Monday, 25 March 2024 | in Guest Column
GUEST COLUMN
Pushpa Dhami
Nowadays, people have started eating multiple times a day as our eating habits have changed to accommodate our hectic schedules in the fast-paced world of today. Modern diets, sometimes known as fad diets, are shaped by convenience-driven options, highly processed meals that are readily available everywhere, and dietary fads. People of all ages frequently snack in between meals, rely on caffeinated beverages for energy and eat a lot of fast food. However, in order to meet the demands of our fast-paced lifestyle, these techniques frequently disregard the principles of mindful nourishment and encourage unintended illnesses and eating disorders, which leaves us swinging between hospitals and homes like a pendulum.
According to Ayurveda, the purpose of food has always been to purify mind and consciousness and not merely fill us up and fortify our bodies. Most of the Upanishads begin with the prayer ‘Annam Brahma’ which means ‘Food is God’. It goes on to say that the kind of food consumed affects the state of the mind. The following Ayurvedic shloka, finds profound relevance in the context of today’s global dietary landscape. As we navigate this intricate interplay between modern dietary habits and prevalent lifestyle diseases, the need for a transformative shift becomes increasingly evident.
Eka bhuktam sadaarogyam dvobhuktam balavardhanam.
Tribhuktervyaadhipeeda syaaccaturbhuktermrutidhruvam. (Sushruta Samhita)
This means that eating food only once in a day keeps a person always healthy and eating twice a day results in increasing his strength. However, if he eats three times a day then he suffers from various diseases and pain. And if he increases the frequency and takes his meals four times a day then his untimely death is certain.
So, according to Acharya Sushruta, “The number of times one eats can make him either a Rogi, Bhogi or Yogi.”
Eating Thrice a Day or more (Rogi): We only had one or two meals a day in the past. However, today, this has been stretched to three meals a day- breakfast, lunch and dinner with occasionally two to three small meals/snacks in between as well. But this is considered a balanced lifestyle for people with Pitta nature who can have a light breakfast, a big lunch, and a small dinner before sunset with 14-16 hours of intermittent fasting. This makes it possible to eat every five hours with ease. Meals can be taken at 7:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM. It is crucial for a Vata person to eat four to five times a day as opposed to a Pitta or Kapha person. However, eating more food will cause excessive gas and bloating since a person with a Vata temperament or imbalance does not have a very powerful digestive fire. The best times to eat for someone attempting to balance their Vata Dosha are 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
So, who eats three to four meals to become Rogi? A person with a Kapha nature whose digestive fire is very sluggish will swiftly become “Rogi,” meaning that “he will have a tendency to get diseases quickly, due to accumulation of undigested metabolic waste over a period of time,” if one persistently eats three meals a day despite the restrictions of the body’s constitution. Current studies connect binge eating to obesity, digestive issues and a higher chance of developing chronic illnesses. The prevention of people becoming Rogi or unwell can be achieved by a global shift towards mindful eating, which includes traditional and locally obtained foods coupled with diets linked with doshas.
Eating Twice a Day (Bhogi):
According to Ayurveda and Yoga, this is the perfect way to eat. This is because it follows the Ayurvedic principle of intermittent fasting, which calls for a six-hour interval between meals. Before introducing the following meal, you are giving your body enough time to completely digest, absorb, and assimilate the nutrients. In yoga, the term “bhogi” refers to a person who eats twice a day and meaning “one who relishes food.” Individuals with a Kapha disposition, whose digestion is inherently sluggish, benefit from eating just two meals a day. If a Kapha person eats only two small meals a day, their body weight will return to normal, and they will feel lighter and have more clarity in their thinking. 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM are excellent times for meals.
Eating Once a Day (Yogi):
A person can adjust to living on one meal a day with intermittent fasting for 23 hours once their health and metabolism are at their ideal levels. A “yogi” is someone who possesses deep thoughts, enhanced mental and spiritual powers, and a light physique, all of which contribute to their abilities. This practice encourages metabolic balance and cellular healing. There are a few more things to consider in order to eat mindfully and deriving maximum benefits.
Make sure you eat only 80 per cent of your food and only when you are really hungry. Make lunch your largest meal because your digestive fire or Agni is most capable of processing a large meal at noon, when the sun is at its highest and brightest; in the evening, the digestive system is less capable of processing a large meal. Furthermore, the body uses the night to recover, rejuvenate, and rest; it cannot execute these functions when it is exerting itself to digest a large meal or other dense foods. Consequently, it’s advisable to try for a larger lunch and a lighter dinner, which you should preferably finish at least three hours before going to bed.
It’s also crucial to wait until genuine hunger returns and food has had time to digest before consuming another meal. Poor digestion is the result of eating before actual hunger reappears, according to Ayurveda. The digestive fire weakens and makes it more difficult to completely digest meal if food is consumed too soon after a prior meal, before the fire has had chance to finish breaking down the previous meal. The result is similar to overindulging in food; Kapha is elevated and toxins are generated. Lethargy, bloating, and heaviness are present.
In terms of global health, adopting intermittent fasting—whether eating three, two or one meal a day based on your dosha constitution and other health parameters—holds promise for lowering carbon footprints associated with constant food production and consumption as well as benefiting individuals to live a healthier and happier life.
(The author is a food and nutrition expert. Views expressed are personal)
