Diseases related to diet

Principles of Ayurveda 

Diet and Diseases

Animals have a natural instinct of what to eat and what to avoid. Animals like cows and goats do not eat leaves of poisonous plants. Human beings however have lost the ability to differentiate between a beneficial and a harmful diet. Man is an intelligent animal. Modern medical science has found the quantity of essential nutrients namely proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and water in every food item.

Ayurveda has studied in detail the effect of every food item on the various humours (doshas) namely Vata, Pittaand Kapha, various tissues and organs of the body and waste products. If every individual consumes a balanced diet in an appropriate quantity and selects the quality and type of food based on his constitution, age, digestive power, season, etc. then he can lead a healthy and happy life. The causes of diseases in relation to diet are given below.

1.  Not following the dictates of one’s own conscience (Pradnyaparadha)

According to Ayurveda, this is the root cause of all diseases, e.g. an individual suffering from acidity and ulcers in the stomach is well aware that eating pungent and sour food items will aggravate his pain. However when he sees a spicy dish like bhelpuri, he is unable to resist the temptation to eat it. Not having control over the tongue and eating tasty food items in excess is the second important cause of diseases.

2.  Deviating from natural food items

Primitive man (Adi manav) would eat roots and fruits which were naturally available as well as attack animals and eat their flesh. As he would breathe pure air, drink clean water from the streams and eat fresh food, he was healthy. But now, there is tremendous population explosion and overcrowding. The forest cover and vegetation have reduced. The environment is polluted by smoke and chemical waste from various industries. There is noise pollution as well as water pollution. Food too is adulterated.

3.  Pesticides

Various pesticides and insecticides are sprayed over crops in the fields and on trees so that the fruits, food grains and vegetables are protected from germs and insects. Hence fruits, food grains and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before use. Even if traces of these poisonous insecticides and pesticides are consumed, it may have a harmful effect on the body.

4.  Hormones

In order to increase the body weight of animals, they are administered hormonal tablets like corticosteroids which have a harmful effect on man, if their meat is consumed.

5.  Salt

Initially when common salt was not known, it was not used in food items. Hence diseases like swelling of the body, heart ailments and high blood pressure were very rare. Now salt is used in a greater quantity to make the food tasty. Hence occurrence of diseases like heart attacks and high blood pressure is high.

Sugar containing Juice and natural juice – representational image

6.  Sugar

Once man came to know how to prepare sugar, it began to be added in various food preparations. Nowadays, sweets like jilebi, basundi, shrikhand, jam, pedha, barfi, etc. are consumed on a large scale leading to a higher incidence of diseases like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

7.  Tea and coffee

Due to increased use of beverages like tea and coffee, pickles and spicy food items, a higher number of people suffer from acidity and peptic ulcers.

8.  Chemical preservatives

Preservatives – Representational Image

Various chemical preservatives used in processed food, ketchup, beverages, etc. have a harmful effect on the body.

9.  Tasty dishes

Due to an improvement in transport facilities, etc. various cuisines of the world are easily available and are included in our diet, e.g. Chinese or Mexican delicacies. These food items are available and are served in an attractive manner, thus one cannot resist the temptation of overeating & invariably fall prey to obesity.

10.  Juices

Since the invention of grinders, mixers and other machines, fruit juices are being consumed widely.

According to Ayurveda, fresh fruits should be consumed. Fruits or sugarcane should be chewed rather than drinking their juice extracted with a machine. This is because one can discard that part of the fruit or sugarcane which is diseased or putrefied while eating it. But if juice is extracted with a machine, the putrefied or diseased part of the fruit gets mixed with the juice.

11.  Artificial flavours and colours

As people have got habituated to consuming artificial flavours and colours, even tasty fruits like apples are consumed
by applying salt and spices.

12.  Refrigerated food

After the invention of refrigerators, marketing came to be done once a week. Vegetables are stored in the refrigerator and eaten when required. But according to Ayurveda, cold cooked food items should not be consumed after reheating them.

13.  Tonics

Instead of eating natural food items to obtain vitamins, calcium, iron, etc. nowadays there is a trend of taking tonics and tablets. Excessive intake of vitamins, calcium, iron and other minerals can have a harmful effect on the body.

Often harmful effects of bad eating habits are seen after a long time. Hence fresh, natural food items should be consumed and one should also keep control over one’s tongue so that one can lead a happy and healthy life.