Treat our foods as Medicine.

Diet is the most important resource we provide to our body every day. We can have complete control on what we feed our body with. A well-balanced diet would not only have positive impact on our physical health but also on our mind and spirit.

Why then, we have turned our daily food intake into silently killing slow poison ? 

Are our taste buds on the tongue unable to overcome the temptations of the nasty junk food?

If we are habituated eating junk food daily that may taste yummy and provide visual treat with little or no nutrition, our body will not receive the nutrients it needs to function properly, which leads to serious health issues. All that our body can operate on are the foods that we choose to put into it. Healthy nutrient-rich and live foods help the body heal at the cellular level and build strong defense mechanism enabling you to combat illness and environmental toxins.

Good nutrition is the foundation for good health. Ancient traditional health experts of all civilizations across the world used to cure most of the human diseases using natural remedies with plants, fruits and vegetables as medicine and completely heal the body. Long before Allopathic medicine was dominantly used, wise tribal elders would look out for healing herbs and plants for their community and food would be recommended prescriptively to bring about healing. The modern scientific studies and advanced researches have clearly proven that the food we eat plays a major role in our health and overall well being. The bottom line is, we must eat Food as Medicine every day.

The term ‘Food as Medicine’ was originally coined by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine. He believed that eating nutritious food is the basis for good health. He said almost 2500 years ago “Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food". He believed that fundamentally illness stems from inadequate nutrition and bad eating habits and that if people were to learn healthy eating habits then optimum health would be restored.

Unfortunately, over the years we have moved away from the healing power of nature and have embraced packaged synthetic drugs and artificial remedies to deal with illness. We have completely shifted away from natural remedies and many of us rely on a diet of processed, fatty and sugar-laden food. The consequences are that rates of obesity and disease have increased significantly. Food which is meant to work as medicine in our body has turned a silent killer.

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease” ― Thomas Alva Edison

Being healthy means putting the right fuel into our body and having your internal engine run smoothly. If food has the power to prevent much of the chronic illnesses, we experience today then it makes sense to alter our diets to use it to our advantage to not only heal and restore the body but also to prevent illness. Thinking about what is at the end of your fork can help you avoid specific illnesses that arise due to years of unhealthy eating. Every meal that you consume influences the way you feel one way or another. Therefore the more nutritious foods you choose, the healthier you will be. Whole foods act as medicine to heal and protect your body and give the immune system a break from dealing with toxins, preservatives, additives and chemicals that are included in today's processed foods.

Although taking pharmaceutical drugs for ailments may be useful, they often come with short and long term side effects and contribute to the toxic build up in our bodies. While drugs are important in life threatening situations, if long term conditions can be managed with diet and lifestyle changes then using food as medicine must be considered as an initial way of tackling the issue and preventing future health problems. The good news is that most of the diseases can be reversed with the help of a properly planned natural diet.

Balance diet and it`s important

Eating a balanced diet is vital for good health and well-being. Food provides our bodies with the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. We need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health. Enjoyment of a healthy diet / Nutritional Supplements can also be one of the great cultural pleasures of life.

• A diet that contain adequate amount of all the necessary nutrient required for healthy growth and activity.
• A balance diet contains sufficient amount of fiber and the various nutrients to ensure good health.
• Food should also provide the appropriate amount of energy and educate amount of water.
• A balance diet should be both adequate and whole some.

Important of Balance diet?

1. It is essential for a healthy body and healthy mind you are what you consume.
2. A balance diet is important to maintain and a sensible body weight. No single food will provide all nutrients. It is essential for a balance diet that it must contain sufficient amount of nutrients such as carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals etc.

Improper diet may result in illness?

• Failure to flourish.
• Poor growth body.
• Poor development of organ
• Poor physical & mental health
• Infection disease
• Even death.

But even if you take over diet in may lead to

• Weight gain.
• Insulin resistance. 
• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
• Heart conditions.
• Many other diet related diseases.
• And death.

Object of a balance and healthy diet?

1. To achieve a healthy weight & energy balance.
2. Elimination of trans fatty acids and saturate fats .Consumption of unsaturated fatty acids.
3. Intake of simple sugar should be limited.
4. Include a high amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains.
5. Intake iodized salt & limited consumption of sodium.
6. Essential amino acids & proteins should be form a major part o diet.
7. Avoid consumption of food substances containing artificial preservatives &
8. Foods contaminated with human pathogen should be strictly avoided.
9. Limited intake of caffeine & alcohol.
10. Inclusion of vitamin, minerals & fibers in diet
11. Consume plenty of water.

Importance of Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet is based on a theory that some foods cause our body to produce acid, which is harmful.In our regular diet menu if we eating certain foods or drinking certain kinds of beverages, we can change the body’s acid level, also called its pH levels. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic something is, on a scale of 0-14. Something that is alkaline is on the basic end of the scale, or greater than 7.

Our body works constantly to carefully control pH levels of blood and other fluids. The body’s pH balance is also called the acid-base or acid-alkaline balance. The right pH levels are needed for good health.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The readings are based around a pH of 7, which is neutral, like pure water:

• A pH below 7 is acidic.
• A pH higher than 7 is alkaline or basic.

This scale might seem small, but each level is 10 times bigger than the next. For example, a pH of 9 is 10 times more alkaline than a pH of 8. A pH of 2 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 3, and 100 times more acidic than a reading of 4.

A diet rich in variety is the most healthful option. People should aim for a diet that includes a range of different proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.

Removing any single food group or type of food from a diet can make it more difficult for a person to be healthy. Very low-protein alkaline diets may help people lose weight, but they may also increase the risk of other issues, such as weak bones and muscles.

People who wish to try an alkaline diet should ensure that they eat enough protein. Those who are able to eat enough protein on an alkaline diet can safely try it.

While the alkaline diet does not actually change blood pH, it can help people eat a wide range of healthful foods, improving overall health.

People with serious medical conditions or a history of nutritional problems should consult a doctor before trying this diet.

Key benefits of Alkaline diet as follows:-

       Promoting weight loss.

       Improving kidney health.

       Preventing cancer.

       Treating or preventing heart disease.

       Improving growth hormone levels.

       Improving back pain.

           Preventing osteoporosis.

To follow an alkaline diet, the following foods are examples of what should be avoided:

ACIDIC FOODS

(1) Animal protein,

(2) Sugars,

(3) Wheat,

(4) Processed refined grains and carbohydrates,

(5) Rice

(6) Corn

(7) Dairy

(8) Legumes

(9)Alcohol

(10)Coffee

Consider adding these health building foods to your daily diet:

ALKALINE FOODS

·         Apples and Tree Fruits

·         Berries

·         Citrus

·         Grapes

·         Melons

·         Avocados

·         Mushrooms

·         Greens

·         Broccoli

·         Cabbage

·         Cauliflower

·         Almonds

·         Millet

·         Fermented Tofu and Tempeh

·         Fermented Vegetables

·         Spices: cinnamon, curry, turmeric, mustard, chili pepper, ginger

IMPORTANT NOTE:-

Many proponents of this diet suggest that people monitor the pH of their urine to ensure that it is alkaline (over 7) and not acidic (below 7).

However, it's important to note that pH varies greatly within your body. While some parts are acidic, others are alkaline there is no set level.

0ur stomach is loaded with hydrochloric acid, giving it a pH of 2 to 3.5 that’s highly acidic. This acidity is necessary to break down food.

On the other hand, human blood is always slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.36 to 7.44 .When our blood pH falls out of the normal range, it can be fatal if left untreated.

Recommended Dietary Intakes for the Pregnant Woman

Recommended Dietary Intakes for the Pregnant Woman
NUTRIENTS	RDIs	Additional	TOTAL
Calories(Kcal)	1875	300	2175
Proteins(gram)	50	15	65
Calcium (milgram)	1000		1000
Iron (miligram)	38		38
Vitamin A (ug)			0
Retinol	600		600
or			0
Carotene	2400		2400
Thiamine (miligram)	0.2		0.2
Riboflavin (miligram)	0.2		0.2
Niacin (miligram)	2.0		2.0
Ascorbic acid (miligram)	40		40
Folic acid (ug)	400		400
Vitamin B12 (ug)	1.0		1.0
Sources: Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Intakes for Indians,ICMR(1990)

Indian Diet Plan for Pregnancy; The Food List

• Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, and Nuts

These foods provide protein, iron, and zinc. There is an increased demand for protein during pregnancy particularly in the second half of pregnancy. The normal protein requirement of adult women is 1gm/kg body weight. During pregnancy, it is recommended to have an additional 15 gm/day. The additional protein is essential to meet growing tissue demands.

• Milk, Yogurt and Cheese

This group is a major source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins. Dairy products are one of the best sources of calcium, and your body needs a lot of it during pregnancy. Eat low-fat dairy products if you are worried about too much weight gain in pregnancy. Cheese, milk, yogurt are excellent foods for pregnancy.

• Fruits

This group provides Important nutrition during pregnancy like vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber. Fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, melons, and berries are the best sources of Vitamin C. It’s easy to eat three or more servings of fruit a day: juice or fresh fruit for breakfast, fresh or dried fruit for a snack, a fruit salad with lunch and a cooked fruit dessert with dinner.

• Vegetables

One should have raw, leafy vegetables like spinach (palak) and other vegetables like carrots (gajar), sweet potatoes (shakarkand), corn (Makka), peas (matar) and potatoes. These foods contain vitamins A and C, folate, and minerals such as iron and magnesium. They are also low in fat and contain fiber, which helps to alleviate constipation.

• Bread, Cereals, Rice and Pastas

This group provides complex carbohydrates (starches), an important source of energy, in addition to vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Pregnant women need 6 to 11 servings daily from this group. Grain products are also a good source of protein, which is the building material of body tissue for you and your baby. Many grains are enriched with B-vitamins and iron.

• Fats, Oils, and Sweets

Use sparingly, since these products contain calories, but few vitamins or minerals. Fats should not make up more than 30 percent of your daily calories. Try to select low-fat foods.

• Iron-Rich Foods

many Indian women are anemic (from monthly blood loss, improper diet or previous pregnancies), you may want to fortify your iron levels even before becoming pregnant with such foods as meat, raisins and prunes or beans, soy products and spinach. Your body is better able to absorb iron when consumed with foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, potatoes, and broccoli.

• Folic Acid

Pregnancy doubles a woman’s need for folate (folic acid or folacin). Research suggests that folic acid supplementation during the weeks leading up to and following conception may help prevent neural tube defects. Foods rich in folic acid include liver, deep green leafy vegetables.