Sensitive teeth and vegan diet april 26, 2013

"Dear Dr. Mishra, I am your client from Santa Barbara.

Lately, I have very sensitive teeth and the enamel is receding. I was wondering whether you have an advice for me. What is missing in my diet (I am a vegan) and how can I support the health of my teeth.

Many thanks, Thea"

Dear Thea: being vegan, you may be lacking some amino-­‐acids. amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Your tissues, your cells, your enzymes and your brain all get their nourishment and protection from amino acids. Research indicates that amino acids also aid in the production of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that facilitate communication among brain cells. Ovo-­‐lacto vegetarians (vegetarians who do consume eggs and milk products) can obtain all amino acids from their food. However, it can be difficult for strict vegetarians and vegans to get all their essential amino acids. Most vegetarian protein foods, such as beans and seeds, contain only portions of the essentials. A noted exception to this is soy, which may contain complete protein but we know through SVA precepts and current research findings that soy is not a viable alternative for regular consumption.

Humans can produce 10 of the 20 amino needed acids. The others must be supplied in the food. Failure to obtain enough of even 1 of the 10 essential amino acids, those that we cannot make, results in degradation of the body's proteins—muscle, gums, bone, etc. —to obtain the one amino acid that is needed. Unlike fat and starch, the human body does not store excess amino acids for later use—the amino acids must be supplied through the food you consume every day.

In general, the amino acids absent in a strict vegetarian diet are non-­‐ essential amino acids -­‐-­‐ your body can produce them from other amino acids and nutrients, but there are some amino-­‐acids such as Proline, © Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.

Taurine, and Carnosine that are not available through a strict vegetarian diet.

Proline is found only in eggs, dairy products and meats, and it is necessary for the production of collagen. It also helps strengthen tendons and heart muscles.

Taurine is found in milk, beef, fish, eggs and dairy products, and it helps with the health of the heart muscle, skeletal muscle and white blood cells. It is also a component of bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and transferred to the small intestine as needed for digestion.

Carnosine may help prevent adult-­‐onset diabetes, nerve damage and kidney damage.

So if you are low in amino acids, you will naturally be protein deficient, and you will then experience pitta imbalances which can manifest as problems in your bone tissue. In your case, your oral cavity is showing signs of high pitta imbalance in the bone and muscle tissues. What can you do?

You may want to consider adding some animal protein and calcium to your diet: milk, fresh cheese, ghee. This will pacify pitta and reverse the imbalance. If you do not wish to do this, you may need to take amino acid supplements.

Otherwise, locally, you can use the SVAdanta High Calcium toothpaste available on www.chandika.com. This toothpaste is specifically formulated to balance the pitta in the oral cavity and to help prevent de-­‐mineralization through its high calcium content.

Another thing to do is to maintain high pH balance in your oral cavity.

For this you can gargle with coconut oil at night before bed. Put 1 tablespoon coconut oil in your mouth and hold and swish around for about 3-­‐5 minutes then spit out and rinse with warm water. © Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.

In general, keep a pitta pacifying diet by consuming more protein and less acidic items.

"Dear Prana Center, I am so grateful for Saturday afternoons' teachings. I enjoyed how Vaidya began the conference talking about his meditation and ended the call reminding us of the importance of meditation in our Ayurvedic lifestyle.

I have the following questions: *In diarrhea case: treating the nutrient and giving rehydration drink because it will: 1. pacify apana vayu 2. Nourishes what?

Santarpana spelling? *Does tulsi tea become toxic if brewed for long time?

Thank you, Brenda C."

Dear Brenda: When apana is aggravated, specifically in the case of a “virechana” or bowel cleanse, we have to try to pacify apana vata through both possible aspects of pacification: “santharpana” and “shamana.”

There are 2 ways to balance apana vata in the situation of diarrhea. One is through nourishment or santharpana and one is through shamana or pacification. When you use the rehydration drink (water with lime, a pinch of Soma Salt, ¼ tsp toasted cumin seeds and some sugar), due to the presence of electrolytes, it has a santharpana effect. Also, the presence of grahi spices (such as the toasted cumin) enhances absorption and thus counteracts the diarrhea mode. Lime, on the other hand, has the “shamana” effect as it is characterized by the “anulomana” property, that is, it “pushes down” or © Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.

pacifies down the apana vata, so that the apana vata flows down in the right direction in a balanced way. Santharpana nourishes the rasa dhatu.

As to your other question concerning Tulsi tea, yes, it should not be brewed for more than 10 minutes. What happens is when it is brewed for more than 10 minutes, it releases a lot of astringent chemicals, and this may not be good for everybody. So it can be said to be “toxic” only in this sense. Too much astringent taste/flavor has “kashai rasa” and enhances/increases absorption which will result in constipation. Boiling it too much will also take away the delicate flavor of the tea. Also always boil on medium heat, and covered boiling so you don’t lose the aroma of the herbs – an important asset of the Tulsi tea. Boiling longer will create loss of the aroma.

Dear Vaidya: “What Veggies are astringent? Are peas? Carrots?

Hoe frequently should Kulhi Dahl be taken, (once a week, twice a week?)

Thank you, Nancy P.”

Dear Nancy: astringent vegetables during detox program enhance absorption of nutrition after virechana or elimination (bowel movement). If you experience too many movements, in order to stop the frequency of bowel movements, you need to enhance absorption. For this, we recommend astringent fruits and vegetables, or the “kashai rasa.”

Fruits such as cranberries, pomegranates, berries such as black and blue berries; vegetables, such as, broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, asparagus and turnip. Peas are not astringent, they are sweet, so are carrots.

© Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.

Kulthi dahl should be consumed once to a maximum of twice a week.

For more information you may watch Vaidya Mishra’s video on kulthi dahl on our YouTube channel, SVA Health.

Devdatta D. “I have grown Guduchi) plant in my house. Is it advisable to use its leaves/stem with tea? Is it useful for the body? If not to be used directly, please suggest the correct way. “ Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is definitely useful for the body. It is considered a sacred life-­‐bestowing herb in Ayurveda, and also goes by the name of “amrita” – that which takes away or “a,” the “mrita/mrityu” or death. In other terms, it is the plant that bestows life.

In general, Guduchi leaves or stems can be drank as tea in the following manner: add one fresh leaf or about ¼ inch of the stem to one cup of water and bring to a gentle boil for 8-­‐10 minutes over medium heat, make sure to boil with the lid on so as not to lose any of the properties.

However, you can only have this if you know your body is in good, somewhat toxin-­‐free shape! If you carry a lot of toxins in your blood tissue or any other organ and organ systems, remember that Guduchi bestows life by cleansing that which shortens or takes away life, namely, toxins, so if your body is in need of detox and you consume this tea, you may actually cause a detox crisis – nausea, or burning sensation, or a skin rash. These will be the symptoms for toxins that have been dislodged and that will need to be evacuated safely. If you are not working with a health expert who will help you detox safely, I recommend you do not ingest the Guduchi plant. Otherwise, it is already a very auspicious thing to simply have a living Guduchi plant at your residence. © Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.

© Adishakti LLC, 2013. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your medical physician.

For more information, visit www.vaidyamishra.com or call 1.888.9SHAKTI.