In India’s mythological Ages, humans lived long lives – 400 years in Satayuga, 300 years in Tretayuga, 200 years in Duaperyuga and 100 years in Kaliyuga. The longevity of our ancestors was because they followed Ayurvedic principles and its philosophy in their lives.
We now live in Kaliyuga, where the normal lifespan with a healthy and productive body should be 100 years. However, few of us manage this. Disease, according to Ayurveda, is mainly due to unnatural life styles i.e. the failure to follow a ‘Swasthavtra’ life style. This lifestyle, described in Ayurveda, covers all aspects of our lives – from when to wake and sleep, to hygiene practices, exercise, massage and diet. What to eat and when to eat it played a major role in maintaining lifelong health.
Scientists today are unable to conclude what are the basic essential nutrients for the body. Most agree that the body requires macronutrient – Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fat; Micronutrients – Vitamins, Minerals; and Water. We get the nutrients we need from the food we eat. Ayurveda’s ‘Swasthavtra’ life style prescribed both a daily routine (Dincharya) and a seasonal routine (Ritucharya). These routines included a diet regime that was dictated by the person’s body type.
Today, much of what is prescribed for a ‘Swasthavtra’ lifestyle is impossible to follow. However, the basic concept, that the food we eat is the medicine we need to keep us healthy, remains relevant. Food is Medicine. Different foods contain different antioxidants, omega oils, minerals and vitamins. Each one plays a different role in maintaining good health. These nutrients are derived from our food. The widespread use of chemical fertilizers and the depletion of nutrients in the soil, make it questionable as to how much nutrition we get from our food.
A landmark study by Donald Davis and his team of researchers from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was published in December 2004 in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. They studied U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional data from both 1950 and 1999 for 43 different vegetables and fruits, finding “reliable declines” in the amount of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin C over the past half century.
In 2011, Davis found notable declines in nutrient counts in several fruits and vegetables when comparing 2009 numbers to 1950 numbers. He found a 43% decline in iron and a 12% decline in calcium, which was in-line with his 1999 study where he found a 15 % decrease in vitamin C and a 38% decrease in vitamin B2.
Another study in 2005 revealed that vegetables lost a considerable amount of copper, magnesium and sodium; fruits dropped copper, iron, and potassium when compared to fruits and vegetables grown in the 1930s.
This depletion of nutrients in our food has led to a phenomenon known as ‘Hidden Hunger’ – where people suffer from malnutrition despite eating food. A Global Hunger Index report called it a ‘Silent Epidemic’. What is astonishing about ‘Hidden Hunger’ is the number of rich and middle class families that live in urban centres that suffer from it. The food they eat does not give them the micronutrients they need.
* Dr. K Bhaskarachary, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
Hidden hunger – the lack of micronutrients – affects the everyday life of billions of people. Especially vulnerable are children under the age of three.
Hidden hunger is a chronic lack of vitamins and minerals that often has no visible warning signs, so that people who suffer from it may not even be aware of it. Its consequences are nevertheless disastrous: hidden hunger can lead to mental impairment, poor health and productivity, or even death.
It is estimated that one in three children in the world suffers from the lack of micronutrients – a threat to both the intellectual and physical development of the child. The total number of people suffering from hidden hunger is estimated to be as high as 2 billion.” [UN News Centre].
Most of us, our families, friends and associates, have enough to eat. We do not suffer from malnutrition. We eat plenty of food, but are under-nourished. Food does not equal nourishment. When we give the body the nutrition it requires, we give it the strength to heal itself.
* Illustration from Huffington Post
It is a sad reflection of the times, that despite having the means to supposedly ‘eat healthy’ and try and maintain our health, we are unable to get the nutrition we require to maintain a healthy body.
This is our reality. I am often asked, do we really need Food Supplements, or is it just another marketing gimmick? No, unfortunately, unless you live in a remote, unpolluted rural area with an organic farm at your disposal, you will need to supplement the micronutrients that your body needs, unlike our lucky ancestors who got them from their food and had no need to supplement it.
In my next blog I will briefly outline what some of the more necessary micronutrients do for us.
– Vasant
Thanks
Very useful information resp.Vasantsir
Thanx for sharing valuable information sir. I got a hope for my longevity……..
Think healthy, Think better….
Vasant sir…
Very valuable and informative. Thank you very much Sir!
Great contribution bhaya.
Hope to see more n more with your vast experience.
Sharad
Thanks sir, for sharing such a genius information…. We r so busy in our life. That we don’t think of our long life…Thanks sir, for cming out with health supplements.
Looking forward to details of the micro-nutrients we miss out depending on our daily diet…..
Its an eye opener and very interesting. thanks for touching this very imp. topic.It is going to make some sense.
Because I am vigilant and aware specially on nutrition and diet of my own as well as of patients, still few things are unanswered to me.
As I m a practioner…i come across wd urban as well as rural population.
I remarkably observed few things during practice-
1.old people(abobe60to100) coming from rural area who were active throughout their life still use bicycle or use long walks ,are soooooo fit no diabetes no ,cardiac problems lungs are fit no fat layer sustain surgery very well without any infection their immunity is so good
2.there are few people whose energy levels are soooo low that their life is miserable.
3.Urban population which i call ‘remote’ population means everything they want to do wd remote are having severe ‘AALASYA’in them are the most unhealthy obese but poorly nourished 4.Young generation is also having alarmimgly unhealthy food habits…if they are consuming exess of cold drinnks fast foods fried foods( in same oil again n again).
There is need for spreading more awareness regarding nutrition for atleast for thoes who want it.
lateron i Will tell my nutrition practices
but thanking you once again for such an imp information.I will wait for ur next blog.
and very interesting is that indian kitchen is ful of ayurveda.
This is some real good informative article
Kai baat Vasantji
Vasant bhayya – I appreciate the initiative. Definitely useful information.
Already in practice, THANK YOU got more information.
Thank you very much for sharing such information sir thank you once again sir
Very informative and interesting subject.thank u mr vasanth.
In the rig Veda is written all medicine is in from water. Life is breath and breath is created from water. Sun is source of strength. Mix of water and sun with breathing includes all nutrients. Hormances. Proteins and whatever else —- food there is. All you need to do is Sankalp. That is the secret. No need of supplements. But sex is food. The alimentary canal is created for sexual organs to procreate. So sex is required apart from water and sun and breathing. All matter is created from a mix of air water and sun. Science can keep going round and round with molecules.
Thanx for sharing valuable information.
Thak you sir for explaining the need of supplements for better life. Your clarity of thoughts and work is beyond doubts
Very useful ad correct information. Satyough se Ayurveda ka gyan hai Bharat mai.loog bhool Gaye hai ki unko kya khana hai, Kitna khana hai kab aur kis time. Biological clock ke sath chalne se he manav Purana swasth rah Sakta hai.
देश और समाज के लिए किए गए उत्कृष्ट कार्य के लिए आपको कोटिश बधाई एवं धन्यवाद इससे लोगों को एक तरफ जहां बहुत लाभ मिलेगा वहीं आपको आशीर्वाद भी मिलेगा।
Sir, thanks to you for taking such great efforts informing about importance of food intake one has to. Our dream will come true to make every person Healthy and live longer span with your help to awareness of good food intake in our society.
The concept of hidden hunger is great. Thank you for sharing.
It is not a concept. It is our Reality.
Thanks for Sharing this valuable information of nutritional health.will be eager to look into more information from you Vasant Ji
Thank you vasant sir for this important information, which is very much required for me, in my present health situation. ……
Looking forward to the next and the next……much needed information, very readable.
Very useful and scientific information.
Thanks Vasantji.
Really informative. I’m gonna buy couple of products and test them for diabetic people and people suffering from various diseases.
Most important msg in respect of heathy life…and to astain illness.