in these powerful natural foods and remedies.

Of the over 4 billion prescriptions written every year, the United States and Canada make up more than 80% of the world’s prescription opioids (psychoactive medications). Between 1997 and 2012 prescription opioids increased in dosage by almost 500%. Pharmaceuticals and medical errors are now a leading cause of death. Painkillers are the leading cause of accidental death.

In the last 15 years of life, people are experiencing more pain for longer periods than at any point on our historical record. If you think life expectancy has increased to the benefit of mankind, you’re not looking at the numbers.

78% of U.S. prescriptions written in 2010 were for generic drugs (both unbranded and those still sold under a brand name). The most prescribed drugs aren’t always the best selling drugs, there’s a difference.

Prescriptions for pain, cholesterol reduction, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, antacids, antipsychotics, diabetes and antibiotics make up 100% of the most prescribed drugs.

Make a commitment to yourself right now and start incorporating some of these amazing foods into your diet with no consequence of side effects. When you accept this, you will get off prescription medications for good.

Check out the top 7 most prescribed drugs and the best natural remedies to treat and prevent disease.

1. HYDROCODONE (Acetaminophen/Vicodin/Oxycontin)

Use: For Pain 

Currently the single most prescribed drug in the world. More and more doctors are getting huge payouts from pharmaceutical companies to promote these hydrocodone, especially generic drugs. They make up more than 20% of the top prescribed medications.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told Fox News that doctors are handing out narcotics like candy. Some doctors are giving patients prescriptions for narcotics for even minor injuries.

How it Works: 
It is an orally psychoactive compound that works as a narcotic and analgesic. It is biotransformed by the liver into several metabolites. It is highly dependent on metabolism by the Cytochrome P450 pathway.

Consequences:
Respiratory depression; bradycardia; coma; seizures; cardiac arrest; liver damage; and death. Inherited genes such as the Cytochrome P450 affects metabolic pathways–some cannot process it at all, whereas a smaller percentage can get even more strength from it than usual.

Natural Foods: 
Ginger, turmeric, berries, cayenne pepper, celery/celery seeds, cherries, dark green veggies, walnuts.
See: Natural Healing Remedies: 10 Foods That Fight Inflammation And Pain

2. STATINS (Generic versions of Lipitor/Zocor/Crestor)

Use: Reduction of LDL Cholesterol

Approximately 15% of the top prescribed medications are generic statins. A study published in January 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine linked statins to 48 percent increased risk for type-2 diabetes.

The are NO scientific studies ever documented which have proved through causation that lowering LDL cholesterol prevents disease. The obsessed culture of lowering cholesterol may actually be causing cancer.

How it Works: 
Statins artificially lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting a critical enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver.

Consequences:
Inflammation and pathological breakdown of muscle, acute kidney failure, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, interference with sex hormones and death.

Natural Foods:
Nuts, spinach, apples, turmeric, cranberries, tomatoes, green tea, fatty fish, beans, alfalfa herb, capsicum fruit, garlic, psyllium, fenugreek seeds, butcher’s broom, licorice root, hawthorn berry.
See:
- New Data Shows Lycopene Reduces Heart Disease Up To 26 Percent
- Two Apples a Day More Effective At Reducing Heart Disease Than Statin Medications 
- Top 5 Foods and Herbs To Control Cholesterol
- World Renown Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease

3. LISINOPRIL (Prinivil/Zestril) AND NORVASC (Amlodipine)

Use: Reduction of High Blood Pressure

In combination, Lisinopril and Norvasc make up a whopping 23% of the top prescribed medications. This makes them the most prescribed generic medications (if combined) for cardiovascular disease and blood pressure. Individually, Lisinopril constitutes approximately 14% and Norvasc about 9%.

How it Works: 
Lisinopril is typically used for the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and heart attacks. Norvasc is used for hypertension and angina. It accomplishes this by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle so it essentially interferes with the metabolism of calcium.

Consequences:
Cancer, blood disorders, development of breasts in men, impotence, depression, tachycardia, enlargement of gums, inflammation of the liver, elevated blood glucose, hepatitis, life threatening skin conditions.

Natural Foods:
Any foods high in vitamin C (chili peppers, guavas, bell peppers, thyme, parsley, dark leafy greens, broccoli), any foods high in magnesium (chocolate, green leafy vegetables, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, pumpkin and squash seeds, pine nuts, and black walnuts) and any foods high in potassium (mushrooms, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, oranges and dates). Coconut oil/water and CoQ10 are also very effective for lowering blood pressure.
See:
- Magnesium Reduces Blood Pressure Naturally Without Side Effects
- Low Salt Diets Do Not Decrease Blood Pressure, Period
- Vitamin C Supplements Reduce Blood Pressure Without Side Effects Associated With Medication
- Low Potassium Linked To High Blood Pressure

4. SYNTHROID (levothyroxine sodium)

Use: Hypothyroidism

A synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, generic Synthroid makes up more than 11% of the top prescribed medications. It’s used to treat hypothyroidism. The related drug dextrothyroxine (D-thyroxine) was used in the past as a treatment for elevated cholesterol but was withdrawn due to cardiac side-effects.

How it Works: 
It replaces the thyroid hormone which is naturally occurring in the thyroid gland essentially halting natural production.

Consequences:
Long-term suppression of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) causes cardiac side-effects and contributes to decreases in bone mineral density (high TSH levels are also well known to contributes to osteoporosis.) May also cause elevated blood glucose levels, heart failure, coma and adrenal insufficiency. TSH directly influences the whole process of iodine trapping and thyroid hormone production so use of synthroid directly affects how the body metabolizes iodine.

Natural Foods:
Any foods containing iodine such as seaweed, kelp, radish, parsley, fish, seafood, eggs, bananas, cranberries, strawberries, himalayan crystal salt. Also, copper, iron, selenium and zinc are essential in the production of thyroid hormones. Exercise a minimum of 20-30 minutes per day — enough to raise the heartbeat.
See:
- Seaweed Extracts Can Help You Lose Weight, Mostly Body Fat
- 8 Critical Nutrients Lacking In More Than 70 Percent of Diets
- The Number One Reason So Many Women Have Trouble Losing Weight

5. PRILOSEC (omeprazole/generic versions of nexium)

Use: Antacid

A proton pump inhibitor which constitutes just over 8% of the top prescribed medications. Omeprazole is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for reflux disease (GORD/GERD/LPR) and ulcers internationally and is available over the counter in some countries.

How it Works: 
It suppresses gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the gastric acid ions in cells. The absorption of omeprazole takes place in the small intestine essentially turning off the switch which promotes healthy digestion of foods. Omeprazole is also completely metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system.

Consequences:
Angina, ulcers, tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitations, elevated blood pressure, development of male breasts, inflammation of the pancreas, irritable colon, mucosal atrophy of the tongue, liver disease/failure, elevated blood sugar, muscle weakness, skin conditions, tinnitus, inflammation of the eyes, urinary frequency, testicular pain, anemia and blood cell disorders.

Natural Foods:
Grapefruits, probiotics, broccoli sprouts, manuka honey, mastic gum, marshmallow tea, glutamine, slippery elm, deglycyrrhized liquorice (DGL), aloe vera juice, baking soda, pickle juice.
See:
- Grapefruit Heals Stomach Ulcers
- Broccoli Sprouts May Prevent Gastritis, Ulcers and Stomach Cancers
- Manuka Honey Reverses Antibiotic Resistance, Treats Disease

6. AZITHROMYCIN AND AMOXICILLIN

Use: Antibiotic

In combination, azithromycin and amoxicillin contribute towards a mind-blowing 17% of the top prescribed medications. Then we wonder why we have antibiotic resistance. On their own, each contributes about 8.5%. Azithromycin is one of the world’s best-selling antibiotics and derived from erythromycin. Amoxicillin is usually the drug of choice for children.

How it Works: 
Inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cell walls and interfering with their protein synthesis. These drugs also inhibit the protein synthesis of good bacteria needed for immunity and proper digestion.

Consequences:
Inflammation of the liver, inflammation and destruction of the stomach lining, destruction of healthy bacterial populations, inflammation of the colon, allergic reactions, obesity, human antibiotic resistance.

Natural Foods:
Sunlight (vit D), garlic, coconut oil, turmeric, foods high in nicotinamide (vit B3) such as salmon, sardines and nuts. Also manuka honey, olive leaf extract, green tea, pau D’Arco, rose water, myrrh, grapeseed extract, golden seal, oregon grapes, oregano oil, andrographis paniculata, and probiotics.
See:
- Garlic Proven 100 Times More Effective Than Antibiotics, Working In A Fraction of The Time
- Before Antibiotics Ever Existed, Sunlight Was Used To Treat Diseases With Great Success
- The Most Potent B Vitamin That Combats Infections Better Than Antibiotics Ever Could

7. GLUCOPHAGE (metformin)

Use: Oral anti-diabetic drug

Glucophage drugs round up the top 7 but the prescription rate of this drug is rapidly increasing. It makes up about 7% of the top prescribed medications. It is the first-line drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in particular, in overweight and obese people. It also acts to indirectly lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

How it Works: 
By suppressing natural glucose production by the liver, the drug activates an enzyme which plays an important role in insulin signaling, whole body energy balance, and the metabolism of glucose and fats.

Consequences:
Lactic acidosis, impaired liver/kidney function, decreasing thyroid stimulating hormone and testosterone, increased homocysteine levels, malabsorption of vitamin B12, B12 deficiency, bladder cancer, heart failure. The biggest consequence of diabetes drugs is that it causes pancreatic function to substantially decrease inhibiting several hormones and causing other imbalances which are never correctable without abstaining from the drug.

Natural Foods:
Black tea, Sunlight (vit D), potentially coffee (more research needed), turmeric, nuts, chia seeds, green leafy vegetables, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, red grapes, steel cut oatmeal, broccoli, spinach, green beans and strawberries. 90% of all cases of diabetes can be resolved by eating foods with a low glycemic load, and pursuing both weight training and aerobic exercise.
See:
- Study on Black Tea Consumption From 42 Countries Shows It Lowers Diabetes Risk
- Two More Bombshells For Vitamin D: It Prevents Both Type I Diabetes and Cavities
- Coffee’s Anti-Diabetes Benefit
- Healthy Diet, Moderate Exercise Reduce Diabetes Risk Better Than Drugs
- How Turmeric Has An Anti-Diabetic Effect On The Body

The drugs on which we spend the most money are those that are still new enough to be protected against generic competition. That’s why drugs like Abilify and Seroquel (antipsychotics), as well as Plavix (blood thinner) and Advair Diskus (asthma inhaler) don’t make the list.

Sources:
drugwatch.com
guardian.co.uk
mercola.com
webmd.com
wikipedia.org

Tethys:Himalayan Crystal Salt

http://madalbal.in/index.php
This Salt Is Over 250 Million Years Old !!

Salt is essential for life -- you cannot live without it. However, most people simply don't realize that there are enormous differences between the standard, refined table and cooking salt most of you are accustomed to using and natural health-promoting salt.

These differences can have a major impact on your staying healthy.

If you want your body to function properly, you need holistic salt complete with all-natural elements. Today's common table salt has nothing in common with natural salt.

Your table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals such as moisture absorbents, and iodine. Dried at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the excessive heat alters the natural chemical structure of the salt.

Containing all of the 84 elements found in your body, the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt include:

Regulating the water content throughout your body.
Promoting a healthy pH balance in your cells, particularly your brain cells.
Promoting blood sugar health and helping to reduce the signs of aging.
Assisting in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body.
Absorption of food particles through your intestinal tract.
Supporting respiratory health.
Promoting sinus health.
Prevention of muscle cramps.
Promoting bone strength.
Regulating your sleep -- it naturally promotes sleep.
Supporting your libido.
Promoting vascular health.
In conjunction with water it is actually essential for the regulation of your blood pressure.

The Typical Table And Cooking Salt In Your
Grocery Store Has Been "Chemically Cleaned"
What remains after typical salt is "chemically cleaned" is sodium chloride -- an unnatural chemical form of salt that your body recognizes as something completely foreign. This form of salt is in almost every preserved product that you eat. Therefore, when you add more salt to your already salted food, your body receives more salt than it can dispose of.


This is important as over 90% of the money that people spend on food is for processed food.

Typical table salt crystals are totally isolated from each other. In order for your body to try to metabolize table salt crystals, it must sacrifice tremendous amounts of energy.

Inorganic sodium chloride can keep you from an ideal fluid balance and can overburden your elimination systems.

When your body tries to isolate the excess salt you typically expose it to, water molecules must surround the sodium chloride to break them up into sodium and chloride ions in order to help your body neutralize them. To accomplish this, water is taken from your cells in order to neutralize the unnatural sodium chloride.

This results in a less-than-ideal fluid balance in the cells.

Get Salt as Nature Intended It -- Pure Himalayan Crystal Salt


With chemical dumping and toxic oil spills polluting the oceans at an alarming rate, most of today's sea salt is not nearly as pure as it used to be. Himalayan Crystal Salt is pure salt that is mined and washed by hand -- with zero environmental pollutants.
Today's table and cooking salt is void of the vital trace minerals that make this Himalayan crystal salt so precious. Crystal salt has spent over 250 million years maturing under extreme tectonic pressure, far away from exposure to impurities.

The salt's unique structure also stores vibrational energy. All of the crystal salt's inherent minerals and trace elements are available in colloidal form -- meaning they are so small your cells can readily absorb them.

The Crystal Salt from the Himalayas does not burden your body as other salts do. It is very difficult for your body to absorb too much crystal salt since there are powerful and effective feedback loops that regulate this process. Natural crystal salt always promotes a healthy balance and does not contribute to high blood pressure like typical table salt.

Crystal Salt's array of elements forms a compound in which each molecule is inter-connected. The connectedness allows the vibrational component of the 84 trace elements present in the salt to be in harmony with each other and adds to the ability to promote a healthy balance. When it comes to the power of natural salt, nothing compares to Himalayan Crystal Salt. Here's why:

It is the highest grade of natural salt.

Under an electron microscope, crystal salt has a perfect crystalline structure.

It is mined by hand and hand-washed.

Crystal salt is immune to electromagnetic fields

Crystal Salt contains no environmental pollutants.

There is no limited shelf life and no need for silica packets to prevent clumping.

Key Minerals in Himalayan Crystal Salt Promote a Healthy Balance in Your Body

Himalayan Crystal Salt is salt in its native form, with all its vibrational energy intact and it helps promote a healthy balance in your body. Promoting balanced electrolytes helps to keep your body in homeostasis -- the balance of chemicals that is conducive to the body's function.

"The renowned Frezenius Institute in Europe analyzed the Himalayan Crystal Salt and proved that it has an amazing array of important trace minerals and elements including potassium, calcium and magnesium that help promote a healthy balance by maintaining fluids and replenishing your supply of electrolytes whenever you sweat heavily. (This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient.)"

Himalayan Salt vs. Sea Salt and Rock Salt: A Crystal Comparison

Many people believe sea salt is a healthy alternative to table salt, but this is no longer the case. The oceans are being used as dumping grounds for harmful toxic poisons like mercury, PCBs and dioxin. Reports of oil spills polluting the sea are becoming more frequent. With some 89% of all the sea salt producers now refining their salt, today's sea salt simply isn't as healthy as it used to be.


If you were to look into a microscope at sea salt (pictured left) you would see it has irregular and isolated crystalline structures disconnected from the natural elements surrounding them. Thus, however many vital minerals it may contain, they cannot be absorbed by your body unless the body expends tremendous energy to vitalize them. Your body's net gain is small compared to the great loss of energy.

Because the crystalline structure of crystal salt is balanced (pictured right), it is not isolated from the 84 inherent mineral elements, but is connected to them in a harmonious state. This means the energy content in the form of minerals can be easily metabolized by your body. When you use this salt it has a vital energetic effect. Your body gets an ample net gain with little energy loss.


Mined salt, or rock salt, is also a poor substitute for Himalayan Crystal Salt. While natural rock salt comes close to being intact and is more valuable than industrial table salt, from a biophysical as well as bio-chemical perspective, it holds little value.

The elements contained in rock salt lack sufficient compression to be included in the crystal web, but are only attached to the surface and in the gaps of the crystalline structure. It is the considerable pressure that brings the elements to a colloidal state - where your cells can readily absorb them. The valuable elements found in rock salt are useless because your body cannot absorb and metabolize them.

Kokum: The Xangosteen from Goa!

From childhood i have enjoyed the solkadi that  my mom made, as i grew up i remeber drinking Kokum sarbat during summerThe more i research into the goodness of this wild fruit from my native state, the more i am amazed by its versatile health benifits.According to the Resource Book on Kokum, published by the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation this, inexplicably, is indeed one of the most underexploited trees in India. Different regions know it by different names: Bindin, Biran, Bhinda, Kokum, Katambi, Ratamba or Amsol.  In English it is called mangosteen, wild mangosteen, or red mango.  However, there differences in tastes.  Mangosteen, especially grown in Southeast Asia and Central and South America have more richly luscious pulp.  They are also sweeter.  Most kokum, although they have the same health benefits, are on the sour side.  Therefore traditionally, in the cuisine of the Konkan or Indian west coast, the inner segments of fruit flesh have been discarded and only the dried peel is used.  However, one can use the actual fruit as well.  One just needs to make adjustments so that the sour taste does not become overwhelming.   

The fruit can be used in so many different ways: in cooking, as juice, in medicine and in cosmetics, to name just a few of the known areas of benefit.  Although a native of, yet commercially underexploited in India, kokum or mangosteen is far more appreciated in – the USA, or in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia where branded kokum products on such XanGo, Thai-Go, Mangosteen-Plus, or Mango-Xan have become household names, at least among circles interested in organic food and integrative health.  In India nothing of this sort has been tried, yet.  Here, it is mostly the locals along the Arabian Sea coast that know and make use of how good and versatile a fruit kokum really is.

http://osoda.webs.com/

In the USA kokum went mainstream, about ten years ago. A company and product named XanGo, created waves after 2002 when it became the fastest growing network marketing company at the time:  Their research claimed that the powerful phyto-nutrients contained in the rind of the kokum fruit, and thus their preparations have manifold health benefits.  It was said that they help:

·      Maintain intestinal health

·      Support the immune system

·      Neutralize free radicals

·      Support cartilage and joint function

·      Promote a healthy seasonal respiratory system

South Asian as well as South East Asian folk medicine confirms the claim.  According to Southeast Asian folklore, kokum rind was used to make a tea for problems such as diarrhea, bladder infections and gonorrhea.  Here in South India, kokum juice has also been around forever.  When compared to commercial bottled drinks it is a healthier and far more refreshing option.  It acts as an appetite stimulant and also has anti-helmintic properties (i.e. it eliminates worms). 

Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses preparations from the fruit externally and in infusions to treat skin ailments, rashes, burns, chaffed skin and scalds.  It is also applied to provide relief from sunstroke, tackle dysentery, and mucus diarrhea.  Traditional Chinese Medicine likewise makes use of preparations from the mangosteen fruit, for example in the treatment of dysentery.

All of these traditional uses, again, have in turn been verified by modern laboratory studies.  Modern day tests corroborated that the compounds contained in the kokum rind, namely alpha-mangosteen, beta-mangosteen, garcinone B, and garcinone E (collectively labeled as xanthones) have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties.  Furthermore test tube experiments have revealed that, as powerful anti-oxidants, xanthones may actually help in the fight against cancer; they have shown to be carcinogenic for some cancer cells, at least in vitro.

A major test recognized as the industry standard for measuring anti-oxidant activity is known as “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC)”.  USDA researchers at Tufts University developed it.  Total ORAC value measures total antioxidant strength of any substance.  It is therefor a valuable tool in establishing the medicinal value in a food.  A high ORAC value corresponds to high antioxidant strength.  In this context it comes as noteworthy piece of news that the antioxidant power of the whole mangosteen fruit juice has an ORAC value of 17,000 per gram. In comparison, whole blueberries, a rich source of antioxidants, has an ORAC value of 61 units per gram, while pomegranates has an ORAC value of 105 units per gram.  Kokum or mangosteen must indeed be considered as the fruit highest in anti-oxidant value and action.

But even with this the list of the kokum benefits has not come to an end just yet.  We need to add at least one more: kokum as a slimming agent:  Hydroxycitric (HCA) acid is one of its known ingredients.  It has recently been patented as hypocholesterolaemic agent.  In lay-man's words, HCA combats obesity.  It suppresses fatty acid synthesis and lipogensis.  How so, you may ask?

According to www.kokumbenefits.com, “HCA suppresses the enzymes that convert excess calories from food into body fat.  Besides thwarting the production of fat, this action causes excess calories to be converted into glycogen, which is stored in skeletal muscles and the liver.  When glycogen levels rise in the body, gluco-receptors in the liver are stimulated.  These receptors send signals to the brain, which act to suppress appetite.  In the meantime, as stored fat is burned by the body’s normal metabolic processes, it is not replaced.  This combined effect of fat depletion, inhibited fat storage, and reduced food consumption makes kokum a very potent weight loss agent.”

A great way to refresh yourself is by sipping onto Kokumade, I love it!!