Healthy eating: Simple eating habits as per Ayurveda will help you live longer

GOOD eating habits may take a while to adopt and cultivate once you decide to follow a new regime.

But the amazing response that the body shows after the adoption of good eating habits will free you from regular discomfort and there is no chance of giving up unless you are careless about your health.

Also, there will be an urge towards continuous curiosity about a health-conscious diet.

It is clear with all developed research studies that the food we eat has its effect almost on every part of our body, including the nails, skin and even hair.

Healthy eating habits prolong our life by providing the systems and organs with the fuel they need to sustain capability to attain longevity.

So it is important to cultivate the habit of eating seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Remember, we are part of nature.

AYURVEDIC DIETARY HABIT:

An ayurvedic dietary habit that has been around for about 5 000 years will be useful for those trying to make dietary changes without doing extensive research on the types of food that provide important minerals and vitamins.

Ayurveda plans a diet in a different way.

Persons with the same height, weight and BMI (body mass index) will have different body types according to ayurevda. No individual is alike. In ayurveda, the following factors are considered during the assessment of an individual’s dietary needs.

- Prakriti, which is the body type and which decides an individual journey of life with health or illness.

- Intensity of digestive power, which is called Agni in ayurveda.

- Time factor, which can be considered in different perspectives like time taken for digestion, time of the day, time in season, etc.

The above three factors play a major role in the digestive process according to the ayurvedic view.

SIMPLE RULES TO ADOPT:

- Hot and fresh: Warm and fresh food are easily digestible and have natural taste. Avoid eating cooked food that has been stored in refrigerators.

- Quantity: One should consume a proper quantity as per digestive power. Always consider that a stomach must be filled in three major inputs – food, water and air.

This means that you must eat one third of your stomach capacity. Drink one third and leave one third.

Over eating increases the burden on the body’s organs to function normally. Over pressure in the stomach, discomfort in the stomach, flanks and chest suggests you are over eating.

- Right time: Ayurveda says meals must be eaten after the previous meal is digested. Frequent meals will interrupt the normal complete digestion. Having meals at a proper time will help prevent imbalance of doshas of digestive tract.

- Right place: Your eating place must be clean and calm. Proper position is important. You should not eat in an awkward position, like sitting on a deep cushioned couch, lying on the bed, eating while walking, driving and eating while you are involved in serious activities like talking loudly at the table, talking on the phone, watching television or sitting in front of a computer.

- Incompatible foods: Certain foods must not be taken or consumed together as it increases toxins in the body. Some of the foods listed include: diary products and meat, salty food with milk, fish with yoghurt or milk, milk and yoghurt in excess, ice-cream and yoghurt at night, non-seasoned food.

- Take your time: Don’t rush to eat. Your system has its own rule in doing everything. One cannot download a one gig file in just 10 seconds on any modern device.

- Eat only when you are hungry: One should understand the body’s needs. It is unfortunate that we listen more to our motor car sounds than our own body’s system. We rush to our mechanic if any wrong sounds break the harmony of our driving.

- Drink water during meals: You should not drink water immediately after meals. The food is mixing with the digestive juice, which must be a little acidic. Pouring water on top of the food may neutralise the PH, which delays the digestion or may interrupt the digestion.

- Remember, don’t live to eat, eat to live.

Dr Kanada Narahari Ayurveda doctor, sitarist and author. go to www.drkanadanarahari.com

ANYONE who believes that anything can be suited to anyone, is a great fool because medicine is practised not on mankind in general but on every individual in particular.

- Henri De Mondeville (Father of French surgery, 1260 to 1316)