Positive Health Online

There is an Indian saying:

'A fellow eating once a day is a Yogi'
'A fellow eating twice a day is a Bogi'
'A fellow eating thrice a day is a Drohi'

Well, a Yogi is a person who leads a calm life with balanced composure in pleasures and adversities. A Bogi is a person who enjoys his life in pursuit of sensual pleasures. A Drohi (Deceiver) is a person who deceives and abuses his body by eating three times a day. Lord Shri Krishna in the divine text Bhagavad Gita[1] says:

Katv-amla-lavanaty-ushna
Tikshna-ruksha-vidhahinah
Ahara rajasyeshta
Dukha-shokamaya-pradah

This means foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.

This observation describes how food habits can make or break a person. It doesn't mean that one shouldn't consume food three times a day. At least, a diet can be planned, regularized and balanced to keep one as fit as a fiddle.

Divine Teaching

Traditional medicine advocates that a light dinner bestows good health since one's digestive power is strong at the beginning of the day and minimal in the night. The Indian religious system holds 'Pancha Bhutas' or the five elements of nature namely Fire, Water, Earth, Gas and Space in high esteem. In fact, these five elements are revered as Gods in the name of Agni, Varuna, Prithvi, Vayu and Akash respectively. All existence in this world is viewed as the combination of these five elements and food is not an exception to that. In essence, the food we supply to the body should comprise these elements to have a balanced nutrition. Significantly, the Ayurvedic system of medicine suggests that a disturbance between the Vata (gas), Pitta (bile) and Kapha (phlegm) is the root cause of problems arising in the body. Therefore, it's important that the food should contain spices, juices, minerals, air and space. The space literally means the availability of empty space in the stomach, which implies that food should be consumed in limited quantity and space should be left to balance the five elements of nature.

Scientific Discoveries

Health experts feel that breakfast should be rich, since more energy is required to be spent during the whole day. Lunch must be less than breakfast and dinner should be minimal compared to breakfast and lunch.

Scientists opine that two to three teaspoons of oil are sufficient for our daily needs. They also recommend that, instead of using the same type of oil, it's better to use different ones, like sesame, sunflower, groundnut, olive or soya bean for a balanced nutrition.

Junk food and eating while watching television should be discouraged for good health. This is because while watching television a person consumes more due to his involvement in the TV programme.

Moreover, regular intake of beef, mutton, ghee, butter, cream, coconut and biscuits provides more saturated fatty acids, which are harmful to health. Crabs and prawns contain more cholesterol too. It is pertinent to mention that as per medical recommendations care should be taken to see that intake of animal products does not exceed 240 gms per day to limit cholesterol levels. Consumption of fat at different times causes less increase of cholesterol than a large amount of fat taken at one time. It has been estimated that a blood cholesterol level over 240mg/dl (mgs/decilitre of blood) approximately doubles the risk of coronary heart disease.

In general, a vegetarian diet with lots of raw vegetables in the daily regimen does a lot more good in that vegetables contain 'fibres' which help to absorb water resulting in a full feeling in the stomach. As a result, the appetite is under control, which stops the body eating to excess. Obviously, less intake results in lower weight gain; the aim of a good diet is to provide sufficient calories to maintain the body and allow it to perform its regular chores besides storage of energy.

Eating for Health

Fibre-rich foods tend to be low in fat and in calories. High fibre foods minimize the risk of constipation, colon and rectal cancer, hiatus hernia, heart disease and obesity. A recent study reveals that colon cancer is the second highest cancer mortality in the United States after lung cancer. The estimation is that out of 1,50,000 people affected, nearly 57,000 died in 2003. This underscores the importance of a diet rich in fibres to get rid of the aforesaid diseases. It may seem incredible that Al Beckles of Britain achieved the distinction of becoming Mr Universe with a lacto-vegetarian diet. But it is true; the misconception that only a diet of meat can make a person strong was proved wrong.

For a balanced diet, the least consumption should be of oils, butter, ghee and sugar. Foods that should be consumed in limited quantity are dals, dried seeds, milk, curd, cheese, fish, eggs and chicken. Varieties that should be consumed more would be vegetables, fruits, cereals and bread. The taste buds are to be tamed for better health since prevention is always better than cure. Is it not wise to refrain from diets that make us more vulnerable to different forms of cancer and other serious problems?

Fats are an essential part of the regular diet, albeit the wrong choice may contribute to bad health. Refrigerating fatty foods until the fat rises to the top of the container then slicing it off is a good way to eliminate it. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol, while polyunsaturated fat lowers it. Foods that enhance HDL (High Density Lipoprotiens), which are beneficial to health are preferred, while those with LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins), bad cholesterol, are to be kept away. Using monounsaturated oils like olive oil and groundnut oil, and polyunsaturated oils like sunflower oil, oils of corn, soyabean, mustard, gingery would be a better substitute for other oils. Nowadays it has become mandatory for the manufacturers of edible oils to declare the composition and grading of their oils. One can find the wording PUFA (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids) etc. so that the consumer may know what sort of nutrition he is resorting to.

It is important to note that hot water should be drunk after eating ice creams and sweets to avoid accumulation of fats. Drinking hot water not only melts the fat, but also neutralizes the effect of chilly ice cream and prevents sore throat and common cold problems.

While discussing water we cannot omit 'water therapy'. Even generally, for the sake of our health, a minimum of 1.5 litres of water should be consumed in the morning on an empty stomach. This has an excellent effect in that the toxins piled up in the body are washed away and the body gets hydrated, which is most important for general health.

Nowadays, consumption of alcohol is on the increase, be it for a happy occasion or a sad event. Though alcohol need not be eliminated from our lives, it is of interest to note that it is devoid of any nutritional value and can be turned into fat, adding flab to the body. If consumption goes unchecked, the level of triglycerides increases.

It has been a practice in most households in India to fast once a week or at least once in a fortnight. This is advantageous to the body in that the load on the 'stomach workshop', which works all day grinding and digesting food, is reduced. This is akin to the 'Preventive maintenance' of a machine.

When dieting, a person adopts certain procedures to reduce body flab and improve the waistline. It doesn't mean starving. It requires an understanding of the calories needed by the body, and planning accordingly. A physiological calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one kg of water by one degree centigrade. One gram of fat yields nine calories while the same quantity of alcohol yields seven. An apple provides about 20 calories and a mango about 122. A woman who is dieting may aim for an intake of 1500 calories, which may prove detrimental if her calories go below this, resulting in loss of health. On the other hand, high caloric intake may also cause ill health. Interestingly, people who are obese don't necessarily consume more than people who are of normal weight. This can be due to their lack of necessary fat reducing agents. There are about eight such agents like vitamin B6 and pancreatic acid that burn the fats in the body. It is said that if foods with these constituents are added to our body, the unwanted body fats can be removed.

Consider Blood Groups

While these are the basics of a good diet, there is another aspect which is relevant. This is the domain of blood groups. Researchers have provided these details:[2],[3]

'A' Group: Vegetarian food is best suited for people who are in this blood group. Vegetables such as beans are very good for their health. Research reveals that persons belonging to 'A' Group may be prone to cardiac related problems and diabetes. Milk and its products don't suit their bodies since digestion will be a problem. Certain chemicals in potato, tomato and cabbage may create stomach related problems.

'B' Group: People in this blood group can consume milk and milk related products. Fruit and vegetables suit this group. They should refrain from sesame, wheat and groundnuts, as these items will increase their weight. Tomato will create stomach related problems.

'AB' Group: Persons of 'AB' group can consume milk and milk related products, but they should reduce their intake of any type of meat since digestive problems may arise. It is found by research that they should refrain from wheat products too. Groundnuts and grams can be eaten in limited quantities.

'O' Group: Studies reveal that people in this group can consume meat, as acidity is naturally present in this group. They can eat fish, meat and eggs that are free from chemical contaminants. It is advisable to control intake of wheat, since 'gluten' can increase weight. Cabbage, cauliflower and seafoods are best avoided.

People in these blood groups can adjust the pattern of what they eat to see whether their experience matches the theory. If they benefit, their diet can be changed to maintain good health and prove the adage, 'A healthy mind in a healthy body'.

All said and done, it's up to individuals to decide whether to satisfy their taste buds and give into gluttony or to limit their calories for a hale and healthy life.

References

1. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. From Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Bhagavad Gita Book Trust, Los Angeles, California. Printed in India at New Delhi. p778, Ch 17, Text 9.
Malayala Manorama Year Book. Manorama Publications, Kottayam, Kerala, India. p210, 213, 229. 2003.
2. D'Adamo P. Eat Right 4 Your Type. Penguin. 2002.
3. D'Adamo P and Whitney C. Live Right 4 Your Type. Penguin. 2002.