Food as Medicine

We are what we eat. It is one of the most important concepts in preventive medicine which can play a revolutionary role in the healthcare sector. As it was rightly said that We dig our own grave with our teeth sums up the irony. Food is an important aspect as whatever we eat impacts neurotransmitters in the brain and hence influence the parameters. If food eaten can influence positively which is proven beyond doubt similarly foods eaten wrongly can produce diseases. Food is the basic material which makes or breaks our body.

It produces neurotransmitters responsible for the day to day feelings. Whether we feel irritated or blessed all depends upon your food taken. Foods can be classified according to Vata, Pitta and Kaph. We should take food by taking in view all three doshas to produce health.

Normally we have left things to drift in this matter which can be dangerous.eg if one takes foods producing excess Pitta he will be getting diseases of Pitta, similarly if person takes food which by chance or bad choice increases one dosha it is very likely to produce that type of diseases.

We have to make us aware of the foods which influence a particular dosha. In short, let us learn to eat food according to principles of Neuroayurveda. We should try to take equal quantities of food from all the three food groups.

Vata foods: These are the foods which regulate intestines hence movement of food intestines. Both constipation and diarrhea are disturbed vata. The foods include; All types of Dals,milk,curd,milk products,corn made products,maize and high protein, fruits like banana, pineapple and pomegranate.These foods should comprise 25 to 35% of total food quantity.

Pitta foods: These are heat-producing foods which give heat to body. These type of foods include Rice and rice made products, coriander, products made of Mango, soyabean products including soyaoil and soyamilk, Chocolates, Jaggery, sugar or sugarcane products. Fruits include Oranges, Guava, coffee etc. These foods should comprise 25-35% of total food quantity.

Kapha foods: These are cold or pacifying foods which gives calmness and anti aggressiveness to the body. Wheat and its products, patato and its products. Fruits include Apples, berries, Amla. Beverages like tea come under this category. These foods should comprise 25 to 35% of total food quantity.                                                                                                                                             When one food group dominates that is an invitation to disaster ie disease. When two groups dominate there starts hidden disease inside and when all three food groups are present then there is only one result ie health and it knows no disease.

Whatever we are taking in majority determines what type of disease we will suffer. On average wheat consuming population can add foods from other group which we generally miss. If we take chappati we should always take gur or orange or mango to neutralize the effect of excess of wheat. Similarly if we take rice we should neutralize it with Patato, Amla or Apples. This way human body achieves synergy for health.