The Art of Eating

It is rightfully said by someone, that "food is everything" ! And eating is nothing less than an art. We all know that food provides us with nutrition and energy, but most of us are unaware that food cooked, served and eaten in a proper manner can double the energy provided by it, quicken the digestion and reduce the risk of many diseases.
The right way of eating, has been put forth by the Vedas thousands of years ago. Some points which I would like to share are -

• It all starts with cooking! Cook your food as if you are cooking for yourself in a hungry state. Have positive thoughts and a calm mind. You can think of the almighty while cooking. This way the emotional input while cooking your meal will enhance its purity and will help in extending your love and emotions to the ones who eat it. 
• Cook tasty food, as the smell and taste of food triggers the relase of chemicals needed to digest the food
• The process of eating is something which is important for the development of our consciousness and physical health.
• While eating try and observe the following -

• Sit in a relaxed posture. This way your stomach will be able to digest your meals better.
• Eat at fixed times
• Eat in a pleasant calm atmosphere
• Eat a balanced meal. Chapatis, Rice, Dal, Vegetables, Salad, Curd are all essential
• Avoid mixing foods.. Dont mix fruits with vegetables/meals. Eat fruits as a separate meal or with tea/milk
• Feel your food with all your senses - vision ( enjoy all the colors), taste, touch, smell
• Eat in moderation
• Don't waste food
• Share your food ( It should be taken like prasad which should be shared with everyone)
• Fast occasionally to give a rest to your digestive system

Now a days, we all rush through food, zip by a drive through fast food place and just eat whatever comes handy! Its surprising that we are earning millions now but have no time to enjoy what we are earning for!

Its time we ponder over this!

Benefits of drinking MILK

Milk is nature's heath drink! It is full of calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorous and other essential nutrients required for your bones, teeth, and muscles.


I have noticed that our grandparents used to insist upon drinking at least 2 glasses of milk everyday. As years have passed and I still continue to follow their advice, I see marked difference in my energy levels as compared to young adults of today. Children these days detest milk and just enjoy drinking soft drinks and other unhealthy stuff.Some 'conscious' adults gulp down 'energy drinks that promise to provide instant energy! People forget that these are just marketing stints and dont do much in providing nutrition to our bodies.
My advice to all youngsters is to in habituate the consumption of at least 2 glasses of warm milk everyday.

Children should be given more milk per day as they are in a growing age and need the wholesome nutrition provided by milk.

KEY POINTS -

• Milk is low in sodium and provides much more nutrition than any other drink
• It contains 90% water which keeps us hydrated
• It is cheap and easily available
• A glass of hot milk taken before going to bed helps in relieving constipation and gives you a sound sleep.

For weight conscious people, low fat milk is easily available in the market.

So don't look for excuses, just go grab a glass of milk when hungry.

Sleep Hygiene

Research has proven time and again that our body is like a battery that needs to be charged regularly everyday. That means that we need to stop the body functions and take adequate sleep to enhance our efficiency. 

So how much sleep is needed? I found the following image very apt!

How much one should sleep also depends on your body need and lifestyle. But one must remember to avoid short sleeping patterns as a habit as they can directly result in -

• irritability and poor work performance
• higher risk for various lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart problems
• higher risk for vehicle accidents
• higher risk for psychiatric ailments like depression
• obesity due to increased appetite

Remember collecting sleep debts and thinking that you can make up for the lost sleep over the weekend is a foolish idea. 

Observing good sleep hygiene is the first step towards keeping fit. 

Simple tips to have a good night sleep

• Make your bed clutter free. Sleep on clean comfortable mattress and pillow ( Pillows not advised for people with spondylitis related pains)
• Keep a gap of 2-3 hours between meals and sleep. Allow the food to digest before you hit the bed
• Never keep a TV inside your bedroom
• Try and sleep and wake up everyday on the same time, even on weekends!
• Make a sleep routine, wash your hands, feet and face brush your teeth, change into night pajama ( loose clothes) 
• Always do a prayer, thank the almighty and then sleep.

Lastly, keep sleep as a high priority on your To do list!

Happy Sleeping :)

Inspiration

This blog is an attempt to share whatever little I know about keeping our mind, body and soul healthy and happy.In these almost 6 decades of my life I have gathered lessons from myriad situations.In roles of a daughter, a wife, a mother and now a grandmother, nature has endowed me with opportunities to learn about keeping my family healthful and protected.

As a teacher for more than 30 years I have seen how the reasons for happiness change with every passing year for a student. As an Ayurveda follower I have seen how the tiniest of ingredients make our food more beneficial.As a religious lady I have felt the eternal bliss after doing a prayer. As a budding Acupressure Therapist I have realized that our body and its connections are amazing!

With this weblog I will be sharing tips and ideas on how we all can improve our lifestyles to achieve better health and ultimately get happier.