Healthy eating is different from dieting; it is not intended to reduce a significant amount of weight in a short space of time, instead it aims to make you feel great, energized and healthier. Healthy eating incorporates three main ideas; eating a balanced diet, having a healthy attitude towards food and understanding the environmental impact of your diet.
SĀTTVIK FOOD
Foods affect the balance between mind and body. Sāttvik or yogic foods are those that enhance the balance between mind and body, promoting a calm mind that is capable of shifting to higher consciousness. Sāttvik diet consists of seasonal foods, fruits, dairy products, nuts, seeds, oils, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and non-meat based proteins. Sāttvik meals are freshly prepared from fresh ingredients with great devotion and awareness.
Vitamins and minerals
Although your body only needs small amounts of vitamins and minerals, they’re vital for your health. Western diets — high in processed foods and low in whole foods like fresh produce — are typically deficient in vitamins and minerals. Such deficiencies can substantially increase your risk of disease. For example, insufficient intakes of vitamin C, vitamin D, and folate may harm your heart, cause immune dysfunction, and increase your risk of certain cancers, respectively.
Plant compounds
Nutritious foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans, and grains, boast numerous beneficial compounds, such as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage that may otherwise lead to disease. In fact, studies demonstrate that people whose diets are rich in polyphenol antioxidants have lower rates of depression, dementia, and heart disease.
Fiber
Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. It not only promotes proper digestion and elimination but also feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut.. Thus, high fiber food like vegetables, beans, grains, and fruits help protect against disease, decrease inflammation, and boost your immune system. On the other hand, low-fiber diets are associated with an increased risk of illnesses, including colon cancer and stroke.
The debate about food and health has raged on, but over the past 30 years we have seen a dramatic change in the nutrition guidelines and the foods that we consume. Unfortunately, during this same time period we have seen an alarming rise in the development of chronic diseases. Conditions such as overweight, obesity, type II diabetes, HTN, hyperlipidemia, heat attack, stroke, arthritis, dementia, premature ageing and cancer are just some of the many chronic diseases we treat. I must admit that business is booming and yet find it frustrating that there appears to be no end in sight.
