|
|
|
|
Food, water and the air we breathe are the basic
sources of energy for the human body. While the air we breathe
is in abundance, and there is no regulatory diet to be followed
for healthy in take, it is the food we eat and the water we
drink that actually determine the health of the body.
However, most people ignore the need for healthy food habits
and consider eating to be a routine; which means eat to survive. |
Well, the fact does remain that we eat to live and we
do not live to eat. But that does not mean we treat our body as though
it was a machine and fill it with whatever we please, without keeping in
mind nutritional value of all that goes in. Well, in the short run we
may be pleasing our taste buds; but in the long run our taste buds would
have to be kept in the refrigerator and we are forced to take bitter
pills and tonics.
The crux of the matter here is that we have to eat consciously to
maintain a healthy mind and body. According to one of the basic premises
of Ayurveda, the food we eat not only determines the health quotient of
the body, but also that of our mind. That is why voluminous texts have
been written on the nutrient value of every type of food we consume.
Many may not realize this, but the human body is actually built in a
certain way to only follow a vegetarian diet. The entire digestive tract
is constituted in a way to completely digest all fruits and vegetables,
along with nuts and lentils, storing up essential nutrients to aid in
the proper functioning of the body.
One of the healthiest vegetables for the is dhudhi, also known as kadu
and loki. It is a long green vegetable that is available all through the
year. According to the study of food value in Ayurveda, it is one
vegetable, and probably the only one that is highest in prana. Prana is
the life force or life energy. According to nutritionists the vegetable
is very good because of its general nutrient value and to add to that it
also works as a blood purifier.
In fact our ancestors led healthier lives because their food habits was
essentially nutrition and balanced diet based. They ate more raw
vegetables, nuts and fruits. And whatever was cooked was left semi-raw,
because their cooking methods were long and tedious. They did not have
the modern day equipment we have to regulate the heat, thereby leading
to over-cooked food.
More or less, the Chinese way of cooking is regarded amongst the
healthiest in the world. They stir fry their vegetables, with minimum
sauces. And the vegetables they use such as zucchini, broccoli, spinach,
spring onions, mushrooms, etc., are high in nutrient value. Adding to
these is the tofu.
However, apart from the above-mentioned, a nutrition and balanced diet
is also one that has all the important nutrients as part of the meal.
Components of a well balanced diet include the vitamins, iron,
carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, etc., in the proper proportion, as
directed by a qualified dietician or nutritionist.
While most people are of the opinion that such food experts exist to
make a lot of money fooling people. The fact is that they do play a
major role in our day-to-day life. They are not just meant to help
under-weight or obese people regulate their eating habits, but that of
every individual – child or adult.
The nutritionist of dietician usually prescribes a battery of tests,
along with other physical details such as height and weight. Apart from
that they also go into the details of an individual’s lifestyle,
enabling them to imbibe in their daily routine a revised pattern of
eating.
The expert then chalks out a daily diet plan that does not require one
to starve, but eat the right foods, at the right time. And the entire
timetable is made keeping in mind one’s lifestyle. So, workaholics can
find no excuse, nor can students, and others.
Nutrition and balanced diet promotes a healthy mind and body and saves
one from ailments, especially the stress related ones.
|
|
