Food and Wellness

In ancient Sanskrit it is said, “Annam Brahma” which means all living beings originate, survive and merge into food. In English they say, “We are what we eat“. Science says that our physical and mental well being is directly linked to what we eat and drink. Food therefore is at the center of living a good life.

All the food that we consume is utilized by our body in form of some very basic elements like Carbohydrates, fats and protein which sustains and provides energy to our body. We will discuss that later in subsequent posts.

Food practices are also governed by traditions, culture, environment, economy and belief systems. For example, food that people eat in coastal region may be very different from the food that they eat in mountainous region. Even farmers grow their crops according to the prevailing weather and soil conditions. On top of this, each household may have their own food traditions.

When we think about food as a vehicle for our wellness, we need to understand the food that we eat. We need to eat food that aligns with our climate, culture and traditions. Food that nourished our past generations may be the best food that we can eat.

To start with, here are 5 tips on food as a pillar of our wellness:

1. 1. Eat food that grows in your region.
   2. 50% of your total food intake should ideally be raw food. This can be in form of salads, tossed vegetables and vegetable soups and juices.
   3. Eat mindfully with a positive frame of mind. Chew what you eat well. Put off gadgets when you eat.
   4. Fill only 80% of your stomach.
   5. Pray before eating your meals. Express gratitude for what you have on your plate.

Mindful eating replaces self-criticism with self-nurturing. It replaces shame with respect for your inner wisdom.

Jan Chozen Bays