Food For Healthy Mind And Body!

The food you eat determines your physical, mental and emotional health. Many people do not realize this truth. They eat unhealthy food all the time and destroy their health. Unhealthy foods are precooked frozen foods, deep fried foods, hot-spicy, overcooked food, burnt food, chips, burgers, colas, refined grains that do not have fibre, foods that contain too much sugar, salt, artificial colour and preservatives.

Such foods have no nutritive value; they impair the digestive fire and increase fat and bad cholesterol and lead to ill-health. They also causes heaviness, dullness, lethargy, restlessness to the mind, arouse negative emotions and lead to circulatory and nervous disorders, destroy  body’s ability to withstand stress.

Similar, many people are not aware that water is an essential ingredient for the body and mind. Water is a natural detox that eliminates waste and toxins, refreshes the brain, carries nutrients, promotes digestion, prevents dehydration, reduces stress, prevents headaches, improves concentration and dissolves all the excesses. It serves as a lubricant, regulates body temperature and is vital for health just like oxygen.

Beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, beer and aerated drinks, have no calories, no vitamins and minerals They contain caffeine, sugar, alcohol and chemicals that deplete natural energies and destroy mind-body balance. Drink home-made vegetable and fruit juices. They have vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, aid digestion, refresh brain, promote weight loss, nourish and heal cells, tissues, glands and organs.

A well planned vegetarian or Sattvic diet meets all nutritional needs of body and mind and also prevent diseases. Ensure your diet has all the essential nutrients like whole grains, legumes, pulses, fresh fruits, Vegetable, dry fruits, milk and milk products, natural sugars like jaggery and honey. Spices include coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, black pepper, sesame, carom seeds, pomegranate seeds, ginger, holy basil, mint, cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric. Plant based oils include sesame, sunflower, olive and coconut.

To improve mind and body health, change your attitudes, choose the right food that will nourish and heal. When you make small changes in your diet and lifestyle, you will experience big changes in your mental health.

Guideline for healthy eating:

1. Begin your day with three glasses of luke warm water
2. Sip water and mix it with saliva before swallowing
3. Drink at least twelve glasses of water every day
4. Breakfast is an important meal, please do not skip it
5. Try to be fruitarian for at least  one  meal in a day preferably the breakfast
6. Try to eat only when you feel hungry. Follow the body clock, not the wall clock
7. Eat when your mind is calm; do not eat when angry, watching TV
8. Take vegetarian food, try to minimize non-vegetarian food as much as possible
9. Take fruits, vegetable juices as a meal if you are stressed
10. Eat slowly and chew your food well with saliva; do not eat in a hurry
11. Eat to fill half your stomach and do not over-eat.
12. One third solid food, One third liquid and One third empty space is the right mix
13. Avoid all food that are too hot or too cold in temperature
14. Avoid drinking water or fruit juice during your meals
15. Drink warm water one hour before and one hour after your meals
16. Drink herbal tea made of Indian spices every day; it is alkaline and antioxidant
17. Snack on fresh fruits, nuts and dried fruits; avoid junk foods
18. Avoid eating the food that have excess salt and excess sugar
19. Excess sugar and salt destroy the mind and body strength
20. Have light and low calorie dinner min two hours before sleeping
21. Try to eat your food sitting on floor at least once in a day. It helps in easier digestion
22. Adopt fruit fast once a month to help cleanse the digestive system
23. Adopt 24 hrs water fast a month to help detox your body and mind

Health is wealth. Be Healthy.