Journey to a Healthy Life

By L. Abirami

(Abirami joined as a student of Swami in Class 4 in 1995 and has been fortunate to graduate with her B.Sc. in Home Science and her M. Sc. in Food Science and Technology under Swami’s direct guidance. She also has a specialization in dietetics and food service management. She combines a loving heart and genuine care for patients in her current role as dietitian in the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital. In this article Abirami shares her expertise and tips on simple changes to our food habits and vindicates it with Swami’s instructions. So go ahead and follow these straightforward prescriptions from Swami and His dietitian to effect dramatic improvements in your overall constitution)

Swami says: “Our body is the temple in which God resides.” Only a healthy body and healthy mind will allow one to strive for Self Realization. We hear a lot about leading a healthy life style, but what does it mean? In general a healthy person eats healthy foods, right amount, is at a healthy weight and exercises. It sounds very simple doesn’t it? The trick to healthy living is making small changes, taking more steps to be conscious of what’s going in!

Here are a few ways you can start living healthy without drastic changes.

·                  Start your day with pranayama

  The benefits of Pranayama have been espoused by a number of people. It is the ultimate health guide for the masses that can be practiced anywhere by anyone. What the ancient yogis instinctively knew - and modern science has since proven - was that regular practice of controlling the breath increases the intake of oxygen into the body, properly nourishing the organs of the body. It also helps to develop concentration and clarity of thought. 

A steady breath leads to a steady mind, so it is excellent preparation to deep relaxation or meditation. Pranayama is a practice you can take with you anywhere, slotting easily into your day. It can calm, cleanse or energize, depending on the practice you choose. You can incorporate breathing techniques into your regular asana practice or take five minutes out of your day to sit with your breath.

·                     Six small meals per day

       A diet plan focused on eating six small meals per day is based on the idea that decreasing the amount of time between meals increases metabolism. In addition, and perhaps more importantly for some, eating more often helps keep you from getting overly hungry. This type of eating program takes some planning, but it has proved successful for many when it comes to weight loss.

Determine an eating schedule for your small meals, and stick to it as much as possible. For example, have your first meal at 7 a.m., your second meal at 10 a.m. and your third meal around noon. A schedule such as 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. is good for the evening if you tend to go to sleep between 10 and 11 p.m.

Swami has expounded on this saying “mind is the eleventh sense and like the other ten, one must reduce it to the status of an obedient instrument, in the hands of the intellect. Eat at regular intervals, according to a well-established time table”.

·         Snack smart

A 2005 study published in the International journal of obesity found that people on a weight- loss plan who snacked lost as much weight as those on the same weight-loss plan who didn't. Bet you can guess which group of people felt less restricted.

But that doesn't mean you should go and have a free-for-all in the aisles. Choosing the right snacks is essential to maintaining good health, reaching your goal weight, and having more energy.

Don’t snack if you are not hungry. Go for high protein snacks (sprouts, energy drinks) than a high carb snack (deep fat fried foods) .Go for a raw food than a processed one. For instance, prefer a whole fruit than a juice or sprouts than a roasted or fried snack.

As Bhagawan clearly explicated “plant a boiled pulse in the soil; it won’t sprout. How, then, can it contribute life to the living? The vitamins and proteins are destroyed to please the palate! Uncooked food, nuts and fruits, germinating pulses are the best. Use these at least once or twice a day in the meal or in-between, this will ensure long life. And long life is to striven for in order that the years may be utilized for serving one’s fellow-beings.”

·                     Balance your food choices

Food is made up of a vast range of different nutrients – proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fiber – and natural plant chemicals known as phytochemicals (many act as antioxidants and help to protect the body against disease). We need a healthy balance of all these to provide energy, to fight off infection, keep in shape and reduce our risk of long-term health problems.

The easiest way to get the optimal fuel mix is to eat a variety of foods each day from the 5 food groups from the healthy eating plate. When you are planning a meal, consider whether you’ve got most of the food groups covered.
The Food Guide Pyramid is an outline of what to eat each day based on the Dietary Guidelines. It's not a rigid prescription but a general guide that lets you choose a healthful diet that's right for you.

The Pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need and at the same time the right amount of calories to maintain healthy weight.

·                     Will power

As Mahatma Gandhi rightly puts it “strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will”.

So how does this apply to a diet?

A situation which most of us face is the difficulty in turning our wheels away from a pizza hut or any other delicacy store for that matter. That’s where the will power is put to test. This does not mean that one must refrain from consuming them, but too much of anything is not good. If you crave for a fried food, have it but have the will power to stop instead of over eating, and most importantly have a very light meal after that.

For a healthier and happier life, have the will power and make wise choices from the variety of foods offered. This ultimately leads to a new you, a healthy you!!