It is often said that there is no need for medication if a person follows a proper diet. But did you know that 7 out of 10 leading causes of deaths in 2019 were non-communicable diseases, like heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, weight gain, obesity and blood pressure – which are caused due to drastic changes in our food and lifestyle habits?
To protect yourself from all these health problems, all you have to do is ‘Eat Right’. After all, the human body requires food to gain energy for all life processes, like growth, repair and maintenance. A balanced diet contains different types of foods in proper quantities and proportions and makes sure that all the nutritional needs of the body are adequately met.
Acharya Charaka (the ‘Father of Indian Medicine’) has stated that the human body and diseases are both the product of nutrition. The state of our health depends upon our diet and dietetic, so a faulty intake of diet results in a diseased state. He has also laid down the 9 Eating Rules, which are just like the traffic rules, and if followed correctly ensure a smooth and safe journey toward health and happiness.
Come, let’s read them together.
#Eating Rule No 1:
Maintain Ideal Speed Limit – Always adhere to the speed limits while driving
When eating, you should never be in a hurry
Eating your food too fast can make you bulk up on a lot of food, and you end up having more calories than desired. This, over the course of time, puts you at the risk of weight gain.
Similarly, slow eating may lead to less consumption of food, which in turn may cause a lesser intake of the required nutrition.
So, for healthy eating, moderate eating speed should always be followed.
#Eating Rule No 2:
Avoid Distractions – Distracted driving is among the major causes of accidents
Follow the ‘No phone calls while eating’ rule
Researchers have found that men and women consume 15 per cent more calories when they eat while looking at their phones, as they miss the satiation point (when your body signals you to stop eating).
So, while eating, keep all distractions – phones, TV and gossip – at bay.
#Eating Rule No 3:
Maintain Distance – Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you
Eat at the same time every day
Adults who consume meals at the same time every day are less obese and have better cholesterol and insulin levels. Studies suggest that eating late in the day or skipping breakfast altogether leads to weight gain and obesity, as it disturbs your metabolism and circadian rhythms.
#Eating Rule No 4:
Avoid Bouncy Patches – Never drive your vehicle on bumpy roads.
Never eat your food out of season
Seasonal food is fresher, tastier, and way more nutritious than the food consumed out of season.
Not just that, eating food out of season may lead to digestive issues and other health problems. For example, if you eat melons in winter, you may suffer from indigestion, constipation or food allergies.
That’s because unseasonal fruits need excessive assistance to stay fresh, which leads to an increased usage of pesticides, chemicals, waxes and preservatives.
#Eating Rule No 5:
Stop, Look and Cross – When crossing a road, take time to look at both sides before crossing
Properly chew your food, before swallowing
Chewing your food – an estimated 32 times – before swallowing helps to boost your mouth’s immune system and protects you against illness. The immune cells help our bodies fight bacterial and fungal infections that commonly enter our bodies through our mouth.
Individuals who chew less are 35% more at risk for metabolic syndromes like higher blood pressure, excess abdominal fat, and more.
#Eating Rule No 6:
Take a One Way Road – Always drive in a permissible direction on a one-way road
Avoid wrong food combinations (combos)
Wrong diet interrupts our metabolism and subsequent tissues do not get ample nourishment. Incompatible diet combo like fish & milk, sour fruits & milk can cause skin inflammation or indigestion.
#Eating Rule No 7:
Stop Before Lines – Always stop your vehicle behind the stop lines
Don’t eat full stomach
Ayurveda advises that one part of our stomach should be filled with solid food, one part with liquid and one part should be left empty for movement so that our body is at an optimal condition for proper digestion.
The right quantity of food digests easily and seamlessly passes out through elimination. It does not impair the power of digestion because heaviness in the stomach and indigestion are the root causes of weak digestive power.
If you are having heavy foods (high calorie foods), it’s better to eat half stomach only. However, the light food could fill 2/3rd part of the stomach.
#Eating Rule No 8:
Ensure Proper Driving Position: Don’t drive your two wheeler in a standing position
One should always eat in a sitting posture on the floor
While eating in a sitting posture, we repeatedly move forward and backward while reaching for the food, which keeps the torso long and spine straight. This helps to improve the blood circulation to the abdomen, stimulates gastric juices for proper digestion and keeps you away from many tummy troubles. This posture also burns more calories than when you eat while sitting on the chair.
#Eating Rule No 9:
Follow Lane Discipline: The driver of a motor vehicle shall always drive in his lane
Eat according to your body type.
This is probably one of the most important but least known rules of eating right. Every individual’s body type is unique and by eating as per one’s body type, one will keep his/her Doshas in balance which will in turn can keep us disease-free.
It is widely believed and scientifically proven (a study published in the Journal of Human Kinetics) that different food properties behave differently in different body types. Therefore, to keep a balance of Doshas (health), which get disturbed due to various external factors like seasons, age, etc., Ayurveda suggests that everyone should follow a personalised diet plan.
Simply following these ancient Ayurvedic eating rules can help you stay healthy and happy. So, drive safe, eat right!!
If you’re curious to know your body type, click here and find it out now.
