Lifestyle changes should begin in childhood itself
In an effort towards inculcating the importance of healthy living among school children, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) delivered an insightful talk on the 7th of December 2018 at the Universal Public School. He was invited as the Chief Guest at the Annual Day celebrations and spoke on the importance of health sutras for children.
Actor Inderpal Singh was also one of the special guests at the annual day celebrations at Universal Public School. Dr Aggarwal emphasized on how schools can be the hotbed for change – healthy change. Habits inculcated at this tender age can shape children into better individuals, both in body and mind.
Speaking at the annual day, Dr Aggarwal, said, “Sutra is a Sanskrit word, which literally means string or thread. But in the literary context, sutra is a concise i.e. using few words and meaningful expression of a truth. All vedic knowledge is in the form of Sutras. To put it simply, a sutra is a sentence or a statement, which has a complete meaning by itself. Every word in a sutra is non-deletable, every word is a chapter by itself. Schools are not just centers that impart formal education, but also influence the overall development of a child. To enjoy good health during adulthood, healthy lifestyle including hygiene habits must be inculcated during childhood. These will last all their lives. Moreover, children are naturally inquisitive and keen learners. So, they are both beneficiaries of any health-related activity and agents of change in their family. Health sutras must therefore be followed right from a young age.”
Sutras can be effectively used in health communication for dissemination of health messages as they are easy to remember. Credible health sutras convey scientific information in a simple language, making it easy for the patient as well as the public to understand and adopt in their daily life.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “I often use sutras and formulas as a module to educate the general public about important health issues. These can create a big change in children and help them grow up to be healthier adults.”
Some health sutras
• Any food of plant in origin does not contain cholesterol.
• Any fat that is liquid at room temperature is saturated fat.
• Any fat that is solid at room temperature is unsaturated fat.
• One percent increases in cholesterol increases the chances of heart attack by 2%.
• One percent increase in good HDL cholesterol decreases the chances of heart attack by 3%.
• High BP, blood sugar and blood cholesterol can remain silent for up to a decade.
• Longer the waist line, shorter the lifeline.
• Even one whiff of cigarette, active or passive, is not health-friendly.
